About
A Community Day for All
We’re excited to invite you back to campus for a vibrant, one-day event – Universally Manchester Festival!
Since 2017, the festival has been a warm, welcoming an inclusive space for visitors of all ages to enjoy a free, fun, and interactive experience. Every year, thousands from our local neighbourhoods and beyond come together to explore research, engage with arts and cultural institutions, and connect with staff, students, and community partners.
Join us for a memorable day of exploration, inspiration, and connection – we can’t wait to welcome you back!
VENUES
The historic heart of our Oxford Road campus is the backdrop to Universally Manchester Festival.
Throughout the day, the festival takes over University Place, the Nancy Rothwell Building, Alliance Manchester Business School, Royce Building, university allotment, and Bridgeford Street with interactive stands and thought-provoking discussions.
The Manchester Museum and the Whitworth will have creative drop-in sessions throughout the day and alongside The John Rylands Library will be sharing their exhibitions. The Jodrell Bank Engagement team will be joining us on campus.
Start your day at one of our buildings to collect your festival guide and map (PDF), or get advice from our friendly festival ambassadors.
GETTING HERE – AND AROUND
Getting to and around the festival is easy, whether arriving by bus or tram, train, bike, car or on foot. The entire festival site takes around ten minutes to cross from end to end.
TfGM offers some great budget-friendly options for families arriving by bus or tram. Visit its website for details of the Metrolink one-day family travelcard and one-day Bee Bus Family pass, and book in advance.
- Nearest train station: Manchester Oxford Road
- Nearest tram station: St Peter’s Square
- Bus stops: Numerous along Oxford Road
- Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria train stations can be reached in 15 to 20 minutes (on foot)
We recommend sustainable travel whenever possible, but if you need to arrive by car you’ll find the closest available car parks at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, Booth Street West and Cecil Street, and parking charges will apply. Please note Dover Street Car Park will not be open to the general public.
Find out more about travel to campus.
ACCESSIBILITY
We aim to make Universally Manchester Festival as accessible and welcoming as possible for everyone.
Many of our buildings and venues are listed on AccessAble, which provides detailed access information to help you plan your visit. However, not all buildings or spaces are currently covered, and access can vary depending on the space being used. The festival will be using the ground floor spaces at the following venues on campus University Place, Alliance Manchester Business School and Nancy Rothwell Building.
We recommend checking AccessAble first, where information is available, and getting in touch with us directly if you:
- Have specific access or reasonable adjustment requirements
- Would like to discuss anything ahead of your visit
- Are unsure whether a space or activity will meet your needs
If you contact us in advance at umf@manchester.ac.uk, we can work with you to understand what might help and make arrangements where possible.
Parking options for blue badge holders (including free parking in Booth Street West car park). Accessible and gender-neutral toilets can be found across campus, along with baby changing rooms (Manchester Museum) and multi – faith facilities (Nancy Rothwell and Manchester Museum).
Download the festival guide and map (PDF) before the event to help plan your visit, and pick up a printed copy at a festival welcome desk in University Place, Nancy Rothwell Building or the Alliance Manchester Business School.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is at our festival’s core. Across our buildings there are multiple water points; recycling facilities throughout campus. Please do consider bringing refillable water bottles and coffee cups with you.
Find out more about sustainability on campus.
You can take a break at the Collaborate Café in the Nancy Rothwell Building, Café 65 in the Alliance Manchester Business School or Manchester Museum or the Whitworth cafés. You can also head over to Bridgeford Street for a coffee from the Little Espresso Company, or enjoy an ice-cream or a treat from Stevies Ices.
FAQs
The festival is taking place on our Oxford Road campus, ten minutes from the city centre of Manchester. Many activities will be located on the ground floor of University Place, Nancy Rothwell Building and the Alliance Manchester Business School. We also have outdoor stands located on Bridgeford Street and the allotment. You can also drop into creative sessions at the Whitworth and the Manchester Museum.
We are well served by all major transport links, including bus, tram and train. You can easily walk, wheel or cycle around campus.
Although we encourage sustainable travel, we know this isn’t possible for everyone. There are a number of official University car parks available close to the festival site, including Manchester Aquatics Centre, Booth Street West and Cecil Street. Free parking to blue badge holders is available in Booth Street West. Please be advised that parking is likely to be busy during the festival, so please plan accordingly.
Access to the festival is free and open to all, however some of our most popular events like the Flash Bang Show, Bee Curious talks and campus walking tours will be ticketed due to their popularity.
While a limited number of tickets may be available for drop-in visitors on the day, we recommend booking a ticket in advance to avoid disappointment.
You don’t – the festival is free to attend.
Yes, absolutely!
There will be loads to do for the whole family – from interactive stands to performances, tours and lots more.
Please note, however, that some interactive stands will have age restrictions due to the nature of the activity (where health and safety requires this) and/or parental discretion may be advised.
We love dogs and they are allowed in our open spaces. However, they must be kept on a short, fixed lead at all times and are not permitted inside any of our buildings.
Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.
Photography and filming are taking place at this event on behalf of The University of Manchester for promotional, reporting and archival purposes. Images and recordings may be used in University digital and printed materials and by our affiliated partners presenting at the festival.
If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please tell a member of staff or the photographer/videographer.
For information about how your personal data is used and your rights under UK GDPR, please contact umf@manchester.ac.uk
We have accessible and gender-neutral toilets in our buildings. There are also baby change and feeding facilities available on at the Manchester Museum and the Whitworth.
There are quiet spaces over in the Manchester Museum.
Yes, prayer facilities are available on campus, including in the Nancy Rothwell Building, and there are also facilities at the Manchester Museum.
Yes, you can bring and eat your own food and drink in our designated picnic zone. These are generally outdoors. However the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) and Manchester Museum have indoor picnic zones.
Water points will also be available around campus. Please do consider bringing refillable water bottles and coffee cups with you. There are many campus recycling points to clean up after yourself.
Our programme is now full, and our open call now closed.
Thank you for your interest – we have been overwhelmed with the response and received hundreds of amazing applications.