How to get to the Trafford Centre?

[BlowingAKiss]

We’re staying in the middle of Manchester City Centre but with no car.

What’s the best way to get to the Trafford Centre?

We will have a 2 year old in a pram.

There is the tram. Stops near selfridges

An Uber is also an option, it's not too expensive

The trams are great on Manchester (people from Manchester may disagree, I don’t know, I’m a country bumpkin and we have one bus every hour and a half).

Yes, tram from the city centre! Hopefully someone can tell you which line it is/where to get on?

I'd avoid Uber as the M60 is awful at the moment.

What tram stop are you closest to OP? I think all city centre trams head towards Cornbrook interchange, you would change there for the Trafford Centre line, you would need a ticket for zone 1/2&3.

From the city centre, pick up any tram heading to Eccles, Altrincham or Manchester Airport and then change at Cornbrook for the Trafford Centre. Journey time is 34 min and trams are every 12 min.

Altringham is really nicer a visit and something eat, there is a lovely food hall& artisan market just a short walk up from the tram stop.

Just incase you want to go somewhere else after the Trafford centre

Metro link red line goes to TC
Tbeir

Thanks everyone! We saw there was a tram but we were confused about how to use it 😅

We will be near Piccadilly Gardens.

So which line is best? Is there any direct?

How do you pay? Before or after you get on the tram?

There are ticket machines at tram stops

Either the Eccles or Altricham line to Cornbrook and then change there for the Trafford Centre line, ticket stations are at every platform, you just need to select zone 1, 2 & 3 and pay. You can use cash or card.

Make sure you get a day ticket per person and under fives travel for free!

If you get on at Piccadilly Gardens you need the side of the stop that faces away from the gardens so you're looking at the buses (so the big Primark and Burger King are to your right)

Just jump on a tram as described and change. It's very easy.

Not direct but doesn't need to be. Changing is simple even with a pram.

Use this journey planner if you want

Tram is generally quicker than driving in heavy traffic periods. When it's quiet I could drive quicker. I reckon a taxi woukd be £25 or 30.

tfgm.com/plan-a-journey

You can tap in and out (contactless) at the tram stop before you get on/after you get off and it will calculate your fare

Thanks all! Lots of good information here that I think we’ll be able to figure it out 😊

Can’t take a taxi/Uber as no car seat.

We don’t have trams near us and have never used them so trying to work them out from google or their website was not helping at all 😅

Download citymapper OP, it's the best app for U.K. city travel.

Where are you from? Outside the U.K. or somewhere very rural?

Make sure you buy your ticket before you get on BTW

Thank you!

Yes, just rural. The kind of place buses only run every 2/3 hours 😅

The only thing about tapping in is not forgetting to tap out when you end your journey. They will charge a default fare if you don't tap out after a certain time period. (DP did this once). Easier to buy a day ticket and keep it safe.