Parklife is one of the UK’s biggest music events and it all takes place right here in Greater Manchester this weekend – so it’s time to start planning your travel there and back.
70,000 music fans are expected to stream in to Heaton Park on each day of the two-day festival, ready to see headline performances from Aitch, The 1975, Fred Again and The Prodigy.
And with no overnight camping, all 70,000 will need to make their way home again afterwards…
Mercifully, the planned Metrolink strike this weekend has now been called off, so there are now a few different ways to get to Parklife.
If you’re heading up to Heaton Park for Parklife 2023, here’s all the information you need about trams, travel passes, shuttle buses and even walking.
— Manchester Metrolink 🚊 (@MCRMetrolink) June 8, 2023
The Parklife travel pass is a festival essential, giving you a few options of transport to the festival site with one ticket.
The pass costs £5 per day and will give you access to both the Parklife Shuttle Bus – which drops you directly inside the festival site – and the Metrolink tram services to Heaton Park.
Tickets are sold through the Parklife website and are electronic, so you just need to show it on your phone when you board the bus.
Metrolink trams to Heaton Park
The Metrolink trams are one of the easiest ways to travel to Parklife
Trams will be running to Parklife on a six-minute frequency from town – Heaton Park is your closest tram stop, which will drop you near the West Gate entrance.
After the festival, you’ll need to use Bowker Vale, as Heaton Park tram stop will be closed.
Metrolink services will keep running until the site is cleared, but be prepared to queue to board one.
In the city centre, several stops will be closed so that crowds can be managed safely – these are listed below and on the TfGM website.
Saturday 10 June
Market Street and Shudehill – Closed all Saturday
Heaton Park – from 9pm until the end of service
Piccadilly Gardens – between 3pm and approximately 5pm
Exchange Square – between 12pm and approximately 5pm
Sunday 11 June
Heaton Park – From 9pm until end of service
Exchange Square – between 12pm and approximately 5pm
Piccadilly Gardens – between 3pm and approximately 5pm
Market Street – between 3pm and approximately 6pm
Shudehill – between 3pm and approximately 6pm.
Parklife shuttle buses
This is one of the easiest ways to get to and from Parklife, with dedicated shuttle buses whizzing people between the city centre and the festival site.
The Parklife shuttle bus will depart from the corner of Aytoun Street (M1 2DD) and Minshull Street, near Piccadilly train station, with drop-off right inside the festival site.
Buses will depart at least once every ten minutes.
The first bus on Saturday will depart at 9.30am, while the last one will leave at 4.30pm. On Sunday, first buses are at 10.30am and the last is at 4.30pm.
On both days, the return bus service from Heaton Park to Manchester city centre starts at 6.30pm and will continue to operate until the venue is cleared. Drop off will be on Church Street.
Taxis
Parklife. Credit: Jordan Curtis Hughes
There’ll be a couple of taxi ranks near the Parklife festival site – a Manchester Hackney Carriage Taxi Rank in Blackley New Road and a Bury Hackney Carriage Taxi Rank outside the Woodthorpe pub on Bury Old Road.
If you want to pre-book your own private hire vehicle, they need to pick you up from the pick-up point at Sainsbury’s near Heaton Park.
As always, watch out for unlicensed taxis, which are unregulated.
Pick-up and drop-off
There’ll be a few road closures in place for Parklife and congestion is to be expected when people are leaving the festival.
There’s a designated pick-up point at Sainsburys on Heaton Park Road for anyone who’s getting a lift there or back.
Junction 19 of the M60 will be closed from 7pm on both nights. Access to the pick-up point will be via Victoria Avenue and Middleton Road.
Walking all the way to town from Heaton Park might not be top of your agenda, but it’s actually one of the most straight-forward ways to get back home.
There’s usually a crowd of festival-goers trudging back down Bury Old Road, a walk which takes about an hour.
Obviously only attempt the walk if you’re in a group you feel safe with and look out for each other.
What travel bosses say
Sean Dyball, TfGM’s Head of Customer Experience, said: “Parklife is one of the biggest events in Greater Manchester’s calendar, and we hope everyone who attends has a safe and enjoyable weekend.
“With around 70,000 people each day, and thousands more expected to be in the city centre over the weekend for other big events, including Soccer Aid, it will be very busy on public transport and on the roads.
“Extra staff will be on hand and we’ll have as many services as possible running to help people get around, but where possible, people should consider making short journeys by walking or cycling.
“We’ll keep our website and social media channels updated throughout the weekend and I’d encourage people to check before and during their journeys to make sure they have the latest information and advice to hand.”
Manchester Mardi Gras lineup and stage times in full – the ultimate guide to Pride 2025’s new event
Danny Jones
This year’s Manchester Pride festival is nearly here, and with the organisers introducing an all-new addition to the celebrations in the form of Mardi Gras, 2025 is going to be unforgettable.
Promising to be bigger, better and bolder than ever, this new entire sub-section/spin-off/side-event (whatever you want to call it) is designed to up the party atmosphere even further over the long August bank holiday weekend.
For anyone as yet unaware, Manchester Pride 2025 will not just boast the usual parade, Gay Village Party and numerous other specific events in and around Canal Street, but an entirely new series; this year, Mardi Gras is taking over Depot Mayfield and Freight Island too, promising a whole host of shows.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into what’s on where and when, shall we?
Now, for starters, you can see the full lineup down below, including the likes of blockbuster headliner Nelly Furtado, who was announced as the final act for the closing night of Mardi Gras 2025 last week.
The are plenty of other big names playing Pride this year – take a look for yourselves.
It’s also worth noting that wristbands for Mardi Gras still grant you entry to all of this year’s Gay Village Party events, too.
Mardi Gras stage times for MCR Pride 2025
Next up are the stage times, and while we can certainly lay everything out for you, as with any festival, having to painstakingly check all of the clashes is up to you.
Anna Phylactic – 2:45-2:50pm N-Trance – 2:50-3:20pm Louis III – 3:30-4pm K-Klass – 4:10-7:10pm Louisa Johnson – 5-5:40pm Banksie – 5:20-5:35pm Tayce – 5:45-18:00 Big Freedia – 6:30-7pm Tulisa – 7:20-7:50pm Olly Alexander – 9:40-10:40pm Nelly Furtado – 11:30pm-12:30am
The former Little Mix star is headlines the night of Mardi Gras.Gok Wan sets always go off.Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
Freight Island
Sat, 23 August
Sun, 24 August
Bongo’s Bingo – 4-5pm Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ – 5:15-35pm Yshee Black – 5:35-5:50pm Shanika Sunrise – 5:55-6:10pm Bailey J Mills – 6:15-6:30pm Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ (second set) – 7-7:20pm Charity Shop Sue – 7:20-8:05pm Queenz: ‘Drag Me To The Disco’ – 8:15-9pm Dean McCullough’s Pop Machine – 9:15-10:15pm The Danny Beard Show – 11:33pm-12:28am
Bongo’s Bingo – 3:45-4:45pm Lucky Roy Singh – 5:20-5:25pm Tequila Thirst – 5:25-5:30pm Fortune – 5:35-5:40pm Minara el Waters – 5:40-5:45pm Lady Imelda – 5:45-5:55pm DJ – Club Zindagi – 6-6:30pm Singh/Raj/Fortune/Kaan/Awas – 6:30-6:35pm Sitara Malik – 6:35-6:40pm Awais – 6:40-6:45pm Saki Yew – 6:45-6:50pm Raj – 6:50-6:55pm Duniya Dhoom – 6:55-7pm Khaan – 7-7:05pm Buffer – 7:05-7:15pm Zahirah Zapanta – 7:15-7:20pm Amirck Channa – 7:20-7:25pm DJ – Club Zindagi (second set) – 7:25-7:55pm House of MCR ‘Pride Edition’ – 9pm-12:04am
The Garden Stage is often the quieter, more laid-back part of Freight Island, but there’ll still be plenty of entertainment to be found there this bank holiday…
That’s just about everything you need to know ahead of the inaugural edition of Mardi Gras as part of the annual Manchester Pride celebrations.
We hope you all have a wonderful time this weekend – look out for one another, be happy, unapologetically yourselves, and show this city in its best light like you every year.
And last but not least, you can find out everything else you need to know from our complete MCR Pride 2025 guide right here.
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/The Manc Group
Travel & Tourism
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Pride Parade 2025
Emily Sergeant
The full list of road closures set to be in place for the Manchester Pride Parade this weekend have been released.
Manchester Pride is a beloved celebration of LGBTQ+ life in Manchester, known for bringing thousands of people into city centre every August bank holiday weekend for four fun-filled, glitter-covered, disco-driven days – and 2025 is certainly no different.
Everywhere you look, the city’s streets are already becoming awash with colour and acceptance – with everyone welcome to come as they are.
Every year, the Festival lineup offers a wide range of activities for the LGBTQ+ community to join together and celebrate, as well as providing opportunities to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, engage families and young people, and celebrate queer arts and culture.
This year’s Festival is set to kick-off this Friday 22 August and round out on bank holiday Monday (25 August).
Of course, for the celebrations to all take place as safely and seamlessly as possible, a number of road closures and restrictions will need to be put in place, and Manchester City Council has now published a list of everything you need to know.
It’s advised that anyone making their way into and around the city centre this weekend use other modes of transport, such as buses, trams, and trains.
But for those who need to drive, you’ll want to pay attention to this list before setting out on any journeys.
Manchester Pride Parade takes place this bank holiday weekend / Credit: The Manc Group | Manchester Pride (via Supplied)
Manchester Pride Parade 2025 – Road Closures
Saturday 23 August
6am to 7pm
Liverpool Road – from Water Street to Deansgate
Wollam Place – from 30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road
Potato Wharf – from Castlefield Hotel Entrance to Liverpool Road
Old Medlock Street
Lower Byrom Street – from 40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road
Duke Street – from Rice Street to Liverpool Road
Stone Street – from Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street
Barton Street – from Worsley Street to Tonman Street
Southern Street – from 20m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road
9:30am – 7pm
Deansgate – from Trafford Street to Peter Street
Quay Street – from Little Quays Street to Deansgate
Peter Street – from Deansgate to Oxford Street
Watson Street – from Windmill Street to Peter Street
Mount Street – from Windmill Street to Peter Street
Southmill Street – from Windmill Street to Peter Street
Lower Mosley Street – from Windmill Street to Oxford Street
Oxford Street – from Peter Street to Whitworth Street
Chepstow Street – from Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street
Portland Street – from Oxford Street to Abingdon Street
Princess Street – from Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street
Whitworth Street – from Beaver Street to Fairfield Street
Fairfield Street – from Whitworth Street to London Road
This year’s Festival is set to kick-off on Friday 23 August and round out on Monday 26 August.
A number of road closures will be in place to facilitate the Manchester Pride Parade this weekend / Credit: Manchester Pride (via Supplied)
The following closures only pertain to ‘one way’ or are revoked turns and bus gates:
One way
One Way Reversal Deansgate from Peter Street to John Dalton Street
Revoked turns
Right Turn Only – Atkinson Street – from Atkinson Street to Deansgate
Left Turn Only – Bootle Street – from Bootle Street to Deansgate
Left Turn Only – Jacksons Row – from Jacksons Row to Deansgate
Right Turn Only – Hardman Street – from Hardman Street to Deansgate
Left Turn Only – Queen Street – from Queen Street to Deansgate
Right Turn Only – Wood Street – from Wood Street to Deansgate
Revoked bus gate
Revocation of bus gate enforcement on Bridge Street Westbound – from Gartside Street to Blackfriars Street
Thousands will flock to the city for a celebration of love and acceptance / Credit: Manchester Pride (via Supplied)
There will also be a number of parking bay suspensions in and around the Parade route on Saturday 23 August, which have also been confirmed here:
6am – 6pm
Liverpool Road – from Water Street to Deansgate
Deansgate – from Liverpool Road to Peter Street
Peter Street – from Deansgate to Oxford Street
Oxford Street – from Peter Street to Portland Street
Portland Street – from Peter Street to Princess Street
Princess Street – from Portland Street to Whitworth Street
Whitworth Street – from Oxford Street to Fairfield Street
Fairfield Street – from Whitworth Street to London Road
Ebden Street – from Minshull Street to Back Acton Street
Back Acton Street – from Fairfield Street to Granby Row
Heading to Manchester Pride 2025 this weekend? Or making your way into the city centre and keen to find out everything happening this bank holiday weekend?
You can check everything you need to know in our full Manchester Pride Guide here.
And you can also discover everything else in Manchester’s social calendar over the next couple of days here, as we are a city bustling with activity.
Daisy Jackson -
9th June 2023 
