SSAT National Conference 2015: Quality and Equity Thursday 3 – Friday 4 December 2015

Manchester Central

Address: Website: Manchester Central www.manchestercentral.co.uk Manchester Petersfield Email: M2 3GX [email protected]

Telephone: 0161 834 2700

Travel information Travelling to Manchester Arriving at Manchester Station Map from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Central

Travelling to Manchester

Manchester is at the heart of a comprehensive motorway network. Manchester's M60 orbital motorway provides easy access from north, south, east and west.

If using a satellite navigation system - please follow the postcode M2 3GX.

M6 (from south – Stoke-on-Trent, ) Leave the M6 at junction 19, just after Services. Follow the A556 towards 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, , 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, ). 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 – , 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, , Ellesmere Port) Follow the M56 past Manchester Airport. Continue onto the A5103 (Princess Parkway), then follow signs for Manchester Central, Petersfield.

There is an NCP (National Car ) directly below Manchester Central that is open 24 hours a day all year round. It has 720 spaces including 18 disabled parking bays and there is direct access to Manchester Central by lift, stairs and escalators.

Central - Underground Pricing car park 2 hours or less £6.10 Lower Mosley Street Between 2 and 4 hours £9.50 Manchester Between 4 and 6 hours £10.50 M2 3GX Between 6 and 12 hours £14.50 Between 12 and 24 hours £18.40

For more information contact NCP: Tel: 0161 817 8900 www.ncp.co.uk

It takes a little over two hours to reach Manchester from and Manchester also has direct connections to most major UK cities. Services arrive at Piccadilly or Victoria stations where passengers can connect with Metrolink trams for easy access to the city centre. Manchester Central is a 20 minute walk from Piccadilly Station or just five minutes by taxi. Alternatively, catch a connecting train to Oxford Road Station - just five minutes from Manchester Central on foot.

From the South: Direct, hourly trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. Journey time: 2h 8m

From the Midlands: Direct, hourly trains from Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly. Journey time: 1h 28m

From the north: Direct, hourly trains from Newcastle to Manchester Piccadilly, Oxford Road or Victoria. Journey time: 2h 38m

From the South: Direct coaches from London Victoria to Manchester Coach Station, 10 departures a day between 7:30 – 23:30. Approximate journey time: 5h 20m

From the Midlands: Coaches from Birmingham to Manchester Coach Station, 17 departures a day between 3:10 – 22:30. Approximate journey time: 2h 30m

From the North: Coaches from Newcastle to Manchester Coach Station, with 1 change at Leeds for some journeys, 10 departures a day between 7:00 – 17:30. Approximate journey time: 4h 20m. Approximate Journey time: 4h 10m

Please note that Manchester Coach Station is situated an 8 minute walk west of Manchester Piccadilly Station, and an 11-minute walk east of Manchester Central, on Chorlton Street (please refer to map on page 5). To get to the venue from the coach station, head north on Chorlton St, take the first left onto Portland St, take a right onto Oxford St and the third left onto Mount St, Manchester Central will be straight in front of you at the end of the road.

Manchester Airport is a major international hub just nine miles (14.5km) from the city centre. It serves more than 200 destinations worldwide including direct routes to nine US cities. www.manchesterairport.co.uk

Manchester airport transfers:

Taxi (Black Cab) Black cab taxis are available from outside the Arrivals for ease of travel. Fares for any journey will be shown on the meter inside the taxi. A published tariff of maximum fares is displayed at taxi ranks, and your driver will advise you of the fare before beginning the journey.

Private hire cab (Arrow Cars) A pre-paid service with desks at Arrivals in each terminal. www.arrowprivatehire.co.uk/book-manchester

Trains run from Manchester Airport’s transport hub ‘The Station’. Services are every 10 minutes to or from Manchester Piccadilly, with an average journey time of 20 minutes. Tickets are £4.80 for a single one way journey and can be purchased at the station. www.tpexpress.co.uk

Metrolink Trams from the airport run to Cornbrook. Change at Cornbrook for trams to the city centre, and all other destinations. Services run every 12 minutes on the airport line. Tickets are available from ticket machines on all platforms but not on-board, so be sure to purchase before you travel. www.metrolink.co.uk/airport

Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly Station On arrival in Manchester you can walk to Manchester Central, catch a Metroshuttle bus, Metrolink tram or take a taxi from Manchester Piccadilly

Metroshuttle buses are free and link the city centre's main rail stations, shopping areas and businesses. Shuttle map.

Metrolink is a convenient tram network serving 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, the venue is a few minutes on foot, behind the Midland Hotel.

On foot: journey time approximately 15 - 20 minutes  Head South on London Road  Take the first right onto Fairfield St  Continue straight as the road merges into Whitworth St  Continue along Whitworth St for approximately 7 minutes  Turn right onto Oxford St and follow the slight bend around to the left as the road becomes Peter St  Cross the tram lines on Peter St and take the next left onto Mount St  Once you turn onto Mount St the entrance to Manchester Central is visible

Manchester Central works with Manchester’s black cab drivers to make sure they know when it’s 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.