Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink is one of the most used stations on the Manchester Metrolink Station,…read moreit opened in 1992 before being rebuilt in 2009. It consists of a single island platform with services mostly running every 12 minutes on key routes. It's pretty much your bog standard tram platform, there are some backrests and seating while waiting for your tram, and some shelter, although on days with heavy rain and wind, it won't do much at all. Each side of the platform has ramped access and stairs making it easy to get in and out of, it's also facing Piccadilly Gardens bus station and City Tower, making it easy to continue on your journey. Ticket machines are available on the platform, but it's easier just to tap in and out with contactless nowadays, where the fares are now capped. It's a very busy interchange, so can get very crowded on the platforms, one thing I think isn't well thought out at the Metrolink stops in the city centre is that people just stand in the way, which makes it difficult if you're rushing for a tram, or trying to get off, there isn't really anywhere to go. Due to the central location, Piccadilly Gardens is on multiple lines and serves trams to Altrincham, Ashton Under-Lyne (via Piccadilly Station and Etihad Campus), Bury (via Victoria Station), Eccles (via Media City) and other part-route variations of the above. 3* - Bog standard tram stop, right in the heart of the city centre. It isn't somewhere you'd want to spend too long and can be uncomfortable at peak times, but with trams coming every couple of minutes, you shouldn't need to be there long.

Piccadilly Gardens acts as a busy interchange for buses and trams in and out of the city. You can…read morepretty much get a tram or bus to anywhere from here. So if you're in town and need to get out, Piccadilly Gardens will probably have a bus or tram going to somewhere at least vaguely near you. With the high volume of traffic going through, things can get pretty hectic down there, so make sure you're looking both ways when you're crossing the street and finding which stop is yours. It seems as if buses and trams are coming from all directions! If you're getting a bus up from Fallowfield on an evening, chances are you'll be sharing the bus with loads of pissed-up students on their way to some club. When you finally arrive in Piccadilly Gardens, they'll barge past you to get out of the bus and then they'll literally run as fast as they can to the nearest doorway or corner to empty their bladder. Lovely.

Market Street Metrolink is located right at the top of Market Street, in Manchester city centre, it…read moreis opposite Primark and is one of the busiest stops on the network as a whole. If you're heading to the Manchester Arndale, Piccadilly Gardens and many attractions/events in the city centre, this stop could be handy for you. It is on the yellow, green and dark blue lines meaning trams from here go to Piccadilly, Altrincham, Manchester Airport and Bury (via Victoria). As with all stations on the Metrolink network, this stop is step-free. You are able to use ramped access on both sides of the platform, although there is the option of taking a couple of steps too if you're in a hurry. The station isn't too exciting - it does have adequate shelter for the regular rainy days we have in Manchester, as well as a couple of seats, it generally isn't a place you're going to spend too much time due to the regular services from here. While the station isn't staffed 24-7, at peak times and whenever there are maintenance works at the station or on the network as a whole, you can expect staff members on the platform to offer assistance. 4*

The Metrolink tram system covers a good part of Greater Manchester (from Bury to Altrincham and…read moreManchester Piccadilly to Eccles). When making an onward connection at Manchester Piccadilly, it's clearly sign-posted, simple and speedy to find. The maps on the platform are easy-to-follow. On-site machines permit you to get your ticket just before you board (although you might need to allow a little extra time for this). Trams run very regularly, around every 12 minutes. Once on-board, the large windows are a boon - even in the rain - as they give you a good perspective on Manchester's diverse offering - from the impressive new super-modern developments to the canalside, former mill areas and historic buildings.

Didsbury Village Metrolink is a fairly new addition to the Metrolink network, the station opened in…read more2013. It is in a great location for Didsbury Village with the suburb's shops and restaurants a couple of minutes away on foot. It is on the South Manchester Line between East Didsbury and Rochdale Town Centre, with some Rochdale-bound trains terminating at Shaw and Crompton. It is a pretty basic tram stop, it is fairly clean, with ample shelter, it has ramped access onto street-level which is easier for everyone, to avoid dealing with slippy steps or slow lifts. 4* - Nice tram stop. It would be even better if they finally set the Stockport extension into motion.

Very close to the heart of Didsbury village, a useful service to get into Manchester or to the…read morenearby shopping area of Parswood.

Exchange Square is one of the newer stops on Manchester's Metrolink network in the city centre,…read morewhich opened in December 2015. The location is good, being in Exchange Square, it is opposite the Manchester Arndale (Next entrance), while also being close to The Corn Exchange and The Printworks (for dining, nightlife and a VUE cinema) and department stores including Marks and Spencer, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. The tram stop is fairly clean and modern, there is some seating. One side has ramped access, while the other has steps. The stop is located between St Peter's Square and Victoria, on the East Didsbury - Rochdale line, with some services terminating before Rochdale, at Shaw and Crompton. Services run on average every 6 minutes. I do find it frustrating how this station does not serve key stations in the city, such as Piccadilly Gardens, and Piccadilly Station, so it is much easier to use different stops for them as you end up going further out of your way to reach those stations if you do want to change services, but I guess it isn't possible due to the construction of the network. 4* - Probably my favourite station in the direct city centre in terms of the overall look and feel of the platform, it still feels cool and modern despite being six years old now, but in terms of line connections, it could be better.

I'm surprised the Metrolink station at Victoria Station hasn't been reviewed since 2010, especially…read moreconsidering the recent refurbishments of late at Victoria, which included a new Metrolink area, which is pretty nice and modern, and in the central part of the station. Victoria Station has had £44 million spent on it, making it all look really nice, and for a metrolink station it is quite nice, and much nicer than the one in Piccadilly which is a little dark, gloomy and "Underground" They is a ramp or a few steps to get here, and it is in line with the other platforms, of course you have places for coffee nearby and the facilities of Victoria Station. Victoria is on quite a "few mini lines" but the main line it is on is Rochdale - Ashton Under lyne and Bury - East Disbury, but it does have trams from other places and central Manchester too. If I'm correct, they is plans to build a connection with city center locations and Piccadilly Station soon, which would be good. They isn't much to comment on further, as it is pretty much an above average metrolink station, and I don't want to start commenting on Victoria Station in general too much as that is a different review, but it is defiantly one of the nicer metrolink stations I have seen as well, under shelter as well so I feel it does deserve 3 stars.

This particular metrolink stop is located right inside the Victoria Station - very similar to…read moreManchester Piccadilly. This is a stop on the Bury line, and to get there you need to walk across the rails. Apart from its location in Manchester's oldest train station, this must be the most exciting feature of Victoria metrolink. However, if you like watching the buildings flying past, then there may be additional pleasure in riding past Manchester's Green Quarter, with its glass-and-concrete apartments.

A handy stop for Central Library, The Midland Hotel and Oxford Road. It's basic but handy.read more

St peters square is much the same as all the other metrolink train stations and is relativly basic…read more There are two platforms which are raised above street lever and a few self ticket machines. You must ourchase a ticket before bording the metroling. The machines only accept coins and a few will accept notes,

An upgrade as this is one of the nicer Metrolink stations on the network, despite its' flaws, it's…read morestill a pretty modern station with connections into Deansgate Train Station offering slower more regional services. The station has nice views of the city, including the huge Deansgate Towers including Beetham Tower, home to the Hilton Hotel on the same side as the Piccadilly Bound Platform. The station is modern and clean in most areas, I do think the lift could be given more regular maintenance though, but this can be said for the network as a whole as they can often become smelly/dirty. To get between the city centre bound platform and the Cornbrook bound platform it is a little difficult as if you're unable to go up steps it involves walking the whole length of the platform and back again, it's a shame this couldn't have been constructed better. The double platform in the middle is useful as it means trams can start and terminate here, which is rare to find on the network - Strangely most trams on the Trafford Park lines carry on from here after "terminating at Cornbrook" to go back, which makes no sense. The station seems to be reguarly supervised and staffed, as with most city centre zone 1 stations. 4*

Beautiful new station with greenery on the train tracks and glass overhanging. Passes right next to…read morethe Hilton and has a very futuristic feel. Definitely a good addition to the Manchester city scape! PS: Right next to the railway station.

One of the things which makes the Etihad Stadium great is how easy it is accessed through public…read moretransport, one of the reasons this is down to is the Etihad Campus Metrolink stop on the Ashton Under Lyne - Media City line, taking you to Media City in around half an hour, and the city centre in under 10 minutes, only stopping at Holt Town and New Islington before Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens. A large amount of "special" trains also run on event days at the stadium, generally, Manchester City home fixtures and that includes trams to the likes of Altrincham, Eccles and Victoria. Having visited so many away grounds supporting City, from Liverpool to Wigan, from Stoke to Wolverhampton, from Everton to Hull, very few grounds have a metro station or something similar serving them, often having to rely on travelling on foot or in gridlock traffic, which is why having Metrolink here is so useful. The station its-self is quite small only being on the one line, but on a match-day, it does get really busy, I heard roughly 5000-7000 people use the tram from this stop on a match day so it does get pretty hectic, so be warned! For some reason, the address here is stated as a Metrolink office when it is actually inside the Etihad Campus, coming out of the station into the stadium. The station always seems to be staffed during event days, in a way it seems like a city centre tram stop but with fewer lines. Getting in and out of the station can also be a struggle, there only appears to be one lift which is quite small and it's also really slow, I've seen lifts climbing multiple floors go quicker than that lift to just go up one, the lift also generally has an awful smell to it, meaning you have to hold your breath when getting in sometimes due to the huge stench of urine, which certainly isn't a good impression to give for the Etihad Stadium, arguably the greatest football stadium in the country other than Wembley. Keeping customers informed at busy times such as on a City match day also could be better, the screens showing the next tram time and whether they will be a double or single, are often false an inaccurate and the same can be said about the announcements they're doing, often taking twice the time, or even more. The convenience of the location, making this special for the Etihad Stadium to have an easy for all supporters to get to games really helps this, but other than location it is a basic and poor stop in most regards, but the polite, helpful staff (most of the time) on matchdays and location serve it well to warrant a three-star rating.

Living in Detroit mass transit is not something we have much experience with…read more While the trams on the way TO the Etihad were rammed we still arrived in plenty of time. A tip of the hat to the Metrolink employee at Manchester Victoria who told us to switch at Piccadilly Gardens for easier access to trams to the Etihad. On the way BACK the lines were so long(so long that you roll your eyes and come to terms with the fact you are going to be in this line for at least an hour) but moved efficiently and we were back at Piccadilly w/in half an hour from entering the line. I was amazed. Really amazed and pleased considering how freezing cold it was outside. Way to go!