Boroughs

All Greater Manchester boroughs to have 24-7 night buses from next month as new services launch

It's one of several new improvements.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 12th August 2026

Extra night buses, new routes, and more frequent bus services are being rolled out across the Bee Network at the end of this month.

You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy, and now plans to introduce these from September onwards have been confirmed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), along with a series of other measures.

Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford will all get a 24-hour bus service by next month, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.

It’s expected that once the new services have launched, it will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.

Some of the other changes set to be introduced from next month include a selection of brand-new bus services, and more frequent buses during the day and at the weekends.

ADVERTISEMENT
All Greater Manchester boroughs will have 24-7 night buses from next month / Credit: TfGM

There will also be better connections overall to key employment and leisure destinations like Manchester Airport, Trafford Centre, MediaCity, Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton, Kingsway Business Park, and Logistics North.

“The Bee Network belongs to the people of Greater Manchester and it needs to work for every community,” explained Mayor Bev Craig.

ADVERTISEMENT

“As we build it, we’re listening and responding to what residents want with the biggest set of improvements we’ve ever made in one go.

“We’re bringing night buses to every borough, launching new routes and ensuring buses run more often in the mornings, evenings and weekends. In doing so, we’re making it easier than ever for people to get around the city region by bus, but we’re also supporting our businesses, whose staff and customers need a reliable and safe way to reach them.

“Almost three quarters of a million people live within walking distance of a bus route we’re improving over the next few months, and we’ll continue improving connections for even more communities based on the feedback we get.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more:

Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.

Featured Image – Aleksandr Popov (via Unsplash)

Boroughs

Everything you need to know about watching the solar eclipse in Greater Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

People all across the UK will be able to see an almost total solar eclipse in the sky this evening.

For the first time this century, with the last one being all the way back in 1999, people in the UK and Ireland – including here in Greater Manchester – will get to see 90-96% of the sun covered by the moon today (12 August 2026), and if that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, this will be the last chance to do so until 2081.

NASA and Royal Museums Greenwich has confirmed that tomorrow’s solar eclipse will be the most coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 event.

But what can astronomy fans in Greater Manchester expect from today’s eclipse? When will it be happening? How much coverage is our region going to see? And where are some of the best places to watch?

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is a solar eclipse?

First up, let’s get the basics out the way – what is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun’s light either partly or fully.

Although the UK will only see a partial solar eclipse this time, some other countries – such as parts of Iceland, Spain, Portugal, and Greenland – will be lucky enough to witness the spectacle of a total eclipse for a duration of up to two minutes and 18 seconds.

When will it be happening?

The eclipse is set to start at 6:13pm in Greater Manchester, and will run right through to 8:03pm – with the peak happening at 7:10pm.

How much coverage can Greater Manchester expect?

Of course, we always have to preface anything we say about astronomical events like this by saying ‘it depends on the weather’, as we do like in the North West after all, and even though it is the height of summer, that won’t stop the skies from being overcast.

Luckily though, the Met Office is predicting some of the best weather conditions for an event like this in a long time, so it really is worth watching.

Spectators in Manchester will see 91.9% coverage, according to expert sources.

Where are some of the best places to watch the solar eclipse in Greater Manchester?

As a general rule, any open and elevated position with a view to the West will be the best place to catch a glimpse of this rare spectacle.

But across Greater Manchester, we have plenty of those, so some of the most recommended places to see the solar eclipse include Werneth Low, Rivington Pike, or even Salford Quays. There are also a number of dedicated viewing events happening in places like Heaton Park, Platt Fields Park, and Barton Aerodrome to make the most of.

How can I watch the eclipse safely?

If there’s one thing experts are stressing, it’s the need to take correct precautions if you are planning to watch tomorrow.

The most important thing is to wear eclipse glasses and avoid looking directly at the sun.

It’s true that during an eclipse, the sun does appears dimmer therefore making it easier to look at directly, however solar radiation can still reach and damage the retina, often without causing any pain, so you may not realise harm is occurring until it’s too late.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advises that there are two safe approaches – specialist eclipse viewers, or indirect viewing methods.

Eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers must be genuine, sold by a reputable retailer, and have specially designed filters that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015(E). They must also have no scratches, tearing, or damage to the lens.

Read more:

Old pairs may not be reusable, and sunglasses should never be used.

Indirect view methods include viewing the sun’s image projected through a colander or the gaps between tree leaves on to white paper, or using a pinhole pierced in one sheet of card and projected on to another.

Featured Image – Mathew Schwartz (via Unsplash)

Boroughs

New BBC series based on bestselling book to film in Manchester with big-name actors

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new BBC series based on a bestselling book is set to begin filming in Manchester.

The new series, titled You Are Here, is described as being an ‘honest, witty, and tender’ love story based on David Nicholls’ critically acclaimed novel of the same name – with the author having also written the eight-part adaptation set to be directed Lenny Abrahamson, who is best known for BBC‘s cult-classic miniseries Normal People, and the Oscar-nominated Room (2015).

Set along the Coast to Coast walking trail from the Lake District to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, You Are Here tells the story of Marnie and Michael.

When a mutual friend throws them together, Marnie and Michael unexpectedly find themselves setting off on an epic walk.

Against the odds, they end up on the brink of a relationship that neither was looking for, but might be exactly what they both need.

Treading the tricky path from loneliness to love, Marnie and Michael go coast-to-coast across the stunning English countryside, navigating an undeniable attraction along the way that is just as exhilarating as it is terrifying.

Producers say the series is about finding a connection when you least expect it and overcoming the obstacles of midlife.

Set to be filmed across Manchester and the Lake District, it has been announced that respected actors Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen will take on the lead roles of Marnie and Michael.

“I’m so delighted to be working on You Are Here with Element, the BBC, Starz, and Lenny, whose work I’ve admired for many years,” commented David Nicholls.

“And Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic.

Read more:

“The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that’s our ambition here too – to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion.

“We can’t wait to bring Marnie and Michael’s journey to the screen.”

Featured Image – Juankr and Josh Wool (via BBC Press Office)

More Boroughs

Boroughs

New Mayor Bev Craig announces £20m fund to ‘revitalise’ Greater Manchester high streets

Art & Culture

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 10 – 16 August 2026

Boroughs

Multi-million pound rail upgrades to cancel trains on major Manchester lines this month

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches