Night time safety: Good Night Out Guide
Manchester’s nightlife is the best around. But by being aware and taking steps before and during your night out, you can make sure your experience is a great one. Check the advice on the Good Night Out Guide, which has been developed by Manchester City Council and the Combined Authority.
Safe places
On Friday and Saturday nights there are trusted people (Student and Village Angels) and places you can go it you are lost, in distress, need medical attention, or don’t know how to get home, there are safe places that you can go to for help.
WalkSafe+ Manchester
WalkSafe+ is the UK's leading free personal safety phone app. You can use it to:
- share your journey with trusted contacts
- access safety information, and
- report concerns to help keep safe while moving around the city.
Download the app for free: WalkSafe+.
Transport safety tips
Buses and trams
- If you are travelling alone let someone know how, and where you are travelling to, and contact them to let them know that you have arrived safely;
- Choose a seat in busy areas of the train, tram or bus, if there are not many passengers sit close to the driver or train guard; and
- Don't be too proud to change seats if you feel uncomfortable
- The Bee Network has a 24/7 live chat service. You can report incidents on the bus and tram networks quickly and discreetly to a live GMP call handler, from your phone. Use TravelSafe LiveChat or by calling 101 – or 999 in an emergency.
- Night buses run in the city on several routes. The night bus offers protected night-time bus-stops, comfortable buses equipped with CCTV and are also covered by two dedicated city centre police patrols. If alone, sit as near to the driver as possible and avoid empty upper decks, tell the driver or guard if someone bothers you. For more information on where and what time night buses run check Night bus services by Bee Network.
Taxis
- Taxis that operate in Manchester are either distinctive hackney carriages (black cabs) or clearly marked private hire vehicles. Hackney carriages have a plate number displayed on the outside and inside of the cab. Manchester private-hire vehicles have a large yellow sticker with the Manchester crest on the bonnet of the vehicle so they are easy to spot. Do not get in a private hire car unless you have booked them first. Only hackney carriages (black cabs) are insured to carry passengers who have flagged them down.
- Drivers should also display their licence card (this looks like a driver's licence and gives the name and badge number of the driver as well as a photograph of them); and
- Always sit in the back seat. If you have any doubt, don't get in.
- If you don’t have money on you, StreetCars drivers can take your student card as temporary payment. Quote the ‘Manchester SU safe taxi’ scheme when calling the taxi. You can go to the Students’ Union after 12pm the next day to pay your fare and retrieve your student card.
Bike safety
- Always lock your bike if leaving it unattended;
- Choose a place to lock your bike where there are lots of people and a high level of natural surveillance;
- Invest in a good lock. D-shaped are usually the best;
- Lock both the wheel and frame to make your bike more secure;
- Make sure that any quick release and detachable items such as wheels, saddles and lights are either secured or removed and taken with you;
- Register your bike through an approved scheme;
- Add your bike to your home contents insurance; and
- If your bike is stolen report it immediately.
Remember: you can register your valuables such as laptops, mobile phones and bikes for free at Immobilise. It's a quick, easy and free way of logging the details of your property on a national database that police can access and compare against items that have been found or recovered from suspected criminals.