Plan your parking ahead of your trip if going shopping or for brunch, afternoon tea, a gig, or for a night out in the Northern Quarter
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Whether it's a day out shopping, visting a museum or popping out to meet friends for dinner – sometimes it's just easier to drive in to the city centre and park than having to deal with public transport.
But with a plethora of car parks available, and often cofusing one-way systems to navigate and bus lanes to avoid, it can be tricky trying to work out where to park.
And when you do find somewhere are you actually getting a good deal? And is it just worth paying a bit extra sometimes to park you car where you want to go.
Well don't worry, the M.E.N. has taken a look at car parks across the city to work out where the cheapest places are to park near where you want to go.
Check our guide below for the best spots near Victoria Station, Deansgate, Castlefield, Spinningfields, Oxford Road, Chinatown and the Northern Quarter.
Some of the cheapest parking in Manchester can be found here. So land yourself a patch of gravel and walk to save pounds.
Best for: Chetham's School of Music, Printworks, Manchester Cathedral, National Football Museum, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, St Ann’s Square, Marks & Spencer, Manchester Arndale, Shudehill, Royal Exchange Theatre.
RED BANK (M4 4HF): A huge 420-space that operates a flat rate of £3 Monday to Sunday no matter how long you spend there.
DANTZIC STREET(M4 2AE): It may be small, with just 17 spaces, but its cheap as chips. All-day parking is just £4 weekdays and £3 weekends.
PARK PLACE (M4 4EY): £3 weekdays, £2 weekends.
TOTAL CAR PARKS, 87 ROCHDALE ROAD (M4 4HY): is cheap with parking from £1.75 all day on Saturdays, and £2.75 during the week. Closed on Sundays.
RCP PARKING LTD, HANOVER STREET (M4 4BB): £8 for 4 hours and £12 all day, Arena events £10, has disabled spaces and you can book parking in advance online.
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Best for: Midland Hotel, Radisson, Train Crossfit Manchester, Banyan Tree, Barca, Dukes 92, Castlefield Bowl, The Wharf, Albert’s Shed, The Hilton, Castlefield Gallery, Akbars, Hilton Deansgate, Cloud 23, Dmitris, MOSI, HOME, Bridgewater Hall, Indian Tiffin Room, Junkyard Golf, Briton’s Protection, Vertigo: plant-based eatery, Evuna, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Everyman Cinema, Royal Exchange Theatre.
RCP PARKING SILVERCROFT (M15 4AX): 24-hour parking , weekdays £6, weekends £3.50, vans £14 all week. Pay at the machine is more expensive than via the mobile app.
GREAT JACKSON STREET (M14 4PA): A Manchester City Council run carpark with great rates for shorter stays. Up to 3 hours is £2.50; a 10-hour full day £7.50 and you can park up all weekend Saturday and Sunday for £10. Bank Holidays are free.
SIP GREAT JACKSON STREET (M15 4PA): SIP is short for Simple Intelligent Parking and the company purports to have a social conscience via charitable donations and paying staff a living wage. Beware: sometimes you will get a cheap SIP carpark and other times prices are sky high. This one is a reasonable £4.50 for 3 hours, 10 hours £7, 12 hours £8.00, 24 hours £10.00. Open from 7.30am-10.30pm.
SIP DUKE STREET (M3 4JL): Just a short stroll to MOSI and the Hilton end of Deansgate, Everyman Cinema, Castlefield Bowl and the Odeon and eateries at Great Northern Warehouse. 4 hours £4, 8 hours £5, 12 hours £7, 24 hours £8.
SIP COLLIER STREET (M3 4NA): 2 hours £2, 4 hours £4.50, 8 hours £6, 12 hours £7, 24 hours £12.
Best for: Boujee, The Ivy, 20 Stories, Manchester Opera House, Fazenda, Rudy's, John Rylands Library, Dishroom, The Oast House, Hawksmoor, Great Northern, San Carlo, House of Fraser, Manchester Crown Court, People's History Museum.
It costs £28 for 8 hours at NCP Spinningfields Manchester City Council also operates the parking at King Street West: 4 hours costs £20.20, and 24 hours costs £32.50. Over the River Irwell, you’ll find NCPs on Stanley Street and New Bailey, both around £14 for 4 hours and £24 for 24 hours.
SIP BOOTLE STREET (M2 5GU): A tiny 17-space car park on nearby at 4 hours for £6, 10 hours for £12, 24 hours for £17. There is no parking on a Saturday from 8am-2pm.
BRIDGE STREET CAR PARK (M3 5AH): A 24-hour short stay car park operated by Manchester City Council, located down by the River Irwell. Cashless parking only. 1 hour £4.50 and a maximum stay of 4 hours for £9.50.
Best for: Malmaison, Double Tree Hilton, Piccadilly Station, Ducie Street Warehouse, Mackie Mayor, Dakota Grill and Hotel, Fred Aldous, Takk, Yard and Coop, Band on the Wall, Rudy’s, The Jane Eyre, Seven Bro7ers, The Hip Hop Chip Shop, Halle St Peter’s, Elnecot, Companio Bakery, Pollen Bakery, Frog and Bucket, The Butcher’s Quarter, Pull Up Bar and Café, Band on the Wall. Twenty Twenty Two, Bundobust, TNQ – The Northern Quarter Restaurant & Bar, The Abel Heywood Pub & Boutique Hotel, Hope Mill Theatre.
Prices range here from £18 Dantzic Street (Total Car Parks) to £16 a day on Edge Hill Street (SIP). Many carparks are around the £6 mark (such as MCC Northern Quarter Carpark on Tib Street). On Tariff Street it is £15 (CitiPark), and a short stroll away SIP on Pigeon Street and Ducie Street is £6. The Port Street carparks are about £10. Printworks Multi-Storey (with 777 spaces), is £22 all day on a Saturday. (APCOA Parking UK).
Best for: Manchester University, MMU, Sandbar, Manchester Museum, The Whitworth, RNCM, KroBar, Gorilla, Kimpton Hotel, HOME, Wood, Manchester Academy, Contact Theatre, Big Hands, MRI, St Mary's, The Deaf Institute, Manchester School of Art, Hatch, Holiday Inn Express.
At around £15 a day prices here are less variable as many are part of the University campuses, with some operated by Apcoa. The main parking here is on either the Upper Brook Street side or towards Hulme on the Higher Cambridge side. University of Manchester parking is available at Charles Street, Aquatics / Booth Street East, Booth Street West, Cecil Street.
There are loads of on-street parking bays around the back of MMU, towards Hulme and Moss Side. Some are pay at the machine short stay, some is free. You are likely to grab free parking after 8pm in this area.
Best for: Gay Village, Palace Theatre, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Chorlton Street Coach Station, Hotel Brookyln, Manchester Art Gallery, Richmond Tea Rooms, Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre.
BLOOM STREET (M1 3HR): Weekdays 4 hours for £6 and 9 hours for £10.50, weekends £5 all day or £10 for 2 days.
NCP SACKVILLE STREET (M1 3LY): Winner of a safer parking award, although though it's not dirt cheap: 4 hours for £14.20 24 hours, £25.50.
Q-PARK PIAZZA, ST JAMES STREET (M1 4LX): This underground carpark has 225 spaces, including disabled spots. Prices are from £2.20 an hour to £27 a day. You can advance book your parking space online.
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY MULTI-STOREY, CHARLES STREET (M1 3BB): A huge car park with 808 spaces – so, you'd hope to get a spot. Disabled parking is available. 5 hours for £7 and 24 hours for £15.
1. MCC, PICCADILLY GARDENS, CHATHAM STREET (M1 3AY): Open from 5.30am to 11.30pm, you will get the best deal here if you arrive between 6am and 9am to grab a spot for £6.50 for 12 hours. Annual and seasonal tickets are available, as well as residents permits. Disabled parking and charging points for electric cars.
2. MCC GREAT JACKSON STREET (M14 4PA): Great rates for shorter stays. Up to 3 hours is £2.50; a 10-hour full day £7.50
3. SIP DUKE STREET (M3 4JL): Just a short stroll to MOSI and the Hilton end of Deansgate. 3 Hours £3 12 Hours £7
4. MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY, CHARLES STREET (M1 3BB): 808 spaces 5 hours for £7
5. MCC BLOOM STREET (M1 3LY): Disabled bays are reserved for Blue Badge holders only. FREE BLUE BADGE PARKING. Open 24 hours. Any single visit up to 12 hours arriving and ticket purchased between the hours of 6pm and 6am – £7. Otherwise. 1 hour £4.50, 2 hours, £7, 24 hours £12
6. QUEEN STREET (M3 7DQ): £5 all day prebook online at rcpparking.com.
7. WATER STREET (M3 4JH): With 350 spaces, and advanced booking on the RCP website, chances are you can grab a good spot. weekdays £7 all day, weekends £5 all day. At the bottom of Liverpool Road, near MOSI, a bit of a walk to Deansgate.
8.NCP MANCHESTER PALACE, WHITWORTH STREET (M1 6NE): Open 24 hours, central for everything. Early Bird price £7.45 for arrivals between 5am and 9am for a stay up to 12 hours the same day. Otherwise its £29.95 for more than 7 hours.
9. MCC NORTHERN QUARTER (M4 1LX): a 24-hour carpark with electric charging points. £6 for any single visit up to 12 hours arriving 6am to 9am. After this it shoots up to £7 for 2 hours and £20.50 for 24 hours. Disabled bays are reserved for Blue Badge holders only. FREE BLUE BADGE PARKING.
10. SIP PORT STREET (M1 2EG): Dirt cheap, great location, but only 21 spaces. 3 hours £3, 12 hours £6, 24 hours £10.
Manchester City Council also operate car parks, view locations, parking bays and rates across the city here here.
On street parking can offer the best rates for quick visits, or free parking after 8pm and bank holidays.
Metrolink has a park and ride scheme and the Manchester Metroshuttle bus is free and links up all the city zones via its three routes.
Do you know any other cheap parking spots around the city centre? Let us know in the comments or tweet @mennewsdesk