Bus route 81 in Manchester: Piccadilly Gardens ↔ Oldham Bus Station

Bus route 81 in Manchester links “Piccadilly Gardens” and “Oldham Bus Station”.

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Which way bus 81 runs

Towards “Oldham Bus Station”: 45 stops. After “Piccadilly Gardens”, the bus calls at “The Unicorn”, “Hanover Street”, “Marshall Street”, “Clive Street”, “Peary Street”, “Livesey Street”, “Osborne Street”, “Whitley Road”, “Paget Street”, “Park View”. Then “Grangewood Drive”, “Shiredale Drive”, “Brewster Street”, “Lidl Harpurhey”, “Hillier Street North”, “Clough Road”, “Cole Street”, “Ebsworth Street”, “Ivy Street”, “Blue Bell”. Then “Moston Cemetery”, “Horncastle Road”, “Nuthurst Road”, “Shawford Road”, “Leyburn Road”, “Gardener’s Arms”, “Moston Rail Station”, “Welbeck Avenue”, “Kirby Avenue”, “Broadway”. Then “Berkeley Avenue”, “Houseley Avenue”, “Turf Lane”, “Lancaster Street”, “Butler Green”, “Old Lane”, “Worcester Street”, “Milne Street”, “Manchester Road”, “Frederick Street”. Before “Oldham Bus Station”: “Alfred Street”, “Lee Street”, “John Street”.

On the way back the bus takes a different route, from “Oldham Bus Station” to “Piccadilly Gardens” (46 stops). Only in this direction does it call at “Lincoln Street”, “Coalshaw Green Road”, “Long Lane”, “Hollinwood Avenue”, “Branston Road”, “Leighton Street”, “Edward Street”, “Hemmington Drive”, “Carisbrook Street”, “Lathbury Road”, “Queens Road” and “Turner Street”. Only in the direction of “Oldham Bus Station” does it call at, among others, “Livesey Street”, “Park View”, “Grangewood Drive”, “Brewster Street”, “Clough Road” and “Ebsworth Street”. For the way back, board nearby: “Livesey Street” → “Peary Street” (200 m), “Park View” → “Queens Road” (200 m), “Grangewood Drive” → “Shiredale Drive” (150 m) and “Brewster Street” → “Carisbrook Street” (100 m). Towards “Oldham Bus Station”, board nearby: “Lincoln Street” → “Worcester Street” (100 m), “Coalshaw Green Road” → “Turf Lane” (50 m), “Long Lane” → “Houseley Avenue” (200 m) and “Hollinwood Avenue” → “Welbeck Avenue” (50 m).

Where to change

On part of the route, between “Piccadilly Gardens” and “Gardener’s Arms” it shares the road with route 112; between “Piccadilly Gardens” and “Shawford Road” it shares the road with routes 118 and 119; between “Piccadilly Gardens” and “Nuthurst Road” it shares the road with route 117.

Connections by stop, in route order:

• “Piccadilly Gardens”: buses 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 114, 135, 142, 143, 182, 192, 203, 205, 231 and 256
• “The Unicorn”: buses 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 93, 97, 99, 103, 111, 114, 135, 142, 143, 156, 182, 192, 203, 205, 231 and 256
• “Hanover Street”: buses 33, 41, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 93, 97, 99, 114, 135, 156, 182 and 231
• “Marshall Street”: buses 33, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 93, 97, 99, 114, 156 and 182
• “Clive Street”: buses 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 114, 156 and 182
• “Peary Street”: buses 114 and 156
• “Livesey Street” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): bus 156
• “Osborne Street”: bus 156
• “Whitley Road”: bus 156
• “Paget Street”: buses 53, 114, 151 and 156
• “Park View” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 53, 151 and 156
• “Grangewood Drive” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 52 and 53
• “Shiredale Drive”: buses 52 and 53
• “Brewster Street” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 52 and 53
• “Lidl Harpurhey”: buses 52, 53 and 151
• “Hillier Street North”: buses 52 and 151
• “Clough Road” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 52 and 151
• “Cole Street”: buses 52, 114 and 151
• “Ebsworth Street” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 52, 114 and 151
• “Ivy Street”: buses 52, 114 and 151
• Stops from “Blue Bell” to “Horncastle Road”: buses 52 and 114
• “Nuthurst Road”: buses 52, 114 and 182
• “Shawford Road”: buses 52 and 114
• “Leyburn Road”: bus 114
• “Gardener’s Arms”: buses 114 and 159
• “Moston Rail Station”: bus 159
• “Welbeck Avenue” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 159 and 182
• “Kirby Avenue”: buses 159 and 182
• “Broadway”: bus 182
• “Berkeley Avenue”: bus 182
• “Lancaster Street”: bus 159
• “Butler Green”: buses 159 and 415
• “Old Lane”: buses 159 and 415
• “Worcester Street” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 83 and 159
• “Milne Street” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 83 and 159
• “Manchester Road”: bus 83
• “Frederick Street” (only towards “Oldham Bus Station”): buses 83 and 183
• “Alfred Street”: buses 83 and 183
• “Lee Street”: buses 83 and 183
• “John Street”: buses 59, 76, 76A, 83, 84, 183 and 415
• “Oldham Bus Station”: buses 59, 76, 76A, 83, 84, 159, 183 and 415
• “Lincoln Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 83 and 159
• “Hollinwood Avenue” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 159 and 182
• “Branston Road” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 114 and 159
• “Leighton Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 52, 114 and 151
• “Edward Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 52 and 151
• “Hemmington Drive” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 52, 53 and 151
• “Carisbrook Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 52 and 53
• “Lathbury Road” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 53, 151 and 156
• “Queens Road” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 53, 114, 151 and 156
• “Turner Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 33, 41, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 93, 97, 99, 114, 135, 156, 182 and 231

Pages for these routes: bus 33, bus 41, bus 42, bus 42A, bus 42B, bus 43, bus 52, bus 53, bus 59, bus 76, bus 76A, bus 76B, bus 83, bus 84, bus 85, bus 85A, bus 86, bus 87, bus 93, bus 97, bus 99, bus 103, bus 111, bus 112, bus 114, bus 117, bus 118, bus 119, bus 135, bus 142, bus 143, bus 151, bus 156, bus 159, bus 182, bus 183, bus 192, bus 203, bus 205, bus 231, bus 256, bus 415.

Passes and concessions

Our page “How to pay for public transport in Manchester” describes tickets, passes and concessions, including any differences between modes of transport.

Questions about bus 81

Does bus 81 go to “Moston Cemetery”?

Yes, in both directions.

Where can I change from bus 81 to another bus route?

Most routes stop at “Piccadilly Gardens” (33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 114, 135, 142, 143, 182, 192, 203, 205, 231 and 256) and “The Unicorn” (33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 93, 97, 99, 103, 111, 114, 135, 142, 143, 156, 182, 192, 203, 205, 231 and 256). All other stops with connections are listed above.

Checked on 4 October 2026. Source of the route and stops: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).