Festive dates for your diary

We're expecting a lot of people to travel to our lovely city over the festive period, so please plan ahead.

We have identified a number of days that we recommend you use public transport to avoid getting stuck in traffic, as there will be more congestion on the roads resulting in delays.

Whether you are out meeting friends and family, getting those last minute deals or returning home from work, please take a look at our advice below to help you avoid disruption on the busiest travel days:

Key events

Manchester City v Leverkusen - 8pm at The Etihad
Christmas Markets

Key advice

On match days, there is a 6 minute tram service from the city centre to Etihad Campus, consider travelling by tram to not get caught up in anticipated heavy traffic.
Dedicated match day shuttle buses operate across Greater Manchester for all first team Manchester City fixtures, check to see if one travels near you.
An away fan walk will take place from Manchester City Centre to the stadium from approx 5pm. We expect journey times along Great Ancoats Street and Ashton New Road to be significantly delayed as the walk makes its way to the stadium. Please consider alternative routes or travel earlier if possible.
If you are travelling into the city centre to visit the Christmas Markets or work, we strongly advise you to use public transport. If you have no alternative but to drive, consider using a Park and Ride and complete your journey by tram, or re-route or re-time your journey to avoid the busiest times and areas.

Key events on Black Friday weekend

Friday 28 November

Bad Omens at Co-op Live - 7pm
Wolf Alice at AO Arena - 7pm
Christmas Markets

Saturday 29 November

Sonny Fodera at Co-op Live - 7pm
Manchester City v Leeds at The Etihad - 3pm
Hauser at AO Arena – 7pm
Christmas Markets

Over this weekend, we are anticipating a very busy city centre, with congestion likely around the Christmas Markets, event venues, shopping centres and car parks.

Key advice

If you are travelling into the city centre to shop over the Black Friday weekend, visit an event, go to the Christmas Markets or work, we strongly advise you to use public transport. If you have no alternative but to drive, consider using a Park and Ride and complete your journey by tram, or re-route or re-time your journey to avoid the busiest times and areas.
Pop up park and rides have been put in place every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 8pm offering 1,000 free parking spaces to help people easily get to Manchester this Christmas. You can find out more via our dedicated webpage.
Travelling to the Trafford Centre for Black Friday? It’s one of the busiest times of the year so please plan your journey and consider using public transport. The quietest times to visit are on Friday 28 November between 2pm and 4pm or after 8pm. If you’re heading down on Saturday, the quietest times are before 12pm or after 6pm.
On Saturday, if travelling to either Co-op Live or Etihad Stadium, please allow plenty of time to travel as trams, buses and roads will be busier than normal with fans travelling to both events. Consider using the walking route from Piccadilly to Etihad Campus. It takes approximately 25 minutes and all you need to do is follow the 'CityLinks' signs along the way.
Frequent tram services will be operating to the venues from the city centre but the increased number of users will mean trams will be busier and additional time should be allowed for travel.
If you do need to drive, make sure you plan ahead. Avoid the city centre ring road for cross city trips - you will be delayed, consider using the M60 or outer ring road.

We expect the busiest times to be from 3pm to 7pm on Friday, 4pm to 9pm on Saturday and 3pm to 6:30pm on Sunday.

Congestion is heaviest around Shudehill, Deansgate, Quay Street, Blackfriars, and the areas surrounding the major night life, shopping, entertainment venues, stadiums and rail stations —so allow extra time if you’re travelling through these hotspots.

Key events

Over this weekend, we are anticipating a very busy city centre, with congestion likely around the Christmas Markets, event venues, shopping centres and car parks.

Key advice

If you are travelling into the city centre to visit an event, go to the Christmas Markets or work, we strongly advise you to use public transport. If you have no alternative but to drive, consider using a Park and Ride and complete your journey by tram, or re-route or re-time your journey to avoid the busiest times and areas.
Pop up park and rides have been put in place every Saturday and Sundey from 9am to 8pm offering 1,000 free parking spaces to help people easily get to Manchester this Christmas. You can find out more via our dedicated webpage.
Frequent tram services will be operating to the venues from the city centre (up to every six minutes) but the increased number of users will mean trams will be busier and additional time should be allowed for travel.
If travelling to either Co-op Live or Etihad Stadium, please allow plenty of time to travel as trams, buses and roads will be busier than normal with fans travelling to both events. Consider using the walking route from Piccadilly to Etihad Campus. It takes approximately 25 minutes and all you need to do is follow the 'CityLinks' signs along the way.
If you do need to drive, make sure you plan ahead. Avoid the city centre ring road for cross city trips - you will be delayed, consider using the M60 or outer ring road.

We expect the busiest times to be from 4pm to 9pm on Saturdays.

Congestion is heaviest around Shudehill, Deansgate, Quay Street, Blackfriars, and the areas surrounding the major night life, shopping, entertainment venues, stadiums and rail stations — so allow extra time if you’re travelling through these hotspots.

Key events

Over this weekend, we are anticipating a very busy city centre, with congestion likely around the Christmas Markets, event venues, shopping centres and car parks.

Key advice

We expect the busiest times to be from 3pm to 6:30pm on Sundays

Four pop-up park and rides will launch on Saturday 22 November, offering 1,000 free parking spaces to help people easily get to Manchester this Christmas. They will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 9am to 8pm.

The park and rides will be located at Booth Street West, Central Park, Belle Vue and Irwell Place.

Parking is free and there will be direct express buses into the city centre, with services at least every 20 minutes from 9am to 8pm.

The buses will be just £2 for a single or £4 for a return for adults and free for under 16s and concessionary pass holders.

You can find out more information on our dedicated webpage.

Christmas is the Trafford Centre's busiest time of year, with thousands of festive shoppers making a journey each day. Please plan your travel ahead and consider using public transport.

As journeys by car will take significantly longer in the next few weeks, consider using one of the many Metrolink park and ride sites and continuing your journey by tram.

The closest park and ride site to the Trafford Centre is Ladywell, with 432 parking spaces.

Quieter times to travel over the festive period

Whilst the Trafford Centre will be incredibly busy in the run up to Christmas and the New Year, some dates are expected to be quieter than others.

Consider travelling during these times to miss the festive rush and beat congestion:

Black Friday

Friday 28th November - before 12pm, between 2pm and 4pm or after 8pm.
Saturday 29th November - before 12pm or after 6pm.
Sunday 30th November - after 4pm.

Before Christmas

Quieter times are weekdays before 12pm or after 8pm. Weekends before 12pm, between 2pm and 4pm or after 8pm.
Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd - Before 12pm or after 8pm.
Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24th - Before 12pm or after 2pm

After Christmas

Boxing Day, Friday 26th - Before 12pm
Saturday 27th - Before 12pm or after 6pm.
Sunday 28th - After 4pm
Monday 29th - Before 12pm or after 6pm.
Tuesday 30th - Before 12pm
New Years Eve, Wednesday 31st - Before 12pm or after 2pm.
New Years Day, Thursday 1st January - Before 2pm or after 4pm.
Friday 2nd January - Before 12pm or after 6pm.
Saturday 3rd January - Before 12pm or after 6pm.
Sunday 4th January - After 4pm.

You can take a look at the tram network map to plan your route.

We have a dedicated webpage with all the latest travel advice to help you travel to the Trafford Centre by public transport.

As part of a joint approach by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to manage the sheer volume of people coming into the centre to experience everything it has to offer, a number of measures have been introduced:

Free park and ride locations: Together providing 1,000 spaces, the new park and rides will open every Saturday and Sunday from this Saturday (22 November) until 21 December.

People can park for free and jump on a dedicated direct express bus into the city centre, with services at least every 20 minutes from 9am to 8pm. The buses will be just £2 for a single or £4 for a return for adults and free for under 16s.

The park and rides will be located at Booth Street West*, Central Park, Belle Vue and Irwell Place.

*Booth Street West will not open this Saturday (22nd November) due to a planned event with the first day of service at this location Sunday (23rd November).

Later trams and all-night buses: The Bee Network is also the best way to get home from your festive nights out, trams will run until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and many buses run late into the night and some all night long. Extra double trams will also be running at busy times.

Collaboration behind the scenes: On the busiest days, staff from GMP and the City Council will be in TfGM’s Control Centre to allow for even better collaboration. CCTV coverage of the city centre is being enhanced with dedicated staff to monitor it 24/7.

Changes at key city centre locations: Manchester City Council is also taking steps to keep the city moving. This includes temporary weekend parking restrictions on Swan Street and Liverpool Street, weekend closures inbound on Corporation Street to reduce congestion around Shudehill, and a no right turn from the Arndale car park to ease congestion on Withy Grove.

Yellow box junctions are also going to be repainted, cameras installed at a number of key locations, and the number of civil enforcement officers in the city centre will be increased with officers targeting the areas with the most issues. The council will also have the ability to move vehicles breaking parking rules, blocking roads or causing obstructions.