Trip to Stockport / Manchester 23-05-2026

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
10042	Stockport Interchange	Manchester, Chorlton Street	197	Stagecoach Manchester
WDS240	Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens	Stretford, Arndale	15	Metroline
10443	Stretford, Arndale	Chorlton Cum Hardy	23	Stagecoach Manchester
10048	Chorlton Cum Hardy	Didsbury, Stop E	23	Stagecoach Manchester
TEH190	Didsbury, Stop C	Rusholme, Grandale Street	42	Metroline
TEH159	Rusholme, Grandale Street	Stockport Interchange	42	Metroline
10046	Stockport Interchange	Stockport, Belmont Way	25	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Stockport. We gave Matthew a choice of where to go on Friday night and from the map he chose to go to Stockport. Research for the trip consisted of looking at where we parked and where we ate for the last trip, and to check the weather. The weather for the weekend was warm, dry and sunny. Matthew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. Matthew got up around 10:15 and had crumpets and a can of orange Fanta. After getting ready we set off around 11:30. We set off through Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We travelled through Stoke and Etruria and we headed into Cheshire. Travelling up the A500 we saw Alfa coaches, A133 & A132, an unidentified Pulhams Coach, Eavesway EV75 WAY and HW Travel T25 HWT. There was a queue up to the junction and after a short while we joined the Northbound M6. As we travelled Northwards up the M6 we saw IH Travel BV25 MHU. At junction 19 we joined the Eastbound A556 and after a few miles we joined the M56. Near to Cheadle we ran forwards onto the M60. We came off the M60 at junction 1 and we joined the Eastbound A5145. We turned right onto under the M60 and left onto Great Egerton Street. We got to the car park, only to find the car park had been demolished! We continued along Great Egerton Street and we went into the Red Rock multi storey car park. We parked onto top of the furniture shop and we headed back to the multi storey and used the lift to get back down to ground level. We went down to Bridgefield Street and we turned right onto Port Street. We turned right onto Mersey Square and we went into Greggs. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards went outside to mum. I queued up to get food and Matthew went to Tesco Express with mum and bought some snacks. After we had been to the shops we sat down in the square and Matthew had a sausage roll and a can of orange Fanta. After we had finished eating we said goodbyr to mum and we set off on foot through the square to Stockport Interchange. We walked out the other end to get a few pictures of the buses arriving into the Interchange. We saw High Peak 812 on a #199 from Buxton.

High Peak 812 in Stockport Interchange

We walked back into the Interchange and we looked for something old to catch. We saw an old Enviro 400 on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 10042 on a #197 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10042 in Stockport Interchange

We got on the bus and we bought Bee Network bus only day tickets at £5 each before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station and we went forwards onto Swain Street. We travelled Northwards onto the A5145 and we went under the M60. We headed Westwards and we turned right onto pyramid Roundabout avoiding lane. We re-joined the Westbound A5145 and we turned right onto Heaton Road and we turned left onto Clifton Road. We travelled through Heaton Mersey and we turned right onto Mauldeth Road. We continued into Green End and we re-joined onto Burnage Lane and we crossed over onto Slade Land into Levenshulme and we turned right onto the B5093. We turned left onto the A6 and we ran north through Crowcroft Park and Longsight. We turned left onto the A5184 and we ran north through Chorlton. We turned right onto B5117 into Manchester and we saw Metroline WDS245 on a #15 to Flixton. We turned right onto the A5103 and we past the fromer NatWest bank which has now closed. We turned right onto Chorlton Street and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10042 before it returned towards Hanley.

Stagecoach Manchester 10042 in Manchester

Once off the bus we walked along Chorlton Street and we crossed over Portland Street. Matthew spotted Cafe Nero and we went straight in and into the back to find the toilet. I suspect that he had been here before on one of his previous trips. After using the facilities we came back to the counter and Matthew had a slice of lemon meringue cheesecake and a bottle of Coke. After we had finished eating we went outside onto Portland Street and we saw Rotala Diamond 20632 which had arrived on a #87 from Stretford.

Rotala Diamond 20632 in Manchester

We continued along Portland Street and we turned left into Piccadilly Gardens Interchange. We had a look at what we might be able to catch out. We saw Go North West 3435 on a #37 to Bolton.

Go North West 3435 in Manchester

We might have normally done a #263 as this service was a former Arriva service. Arriva pulled out of Manchester when they didn't get a Bee Network contract to run buses. We saw Metroline DE517 on a #263 to Altricham.

Metroline DE517 in Manchester

After a look around we decided to head South Westwards. We saw a bus approaching the stand. As it got closer we saw it was Metroline WDS240 on a #15 to Flixton.

Metroline WDS240 in Manchester

We got on the bus and we placed the Bee Network bus only day ticket on the scanner before we went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the terminal and we turned right onto Portland Street. We turned left onto Princess Street and right onto Whitworth Street. We turned left onto Oxford Street and we turned right onto the B5219 and we crossed over the B5218 and we turned right onto Kings Road into Firswood and through Stretford. We turned right onto the A5145 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Metroline WDS240 before in continued Northwards towards Flixton.

Metroline WDS240 in Stretford

We crossed over the road and there was already a bus at the bus stop. As we got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 10443 on a #23 to Stockport. We got on the bus and we placed the Bee Network bus only day ticket on the scanner before we went upstairs and we sat down. We set of along the A5145 and we crossed over the A56. We ran for about a mile and we veered left onto the A6010. We ran into Chorlton Cum Hardy and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10443 as it continued towards Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 10443 in Chorlton

Once off the bus we walked along the road and we went into a bar. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we headed to the bar and Matthew had a can of Coke. We sat on a table by the window and we had our drinks. There was football on the TV, Hull City vs Middleborough in the Championship playoff final. It was still 0-0 at this point. After we had finished our drinks we headed back to the bus stop where we had got off. We stood nearby in the shade and we waited for a bus. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 10048 on a #23 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 10048 in Chorlton

We got on the bus and we placed the Bee Network bus only day ticket on the scanner before we went upstairs and we sat down. We set of along the A6010 and we turned right onto the B5217. We ran forwards onto the Southbound A5145 and we continued through Barlow Moor. We continued through West Didsbury and as we got into the village we turned right where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10048 as it continued towards Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 10048 in Didsbury

Once off the bus we headed to the crossroads and we crossed over the road to get a look at the ghost sign above Costa Coffee. Afterwards we crossed over the road and we headed to the opposite bus stop. Whilst we waited for a bus Matthew had a sausage roll. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Metroline TEH190 on a #42 to Piccadilly Gardens.

Metroline TEH190 in Didsbury

We got on the bus and we placed the Bee Network bus only day ticket on the scanner before we went upstairs and we sat down. We set off along the A5145 and we continued Northwards onto the B5093. We ran through Withington and Fallowfields. We continued North into Rusholme and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of Metroline TEH190 as it continued towards Manchester.

Metroline TEH190 in Rusholme

We crossed over the road and we immediatley saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Metroline TEH159 on a #42 to Stockport.

Metroline TEH159 in Rusholme

We got on the bus and we placed the Bee Network bus only day ticket on the scanner before we went upstairs and we sat down. We set off down the A5093 and we ran through Fallowfields and Withington. We continued into Didsbury and we joined the Southbound A5145. We followed the road as it turned to the East and we passed Parrs Wood. We continued through Heaton Mersey and we ran down into the valley and towards Stockport. We turned right and ran under the M60 and we turned left onto Heaton Lane. We turned right onto Astley Street and we pulled up outside the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went into the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. We need to catch something up the A6 to where mum was, and we spotted an old bus on the #25. As we got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 10046 on a #25 to the Trafford Centre.

Stagecoach Manchester 10046 in Stockport Interchange

We got on the bus and we placed the Bee Network bus only day ticket on the scanner for the final time today before we sat down at the back of the bus. We set off throught the interchange and we turned right onto Astley Street. We turned right onto Heaton Lane and left onto the Northbound A6. We ran up the hill for 3 stops and we got up and got off the bus. nce off the bus Matthew got another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10046 as it continued towards the Trafford Centre.

Stagecoach Manchester 10046 in Stockport

Once off the bus we crossed over the A6 and we walked along Belmont Way and we walked into the car park outside of Farmfoods where mum was waiting for us. We got in the car and Matthew had a part bottle of Tizer off mum. We turned right onto Belmont Wat and we turned left onto A6188. We turned right onto Broadstone Road and left onto Keswick Road. We stopped at the chip shop and I went to get food. When I got back into the car Matthew indicated he needed to toilet. We set off along Keswick Road and we turned left onto Carnforth Road. We continued onto Nelstrop Road. We turned left onto Broadstone Road and we ran into Heaton Chapel. We went through the crossroad and we spotted a bar so we pulled over. We walked to the bar and Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards Matthew had a bottle of Coke. We walked back to the car and Matthew drank the Coke and had sausage chips and gravy. We set off along School Lane and we joined the Southbound A6. We ran back into Stockport and we ran over the top of the Interchange. We turned right onto Greek Street and we turned right onto Shaw Heath. We turned left onto Wood Street passing the corner of the Stagecoach bus garage and we ran forwards onto Hollywood Way. We crossed over the Mersey and we joined the Westbound M60. We ran for a few miles before running onto the M56. We turned left onto the the A556 and we passed the site of the new Tatton sevices. We ran for a few more miles and we joined the Southbound M6. As we travlled Southwards we were passed by ABC Coach hire OY73 BLF as we came off at junction 16.

ABC Coach hire OY73 BLF on the M6

At junction 16 we went South down the A500 through Longport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we diverted onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. He also had some of uncle Rob's Fanta. We updated uncle daves calendar to show recent activity. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road and past the former Regent pub which is now up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 19:40. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched Youtube and we got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark