Anyone know manchester arena/manchester in general

[bonkersplonkers]

Hello. I don't know Manchester at all and wondered if this is feasible. I'd like to go to a concert at the arena in December. I'd be travelling probably by train arriving at the station not nearest the arena (is it Piccadilly?). I'd have to get a taxi then to the arena area, and stay the night. Would it be safe for a lone female to go to the concert (I'm not worried about the concert itself and to say which one would be outing, but it's for adults) and walk to a hotel nearby? I'd imagine it would be 10-11pm at night. Are there any hotels which are really really close? Are there lots of exits to the arena which mean some are closer than others?

There is a small possibility I could drive, I see there's a car park for the arena, would this involving leaving the building after the concert? I could then drive out if the city to a hotel on the way home.

Thanks a lot

You can get the tram directly from Piccadilly to Victoria station, which is attached to the Arena, so no taxi needed. I think there is a Premier Inn next to the Arena that would be a 5 minute walk, in crowds after the concert, so safe, but wouldn’t stay further afield.

I have stayed in Manchester a few times alone for meetings and always felt as safe as I would in my local town/city.
Last time I stayed in Hotel Indigo, literally at the end of the street from the arena and a convenient 2min walk to Selfridges for some essential shopping 😇.

Brilliant answers thank you so much, had no idea there was a tram. With the hotel Indigo, does anyone know if some entrances would be closer than others, is it possible it could be a lot longer of a walk? Would the path between that hotel and the arena be very busy after the concert (what I want obviously) or is it more away from the main thoroughfare?

I live in Manchester and go to the arena a lot.
It will be very busy after a show ends. If it’s a weekend Manchester City centre will be packed anyway. Don’t worry.
it’s an easy walk to any of the city centre hotels.
totally safe for a lone female at that time, just avoid hanging about in Piccadilly gardens (the main central square) if you can, be as sensible as you would in any major city but you’ll be fine!

There's a premier inn just across the road from the arena (opposite a huuuge wedding warehouse called Celebration Village!)

There will be literally thousands of people leaving the arena towards the local car parks, hotels and stations/tram stops at the end of the concert so you'll be part of a crowd and perfectly safe.

I wouldn’t worry about going out of the right exit for safety reasons, there will be so many people leaving the gig it’ll be busy and safe in all directions. I’m a very safety conscious young ish female and wouldn’t have any concerns about doing this.

(Also I’m not sure saying which event would be outing giving there is a 20,000 capacity to the arena and a good portion of those would likely be travelling and staying over, but no need to disclose, it doesn’t add to the facts anyway!)

Thanks a million, it's not a weekend but very close to Christmas so I think busy.

Hi, if you can go to any train station go to Manchester Victoria, it’s attached to the arena (assuming you’re going to the AO arena). There will be thousands of people leaving at the same time if so. Around a minutes walk away there is a hotel called the Crowne Plaza which a lot of people stay at when they go to the arena.

There are multiple premier inn/ travel lodges/ independent hotels in Manchester but I’d book in advance to get good rates.

I wouldn’t use the arena car park as people cross the car park exit by foot when they leave so it takes absolutely ages to get out.

The Christmas markets will be on so where where will be well lit but also absolutely rammed so I’d be wary of pick pockets, take a bag that zips.

Hope this helps and enjoy!

I used the exit closest, it was the Victoria station side and took 3/4min, but honestly it was so busy I would have felt ok walking regardless.

Also since then DD18 and her friend went to a gig there and DH booked them into the Indigo too for the same reason.

We have stayed in the premier inn the other side of the cathedral before too and walked back at midnight with the kids after a late dinner/film and always felt safe.

I went and it was amazing! Stayed at the Indigo which was lovely, thanks for the tips. Was mega busy walking back, didn't feel unsafe at any time. Lovely christmas markets, went for a meal, mastered the tram. Thanks a million everyone.