Getting around Salford
Salford sits on the western bank of the River Irwell, directly across from Manchester city centre, and for a visitor the two places function almost as one continuous urban area. That closeness shapes everything about how you travel here: many of the journeys you make will involve hopping between Salford and Manchester, and the transport network reflects that. Salford is also the main settlement of the wider City of Salford borough, which takes in places such as Eccles, Pendlebury, Swinton and Walkden, so "Salford" can mean either the central city or the broader district depending on who you ask.
Walking
Walking is generally the best way to get around Salford. The central area is compact and easy to cover on foot, and the landmarks — the former town hall, Salford Cathedral, Salford Lads' Club and St Philip's Church — sit within a walkable core.
The one journey that is genuinely awkward on foot is the link between central Salford and Salford Quays, the dockland area that is now home to MediaCityUK and a cluster of media organisations including BBC North and ITV Granada. The two are a couple of miles apart, which is far enough to make walking a real commitment rather than a casual stroll. If your visit centres on the Quays, plan to use the tram rather than your feet for that leg.
Rail
Salford has two main railway stations, Salford Central and Salford Crescent, and both sit on routes heading into Manchester Victoria. Trains from towns across northern England stop at Salford Central, and many also call at Salford Crescent on their way to Victoria. The upshot for a visitor is that the service between Salford and Manchester Victoria is very frequent and the trip takes barely five minutes, making the train a quick, easy hop across the river.
If you are arriving from further afield — London Euston or the Midlands, for example — you will normally travel first to Manchester Piccadilly, change for Victoria, and then change again for Salford. It is a slightly fiddly sequence, but a straightforward one once you know to expect it.
One important caveat: the train is not convenient for Salford Quays, which lie a mile or two west of the centre. For the Quays, use the tram instead.
Metrolink trams
Metrolink is the backbone of travel to Salford Quays and MediaCity. The orange and blue lines run from Manchester Piccadilly through St Peters Square, Deansgate and Cornbrook out to Salford Quays and MediaCity, with the blue line continuing on to Eccles. The journey from the city centre takes around twenty minutes, and trams run roughly every ten minutes from early morning until midnight.
These stops fall in Fare Zone 2, so a single journey from the city centre is £2.80. Eastbound, both lines carry on through Piccadilly towards Ashton-under-Lyne. From the central stops you can also change onto trams serving a wide spread of Greater Manchester destinations, including Old Trafford, Stretford, Sale and Altrincham; the Imperial War Museum and the Trafford Centre; East Didsbury; Wythenshawe and the airport; and, via Victoria, Bury, Chadderton, Oldham and Rochdale.
As with the train, the tram has a blind spot: it is not convenient for central Salford, because the Quays are a mile or two to the west. Think of the tram as your route to the Quays and beyond, and walking as your route around the centre.
Buses and coaches
Bus services in Salford have been cut back in favour of the tram, so areas that are not on a tram route can feel cut adrift. It is worth checking whether your destination is served before relying on a bus.
For longer journeys, National Express runs an hourly coach service (NX060) from Liverpool to Salford, taking about 55 minutes, and continuing through central Manchester on to Leeds — another 90 minutes or so. For other long-distance routes, you generally change in Manchester; the NX540 from London Victoria is one example.
Taxis and ride-hailing
In practice, the modes above — walking in the centre, the tram to the Quays, and the train for the short hop to Manchester Victoria — cover most visitor needs without needing a car or a cab.
Arriving by air
Manchester Airport is the main gateway, lying south of Salford. There are two ways in by public transport:
- Direct train: an hourly service runs from the airport via Manchester Piccadilly to Salford Central, taking about 25 minutes and continuing on towards Blackpool.
- Train with a change: alternatively, take any train to Manchester Piccadilly and change there.
If the timing of the direct service does not suit, the change at Piccadilly is a reliable fallback.
Arriving by car
If you are driving, find your way onto the M60, Manchester's orbital motorway, and exit at Junction 12 onto the M602, the spur motorway that leads into Salford.
Putting it together
For most visits, a simple pattern works well. Walk around central Salford and its landmarks. Use the frequent, five-minute train to Manchester Victoria when you want the city centre. Use the Metrolink tram when you are heading to Salford Quays, MediaCity or onward across Greater Manchester. Buy your tram ticket for the zone you are travelling in — a single from the city centre to the Quays sits in Fare Zone 2. And if you are flying in, the hourly direct train to Salford Central, or any train to Piccadilly with a change, will get you started.