Thinking of Moving to Manchester? Here are 6 tips for commuting in the big city
With so many people moving to the city, Manchester’s local council has been working hard to ensure that there are many different commuting options to help you get where you need to go.
Thinking of Moving to Manchester? Here Are 6 Tips For Commuting in the Big City
Manchester is a beautiful and diverse city, full of creative businesses and amazing attractions, which is why it’s no wonder that so many individuals move here every year.
With so many people moving to the city, Manchester’s local council has been working hard to ensure that there are many different commuting options to help you get where you need to go.
If you’re thinking about moving to Manchester in the future, then we’ve got a selection of tips on how you can make your commute simple and straightforward.
Know Your Route
Before you start looking at commuting options, you should check the most common routes that you’ll need to take when you live in the city. This means exploring where you would work, and roughly where you would live, and then working out how far you’d need to travel. You can then explore the quickest routes and the transport options that you have. It’s not always possible to plan out an exact route before you make your move to the city, but by having a rough idea of where you’re going and the areas that you’ll need to travel through, you’ll have a better chance of optimising your commute and saving yourself time in the future.
Check Out Public Transport Options
Public transport is prevalent throughout Manchester, and the city boasts everything from regular trains and buses through to Manchester Metrolink, the city’s tram service. When you’re thinking about how to commute around Manchester, you should explore the public transport options you have and try to work out the quickest and most efficient route. You might need to use more than one type of transport or even walk part of the journey in some cases, so learn what you’ll need to do and consider whether it’s the right option for you.
Consider Leasing A Car
If you’re not a fan of public transport, or you have to travel far to reach your destination, then you might want to drive a car. Buying a vehicle outright is costly and means that you’ll be responsible for maintaining, checking and selling your car. An easier option is to lease a car. With a leased car, you get the flexibility to upgrade your vehicle once your lease is up, without having to go through the work of selling your old car. Companies like Vantage Leasing are based in Manchester and offer a range of car leasing options, so you can find the one that suits your needs with ease.
Find A Carpool
For non-drivers or anyone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint, a carpool could be the ideal solution. By joining with a group of commuters who regularly drive in the same direction to and from work, you can save money, reduce your impact on the environment and make new friends all at the same time. Ask if your new workplace in Manchester has a carpool already organised and see if there is a space available in it for you. If your organisation is small, then you might want to check out community carpools or join with people who live near you and work in the same part of the city.
Learn About The Busiest Times To Travel
As well as distance, it would help if you also considered the time that you travel to your destination. Certain times of day are busier than others, so you might find that you get stuck in traffic or get crammed uncomfortably onto your chosen form of public transport. If possible, you should see if you can travel at less congested times of the day. For example, if you have the option to adjust your working hours and work flexibility, then you might want to start and leave work during times that aren’t as busy so that you can travel in ease and comfort.
Try Cycling
Cycling is a great way to exercise and reach your destination quickly and efficiently. Bikes are easy to use and maintain, so cycling could be the perfect option for you, particularly if your commute isn’t too long. Taking your bike instead of using a car or public transport is also better for the environment, so you’ll be able to do your bit for the planet if you choose to commute by bike. Manchester is a great city to cycle in, as the council has worked hard over the years to make the roads safe for bicyclists. There are many incredible cycling routes throughout Manchester, so you’ll be able to find one that suits your purpose and gets you to your destination in no time.
Manchester is a safe and accessible city that’s great for a wide variety of commuters. Use these tips to optimise your daily commute and plan your route before you relocate to this amazing and dynamic city.
Manchester
Smash-hit musical Mean Girls to open in Manchester at start of its first UK tour
Emily Sergeant
One of the most popular new musicals of the last decade is set to head out on its first-ever UK tour early next year.
And it’ll be kicking things off here in Manchester.
Based on the iconic 2004 movie of the same name, which is known and loved right across the globe, Mean Girls The Musical debuted at to huge success at the National Theatre in Washington D.C in 2017, before transferring to Broadway in April 2018, again to ecstatic responses where it played to sold-out theatres most nights.
The show then went on a hugely-successful US tour in 2019 and recently completed a second US tour.
Continuing on its run, the production then opened in the West End in 2025, where it was seen by more than 330,000 people over its run and recently took home the coveted ‘Best New Musical’ award at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards.
Mean Girls The Musical is opening its first-ever UK tour in Manchester next year / Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg
Not only that, but in 2024, you may remember that the new musical twist on the fan-favourite from the comedic mind of Tina Fey was released as a new feature film with sensational musical performances.
But for the first time ever, the rest of the UK is about to get a slice of the action.
Mean Girls The Musical will be heading out on tour early next year, and it’s us lucky musical lovers of Manchester that’ll get to see it before anyone else, as it’s landing on the legendary Manchester Opera House stage in February 2026.
Unfamiliar with the plot of Mean Girls The Musical? Just like the film, the musical follows Regina, Gretchen, and Karen, otherwise known as ‘The Plastics’ of North Shore High, as they meet homeschooled new girl, Cady Heron, as finds out that high school is a whole new level of savage.
Tickets go on sale this week / Credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg
When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.
Expect iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and killer songs.
Mean Girls The Musical has a book by Tina Fey, music and vocal arrangements by Jeff Richmond, lyrics, and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, among many other big names of the theatre world involved.
The tour will open at Manchester Opera House on 23 February 2026, before touring to venues across the UK and Ireland until the end of January 2027.
Tickets will go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday 3 July) at 10am here.
Featured Image – Brinkhoff Mögenburg
Manchester
The first new tenant of the old Debenhams department store on Market Street has been confirmed
Danny Jones
The first new resident of the Rylands Building on Market Street in central Manchester has been revealed, and it’s a foodie one.
Set to be the maiden opening inside the old Debenhams department store, which closed after more than three decades back in 2021, Rylands’ debut won’t be for another year or so, but it will soon welcome Mancs with an increasingly popular food hall operator making its way up north.
Simply called Market Place, the ever-growing brand is fast becoming a well-established name, with four venues in the capital already and a fifth coming soon.
Rylands will be their first location outside of London, and with 1,300 sqm of space at their disposal, Market Place Manchester is set to make a significant splash on the high street.
A look at Market Place Peckham.A rough idea of what the Manchester branch could look like.
Developers managed to green-light plans for the Grade II-listed building last November, sharing the first details and glimpses of their vision for the instantly recognisable city centre spot, including a whole new rooftop terrace.
Currently earmarked for a late 2026 launch, the former department store (previously Paulden’s) consisted of seven floors but is now set for a four-storey extension that promises to be a massive and varied retail, leisure and business destination that makes the most of the expansive structure.
Not to be confused with the famous John Rylands Library – a much older, more gothic, historic and hallowed hall over on Deansgate – this task of ‘revitalising a Manchester icon’, to quote property firm AM ALPHA, is a huge undertaking.
In charge of the redevelopment since 2023, the group have been outlining a pretty complete overhaul, with plans to convert the upper floors into premium office space, and the creation of a retail arcade at ground level, on which Market Place Manchester will sit.
This particular Manc corner was a bustling food, drink and shopping complex for the longest time, but has been derelict and covered up by boards for what feels like forever, with urban explorers even roaming the large, abandoned building.
Credit: Supplied
Now, though, the new long-term 15-year lease agreement will see the latest food hall kick off a new era for Rylands, delivering socially focused venues and the range of flavourful, vibrant choices of scran that Market Place have become known for.
With sites in St Paul’s, Vauxhall, Peckham, Harrow and soon Baker Street – as well as their eventual Manchester outpost, of course – the chain is getting bigger and better, meaning its arrival in the North West is an exciting one.
AM ALPHA manager Paul Hodgkiss said in an official statement: “Manchester is a city with a vibrant cultural scene – the perfect environment for forward-thinking concepts like Market Place Food Hall…
“The early commitment to Rylands is no coincidence: it reflects the strength of our strategic and forward-looking approach to development. We are not just creating high-quality space – we are setting new standards for urban mixed-use concepts. Interest from further prospective tenants is strong.”
It was only last week that Greater Manchester’s latest market hall, Campfield Studios, said hello to the general public and with House of Social also opening this summer, among several other similar projects, soon you won’t be able to move for more social hospitality scenes like this:
The Manc -
16th July 2021 
