They were once the world's economic powerhouses, but the UK's provincial city centres were seldom great places to live.

Its hip up north

"It's grim up North" became a catchphrase that many in the South still hold true.

In May this year, they received a jolt when the new Lonely Planet guide to Britain declared that many of the UK's urban centres are "unmissable."

The headlines no doubt drew as many groans as cheers from those who have led the renaissance of cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.

City centre living is the key to regeneration

For the past 15 years or more, coalitions of local councils, regional development agencies, private developers and architects have been laying the clichés to rest.

Promoting city centre living has been at the heart of most regeneration strategies.

Manchester led the way in the late 80s, with developers converting many of its Victorian office blocks and warehouses into high-class dwellings.

The trend has spread and loft apartments are now being created in disused workspaces across the country.

Good design has kerb-appeal

Regeneration has enabled Britain's most innovative architects and designers to show off their talents.

The most successful design-led developer is Urban Splash, which began life in Manchester and has since expanded to other cities.

"A lot of the derelict old buildings we've renovated have been viewed as eyesores, but we see their beauty," says company spokesperson Lisa Ashurst.

"We want to create sustainable localities, not just luxury flats, and that means considering a building's history and place in the community."

Are the Public Convinced?

One of the company's latest projects is Lister Mills in Bradford, West Yorkshire, which was once the world's largest silk mill.

Although not due to be completed until later this year, by July all but ten of the 131 apartments had been sold.

The project is part of a wider project to regenerate the city, led by Bradford Centre Regeneration, a public-private sector consortium.

A blueprint for the future

When the company was formed in 2003, there were only a handful of city-centre schemes, but now more than 1,600 apartments are being built or planned.

In April, the company revealed that it expects the city centre population to increase ten-fold - to 7,500 - over the next decade.

Leeds illustrates the choice on offer

In Bradford's near-neighbour, Leeds, city-centre living has been popular for some years.

According to estate agents Hunters, demand for apartments is strong, with a wide choice on offer.

"About 70 per cent of the developments are new build and 30 per cent conversions," says residential sales manager Andy Galloway.

"Prices start at around £95,000 and the best places can fetch anything up to £750,000."

Rentals: A flexible option

Colleague Maryam Bham, who handles rentals, says that prices range from around £450 a month for a studio apartment up to £3,000 for the most luxurious penthouses.

Among her clients is Swedish IT consultant Hakan Lidholm, who came to the UK on business earlier this year and is renting a riverside apartment at Brewery Wharf.

"It's been a really pleasant surprise," he confesses, "my image of Leeds was of a dirty industrial city, but it's just the opposite."

Value-added accommodation for short-stay visitors

For those on a short stay in the UK, serviced apartments may be the best option.

The Bridge at Riverside West is around a five-minute walk from Leeds city centre.

For about the same price as a hotel room, customers get living spaces of between 430 and 1,000 square feet.

The minimum stay is three nights and there is no upper limit.

A home away from home

Services range from cleaning and laundry, to shopping and even baby sitting.

"About fifty per cent of our clients are foreign," says manager, Karoline White.

"If they're here on business for a while, they find it more cost effective than hotels and there's more space for them to relax."

More to do by day...

City centre living means that major new cultural venues, like Manchester's Lowry Arts Centre, and Gateshead's Baltic art gallery (across the river Tyne from Newcastle) are on your doorstep.

To the delight of many - and footballers' wives especially - exclusive London stores, such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, have been tempted to open in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh.

...And night

Also central to the urban renaissance has been an explosion of stylish bars, restaurants and clubs.

At weekends, the city streets are as vibrant at night as they are lively by day.

"I'm only five minutes walk away from all the places I eat and drink," says Hakan Lidholm.

"I'm living like I did 20 years ago - it's terrific!"

A sound choice

The nightlife, of course, means that streets are sometimes rather noisy, but Maryam Bham insists this seldom concerns clients.

"They expect a bit more noise when they move to the city centre, but most places are really well sound-proofed anyway."

And with so much going on, who wants to sleep?

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Urban Splash