Travel
Quick links to below: Flights - Rail - Road - Arriving - Travel bursaries - Visa assistance and letters of invitation
TRAVELLING TO MANCHESTER
Located in the centre of the UK- Manchester is served by strong road, rail and air links which makes it easily accessible to visitors from all over the world.
Manchester has its own airport and is well-served by public transport. It also has an excellent range of hotels from budget to high-end.
Flights
Manchester Airport boasts 3 Terminals, allowing it to welcome international flights from over 190 destinations. The Airport has excellent transport links to the centre of Manchester and other major towns and cities of the North West of England. Trains leave every 15 minutes from the Airport directly to Manchester Piccadlily, taking approximately 35 minutes, and taxis leaving from the Airport's taxi rank will take approximately 20 minutes to arrive at Manchester Central (costing £20-£25.)
Rail
Manchester Central is close to the centre of the city and within a walk of the main railway stations. You may be surprised at how quickly you can be there, making a day visit comfortable.
The table below shows travel times and costs if leaving at ~8am on a weekday.
|
From |
Travel time |
Advanced train fare |
|
Birmingham |
1h 41m |
£68 |
|
Bristol |
2h 59m |
£80 |
|
Cardiff |
3h 10m |
£58 |
|
Edinburgh |
3h 15m |
£74 |
|
Glasgow |
3h 20m |
£74 |
|
Leeds |
0h 56m |
£21 |
|
London |
2h 07m |
£70 * |
|
Liverpool |
0h 47m |
£15 |
|
Newcastle |
2h 36m |
£72 |
|
Oxford |
2h 50m |
£72 |
* Travelling after 9am
Virgin Trains are currently offering a 20% discount on tickets purchased in advance for groups of 3-9 people.
Road
Manchester is at the heart of a comprehensive motorway network. Manchester's M60 orbital motorway provides easy access from north, south, east and west.
Directions:
- M6 (from south – Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham) - leave the M6 at junction 19, just after Knutsford Services. Follow the A556 towards Altrincham and pick up the M56 towards Manchester Airport. Follow the motorway onto the A5103 (Princess Parkway), then follow signs for Manchester Central, Petersfield.
- M6 (from north – Preston, Blackpool, Carlisle) - leave the M6 at junction 21a for the M62 towards Manchester. At junction 12, join the M602 and continue to the end of the motorway (Regent Road Roundabout, Salford). Follow signs to the city centre along Regent Road, and then to Manchester Central, Petersfield.
- M62 (from west – Liverpool) - at M62 junction 12, join the M602 and continue to the end of the motorway (Regent Road Roundabout, Salford). Follow signs to the city centre along Regent Road, and then to Manchester Central, Petersfield.
- M62 (from east – Leeds, Yorkshire) - at M62 junction 18, join the M60 west-bound. Take junction 17 onto the A56 (Bury New Road) and follow signs to the city centre, and then to Manchester Central, Petersfield.
- M56 (from west – North Wales, Chester, Ellesmere Port) - follow the M56 past Manchester Airport. Continue onto the A5103 (Princess Parkway), then follow signs for Manchester Central, Petersfield.
For parking, Manchester Central's on-site NCP car park is open 24 hours and the most convenient option. If using a sat nav - please follow the postcode M2 3GX.
Information on planning a journey by car, with up to date travel information on the day, can be found with The AA and the Highways Agency.
ARRIVING IN MANCHESTER
Manchester's extensive multi-modal public transport network makes it easy to travel in and around Greater Manchester.
Travel for Greater Manchester is a website designed specifically for travelling in the Manchester area. Their handy route planner allows you to search the best public transport route to take from anywhere in Greater Manchester to Manchester Central. You can also visit a Travelshop at main bus stations throughout Greater Manchester, including Manchester Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill Interchange.
Metroshuttle and Metrolink
Metroshuttle buses are free and link the city centre's main rail stations, shopping areas and businesses. View the Metroshuttle routes
Metrolink is a convenient tram network serving Manchester city centre and further afield. Metrolink runs every few minutes from early morning until late in the evening. You don’t need a timetable, just turn up, buy your ticket and the next Metrolink will be along shortly.
Metrolink operates through both Piccadilly and Victoria stations. Manchester Central's nearest Metrolink stop is St Peter’s Square. From there, we're just a few minutes on foot, right behind the Midland Hotel. View the Metrolink routes
Taxis
Manchester Central works with Manchester’s black cab drivers to make sure they know when the venue is going to be busy. There is a dedicated taxi rank at the front of the venue for pick ups and drop offs. Black cab taxis are readily available at Manchester Airport and both Piccadilly and Victoria train stations.
Visa assistance and Letters of Invitation
As organisers of mmc2015, the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) are happy to provide copies of Confirmation of Registration letters and also copies of Receipts of Payment in order to assist with Visa applications.
The RMS are also willing to issue Letters of Invitation to assist with Visa applications but only to verified conference participants, e.g. Invited Speakers and Conference Attendees that have completed the registration process and paid their registration fee.
Letters of Invitation will be emailed as a PDF document. Print copies will be mailed upon conference attendee's request. All Letter of Invitation requests must be emailed to .
In the case of your Visa being denied, the RMS will accept cancellation and will refund your conference registration fee minus a £25 administration fee. If your application has been denied you must notify us no later than 1 June 2015. If you wish to transfer your registration to a colleague with a successful Visa application, please contact .
It is your responsibility to obtain the Visa and the RMS cannot intervene or assist with your application further than supplying you with the above mentioned documentation. We advise that you apply for your Visa as early as possible.
