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Road directions
From the A57(M) Come off at the junction for the A34 (Signed to Wilmslow Universities) but keep right on the slip road and follow the sign for the 'University of Manchester' right. Just after the 'Weston Hall' but before the 'Retro Bar' is the turning into Charles Street. You will see the railway on the arched viaduct ahead of you. Turn into Charles Street and park in the car park.
Parking
As it is a multi-storey car park this is not a problem, however I would strongly advise against on street parking in the area as the traffic wardens are like vultures. It is a very safe carpark to use, with many years of trouble free use. Cost of parking (April 2012) at the multi-storey are:
Mon-Fri 24 hours
£3.00 / 3 hours
£5.00 / 6 hours
£8.00 / 10 hours
£10.00 / day
£2.00 / evening
Sat-Sun - £2 per day.
Public transport
The car park lies just off Oxford Street so buses from Piccadilly Gardens are very frequent sometimes, get off just before the railway bridge, after the bus turns left from Whitworth Street (the Palace theatre is on your right at the last set of traffic light as the bus turns lwft). From Oxford Road station it is 10mins easy walk, see below for directions.
Amenities
There is a small newsagents on Sackville Street, on the Picadilly side of the car park. The nearest cafe/toilets are across the road at the IBIS hotel on Charles Street, otherwise there are numerous cafes, bars and the newly built Holiday inn hotel within easy walking distance. The car park is usually unmanned, but if staff are on the barriers, ask first if it is OK to go to the top deck, they are OK with photographers using the car park providing they do not leave litter etc. behind or do anything daft!
Accommodation
There are loads of choices for accommodation in Manchester, but the nearest is the IBIS, followed by the Holiday Inn (Oxford Street) and the Palace (formally the Refuge Insurance building), if you can try and get a room overlooking the railway from these 3 hotels.
The best time for photography is from aprox 07:00 in the summer, or 09:00 in the winter, until around lunchtime, when the sun is behind you, and some wonderful shots can be had looking towards Oxford Road station. The view back to Piccadilly is spoilt by metal railings on the viaduct, also the sun is usually not ideal for photos looking towards Piccadilly.
The car park is owned by the university and there is a gatehouse/security hut on the other side of Sackville Street. It would be advisable/worth while to check in with security staff and let them know what you are up to.
