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.

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.

Bowker Vale is located on the Bury line of the Manchester Metrolink, services run between Bury and…read moreManchester city centre, every 6 minutes at peak times, with services continuing onto Altrincham or Piccadilly Station after Manchester city centre depending on which tram you board. The location is good, there is short-stay parking, ideal for dropping someone off on the street outside the station. The 59 bus which runs between Oldham and Manchester Piccadilly, and other bus services, including the 41, also stop just outside the station, on Middleton Road. It is a short walk from the main road to the station, with ramped access or steps. If you end up on the wrong platform, there is a staircase and a bridge to cross the tracks. While the station does not have lift access, both platforms are accessible without needing steps from the street. It is a basic tram stop apart from that, it is very poorly lit, especially from the street to the platform, which could be a problem in the evening. The lack of shelter also could be a problem on one of the many wet and windy days we get in Manchester, with only partial shelter. There are a small number of seats, but again these do get wet, despite being under a small roof and aren't the most comfortable. 3* - Average tram stop, the location is useful if you're looking to save some time getting into Bury or Manchester compared to the bus. It's also the closest tram stop to Middleton town centre, which has wrongly been excluded from the tram network.

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.

Prestwich Metrolink is your typical Metrolink station, it is on the Manchester Piccadilly - Bury…read moreline with trams in both directions, average day services will run every 12 minutes in each direction. This was actually a railway station for a considerable amount of time, which again is typical with the Metrolink network, it opened as a train station in 1879, before closing in 1991 and re-opening in an impressive 8 months, in April 1992. It is in a good location for Prestwich town centre, including Marks and Spencer, Tesco and a couple of restaurants and also many bus services call nearby, for a slightly slower journey into town or more further afield with the X43 Witchway into Burnley via Rawtenstall and the X41 into Accrington. The station seemed clean, it had partial shelter, I did struggle to find the exit which is a ramped pathway on the Bury bound platform at least. 3* - Useful station for me in order to catch Transdev buses or to go into Pretswich, could be better signposts around the station to get out and on with your journey, and the stepped area could be maintained to avoid being dirty/smelly.

Station needs a bit of cleaning but very conveniently located.read more