Manchester Park and Ride

[QueenofLouisiana]

I’d like to use the P&R tomorrow to avoid driving into the city centre. We’d be coming in from the M6 northbound, can anyone suggest the best place for us to head towards?
I’ve looked at naps and the website, but as we don’t know the city, it’s not very clear. We are aiming towards the university.
Thank you to any MNetter who can help.

The tram isn’t the best way of getting to the main university area around Oxford rd- none of the lines stop anywhere near there. Your closest stop would be St Peter’s Square, but it’s a good 15 minute walk from there.

Parking in Manchester is very easy, not too costly and in plenty supply. Google car parks near your destination and set your satnav

Look up if the train goes from eccles or salford crescent to oxford road station. I think it does! Not sure on parking at these stations as its not a park and ride but the park and ride at Swinton does go to the centre along the a580

The walk up to oxford road is fine from at peters square if you got a tram in btw.

Otherwise look at parking at say Irlam/warrington off the m6 and just getting the train in from there

I realise you might not know where any of these places are but if you do, you might save yourself the bother of driving in

But if you do drive in as long as you do it outside rush hour its fine! A lot of the car parks are around the main centre and very easy to drive to. Expensive but easy!

You can aim for the Worsley Park & Ride, loads of spaces and the V1/V2/V4 buses are pretty much every 5 mins from the bus stop 60 seconds away. They're the big purple buses. I think their destination is the MRI hospitals so I'm fairly certain they'll all head near/alongside Oxford Road where the universities are.

Coming down the M6 and then the East Lancs A580 might be your best way of getting to this park and ride (I think, maybe don't quote me on that as my motorway knowledge is shite).

Or maybe the M61, I don't actually know the best motorway route to advise you 😂 but I'd definitely recommend this P&R

Brilliant! Thank you for all the advice. We are trying to visit a few cities with DS ahead of UCAS form-filling. The last few years have been spent very rurally so he needs some idea about the places he’s hoping to put on his form.

I really appreciate all your advice.

I would second the Worsley park and ride on the A580. The V1 and V2 are very regular services and if you don't know your way around a strange city it is so much easier than struggling. Buses terminate at MRI and the University is one stop before. Oxford road is closed to traffic except buses so it's a breeze.

I managed to park in the multistorey car park next to the university on an open day by getting there quite early. If it isn't an open day, and it is holidays I should think you would have no bother getting a space there.