From Manchester rail stations to the Congress venue and accommodation
All locations associated with the Congress can easily be reached from the main rail terminus at Manchester Piccadilly, or from the more central Manchester Oxford Road.
- To the main Congress venue and George Kenyon Hall
- To hotels in the city centre (downtown)
- To Victoria Park halls of residence
For further details of the local rail system, see our guide to Manchester rail stations.
All times quoted are based on typical walking or public transport speed, and are approximate.
To the main Congress venue and George Kenyon Hall
Most Congress activities will take place in the University Place building, at the centre of the main campus on Oxford Road. The George Kenyon hall of residence, used for Congress accommodation, is directly behind University Place; some Congress sessions will take place in other nearby buildings. The Manchester Museum, site of the reception on Sunday 21 July, is also nearby on the other side of Oxford Road.
The site is easily reached by various buses which all follow the busy southbound route through the University campus along Oxford Street/Oxford Road. Whichever bus you take (see details below), you will pass the Aquatics Centre on your left before crossing the road junction with Booth Street. You will then pass under a large brick bridge corridor prominently labelled “The University of Manchester” (video here). Get off at the stop immediately after this. Continue past the Kilburn Building (around 1 minute) and you will reach University Place.
From Oxford Road station: there is a frequent bus service at all times. Exit the station and go down the steps on your right, crossing the cobbled courtyard to emerge on Oxford Street; alternatively, avoiding the steps, take the road sloping downwards to your left, turn right and immediately right again at the bottom onto Oxford Street. Cross the street to the bus stops outside the Palace Hotel, just before the railway bridge. Services to the University area include numbers 41, 42, 43, 111, 142, 143 and 157. Ask the driver for a single ticket to the University Precinct Centre (costs vary), and proceed as described above. The bus journey takes approximately 5 minutes.
Alternatively, you can walk this route (under the railway bridge and continue straight down Oxford Road) in around 15 minutes, or take a taxi from the forecourt rank outside Oxford Road station.
From Piccadilly station: The 147 bus runs Monday to Friday between 07.15 and 20.30 (8.30pm). Exit the station by the Fairfield Street exit (down escalators near Platforms 10 to 14: follow signs for Buses and Taxis, Metrolink, Way Out to Fairfield Street). You will see the bus stops over to your left beyond the taxi rank. The bus calls at Stop C, makes a short loop, then calls at Stop D on the opposite side of the road before continuing towards the University. Ask the driver for a single ticket (cost 80p, as of March 2013). Ask the driver for a single ticket to the University Precinct Centre (costs vary), and proceed as described above. The bus journey takes approximately 10 minutes.
The 147 does not run on Saturday or Sunday, or late at night. Alternative options from Piccadilly are as follows:
- the most convenient option is a taxi, which will cost around £5. Taxis are available from the rank by the Fairfield Street exit.
- a 5-minute walk will take you to Piccadilly Gardens bus station, where you can catch a bus at any time of day or night. Exit the station by the Piccadilly exit (near Platform 1: follow signs for Free city centre buses, Way Out 1, Piccadilly Station Approach). Follow the road downhill and continue straight on. On your left, you will pass an NCP car park and a Costa Coffee. Just after this, at the road junction, turn left into Portland Street, and you will see the bus waiting area on your right. Services to the University area include numbers 41, 42, 43, 111, 142, 143 and 157. Ask the driver for a single ticket to the University Precinct Centre (costs vary), and proceed as described above. The journey should take 10 to 15 minutes.
- Walking from Piccadilly to University Place takes around 20 to 25 minutes, and is not recommended if you have heavy bags. Check maps for details.
To hotels in the city centre (downtown)
Ibis, Charles Street: 7 minutes from Piccadilly station. Exit the station by the Fairfield Street exit (down escalators near Platforms 10 to 14: follow signs for Buses and Taxis, Metrolink, Way Out to Fairfield Street). Continue past taxi ranks on your left to the main road crossing. Cross ahead and then right to the Bull’s Head pub. Bear to the left of the pub, along Granby Row. Follow Granby Row as it becomes a pedestrian path. At the road junction, turn left onto Sackville Street and walk under the brick railway bridge. At the Retro Bar turn right onto Charles Street. You will see the Ibis up ahead.
Alternatively, the Ibis is 5 minutes from Oxford Road station. Exit the station and go down the steps on your right, cross the cobbled courtyard, and turn right onto Oxford Street; or, avoiding the steps, take the road sloping downwards to your left, turn right and immediately right again at the bottom onto Oxford Street. Continue down Oxford Street under the railway bridge, and turn left at the HSBC bank onto Charles Street. You will see the Ibis towards the end of the street on the right.
Jurys Inn: 7 minutes from Oxford Road station. Exit the station and take the road sloping downwards. Cross the road to the Sainsbury’s Local and continue up Oxford Street, passing the Sainsbury’s on your left. Continue over the canal. At the NCP car park, turn left onto Great Bridgewater Street. When the road divides, bear left. You will soon see the Jurys Inn up ahead on the left.
Alternatively, the Jurys Inn is 2 minutes from Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station. Take stairs or lift down from the Metrolink platform to Whitworth Street West. Turn left and cross the road junctions to reach the Haçienda Apartments (nine-storey block of curved brick). Turn left again and walk up Albion Street over the canal (you will see the back of the Jurys Inn across the canal here). Continue straight on past Aqua to the road junction and turn right onto Great Bridgewater Street. The hotel is second on the right.
Portland by Thistle and Mercure Manchester Piccadilly: both 7 minutes from Piccadilly station. Exit the station by the Piccadilly exit (near Platform 1: follow signs for Free city centre buses, Way Out 1, Piccadilly Station Approach). Follow the road downhill and continue straight on. On your left, you will pass an NCP car park and a Costa Coffee. Just after this, at the road junction, turn left into Portland Street. The Portland is a short distance down on the left-hand side. The Mercure is further down on the right-hand side, past the bus station.
Alternatively, both hotels are within 1 minute of Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink station. Get off the Metrolink and you will immediately see the Mercure behind the bus station area. Go past the Travelshop to the road junction and you will see the Thistle across the road on the left.
Palace: 1 minute from Oxford Road station. Exit the station and go down the steps on your right; cross the cobbled courtyard to emerge on Oxford Street directly opposite the Palace. Alternatively, avoiding the steps: take the road sloping downwards to your left, turn right and immediately right again at the bottom onto Oxford Street, and you will see the Palace up ahead on the left-hand side.
Macdonald: 3 minutes from Piccadilly station. Exit the station by the Fairfield Street exit (down escalators near Platforms 10 to 14: follow signs for Buses and Taxis, Metrolink, Way Out to Fairfield Street). Continue past taxi ranks on your left to the main road crossing. Cross two lanes of traffic straight ahead, then cross the final lane to your left, heading for the shallow arched bridge with the railings. Follow the road under this bridge, and you will be in sight of the hotel on the left.