Calling Manchester Mumsnetters…

[MimiGC]

AIBU to worry about my daughter visiting Manchester City Centre alone, at night? She’s arriving early evening, but it will be dark. She will have to walk from Manchester Piccadilly to a nearby hotel, which should only take 5 mins or so, but she doesn’t know the way, so will have her phone out , following Google maps.
I know I sound ridiculously over protective, but the last time I visited Manchester myself (2019), I had a short walk at night from the train station and was approached/accosted by about 5-6 different male beggars, asking for money, a few quite persistent. I was with another woman at the time and we were both quite startled by the experience. I grew up in London and still visit regularly, but had not experienced anything like that before.
My DD has only ever lived in a very safe, small town and is not really streetwise…the next morning she has to make her way to a Manchester Met Uni building on Oxford Road. I’ve suggested a taxi, but any tips for alternatives would be appreciated.
Is it comfortable/safe for a young woman alone in Manchester at night? I know the city is full of girls and women who live there, so I’m aware I’m sounding a bit ridiculous, but I guess I am asking what is the reality and how can I prepare her?

A taxi would take her longer to get there than by foot. She's staying at Motel One which you can see from the station - and she doesn't have to go via Piccadilly Gardens to get there.

She will be fine!
Airpods in with maps giving directions so no need for her phone to be out.

@MimiGC have your daughter download citymapper

eta; she can keep her phone in her bag/pocket and listen to audible directions with earbuds

this is route from hotel to MMU 16min walk or 13min by bus

Around Piccadilly was supposed to be really dodgy in the early 1990s but I never had any problems even then. It's a lot smarter now.

She needs to leave via the back way - to the taxi rank and it’s much quieter and safer that way as well as more convenient for the hotel

Motel one is almost inside picadilly, you could barely get closer. If she follows the directions the previous poster gave, she be outside for about 2 minutes max and nowhere near picadilly gardens

Your daughter will be fine walking to her hotel but she shouldn't walk with her phone out she needs to put in one ear bud and have her phone tucked away out of site. The city is busy even on an evening so she won't be alone on the streets. Stick to the main streets and don't walk directly through Piccadilly Gardens as it is a bit notorious for being a hang out for sketchy characters. Everywhere else is fine. She doesn't need to get a bus or taxi to the uni either. Depending on where she's staying it'll be a 10-15 min walk to Oxford Road. It's easy to navigate and very busy. Look at google maps before she goes so she's familiar with her route

It’s an all day audition/ acting workshop, rather than an open day, so nothing for parents to see or do.

Just seen your update on hotel - it's across the road from the station and she will be perfectly fine. Ignore all the comments and tell her to walk in the morning - trams, buses and taxis will all take longer! It's an easy walk straight down Whitworth Street to the junction of Oxford Road at the Palace Theatre/Refuge hotel and then a left turn towards the uni further up Oxford Road. It'll take her 10 minutes to get there. Man Met is on the right hand side of the road and has buildings both sides of All Saints park. Manchester is a fab city

Thank you, this is so very helpful, just the level of detail I was after.

Another way is to exit the station at the front of the building on the concourse level, go across the walkbridge, turn back towards London Road, turn right, walk down to the Piccadilly Hotel (which is more of a pub), turn the corner and you are at the Motel One. Even with my dodgy hip it took me about 5 minutes to walk there.

Recently visited to be fair it well lit up and hotels are close x