Travel to and around Manchester

We hope that by now, all delegates have made their travel arrangements and will be beginning their journeys soon! (A reminder of information previously displayed on this page, in case it remains useful: visas and other entry requirements; guide to international flights to Manchester; things to see and do in the area).

See also when should I arrive? for advice on planning your stay around the Congress schedule.

Directions by destination

To help with your arrival, we have provided specific advice on the best ways to travel to the central Congress venue, recommended hotels and halls of residence:

• Main Congress site (University Place, Manchester Museum, etc) and George Kenyon Hall
• Ibis Charles Street
• Jurys Inn
• Macdonald
• Mercure Manchester Piccadilly
• Palace
• Portland by Thistle
• Victoria Park halls of residence (Dalton-Ellis Hall, Canterbury Court, etc)

Advice for international arrivals by air

• From Manchester Airport to the city centre (downtown)
• From Manchester Airport to the Congress venue, George Kenyon Hall, and Victoria Park halls

Advice for UK and Eurostar arrivals by rail

As the site of the world’s first passenger railway terminus, Manchester is unsurprisingly also a hub of the national rail network. There are direct services from London Euston (just over 2 hours), Oxford (2h 45m), Glasgow (3h 15m), Edinburgh (3h 30m), and many other towns and cities. The Eurostar via the Channel Tunnel from Paris and Brussels runs to London St Pancras allows a straightforward onward journey.

• From London to Manchester by rail: includes information on Eurostar transfer, and suggestions of sites to visit near the London terminals
• About rail travel in the UK: including a tolerably brief introduction to the bewildering ticket pricing system
• From Manchester rail stations to the Congress venue and accommodation: including directions to all recommended hotels and halls of residence
• Map of local rail services around Manchester (pdf)

Arriving by car

We do not recommend bringing a car to the Congress: the road connections are good, but, as with most large British cities, it is difficult to find convenient and affordable long-term parking. The Congress venue itself does not offer parking; the nearest facility is the Aquatics Centre Car Park, 5 minutes’ walk away. Some hotels provide parking for guests: please contact the hotel directly for further information.

If you have mobility problems and need to park close to the Congress venue, please contact mcc.reg@manchester.ac.uk to discuss your needs.

Getting around Manchester

• Rail stations in Manchester
• Manchester buses: including the most convenient services between the Congress venue and city centre
• Metrolink, a tram/light-rail network, serving areas including the Salford Quays museum and gallery sites
• Metroshuttle, a shuttle bus service providing daytime travel around Manchester city centre at no charge (external link)
• System One travelcards may save you money if you’re planning to make a lot of bus, train or Metrolink journeys around the city

Maps

• General map of Manchester, including the city centre (downtown), Oxford Road and Salford Quays, with hotel locations and attractions
• University of Manchester campus map, including all campus buildings (Oxford Road and North Campus), plus outlying residences and the location of the University in the city. University Place is building 37 on this map.
• How to get to Salford Quays, including bus and Metrolink connections to the Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, and MediaCityUK.
• Walking route from Manchester Piccadilly rail station to University Place
• Combined bus map showing the routes most useful to Congress-goers.