Latest Festive Travel Update

A spectacular end-of-the-year firework display is set to once again light up the night sky over Manchester.

Free event will be held in Castlefield Bowl on Sunday 31 December.

Pedestrian access into the event area will be from Liverpool Road or Duke Street.

Capacity for the event is 10,000 based on a first-come, first-served basis.

There will be road closures around the Castlefield Bowl from 8.30pm.

Getting there is a breeze by tram – hop off at Deansgate-Castlefield, only a couple of minutes away from Castlefield Bowl. There will be trams until 1am to ensure that you get home safely. Please note that no trams will stop at Exchange Square from 7pm, but will run via Market Street instead.

Road closures

The following road closures will be in operation. Customer access to all businesses within the closures will be maintained.

• Duke Place (Duke St – Arena) – 8.30pm to 1am
• Rice Street (Duke St – Arena) – 8.30pm to 12.45am (Resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
• Liverpool Road (Potato Wharf – Lower Byrom St) – 8.30pm to 1am
• Duke Street (Stone St – Castle St) – 11pm to 12.45am
• Beaufort Street (Collier St – Duke St) – 11pm to 12.45am
• Castle Street (Car Park – Canal Bridge) – 11pm to 12.30am (restrictions out of car park between 11.30pm and 12.15am)

By tram

Tram will be the best way to travel to and from the shops this festive season. There are eight city centre tram stops serving all lines, with frequent services seven days a week.

On Fridays and Saturdays, there will be trams on the network until 1am.

By bus

• Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill bus stations are right in the heart of the action, where services will connect you to all four corners of Greater Manchester.
• At busy times, city centre road congestion may also impact buses. Make sure that you allow extra time for your journey if you’re going to be travelling on an evening or a weekend as the big day gets closer.