CAR PARKING in the city centre is always a hot issue. It can be something of a mystery when it comes to knowing where the cheapest and the safest place is to leave your car. So here is a rough guide to the vast range of prices and more unlikely places in Manchester for parking.
It is safe to say that there has been a rise in the notorious ‘zombie car parks’ in Mancheste
The quick story is that brownfield car parks over the river in Salford are winning in the bargain stakes and are surprisingly close to retail nirvanas such as Harvey Nichols. Meanwhile the car park you enter under Harvey Nichols, confusingly called Selfridges Exchange, and the car park behind House of Fraser/Kendals called King Street are simply blow-out extortionate. Greengate car park costs on the weekends £1.20 for two hours whereas King Street is £9.
HERE'S a breakdown of Confidential’s car park price guide (cheapest first):
Greengate Carpark (Euro Carparks EC), Salford M3 7NB - £3.50 for 24 hours or two hours for £2.80 (£2 for 12 hours and £1.20 for two hours at the weekend)
Spaw Street (Simple Intelligent Parking, SiP), Salford M3 5ER - £6 for 24 hours or £2 for 2 hours (interesting pricing with 50p for half an hour, £1 for an hour, £1.50 for half an hour and so on up to £6 for 24 hours)
Port St (SiP), Northern Quarter, M1 2EG - £8 for 24 hours or £2 for 2 hours
Queen St Car Park (zombie), Salford M3 7NB - £3.90 all day flat rate, £2 on weekends
Water St (SiP), Castlefield, M3 4JJ - £8 for 24 hours or £4 for 4 hours
Manchester Arndale (National Car Parks, NCP), M4 1AZ - £16 for 24 hours or £2.60 for 2 hours (but £4.10 for 12 hours before 9am)
Printworks/Shudehill interchange (NCP), M4 2AF - £16 for 24 hours or £5.50 for 2 hours (but £3.90 for 12 hours before 9am)
Spinningfields (NCP), M3 3BE - £20 for 24 hours or £6 for 2 hours
Selfridges Exchange (EC), Deansgate, M1 1AD - £30 over 6 hours or £4 for 2 hours
King St (NCP), M3 2WY - £30 for 24 hours or £9 for 2 hours.
How much? King Street charges £9 for two hoursNCP are still the major player so let's start with them.
For the more well-to-do parkers who do not wish to venture out of the safety of town, Kendals (King Street West NCP), as described, has the power to charge £4.50 an hour or shockingly £30 for 24 hours which has increased by £4.50 since the last article, dare we ask why? But even worse is the price for parking 2 hours - a jaw-dropping £9.
But if you are worried about the safety of your car then security here is vigilant with access only through an impenetrable ticket controlled gate. Since only people with Rolls Royces can afford to park here then maybe that's understandable.
This is the only car park with an in-built wash and valetting concession in Manchester.
The more shopper friendly NCP is definitely Market Place attached to the Arndale. Their prices start from £2.60 an hour to £16 for 24 hours.
Another overpriced carpark is Selfridges' Exchange Square. Their rates begin at £4 for up to 2 hours and shoot up to £30 anything over 6 hours. These rates are astonishing but when there was a sign stating ‘car park full’ surely they must be doing something right?
Best views goes to the 8th floor of the Shudehill InterchangeIt is safe to say that there has been a rise in the notorious ‘zombie car parks’ in Manchester. With the current financial climate developers take advantage of desolate land whilst they decide what to do with it. Definitely a clever way of generating more money. A good example is on Chapel Street, Salford where Dandara intend to build apartments. They charge £5 for 12 hours but are not open 24 hours. Still, the car park was full by 11am.
Simple Intelligent Parking (SiP) are a chain of car parks across the UK. With locations on Chapel Street, Water Street and Ancoats in Manchester. Their prices vary with Spaw Street, just off Chapel Street, in Salford for example charging £6 for 24 hours whereas the Water Street location charges £8, but also offers a bargain 50p rate for those wanting a rapid in an out experience in the city centre. Ideal for both shoppers and commuters alike they are a certain clear favourite.
Another zombie car park, situated at the end of Water Street in front of disused buildings, claims to be the ‘cheapest in town’. On closer inspection and a pointer from the car park attendant who muttered “Read the small print love”, the sign actually states ‘probably the cheapest in town…’ Their rate is average with £5 for 12 hours. They also have monthly 12 hour and 24 hour tariffs which work out cheaper than the daily rate. But who guarantees you maintain a daily spot?
For the record the car park with the best views is Printworks or Shudehill Interchange. From the 8th floor that is. The editor says: "I often go up here to take pictures. The whole of Greater Manchester is spread before you with a 360 degree view apart from the bit behind the CIS tower. Take the car, take the camera." It's pretty cheap here too, especially if you get there before 9am, when a 12 hour stint costs a mere £3.90.
And the only car park with a tombstone? Why, that would be close to the bargain of Greengate car park on Queen Street where a handwritten notice advises us it's £3.90 all day (£2 on the weekend). This cleared site was formally the Bible Christian Church whose preacher the Reverend William Cowherd in 1809 persuaded his congregation to give up meat which indirectly led to the creation of the Vegetarian Society, which is still based in Altrincham, South Manchester. Close to the entrance to the car park there are still gravestones visible.
The Queen Street car park is another zombie car park. How appropriate.
City centre car parking map via Parkopedia
