Bus route 256 in Manchester: Piccadilly Gardens ↔ Towns Gate

Bus route 256 in Manchester runs between “Piccadilly Gardens” and “Towns Gate”.

All routes in Manchester →

Where bus 256 goes

Towards “Towns Gate”: 44 stops. After “Piccadilly Gardens”, the bus calls at “Oxford Street”, “Bridgewater Hall”, “City Road East”, “Royce Road”, “Hulme Park”, “Mallow Street”, “Ribston Street”, “Shawgreen Close”, “Malvern Street”, “Nuttall Street”. Then “Trafford Bar”, “White City”, “Warwick Road”, “Tesco”, “Greatstone Road”, “Cavendish Road”, “Taylors Road”, “Davyhulme Road East”, “Stretford Mall”, “Stothard Road”. Then “Moss Park Road”, “Sevenways”, “The Melville”, “Chatsworth Road”, “Lostock Clinic”, “Old Hall Road”, “Lostock Circle”, “Moss Vale Hotel”, “Hartford Road”, “Exeter Road”. Then “Hayeswater Road”, “Cornhill Road”, “Canterbury Road”, “Hall Farm Avenue”, “Trafford General Hospital”, “Brook Road”, “Mardale Avenue”, “Lawrence Road”, “Woodsend Circle”, “Irlam Road”. Before “Towns Gate”: “St John’s”, “Woodsend Crescent Road”.

On the way back the bus takes a different route, from “Towns Gate” to “Piccadilly Gardens” (44 stops). Only in this direction does it call at “Woodbridge Road”, “Balmain Road”, “Davyhulme Circle”, “Baslow Road”, “Stretford Public Hall”, “Sydney Street”, “Thomas Street”, “Home”, “Dickinson Street” and “Charlotte Street”. Only in the direction of “Towns Gate” does it call at, among others, “Oxford Street”, “City Road East”, “White City”, “Tesco”, “Cavendish Road” and “Lostock Clinic”. For the way back, board nearby: “Oxford Street” → “Dickinson Street” (150 m), “City Road East” → “Home” (50 m), “White City” → “Warwick Road” (350 m) and “Tesco” → “Warwick Road” (150 m). Towards “Towns Gate”, board nearby: “Woodbridge Road” → “Woodsend Circle” (100 m), “Balmain Road” → “Canterbury Road” (50 m), “Davyhulme Circle” → “Hayeswater Road” (50 m) and “Baslow Road” → “Chatsworth Road” (100 m).

Connections

On part of the route, between “Stretford Mall” and “Exeter Road” it shares the road with route 25.

Connections by stop, in route order:

• “Piccadilly Gardens”: buses 18, 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 50, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 81, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 112, 114, 117, 118, 119, 135, 142, 143, 182, 191, 192, 197, 203, 205 and 231
• “Oxford Street” (only towards “Towns Gate”): buses 18, 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 50, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 114, 142, 143, 191 and 197
• “Bridgewater Hall”: buses 33, 87 and 103
• “City Road East” (only towards “Towns Gate”): buses 33 and 103
• “Royce Road”: buses 53 and 86
• “Hulme Park”: buses 53 and 86
• Stops from “Mallow Street” to “Trafford Bar”: bus 53
• “White City” (only towards “Towns Gate”): bus 79
• “Warwick Road”: bus 79
• “Tesco” (only towards “Towns Gate”): bus 79
• “Greatstone Road”: bus 79
• “Cavendish Road” (only towards “Towns Gate”): bus 79
• “Taylors Road”: bus 79
• “Davyhulme Road East”: bus 79
• “Stretford Mall”: buses 23, 79, 86, 87 and 150
• “Stothard Road”: buses 23, 79, 87 and 150
• “Moss Park Road”: buses 23, 79 and 150
• “Sevenways”: buses 79 and 150
• “The Melville”: bus 150
• “Chatsworth Road”: bus 150
• “Exeter Road”: bus 23
• “Hayeswater Road” (only towards “Towns Gate”): bus 23
• “Davyhulme Circle” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): bus 23
• “Stretford Public Hall” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 23, 79, 86, 87 and 150
• “Sydney Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): bus 79
• “Thomas Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): bus 79
• “Home” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 33 and 103
• “Dickinson Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 18, 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 50, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 114, 142, 143, 191 and 197
• “Charlotte Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”): buses 18, 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 50, 76, 76A, 76B, 81, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 112, 114, 117, 118, 119, 135, 142, 143, 147, 191, 192, 197, 203, 205 and 231

Pages for these routes: bus 18, bus 23, bus 25, bus 33, bus 41, bus 42, bus 42A, bus 42B, bus 43, bus 50, bus 53, bus 59, bus 76, bus 76A, bus 76B, bus 79, bus 81, bus 83, bus 84, bus 85, bus 85A, bus 86, bus 87, bus 103, bus 111, bus 112, bus 114, bus 117, bus 118, bus 119, bus 135, bus 142, bus 143, bus 147, bus 150, bus 182, bus 191, bus 192, bus 197, bus 203, bus 205, bus 231.

Passes and concessions

Which passes are available and who travels free is explained on a separate page: how to pay for public transport in Manchester.

Questions about bus 256

Does bus 256 go to “Hulme Park”?

Yes, in both directions.

Where can I change from bus 256 to another bus route?

Most routes stop at “Piccadilly Gardens” (18, 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 50, 59, 76, 76A, 76B, 81, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 112, 114, 117, 118, 119, 135, 142, 143, 182, 191, 192, 197, 203, 205 and 231) and “Charlotte Street” (only towards “Piccadilly Gardens”; 18, 33, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 43, 50, 76, 76A, 76B, 81, 83, 84, 85, 85A, 86, 87, 103, 111, 112, 114, 117, 118, 119, 135, 142, 143, 147, 191, 192, 197, 203, 205 and 231). All other stops with connections are listed above.

Checked on 24 September 2026. Source of the route and stops: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).