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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
UK pub chain announces bottomless Guinness for the 2026 Six Nations
Danny Jones
As we all know, Guinness and the Six Nations go hand in hand, so pubs not only showing all of this year’s games, but also serving bottomless pints of the good stuff here in Greater Manchester, is an absolute match made in heaven.
With the 2026 Six Nations tournament kicking off this Thursday, 5 February – a France vs Ireland opener in Paris – Manc rugby fans are already nailing down their go-to spots to watch the fixtures.
However, we can’t think of many other places offering bottomless black gold in town, let alone anywhere else in and around Manchester.
So, if you were still unsure of where to watch this year’s tournament, the Social Pub and Kitchen group might have just made the decision for you…
That’s right, this widespread British chain is looking to keep the pints flowing throughout the duration of this year’s competition, thanks to a twist on their standard bottomless brunch format.
Running for every single televised meeting between the much-loved half dozen rugby union teams, all 103 of their locations across the country will be providing this impressive offer on pints.
Here in central Manchester, that includes Tank and Paddle in the Printworks, Crafty Pig on the edge of the Northern Quarter, The Beech Inn in Chorlton, and The Director’s Box right in the heart of the city – and dangerously close to The Manc office…
As well as these nearby venues, there are obviously plenty more around the North West for those slightly further afield, including the likes of Cheshire and Derbyshire.
With a new food menu too, which features several honey-based dishes like the sweet sriracha pizza, chipotle loaded fries, as well as honey chipotle chicken wings, the matchday scran is on point.
So too are the drinks, clearly, and if any of your party wants to stray away from the bottomless Guinness, there are series of special Six Nations-themed cocktails, such as the ‘Midnight in Dublin’, a ‘Peach on the Pitch’ margarita, Baby Velvet, and the bold ‘G-Bomb’.
Yes, we suspect it is as boozy as it sounds.
Running throughout February and March whilst the games are on, we imagine plenty of people will be making at least one Social Pub and Kitchen site their chosen destination for watching all the action.
Even if you happen to be reading this outside of Greater Manchester, you can find your nearest Social Pub and Kitchen and book your table right HERE.
And if you’d still like some other alternatives here in the city centre, you can do no wrong with our helpful little round-up.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Publicity picture (supplied)
Manchester
CBeebies is bringing its popular Bedtime Stories show live to Manchester for FREE this month
Emily Sergeant
CBeebies will be bringing a live version of its popular Bedtime Stories show to Manchester in a couple of weeks time.
With it not being long to go now until February half term arrives, it’s time to get ready for Manchester city centre to transform into a giant playground this month, as The Super Duper Family Festival brings four free days of fun.
The popular event will feature a series of pop-up play zones at a variety of outdoor spaces and popular venues across the city centre, all of which will be free to use and ready to explore.
Taking place from Wednesday 18 February through to Saturday 21 February, there’s set to be more immersive play areas than ever before at this year’s festival – with nine different zones providing unique experiences for all ages.
CBeebies is bringing its popular Bedtime Stories show live to Manchester for free / Credit: Supplied
Families can dive into high-energy challenges in The Sports Hall at Great Northern, level up in The Arcade at Printworks, whirl and twirl through The Carnival on St Ann’s Square, and get playful in The Playground with Waterloo Road on Exchange Square, just to name a few.
And now, two hugely popular CBeebies shows are adding live events into the mix.
First up, families are invited to snuggle down and enjoy the power of storytelling with CBeebies Bedtime Stories LIVE, as stars from CBeebies, alongside some special guests, host sessions filled with stories and songs at Manchester Central as part of The Story Den festival zone.
Four shows will run each day, with sessions lasting approximately 20 minutes, and to ensure the experience is accessible to as people as possible, a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter will be present at all sessions on Wednesday 18 February.
Then, for those who’ve always wondered what goes on behind the cameras, there’s exclusive access to one of the BBC’s most iconic programmes on the lineup too – with Blue Peter Behind the Scenes guided tours on Saturday 21 February at the legendary Blue Peter set at Versa Campfield Studio 2, where guests can enjoy surprise meet and greets with the Blue Peter team throughout the day.
You can also expect everything from gaming and crafts, to pop-up performances, hands-on workshops, fun children’s activities, and so much more over the course of the four-day event.
The Super Duper Family Festival is returning from 18-21 February 2026, and you can find more information about everything happening here.
With limited spaces available for both CBeebies experiences, families are encouraged to book their free tickets, which went live earlier today (Wednesday 4 February) at 11am, and you can get your hands on them here.