Manchester is gearing up for another busy festive season, with plans already under way to keep the city moving smoothly as thousands of visitors head into the city centre for Christmas celebrations.
More than nine million people visited Manchester city centre in the run-up to Christmas last year, and with even more festive attractions and activities planned for 2026, this year could be the busiest yet.
So, we have made some changes to help to ease the flow of traffic through Manchester and to make it as safe as possible for the Christmas crowds moving through the city centre.
What changes will be in place?
Arndale Carpark – access changes
In previous years changes have been made to how traffic enters and exists the Arndale multi-storey. This has proved successful as during peak periods the junctions can become gridlocked due to the additional number of vehicles on the road.
We’ll be introducing the following measures again:
One way traffic on Corporation Street inbound to reduce congestion around Shudehill. Weekends only - 10:00 on Saturdays to 20:00 Sundays.
No right turn from Arndale car park to ease Withy Grove congestion. Weekends only – 10:00 on Saturdays to 20:00 Sundays.
Parking Restrictions
On-street car parking on key routes can make congestion worse and delay bus services, as well as creating pinch points for large vehicles leading to even longer queues and delays.
To combat this we’re putting in place a temporary weekend-only parking restriction on Swan Street (its entire length) and Liverpool Road (between Potato Wharf and Deansgate).
These restrictions will be in place during the weekends between the dates November 7 to December 24, between 1pm – midnight.
Enhanced Enforcement
While the vast majority of road users are more than happy to stick to the rules of the road, we know that enforcement during this period will be a priority.
Additional civil enforcement officers will be on duty during this period to ensure that people are obeying the rules of the road and helping to provide solutions where issues on the network arise.
We will also be working with our colleagues at Greater Manchester Police during our busiest days to keep the road network moving.
What else are we doing?
On top of the proactive changes that will be put in place, a wide-ranging information campaign will also be running throughout the Christmas period to keep people informed, up to date and aware of the best ways to get into and out of Manchester.
The Bee Network
As always, the Bee Network and public transport is the best way to travel to and from the city centre this Christmas, with £2 bus fares, daily and weekly fare caps across bus and tram travel, and family ticket options helping people enjoy the festive season for less.
Key measures in place this year include more double trams and a strengthened tram service for events, lifting of overnight parking restrictions at TfGM Park and Rides from mid-November, new pop-up park and ride sites opening soon, and staff deployed across the network to help people safely make their journeys. There are also now night buses serving every borough in Greater Manchester.
Behind the scenes, TfGM's 24/7 Operational Control Centre (OCC) will be monitoring the transport network, responding to incidents and providing customer information using real-time data. There will be extra TfGM staff in the OCC dedicated to keeping the city moving over the busy festive period.
Behind the Scenes
TfGM’s Operational Control Centre operates 24/7. From here, officers use CCTV and real time traffic and public transport data to manage and monitor the highways and transport network. Interventions include setting roadside electronic messaging signs, adjusting signal timings, updating information on live satellite navigation systems, coordinating and responding to incidents and providing customer updates on the Bee Network.
Over the busy festive period there will be extra TfGM staff in the control centre with a dedicated team focused on the City Centre.
On days that are forecast to be exceptionally busy, the control centre will act as the coordination hub with partners at Manchester City Council and public transport operators coming together in a joint response to tackle congestion.
Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport, said:
“As we know Christmas is an incredibly busy time of year for Manchester. As one of the standout cities in Europe for our celebrations we’re expecting more people than ever to spend their time with us over the festive period.
“But with more people comes the potential for more congestion. That’s why we’re putting measures in place now, earlier than ever before, to ensure that we can keep Manchester running smoothly.
“Our advice as always will be for people visiting Manchester to plan their journeys in advance and wherever possible leave the car at home and use public transport to travel. This not only will often be the cheapest option, but it is kinder to the environment and will prevent people being caught up in delays on the road network.
“The Council and our partners will continue to work as hard as possible to ensure that everyone can enjoy the best of what Manchester has to offer this festive period.”
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at TfGM, said:
"Christmas in Manchester is always a huge draw with our famous markets, great shopping destinations and bustling nightlife. The Bee Network will be best way to get to, from and around from the city centre over the festive period, offering a convenient, affordable and hassle-free alternative to taking the car.
“We're working closely with Manchester City Council, the rail industry and other partners to help keep people moving. We’re pulling out all the stops with more double-trams running, Park and Ride facilities available for longer, and extra staff on hand across the network.
“We want people to enjoy everything Manchester and our city region has to offer this Christmas – so please plan your journeys ahead and check the latest travel information on the Bee Network website or app before setting off."
