Getting to the AO Arena

The AO Arena, boasting a 21,000-capacity in located in the heart of Manchester. The venue has hosted some of the biggest talents in the world.

Key travel advice

Don't forget, emergency tram works are taking place at Deansgate-Castlefield from start of service until 2pm.

During this time, no trams will operate through Deansgate-Castlefield and service changes will be in place across the network

If you're heading to see Disney on Ice at 10.30am or 2.30pm from West/South Manchester, a bus replacement service will operate between Cornbrook and Victoria, serving Deansgate-Castlefield, St Peter's Square, Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill in both directions.

Alternatively, customers can also hop onboard the Bury line at Piccadilly Gardens for a direct tram to Victoria.

For customers travelling from Rochdale, Bury and Ashton-under-Lyne, you can board a direct tram service to Victoria. Please alight at this stop for the arena.

For customers attending the event at 6.30pm, cross-city tram services will have resumed, though customers may need to change trams to reach Victoria.

For more information on how to continue your journey, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Disney on Ice - Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 December, 5.30pm
Disney on Ice - Friday 12 December, 2.30pm and 6.30pm
Disney on Ice - Saturday 13 December, 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm
Disney on Ice - Sunday 14 December, 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm
Jimmy Carr - Tuesday 16 December
Wicked Wizard of Oz, A Cirque Spectacular - Tuesday 23 December
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live - Saturday 3 January, 11.30am and 6.30pm
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live - Sunday 4 January, 11.30am

Ongoing and upcoming tram works may cause disruption to your journey. If you're travelling on the dates of planned improvement works, plan ahead and allow more time for your journey.

Works starting in December

Sunday 14 December: Deansgate-Castlefield Emergency Tram Works (start of service until 2pm)

View the full list of all planned tram improvement works.

Trinity Way, Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road will be closed after events for approximately one hour.

Travel by tram

The AO Arena is served on multiple tram lines, with the Manchester Victoria stop being located directly next to the venue.

Manchester Victoria (Bury - Altrincham, East Didsbury - Rochdale/Shaw and Crompton and Manchester Airport lines)

Tram services run frequently throughout the day - you can check the first and last trams from Victoria on our tram schedule webpage.

The service connects you directly to key city centre destinations such as Piccadilly and Victoria and provides easy access to all 99 stops on the network across Greater Manchester.

For more information, take a look at the tram network map.

Metrolink are constantly improving the network for customers. Make sure you check the tram planned improvements webpage before you travel to see if any works will affect your route.

If you have to drive, did you know that there are 24 park and ride sites in Greater Manchester, where you can park your car for free and hop on the tram to your destination? The nearest Park and Ride sites to the AO Arena are:

Whitefield (Bury line) - 331 spaces and 13 disabled spaces - 20 minutes direct service from the AO Arena.
Radcliffe (Bury line) - 480 spaces and 22 disabled spaces - 23 minutes direct service from the AO Arena.
Sale Water Park (Airport line) - 285 spaces and 16 disabled spaces - 29 minute direct service from the AO Arena.

Or, if travelling from further afield, you may want to consider leaving your car for free at:

Ashton Moss (Ashton line) - 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces - 23 minutes to Piccadilly Station then change onto a Bury service to Victoria.
Ashton West (Ashton line) - 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces - 26 minutes to Piccadilly Station then change onto a Bury service to Victoria.
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) - 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces - 24 minutes to Cornbrook then change onto either a Victoria, Rochdale/Shaw and Crompton or Bury service to Victoria.

Beat the queue at the machines and tap-in and out at the on-stop machines using contactless.

Save money and travel with the family using our family travelcard. Remember, this is only available on the on-stop ticket machines.

The venue is located in Zone 1. A 1-day anytime travelcard from Manchester city centre costs £2.70 for an adult. Further information can be found on our tram ticket price webpage.

Alternatively, why not download the Bee Network app now to plan your journey, get live departure times and buy your bus and tram tickets? You can also track buses and rate your journey.

Travel on Bee Network buses

If you are intending to catch a bus to or from the AO Arena, the following Bee Network bus services will bring you closest to the venue:

Along Victoria Station approach - a 1-minute walk from the venue

Along Corporation Street - a 3-minute walk from the venue

Along Shudehill - a 6-minute walk from the venue

Along Trinity Way - a 7-minute walk to the venue

59 - Oldham Mumps - Chadderton - Middleton - Piccadilly Gardens

Many buses also stop at Piccadilly Gardens, which is a 15-minute walk from the AO Arena.

Journey times could also be impacted due to the increased levels of traffic, so be sure to plan ahead and allow extra time for your travel.

You can check for any disruption to your service by visiting our travel alerts hub and searching your bus number.

The Bee Bus single ‘hopper’ ticket costs £2 for adults and £1 for children. You can only buy this ticket on the bus.

Use this ticket for a single trip and you can then use the hopper ticket to travel on other Bee Network buses, for no additional cost, within 60 minutes of buying your ticket.

Just keep hold of your paper ticket and scan the QR code on your next bus.

Travel by train

The AO Arena is attached to Manchester Victoria train station, which is well-served by trains, connecting the arena to all corners of the north.

Along with Manchester Victoria, the nearest railway stations to the venue are below.

Remember to plan your journey in advance of your trip by checking with your operator or on the National Rail website.

Travel by car

Congestion on the roads close to the AO Arena will start to build from around two hours before the doors open for each event as ticket holders begin to arrive.

We have identified some traffic hot spots near the arena to help you plan your journey:

Travelling from the North - Cheetham Hill Road and Great Ducie Street.
Travelling from the East - Great Ancoats Street.
Travelling from the West - Chapel Street, Trinity Way and the Inner Ring Road.

Please be aware that travel times may vary dependent on a variety of factors, including whether it is an evening or weekend event and whether there are other events taking place in Manchester. We will continue to update this webpage as our knowledge of journey times develops.

Since 5 August, Deansgate has changed and is now one way southbound between Quay Street and Liverpool Road, customers who normally use Deansgate should seek alternative routes. Full details of the scheme and diversion information can be found on the Manchester City Council website.

Post-event, road closures will be in place immediately to allow pedestrians to leave the AO Arena safely. They will be in place for approximately 60 minutes. The roads affected are as follows:

Trinity Way between Great Ducie Street and Cheetham Hill Road.

There is an on-site car park available at the AO Arena with 958 spaces which include accessible bays that can be pre-booked on the official website.

There are thousands of car parking space available in the city centre on an evening, including car parks at the city's universities, such as Booth Street West car park off Oxford Road. If you have to drive, take a look at our city centre parking map (please note this map shows locations only) or consider using a Metrolink Park and Ride site.

Walking routes

The AO Arena is a 15-minute walk from the heart of Manchester.

There are plenty of walking routes from bus, tram and rail stops within the city centre.

Visit the Bee Active website to take a look at the area around the AO Arena. This includes tram stops for those that would like to combine walking with Metrolink travel. Just type the postcode 'M3 1AR' for the arena, so that you may consider making a change to your travel habits.

Address and contact details

The AO Arena is located in the centre of Manchester, part of the Victoria Station complex on the corner of Trinity Way, Hunts Bank and Great Ducie Street.

The venue's postcode is M3 1AR.

The venue is encouraging fans to travel as sustainably as possible and it is accessible by foot via the designated step-free walking route, bike, tram, bus and car.

Got a question about getting to the AO Arena? Tweet us @BeeNetwork or visit our contact us page for other ways to connect with TfGM.

Accessibility on the network

In Greater Manchester, we want everyone to travel safely and easily. We have a variety of accessibility guides suited to your journey on our accessibility hub and some key information for travelling by Metrolink and bus below.

Accessibility on Metrolink

Metrolink is a modern system with a range of accessibility features. All Metrolink trams and tram stops are accessible for wheelchair users.

Every tram stop has:

A ramp, lift, or escalator - for the latest service updates for lifts and escalators at your stop, visit our dedicated webpage.
Step-free access for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs
CCTV and emergency call-points
platforms with tactile edges for visually impaired passengers.

Every tram has:

An area for people who use wheelchairs
Space for pushchairs
Seats marked for people who have trouble standing
Emergency call points.

For further information on the accessibility of Metrolink, please visit the accessibility hub.

Accessibility on the bus

Many buses have ramps and can accommodate wheelchairs. Some new buses also have display screens, route numbers, destination displays and audio-visual ‘next stop’ announcements.

A lot of bus operators have low floor buses to make it easier for people who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and those with small children and pushchairs.

For further information, visit our accessibility hub and select your bus operator for their accessibility policies.

Accessibility on Metrolink

Metrolink is a modern system with a range of accessibility features. All Metrolink trams and tram stops are accessible for wheelchair users.

Every tram stop has:

A ramp, lift, or escalator - for the latest service updates for lifts and escalators at your stop, visit our dedicated webpage.
Step-free access for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs
CCTV and emergency call-points
platforms with tactile edges for visually impaired passengers.

Every tram has:

An area for people who use wheelchairs
Space for pushchairs
Seats marked for people who have trouble standing
Emergency call points.

For further information on the accessibility of Metrolink, please visit the accessibility hub.

Accessibility on the bus

Many buses have ramps and can accommodate wheelchairs. Some new buses also have display screens, route numbers, destination displays and audio-visual ‘next stop’ announcements.

A lot of bus operators have low floor buses to make it easier for people who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and those with small children and pushchairs.

For further information, visit our accessibility hub and select your bus operator for their accessibility policies.

The Bee Network is Greater Manchester’s new, joined up transport network.

We’re making it easier to get around on safe, affordable, reliable services that get you where you need to go.

All bus services in Greater Manchester are now under local control as part of the Bee Network, making it easier for you to get around.

Bus company tickets are not valid on Bee Network services so make sure you’ve got the right ticket for your journey.

Download the Bee Network app so you can plan and pay for your journey in one place, track live buses, and rate your journey.

Find out more about the Bee Network.