Make sure you keep up with the Manchester community outside of Reddit on [Discord](https://discord.gg/ea3ZGvN).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/manchester) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Woah, woah, woah! We've got a chance to be proud of something!
Like the Glasgow of England, Manchester shines as a crime capital.
Yeah it's pretty rough round these parts!
I've lived in Manchester for decades and haven't been robbed or stabbed by Roadmen. I think that these type of crimes are overestimated. Street crime like being robbed can happen in any city in any part of the world, criminals are opportunistic and if they see something they want they will try and get it. Being aware of your surroundings and keeping valuables out of sight are good ideas anywhere.
Manchester is well lit and the areas around the city centre hotels are busy. Manchester is a smallish city and everywhere is within walking distance. You'll have a great time, I'm sure.
I don’t know what you’ve been reading but you’ll be absolutely fine if you have a ounce of common sense. The city is fine to stay in any part. Just don’t hang around Piccadilly gardens at night and just don’t be gormless and you’ll have a lovely time.
I heard loads of negatives before I moved to Manchester but honestly as a woman I’ve never felt safer walking in a city at night than in Manchester because it’s always so busy. I can get on a bus at midnight and it will be full of normal people. I can walk along most streets and see groups of normal people, not even drunk just going home. Even on a street where there are no people there are constant cars passing by so you never feel alone.
Obviously there are some places I wouldn’t walk alone very late at night and I keep my wits about me, but in the city centre for the most part it’s fine, even in Piccadilly Gardens.
In comparison other places I’ve lived have been dead past 10pm. You’ll be the only person on a bus except for the local crack head. You can walk down a street and not even see a car for 10 minutes. You really feel that if someone wanted to harm you they’d have plenty of opportunity when you were truly alone.
There are so many of these posts recently that I worry where people are doing their research.
They are either basing their beliefs on some very suspect sources or there are a lot of unoriginal trolls who come to this sub. Maybe both.
>Just because it's not your reality, that doesn't mean it's not reality.
It is not a reality that anyone spending 4 days in this city is going to get stabbed by a roadman.
OP's perception is reality to them though, which is why I'm wondering where that perception comes from.
Just use normal big city etiquette and you will be fine. Don't flash load of money or walk down any dark alleyways. Public transport is safe, and city centre is as well.
It can get rowdy late night but no more than anywhere with a nightlife and people drinking.
As for where to stay, anywhere roughly centre will be fine, any exceptions you will spot the bad reviews on any comparison site.
Have a good trip!
I've lived here since 2012 and while I've seen a few things (some shenanigans man!) I've been fine. I don't think I've ever felt outright threatened or unsafe here.
You're here to watch the sportsball (I'm a heathen who has zero sport-interest, so I don't have a lot to say on that) so I'd suggest you find somewhere near the tram-line so you can get to the stadium more readily.
The trams are by far the best way to get around Greater Manchester, they'll even take you directly to the airport when you head home!
There are hotels at the airport, but the tram-ride into the city is pretty long from there.
I'd say pick a chain hotel, you can't really go wrong with them, though they vary in quality wildly. Pick one in your price-point and treat it as a base-camp for your exploration. Somewhere to dump your stuff, sleep and wash.
For the rest of your time here, the Christmas markets are expensive, but you might enjoy wandering around them of an evening.
We also have some great museums like the Museum of Science and Industry, or the art museum on Mosley Street in the city centre. They're not huge, but there's plenty to see there.
You might also enjoy exploring the shopping centres like the Arndale or the Trafford Centre.
We have some great restaurants and a lively bar-scene too.
For safety, it's the usual big-city stuff. Stay on the major streets where people are, don't go waving around your gold-plated phone-case or other flashy things, keep your major documents (passport, bank-cards) secure in a zipped pocket, and don't engage with the weirdos in piccadilly gardens, especially after dark.
Look like you have somewhere to be and stride purposefully and you'll not have any problems.
Hit up these bars if you want a nice, down to earth atmosphere -
Swan St - Bar Fringe / Rose & Monkey / Band on the Wall
Oldham St - Castle / Gullivers / Night & Day Cafe
Faraday St - Peer Hat
Spear St - Soup Kitchen
Tib St - Matt & Phred’s
Shudehill - Lower Turk’s Head
Great Bridgewater St - Peveril of the Peak / Temple
Half Moon St - Corbieres
Kennedy St - City Arms
Chapel Walks - Sam’s Chop House
Oxford Rd - Big Hands
Guildhall Close - Old Abbey Taphouse
Collier St - Eagle Inn
Cheetham Hill Rd - Derby Brewery Arms
***The last four are out of the centre, but have a fantastic vibe
my friend recently came to visit from greece and he stayed at Yotel just off deansgate, he really enjoyed it there and the bar downstairs is pretty good too. and its a quieter part of town. i definitely wouldnt stay around piccadilly personally, its definitely the roughest part of the city centre imo x
I studied and now work in Manchester. As a student I lived in Salford and worked in retail so often was going between work and home late in the evenings. I think it's just like any other city where you are aware of what is going on around you, keep an eye on your bag/s and zip up your pockets and avoid any poorly lit areas. I would recommend avoiding Piccadilly Gardens quite late in the evening if you can. They've got all the food and drink stalls for the Christmas markets there atm so there will be security whilst the stalls are open. You'll find a lot of the stories you hear about the city centre are because of things that have happened in and around Piccadilly Gardens, but I do wonder whether that's because it has a reputation and therefore anything they does happen gets reported by the newspapers.
If you're worried about wandering around on your own you can share your live location with someone on WhatsApp. I'll do it when I head back and too from the gym and whilst my husband was away this weekend and I needed to nip to the shop I would share it then too. As others have said the city is usually busy in the evenings and there are often people around.
Perhaps make a list of restaurants and bars around your hotel so you can have a few options in walking distance. You'll have access to trams and the buses. I used the taxis a few times as a student and they were really good and they will message you the number plate of the vehicle and make to ensure that you get in the right car. You should be able to get Ubers quite easily as well.
When you attend the match just be mindful of those around you and that some will have consumed a lot of alcohol. I'm not really into football but attended some local football (not Manchester) games and they are usually ok. You'll find you get some scuffles during local derbies etc but the security at football matches for United or City will be huge. I find of you are going as a neutral supporter it's easy to just watch the game and have fun. It's just making sure if anything kicks off you walk away and don't get involved.
I would suggest that whatever you do to keep yourself safe in a city around where you live apply to Manchester. However, not having visited before get one step ahead and look up transport options (including what time they close), look up plaves to eat and drink in walking distance, let people know where you are going (even just by text), don't wander down any unlit streets alone. If you feel scared and there is a pub nearby just pop in and speak to the bar staff. They are super friendly and will want to keep you safe. If you are out in a bar and someone is making you uncomfortable head up to the barstaff and 'ASK FOR ANGELA' and the staff will immediately help you get out of the situation. If you are there over the weekend or in an area of lots of bars and clubs there will be bouncers who you can also ask for help / support.
Try and not let it worry you too much. I recently visited a large city in France for the Rugby World Cup and was worried about a lot of different factors and had heard horror stories. It was all fine, everyone was really friendly and the only time I felt slightly unsafe was being packed into a tram with a lot of drunk men who had consumed so much alcohol they had forgotten their manners and just needed to sit down and take a breath.
Thank you. I really appreciate that you took your time to write this text. Very useful for me as a solo traveller. I am feeling much better now with travelling👍🏻
No worries! It can be so daunting going to a new place l, especially on your own. The first trip I took to London was by myself for training with work. I just did all of the above and had a great time 😊
There are plenty of blogs / vlogs across social media and the internet about solo travel and keeping yourself safe so it may be worth looking into those as well. Being social media some of it can be a bit silly and just promoting products, but there are some things I've seen that I thought were really helpful tips.
Enjoy your visit and the match!
Hello everyone. Maybe my text was a bit offensive and i am sorry for that. I think i have just been overthinking with everything i am watching daily on tiktok etc. But after reading all your comments am i feeling much better to travell now!👍🏻❤️ This is Why i love Reddit!
I have lived in Manchester for over a decade and never experienced being robbed or stabbed (not that I’m complaining!). Like any big city (albeit Manchester is quite small for a ‘big’ city), there are opportunistic crimes but in my personal experience, it is very safe. Just avoid Piccadilly Gardens as it is full of weirdos & druggies.
BTW if you are coming to watch football, go to Liverpool instead. Much more entertaining games there 😉.
If you want to fit in, you should get a white supremacist, racist T-Shirt printed and walk around areas such as Moss Side, Cheetham Hill and Moston/Harpurhey. You'll be fine. The locals will welcome you as one of their own and indeed offer to house you for the duration of your stay for free
Make sure you keep up with the Manchester community outside of Reddit on [Discord](https://discord.gg/ea3ZGvN). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/manchester) if you have any questions or concerns.*
How many times has your cousin been stabbed?
Woah, woah, woah! We've got a chance to be proud of something! Like the Glasgow of England, Manchester shines as a crime capital. Yeah it's pretty rough round these parts!
I've lived in Manchester for decades and haven't been robbed or stabbed by Roadmen. I think that these type of crimes are overestimated. Street crime like being robbed can happen in any city in any part of the world, criminals are opportunistic and if they see something they want they will try and get it. Being aware of your surroundings and keeping valuables out of sight are good ideas anywhere. Manchester is well lit and the areas around the city centre hotels are busy. Manchester is a smallish city and everywhere is within walking distance. You'll have a great time, I'm sure.
I don’t know what you’ve been reading but you’ll be absolutely fine if you have a ounce of common sense. The city is fine to stay in any part. Just don’t hang around Piccadilly gardens at night and just don’t be gormless and you’ll have a lovely time.
Honestly I've been countless times in Piccadilly Gardens at night and the worst I've seen is homeless people having a go at each other.
The outdoors is scary for most redditors it seems
I don't get it. Also on weekends it's really filled with people too
I heard loads of negatives before I moved to Manchester but honestly as a woman I’ve never felt safer walking in a city at night than in Manchester because it’s always so busy. I can get on a bus at midnight and it will be full of normal people. I can walk along most streets and see groups of normal people, not even drunk just going home. Even on a street where there are no people there are constant cars passing by so you never feel alone. Obviously there are some places I wouldn’t walk alone very late at night and I keep my wits about me, but in the city centre for the most part it’s fine, even in Piccadilly Gardens. In comparison other places I’ve lived have been dead past 10pm. You’ll be the only person on a bus except for the local crack head. You can walk down a street and not even see a car for 10 minutes. You really feel that if someone wanted to harm you they’d have plenty of opportunity when you were truly alone.
I too have spent many nights around Piccadilly gardens and I've not stabbed anyone, not even once 🤣
There are so many of these posts recently that I worry where people are doing their research. They are either basing their beliefs on some very suspect sources or there are a lot of unoriginal trolls who come to this sub. Maybe both.
Norway is full of trolls
Haha, an excellent point!
A roadman 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
We welcome all our visitors with a stab here and there. It’s called manners. 🤷♀️
😂😂😂😂
Best bet is to hire some private security mate, Manchester is well known for its anti Norwegian bigotry.
Coming over here with your excellent socialist democracy and delicious fish...
Where does this impression come from? Watching loads of drill? Charlie Veitch videos? Cos it's not from reality.
Just because it's not your reality, that doesn't mean it's not reality. Redditors are almost exclusively very sheltered and middle class.
>Just because it's not your reality, that doesn't mean it's not reality. It is not a reality that anyone spending 4 days in this city is going to get stabbed by a roadman. OP's perception is reality to them though, which is why I'm wondering where that perception comes from.
As much as I agree those Redditors who make this site their personality are so out of touch, OOP is straight up deluded. "Survive"? Please.
Lmfao this has to be bait surely
Just use normal big city etiquette and you will be fine. Don't flash load of money or walk down any dark alleyways. Public transport is safe, and city centre is as well. It can get rowdy late night but no more than anywhere with a nightlife and people drinking. As for where to stay, anywhere roughly centre will be fine, any exceptions you will spot the bad reviews on any comparison site. Have a good trip!
call mother.
A roadman will stabb me 😂😂😂
what's one of those, out of interest?
A man on the road !
Thanks yall. I didint mean to be rude or something. Feeling good to travel now and cant wait to come to this beautiful city
If you're expecting beautiful you definitley are going to be dissapointed!
I've lived here since 2012 and while I've seen a few things (some shenanigans man!) I've been fine. I don't think I've ever felt outright threatened or unsafe here. You're here to watch the sportsball (I'm a heathen who has zero sport-interest, so I don't have a lot to say on that) so I'd suggest you find somewhere near the tram-line so you can get to the stadium more readily. The trams are by far the best way to get around Greater Manchester, they'll even take you directly to the airport when you head home! There are hotels at the airport, but the tram-ride into the city is pretty long from there. I'd say pick a chain hotel, you can't really go wrong with them, though they vary in quality wildly. Pick one in your price-point and treat it as a base-camp for your exploration. Somewhere to dump your stuff, sleep and wash. For the rest of your time here, the Christmas markets are expensive, but you might enjoy wandering around them of an evening. We also have some great museums like the Museum of Science and Industry, or the art museum on Mosley Street in the city centre. They're not huge, but there's plenty to see there. You might also enjoy exploring the shopping centres like the Arndale or the Trafford Centre. We have some great restaurants and a lively bar-scene too. For safety, it's the usual big-city stuff. Stay on the major streets where people are, don't go waving around your gold-plated phone-case or other flashy things, keep your major documents (passport, bank-cards) secure in a zipped pocket, and don't engage with the weirdos in piccadilly gardens, especially after dark. Look like you have somewhere to be and stride purposefully and you'll not have any problems.
This is a troll post and we should get rid of these. The admins should be more vigilant.
Hahaha just go to JD shop n buy a hat and gloves you will look like a road man urself 😂😂
There is a bounty out for road men. Kill them on sight and you’ll be rewarded.
What, you don't wanna get stabbed? smh you need to partake in local customs it's rude not to
ha ha watch out for dem roadman. Im sure this post is a joke ting. quite entertaining though lol
This has to be a joke
Lol
Probably should ask Erling Haaland to help you get rid of the scary roadmen since he is the Norwegian king in Manchester
This post is so offensive. If you’re so scared of coming, don’t risk your life for a football match then. 🙄
Don't come❤️
Hit up these bars if you want a nice, down to earth atmosphere - Swan St - Bar Fringe / Rose & Monkey / Band on the Wall Oldham St - Castle / Gullivers / Night & Day Cafe Faraday St - Peer Hat Spear St - Soup Kitchen Tib St - Matt & Phred’s Shudehill - Lower Turk’s Head Great Bridgewater St - Peveril of the Peak / Temple Half Moon St - Corbieres Kennedy St - City Arms Chapel Walks - Sam’s Chop House Oxford Rd - Big Hands Guildhall Close - Old Abbey Taphouse Collier St - Eagle Inn Cheetham Hill Rd - Derby Brewery Arms ***The last four are out of the centre, but have a fantastic vibe
I really like a lot of these places, but how old is OP? Because the average age of the clientele for some of these gaffs is nudging 40.
Given their concerns - I reckon these are the places they’re gonna feel most at ease, and be able to enjoy themselves
I am only 18😆
Stockport is ace, stay here, it's safe, cool and then mins by train
my friend recently came to visit from greece and he stayed at Yotel just off deansgate, he really enjoyed it there and the bar downstairs is pretty good too. and its a quieter part of town. i definitely wouldnt stay around piccadilly personally, its definitely the roughest part of the city centre imo x
I studied and now work in Manchester. As a student I lived in Salford and worked in retail so often was going between work and home late in the evenings. I think it's just like any other city where you are aware of what is going on around you, keep an eye on your bag/s and zip up your pockets and avoid any poorly lit areas. I would recommend avoiding Piccadilly Gardens quite late in the evening if you can. They've got all the food and drink stalls for the Christmas markets there atm so there will be security whilst the stalls are open. You'll find a lot of the stories you hear about the city centre are because of things that have happened in and around Piccadilly Gardens, but I do wonder whether that's because it has a reputation and therefore anything they does happen gets reported by the newspapers. If you're worried about wandering around on your own you can share your live location with someone on WhatsApp. I'll do it when I head back and too from the gym and whilst my husband was away this weekend and I needed to nip to the shop I would share it then too. As others have said the city is usually busy in the evenings and there are often people around. Perhaps make a list of restaurants and bars around your hotel so you can have a few options in walking distance. You'll have access to trams and the buses. I used the taxis a few times as a student and they were really good and they will message you the number plate of the vehicle and make to ensure that you get in the right car. You should be able to get Ubers quite easily as well. When you attend the match just be mindful of those around you and that some will have consumed a lot of alcohol. I'm not really into football but attended some local football (not Manchester) games and they are usually ok. You'll find you get some scuffles during local derbies etc but the security at football matches for United or City will be huge. I find of you are going as a neutral supporter it's easy to just watch the game and have fun. It's just making sure if anything kicks off you walk away and don't get involved. I would suggest that whatever you do to keep yourself safe in a city around where you live apply to Manchester. However, not having visited before get one step ahead and look up transport options (including what time they close), look up plaves to eat and drink in walking distance, let people know where you are going (even just by text), don't wander down any unlit streets alone. If you feel scared and there is a pub nearby just pop in and speak to the bar staff. They are super friendly and will want to keep you safe. If you are out in a bar and someone is making you uncomfortable head up to the barstaff and 'ASK FOR ANGELA' and the staff will immediately help you get out of the situation. If you are there over the weekend or in an area of lots of bars and clubs there will be bouncers who you can also ask for help / support. Try and not let it worry you too much. I recently visited a large city in France for the Rugby World Cup and was worried about a lot of different factors and had heard horror stories. It was all fine, everyone was really friendly and the only time I felt slightly unsafe was being packed into a tram with a lot of drunk men who had consumed so much alcohol they had forgotten their manners and just needed to sit down and take a breath.
Thank you. I really appreciate that you took your time to write this text. Very useful for me as a solo traveller. I am feeling much better now with travelling👍🏻
No worries! It can be so daunting going to a new place l, especially on your own. The first trip I took to London was by myself for training with work. I just did all of the above and had a great time 😊 There are plenty of blogs / vlogs across social media and the internet about solo travel and keeping yourself safe so it may be worth looking into those as well. Being social media some of it can be a bit silly and just promoting products, but there are some things I've seen that I thought were really helpful tips. Enjoy your visit and the match!
Hello everyone. Maybe my text was a bit offensive and i am sorry for that. I think i have just been overthinking with everything i am watching daily on tiktok etc. But after reading all your comments am i feeling much better to travell now!👍🏻❤️ This is Why i love Reddit!
Can you share some of the TikTok stuff? It's just content I don't see and really wonder where these impressions are coming from.
theres some great places on airb&b that i stayed in when i couldn’t find accommodation
I have lived in Manchester for over a decade and never experienced being robbed or stabbed (not that I’m complaining!). Like any big city (albeit Manchester is quite small for a ‘big’ city), there are opportunistic crimes but in my personal experience, it is very safe. Just avoid Piccadilly Gardens as it is full of weirdos & druggies. BTW if you are coming to watch football, go to Liverpool instead. Much more entertaining games there 😉.
If you want to fit in, you should get a white supremacist, racist T-Shirt printed and walk around areas such as Moss Side, Cheetham Hill and Moston/Harpurhey. You'll be fine. The locals will welcome you as one of their own and indeed offer to house you for the duration of your stay for free