Manchester Pride returns to the city centre from Friday 28 to Monday 31 August, with four days of music, live performances and entertainment taking place across the city. The annual Pride Parade will take place at 12pm on Saturday 29 August.

While the bank holiday weekend will bring thousands of visitors into Manchester, major traffic congestion and road closures are expected across the city centre.

To help drivers plan their journeys effectively, Mike Thompson, Chief Operating Officer of Leasing Options, has revealed which areas are expected to experience the most disruption.

Manchester City Centre

Road closures and bus diversions will be in place over the weekend to allow the Pride Parade and Village Pride to take place. Drivers are advised to avoid travelling into Manchester city centre by car if possible, particularly on Saturday 29 August.

Multiple other events are also taking place across Greater Manchester over the August bank holiday weekend, meaning roads in and out of the city centre and tram services are expected to be particularly busy. Drivers should allow plenty of extra time for their journeys and check routes before setting off.

For those travelling into the city centre, public transport, walking and cycling are recommended where possible.

Road closures

The following roads will be closed between 6am and 7pm on Saturday 29 August:

Liverpool Road, from Water Street to Deansgate

Wollam Place, from 30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road

Potato Wharf, from Castlefield Hotel Entrance to Liverpool Road

Old Medlock Street, all of Old Medlock Street

Lower Byrom Street, from 40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road

Duke Street, from Rice Street to Liverpool Road

Stone Street, from Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street

Barton Street, from Worsley Street to Tonman Street

Southern Street, from 20m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road

The following roads will be closed between 9am and 7pm on Saturday 29 August:

Bridgewater Street, from Collier Street to Deansgate

Tonman Street, from Liverpool Road to Longworth Street

Deansgate, from Trafford Street to Peter Street

Quay Street, from Little Quays Street to Deansgate

Peter Street, from Deansgate to Oxford Street

Camp Street, from Deansgate to Longworth Street

St James Street, from Deansgate to Longworth Street

Deansgate, from Peter Street to John Dalton Street, one-way

Atkinson Street, from Atkinson Street to Deansgate, no right turn

Bootle Street, from Bootle Street to Deansgate, no left turn

Jacksons Row, from Jacksons Row to Deansgate, no left turn

Hardman Street, from Hardman Street to Deansgate, no right turn

Queen Street, from Queen Street to Deansgate, no left turn

Wood Street, from Wood Street to Deansgate, no right turn

Jerusalem Place, from Jacksons Row to Deansgate

Marron Place, from Jacksons Row to Deansgate

Watson Street, from Windmill Street to Peter Street

Museum Street, from Windmill Street to Peter Street

Mount Street, from Windmill Street to Bootle Street

Southmill Street, from Windmill Street to Bootle Street

Lower Mosley Street, from Windmill Street to Oxford Street

Oxford Street, from Peter Street to Whitworth Street

Chepstow Street, from Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street

Portland Street, from Oxford Street to Abingdon Street

Princess Street, from Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street

Whitworth Street, from Beaver Street to Fairfield Street

Samuel Ogden Street, from Bombay Street to Whitworth Street

Sackville Street, from Bombay Street to Whitworth Street

Fairfield Street, from Whitworth Street to London Road

Minshull Street, from Fairfield Street to Aytoun Street

Back Acton Street, from Fairfield Street to Ebden Street

Minshull Street, from Fairfield Street to Ebden Street

Bridge Street Westbound, from Gartside Street to Blackfriars Street

Whitworth Street, from Deansgate to Albion Street

Portland Street, from Princess Street to Newton Street

Parking advice

Parking suspensions will also be in place from 6am to 6pm on Saturday 29 August on several city centre roads, including Liverpool Road, Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Street, Portland Street, Princess Street, Whitworth Street, Fairfield Street, Ebden Street and Back Acton Street.

Drivers heading into the city centre are advised to park on the same side of the city as their route wherever possible. Travelling across the city to reach a car park could add additional time to the journey.

Drivers should also check Google, Waze and other navigation apps for quicker routes before every car journey.