Manchester Shudehill could certainly be a lot better especially for a major city, but it certainly…read moreisn't too bad either, with a good number of connections via bus, while also having Metrolink services and being a short walk away (or one stop on the Diamond Number 8 bus and/or Metrolink towards Bury) to Manchester Victoria Railway Station. The station's layout is easy to follow, although it is split into two bus stations, most of which do go from the main terminal. Buses from here serve most of Manchester including Bury, Bolton, Salford, Rochdale, Middleton and the MRI. National Express also run coaches from here going across the country. I would love to see digital bus timetables showing when the next bus is, which I've seen in other locations across England, which perhaps could list destinations and towns showing the next bus to go there, which means you can always get the next bus and know how long it'll take without the need for third-party mobile phone apps. The staff inside the station seem friendly, and although they do try to help it stay clean, it doesn't always stay that way, mainly down to members of the public openly making a mess including smoking (which is forbidden), or the occasional litter or pigeon problem. There is an ATM outside (Be careful as this is a common spot for homeless people), newsagents and a coffee shop (which never seems to be open) at Shudehill. 3*

Shudehill Interchange is one of Manchester's transport hubs that is far less scummy than Victoria…read morestation and much less stressful than the bustling Piccadilly Station. You can catch the metro from Shudehill either as well as many local buses. It's also the Manchester stop for Megabuses which I love because the bus station is only five minutes away from my flat. Mega useful. Inside the bus station is a newsagents which sells confectionary and crisps and stuff for your journey, and generally the station is clean, light and well maintained. There's a few seats if you've got a long wait too. Ooh, also dead useful is that there is a cash machine just outside the main entrance. Dead handy if you're over in Trof or tv21 and need some more cash quickly.

An improved station of late - now under the sponsorship of Vodafone. Despite having two platforms…read moreonly one seems to be reguarly in use for the Ashton - Eccles line. They seem to have added much more shelter compared to nearby stations and fixed the electronic screen fault. 3*

The MediaCityUK Metrolink Tram Station is the best one I have ever been to, staff and people are…read morenice and polite and the trams are always on time (and even earlier than expected). I would definitely recommend this location to someone looking to travel.

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.

Fairly straight forward!…read more You arrive at the station, you go to the machine and ... After several taps later you are finally able to complete your order on the "touch" screen to buy your ticket. These machines are not touch sensitive and need a firm couple of presses! Bring your foam hands! The tram stop finally has an LED screen to tell you when the next tram is due - an absolute miracle when you're in a rush and need to decide if you have time to hit up the cash machine or if you need to grab that taxi instead. The facilities have improved over the years but the touch screens definitely need looking at again!

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.

Old Trafford Metrolink Station is a pretty large station, compared to other Metrolink Stations…read morewhich only serve one line. It is on the Altrincham line with 10 trains an hour going towards Altrincham, and towards the city centre there are 5 trains per hour going to Bury, and 5 going to Piccadilly. It is right outside the Emirates Old Trafford (cricket stadium), where there is a stunning Hilton Garden Inn hotel, and a short walk away from Old Trafford (football stadium). PRO TIP: If heading to the football stadium, Wharfside on the Trafford line is your best bet as it is closer to the stadium. The station can get very busy on a match-day, whether it be the football or cricket so barriers are in place for queuing, and there is a large staff presence at the station. I do think lighting should be improved for such a major station. The station is step-free, however, you may need to go in and out of the station to cross the tram tracks, if you are trying to get from the Altrincham bound platform towards the Emirates Old Trafford exit. 3* - Average Metrolink station, some improvements are obviously necessary and surprise me that they haven't been made already.

Metrolink Old Trafford Tram Station is useful with great links from Manchester to the Emirates…read moreCricket Club & Manchester United football Club, it takes around 10-15 minutes either way on one of Altrincham bound trams.

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.

Salford Quays Metrolink is a tram stop on the Eccles Line of the Manchester Metrolink, from here…read moreyou can get a tram towards Ashton Under-Lyne (via the Etihad Stadium and city centre) or Eccles (via Media City). It opened as part of the 1999 extension to the network, and while the station isn't too exciting and modern it is reasonably well-lit at night and has ample shelter and seating. It's around 10 minutes on the tram into Cornbrook, where you can pretty much change onto any other line on the network, allowing you to continue your journey further. The location is good for Salford Quays, the Eccles bound platform is along the river, and the Manchester bound platform is right outside The Matchstick Man Pub and a Starbucks. There is parking outside however this appears to be for customers of the pub and Starbucks only, but if you're seeking a taxi or a friend picking you up or dropping you off, then you should be fine. Pretty much a bog standard tram stop, but the views of the water are pretty, the bus stop-style seats and shelter are ample given the fact you won't be spending too long here as trams usually arrive every 10-15 minutes or so. 4*

Trafford Bar might not be the most impressive Metrolink station on the network, but the location is…read moreideal for Old Trafford Football Stadium (Wharfside is still much closer on the new Trafford Line) as well as providing easy access to the Trafford Centre via the X50/250 bus (Whenever there's a fault on the Trafford Line I like getting the bus from here to the Trafford Centre after getting on in the city centre, saves a lot of time!) Considering it only has two platforms and isn't a main city centre station it serves a good number of destinations including Altrincham, Bury and Manchester Airport. You can also get a train here into both of Manchester's major train stations, Piccadilly and Victoria. It might not be the most modern or exciting of stations and the entrance from the main road might not be the greatest journey at night as it involves a couple of side streets, but still a pretty useful station for the Trafford area. 3*

Opening in 1999 as part of the Phase 2 Metrolink expansion, Broadway is one of the stations which…read morehelps serve the Media City UK area - although it isn't as close to the action as the stop of that name, it still serves a point on the Eccles line to get close to the area and more, perhaps if there's a long wait for a train which goes to Media City UK Metrolink. The sign-posting in the station is rather confusing and the station is constructed like it probably hasn't been maintained very well - it is accessed by two narrow, steep ramps at either end of the station which leads onto crossing the tram tracks or grass which I didn't like. There was sign-posting to get to Media City which was nothing more than an arrow I found to be rather confusing - I found the best way was leaving the station when walking towards UTC @ Media City UK, and walking on the left side of that street until you turn at Booths, pass the Holiday Inn and get to the BBC/ITV studios and restaurants from there. There wasn't a great deal of shelter at the station - it was common for other stations preceding this one on the route, however on the Eccles line which goes in the opposite direction to Ashton (via the city centre and Etihad Stadium) 2* - A useful point of access towards Media City UK on the Eccles line which saved me waiting a further 5 minutes on getting the train from the city centre but as a station, it is just pretty poor.