Public Transportation in Manchester .. Buses, Taxis and Trams 2023
Public transportation is an essential part of life in Manchester because it allows people to get around and connect with one another. The city provides a variety of public transportation options.
Manchester has an abundance of and dependable public transportation. The Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) system connects the city’s core to its outskirts via tram, bus, and train lines.

Buses in Manchester
Buses are an important part of public transportation in Manchester, and they are also a good alternative to driving if you do not enjoy driving.
Greater Manchester has a massive bus network operated by Transport for Greater Manchester, which includes one of the most extensive night bus services outside of London.
Bus companies in Greater Manchester include Arriva, Diamond, First Bus, Go North West, and Stagecoach.
How to buy a bus ticket in Manchester?
1- On board
Pay the bus driver for single, return, saver, and “smart” travelcards, as well as System One tickets for use on buses, trams, and trains.
Although the driver will usually be able to give you change, if you are paying with cash, try to have the correct amount on hand.
On many buses today, you can pay with contactless cards and devices, but you should check the websites of the bus companies before you travel, including Arriva, Diamond, First Bus, Go North West and Stagecoach.
2- Online
On the websites of bus companies like Arriva, Diamond, First Bus and Stagecoach, you may purchase season tickets or a variety of saver tickets that offer you access to multiple daily trips.
Visit getmethere.com to purchase bundled bus and tram tickets.
3- Smartphone and mobile device apps
Several bus company apps allow you to buy multi-trip saver tickets, seven-day, 28-day, or annual season tickets.
4- TfGM Travelshops
Purchase bus, train, and tram tickets, as well as student and youth tickets.
System One travelcards are available for 7-day, 28-day, and annual use, as are National Express coach tickets, Metrolink tram season passes, and Wayfarer tickets.
Click the link to find the nearest TfGM Travelshop to you.
5- PayPoint
Hundreds of neighborhood shops, convenience stores, newsstands, and gas stations in Greater Manchester are PayPoint outlets and display the PayPoint sign. You can use this location to pay for a variety of items, including plane tickets.
Purchase bus, train, and tram tickets such as System One travelcards for 7 or 28 days, Metrolink tram season tickets, and Wayfarer tickets.
Click the link to find the nearest location of the PayPoint.
Manchester bus ticket prices
Adults will be charged a maximum of £2 per bus trip, and a £5 1-day AnyBus Adult travelcard will provide unlimited bus service throughout Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs until 03.59am the next day.
Children aged five to sixteen will be charged £1 for each bus trip. The 1-day AnyBus Junior travelcard offers unlimited bus travel throughout Greater Manchester for just £2.50 per day. The free bus ride for children under the age of five will be maintained.
Single and day tickets are the only ones subject to the price caps. Weekly and monthly season passes are still available. Click the link so you can find out all the routes that Manchester buses take.
Free bus trips in Manchester
The Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) system in Greater Manchester provides free travel around Manchester city center.
1- Free bus 1
–Route
From Piccadilly train station via Station Approach, Piccadilly, Portland Street, Charlotte Street, Spring Gardens, King Street, Cross Street, Market Street, St Mary’s Gate, Deansgate, Quay Street, Gartside Street, Bridge Street, John Dalton Street, Cross Street, King Street, Spring Gardens, York Street, New York Street, Portland Street, Chorlton Street, Aytoun Street, Auburn Street, Station Approach to Piccadilly Railway Station.
–Frequency
Monday to Friday
7am to 7.15pm (every ten minutes)
Saturday
8.20am to 7.15pm (every ten minutes).
Sunday and public holidays
11am to 6pm (every 12 minutes).
Peak free bus 1 (Monday to Friday) via Salford Central not currently in operation due to roadworks.
2- Free bus 2
–Route
From Piccadilly train station via Station Approach, Piccadilly, Chatham Street, Aytoun Street, Piccadilly, Lever Street, Dale Street, Church Street, High Street, Nicholas Croft, Shudehill, Shudehill Interchange, Shudehill, Withy Grove, Corporation Street, Todd Street, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank Approach, Victoria Street, Chapel Street, Victoria Bridge Street, Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Street, Whitworth Street, Aytoun Street, Auburn Street, Station Approach to Piccadilly train station.
–Frequency
Monday to Friday
6.30am to 7.10pm (every ten minutes)
7.10pm to 11.30pm (every 20 minutes)
Saturday
8.30am to 7.30pm (every ten minutes)
7.30pm to 11.30pm (every 15 minutes)
Sundays and public holidays
9.54am to 6.54pm (every 12 minutes)
3- Free bus 3
–Route
From Piccadilly train station via Station Approach, Piccadilly, Chatham Street, Aytoun Street, Portland Street, Piccadilly, Lever Street, Dale Street, Church Street, High Street, Nicholas Croft, Shudehill, Shudehill Interchange, Shudehill, Withy Grove, Corporation Street, Todd Street, Victiora Station Approach, Hunts Bank Approach, Victoria Street, Chapel Street, Victoria Bridge Street, Deansgate, Whitworth Street West, Whitworth Street, Aytoun Street Auburn Street, Station Approach to Piccadilly train station.
-Frequency
Monday to Friday
7.25pm to 11.25pm (every 20 minutes)
Saturday
7.28pm to 11.30pm (every 15 minutes)
Taxi in Manchester
If you prefer a private ride, there are many taxi services that are an important part of public transportation in Manchester, such as MMA Transfers, MTS, Investravel National Minibus & Coach Hire, Manchester Taxi Tours, and Manchester Airport Trips.
All of the previous companies use mobile apps that allow you to book through the online service or by phone.
Moreover, unlike buses, taxis can be signaled or hailed to stop. Taxi fares in Manchester are determined by several factors, including the length of the journey and the distance traveled.

Manchester Tram
The tram service is an important part of public transportation in Manchester, Metrolink is the name of Manchester’s urban light rail system.
Metrolink is run by the Keolis/Amey consortium and connects the city center to Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bury, East Didsbury, Eccles, Manchester Airport, Rochdale, and Trafford Centre.
Trams run frequently on the Metrolink system, every 6 to 12 minutes. It handled 44.3 million passengers in 2019/2020.
How to Buy Metrolink Tickets?
1- Contactless pay as you go
You can pay as you go by tapping in and out of a smart reader with your contactless payment card or smartphone, whether you’re traveling for a single trip, several trips in a day, or several trips over the course of a week.
Learn more about using contactless when travelling.
2- Ticket machines at tram stops
Pay with a credit or debit card (including contactless up to £100) or cash for adult, child, concession, and family tram tickets, as well as single tickets and 1-day, weekend, 7-day, and 28-day travelcards.
3- “Get me there” mobile app
If you prefer a season or weekend pass, you can purchase weekend, 7-day, and 28-day Metrolink tram travelcards via the Greater Manchester app, get me there, rather than a printed ticket.
Visit getmethere.com to learn more and download the app.
For one-way and round-trip trips, the most convenient mode of transportation is to use a contactless card or device, paying for trips as you go with smart scanners at stops. We’ll calculate the adult single or travelcard prices for your trips up to a daily and weekly cap.
4- “Get me there” smart card
A wide range of tickets and travelcards are available for purchase online and storage on smart cards.
A get me there account is ideal for purchasing a day ticket or season ticket in advance using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
A ticket can be purchased up to seven days in advance, with validity beginning on the day of purchase. Simply present it to a smart reader at a tram stop to collect it.
You have the option to request a get me there card or link an existing compatible smart card when you create your account.
5- TfGM Travelshops
Tickets for buses, trains, and trams are available, including National Express coach tickets, Metrolink tram season tickets, and System One travelcards for 7-, 28-, or year-long trips.
6- Paypoint
Hundreds of neighborhood shops, convenience stores, newsstands, and gas stations in Greater Manchester are Paypoint outlets and display the Paypoint sign. You can use this location to pay for a variety of items, including plane tickets.
Purchase bus, train, and tram tickets such as System One travelcards for 7 or 28 days, Metrolink tram season tickets, and Wayfarer tickets.
Public transportation in Birmingham .. Buses, Taxis, Trams and more 2023
Public transportation in Birmingham is an important part of life in the English city. It offers a way to get around the city and connect with other people. The city has a variety of different options for public transportation, including buses, trolleys, Taxis and trains.
With Alfie Solomns (The character from Peaky Blinders) famous quote; “I’ve heard very bad, bad bad things about you Birmingham people.”, he didn’t seem to like Birmingham as much as we do!