Calling Manchester Mumsnetters…

I walked from the Etihad to Market Street in the dark 3 weeks ago. It was absolutely fine walking across the edge of Piccadilly Gardens.

There were very few beggars and nobody said anything to me. I got on the tram at Market Street, got off at Altrincham & walked back to my dad’s place on my own. No problems at all.

The google maps street view is a great feature, where you pull the little yellow walking man on to the map and then follow the route to the destination. I use it often before I visit a new place and it’s like a rehearsal of your walk with the actual buildings, streets etc. I’m not suggesting she does this while walking but rather tries it out the day before.

OP, you don’t have to fear beggars. All they’ll do is ask “Got any spare change, love?” They must get a ‘no’ answer a thousand times a day, they’re used to it!

Getting to the University down Oxford Rd during the day is no problem. Tons of buses from Piccadilly Bus Station. Lots of people about Be careful about the metro lines and trans. Look left then look right

However, l would advise that she could get a taxi from Piccadilly Station to the hotel.

Unfortunately, Manchester has become a magnet for homeless people, beggars, drug addicts and generaal low life over the years.

If she is worried maybe should carry some kind of personal alarm.

Hi is it the Premier Inn Piccadilly by any chance?
If so she will be fine. You can see it from the station exit.
Ditto the walk to the Uni in the morning.
My DD went to MMU as a student, she was very introverted but she coped well with living there and travelling round. Manchester does tend to look a bit sketchy but that’s kind of a vibe. I always felt she was safe as there’s lots of people around and it’s a very student friendly city.
As others have said just avoid Piccadilly gardens in the dark if possible!

My Dd went to Manchester Met, loved it and lives there still, to be fair we both love Manchester. Tell Dd to walk down to Picadilly gardens bus terminus and she can get a bus direct to Oxford Road. It's no more or less safe than any other major city, she will be ok walking for 5 mins, ( is she at Holiday Inn) and as soon as possible she needs to make student friends so they all go out together at night. I know exactly how you feel and it's no help to say we can't protect them forever, but try not to let your Dd see your anxiety.

I lived in Manchester until I was 19, lived in London for 15 years, then moved back to Manchester and I have never been accosted outside Manchester Piccadilly by any beggars, let alone 5-6 different ones.

She will be fine. She could get the tram or a taxi to her destination if she isn’t sure where it is. Tell her to download the CityMapper app works in Manchester and it will get her anywhere she wants to be.

It’s more just petty thefts like pic pockets etc tons of homeless and drug users etc

The buses are the 42, 142, to uni, depends what campus she’s going too. Defo get her to google maps it. get her to double check, she can just get of the tram at picaddly gardens, and the bus station is there, same as the tram can be caught from the train station x

It is rather grim round the station at night - lairy and lots of beggars, homelessness and substance misuse. However, I don't know anyone that's been a victim of crime there. I mean, obviously crime happens everywhere, but I don't believe that area is worse for it. The epidemic of phones being snatched out of people's hands hasn't spread this far north either. Again, I'm not saying there aren't thefts and muggings, but that particular thing of having your phone snatched from your hand by a cyclist is rare. My 15 and 18 yo DDs go out in town and have never had any bother.

On the other hand I agree with your experience about beggars approaching you here more than elsewhere, and it is unnerving if you're not used to it. But a cheery "sorry mate" and keep walking is all you need to do - I don't know of anyone who's been pursued after the initial brush off.

There's a black cab rank to the rear of the station if she prefers. Off the top of my head the 42 and 43 go down to Man Met, but there are others as well. If it's not raining I'd walk. 15mins at my pace, 20 at my DH's.

I hope she has a fab time. It's a great city really - I came to Manchester for Uni 30 years ago and never left!

It’s a 19 min walk according to google maps.

Google Maps will tell you that if you put in the starting location and destination.

But I’ve spent a good amount of time in Manchester over about twenty years and never been ‘approached’ by any beggar. Ever.

She should avoid Piccadilly Gardens (which is not the same as Piccadilly Station). But she should also avoid hanging around either the train station or the coach station late at night. Other than that I can’t think of anywhere that would worry me in the city centre.

If she has to return (for interviews?) there are cheap hotels in nicer areas than around the station.

I e never known a problem in the city centre with phone snatching like what happens in London. Saying that I do have my phone on a wrist lanyard as knowing my luck it would happen to me. I have my phone out a lot in the city centre and never feel unsafe, even in the evening. Even down the side streets in the northern quarter. It’s busy. Yes, some homeless people might ask for money directly but I just say no sorry and have never had an issue.

YABU, I live in Manchester, I am a young woman and walk around there in the evening alone all the time

Oh yes indeed you can also get a tram from Piccadilly to Saint Peter's Square and then walk down to the university that way

Personally I’d just walk but maybe the free No 1 bus from picadilly to the top of Oxford rd and then walk down Oxford rd? It’s all very safe and not far. Bus is a small one and just says No 1 on it iirc.

https://tfgm.com/ways-to-travel/bus/free-bus

if she does want to get a bus down Oxford rd then just literally get on anything heading south down Oxford rd, it’s the busiest bus route in Europe.

this is Manchester uni not Met, but all down Oxford rd, has info any bus numbers inc some which look like they go from Piccadilly train station -the 147 but might be a bit of a convoluted route.

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/maps/travel-by-bus-coach/

I think you can get a train directly from Piccadilly Station to Oxford Road station which takes about four minutes and then there are buses that just run down Oxford Road to the university constantly.

She's probably just better Google mapping it honestly when she's there.

I’ve never found or felt central Manchester to be unsafe. But I certainly wouldn’t be walking around Piccadilly with my phone out after dark - that’s just asking for trouble. If it’s five minutes walk it shouldn’t cost much by cab from the door of the train station.

The universities area (Oxford Road presumably) is busy night and day. Google maps will give her the route by foot or public transport.

She’ll probably have a great time if she keeps her wits about her and her phone in her pocket.

I live in Manchester and work in the city centre and I actively avoid picaddly gardens in the day nevermind the night. So yeah you’re valid to be concerned. Keep any of value hidden and earphone outs of ears, bags clutched stay in lit areas. X

Sometimes a bit of tough love is what is needed so here it is. You are being utterly ridiculous. Presumably your daughter is an adult if she's going to a city on her own. Millions of people walk around cities every single day. She'll be fine! Please don't pass this level of anxiety on to your daughter. I get it's difficult to let go of our kids but you are going to have to or you will drive yourself and them crackers. Have a glass of wine and chill.

She'll be fine - even in early evening. Would advise her to NOT book into any hotel that is part of the Britannia chain of hotels though.

Re Oxford Road - there are tons of buses that go down the Oxford Road corridor - it's really busy (and probably quicker than a taxi). Manchester Met isn't that far down either so she could actually get a tram to St Peter's Square from Piccadilly and then walk down Oxford St and then Oxford Road. Dead easy.

Wow this is a crazy level of overreaction it's a city there's people everywhere. I walk around it all the time completely on my own and I've never had any hassle.

She'll be fine, I work in the CC, never had any issues, just keep your bag close and valuables hidden and you'll be fine.

Getting to ma met Oxford road campus is dead easy too - I would walk from town but there are approx 1 million buses that go past it every day