Manchester Student Guide

If you’re new to the city, our Manchester Student Guide will help you with everything you need to know.

Getting around

Getting around Manchester and its surrounding areas is easy:

Transport for Greater Manchester provide information and journey planning tools on their website, which is worth checking out as you familiarise yourself with the city.

Depending on your route, you may have a whole host of bus, tram and train options to choose from.

In the city centre, there’s also a free ‘hop on, hop off’ Metroshuttle bus service.

The service links the city’s main railway stations, shopping areas and more.

For a unique travel experience, try Manchester’s waxi (water taxi) service.

You can take a waxi along Manchester’s Bridgewater Canal to popular locations like the Trafford Centre and Castlefield.

They run seven days a week and can be booked online via the service’s website or a handy mobile app.  

Things to do

Manchester will not let you down when it comes to music:

The Smiths, Oasis, The Stone Roses and The Bee Gees are just a few of the legendary music groups that have come from Manchester since the 1960s.

Today, Manchester boasts a vibrant music scene with some of the most popular music venues in the north of England.

For sports fans, Manchester’s football clubs, Manchester United and Manchester City, are a major attraction for many in the city.

Beyond the world of football, the city also has a great reputation for its sporting venues, such as the Manchester Velodrome, the Aquatics Centre and the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground.

Saving money? There’s plenty to do in Manchester without spending a penny. Here are our top picks:

• Manchester Museum – home to the famous ‘Stan the T Rex’, the museum offers an array of great exhibitions to explore.
• Whitworth Art Gallery – check out the great collection of modern and traditional art here. The gallery also has beautiful spaces that fully integrate into the park it’s located in.
• Central Library – here you can watch more than 2,000 British films and television programmes from the British Film Institute’s Mediatheque.  

Or for a complete change of scenery, the Peak District and Lake District are both within easy reach of Manchester.

Both areas offer stunning natural views and great escapes from city life.

Eating out

Manchester’s food scene caters to all tastes and budgets.

If you’re looking to indulge, check out these feasting hotspots:

• The Northern Quarter – Located between Manchester Arena and Piccadilly Station, Manchester’s Northern Quarter is crammed with independent restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes.
• Curry Mile – Manchester’s famous Curry Mile is along Wilmslow Road in Rusholme and is home to a wide range of award-winning restaurants, takeaways and shisha cafes.
• Trafford Centre – With more than 40 places to eat under one roof, Manchester’s Trafford Centre has it all. From fast food to fine dining, you’re spoilt for choice here!
• China Town – Manchester’s China Town dates back to 1948 and today boasts a broad selection of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Nepalese, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Pan-Asian restaurants.

Shopping

Manchester is a shopper’s paradise:

Around the city you can find popular shopping havens like the Manchester Arndale, intu Trafford Centre, Market Street and Exchange Square.

You can also find a selection of large department stores, such as Selfridges and John Lewis, dotted around the city.

As well as the bigger brand shops, you can also find unique independent shops and boutiques around The Northern Quarter, Spinningfields, New Cathedral Street and King Street.

Manchester Student Accommodation  

As a student-friendly city, there are several areas across the city that are particularly popular with students.  

If you plan on living near one of Manchester’s universities or colleges, the best areas to live in are: Fallowfield, Salford, Rusholme and the City Centre.

Looking for student accommodation in Manchester? Find and compare the best rooms with Student.com.