Saturday, 26 September 2026 · 19:00
Where to park for I love you, but... I chose The Maine at Manchester Academy
I love you, but... I chose The Maine is hitting Manchester Academy on Saturday, 26 September — and you'll want to get parked smartly before the rush. We've mapped 120 street bays and 6 car parks verified by people who've actually been, so you can leave the sat nav at home, arrive with time to spare, and focus on the night ahead.
Download the free app to see live availability around Manchester Academy on the night.
Official data. Driver verified.
Saturday, 26 September 2026
Event date
19:00
Starts
141
Verified locations nearby
1,249+
Locations mapped across Manchester
Parking near Manchester Academy for I love you, but... I chose The Maine
Three picks, three different plans — the shortest walk, the best pre-show evening, and the fastest way home. All verified Parkwise data. For live availability on the night, download the free Parkwise app.
54 locations mappedManchester Academy Rear Car Park (Dilworth Street)
Official venue parkingCar Park · Hulme
- Type
- Car Park
- Price
- Paid · £4.50 evening flat
- Max stay
- Not confirmed yet
- Hours
- Public 4pm–12am Mon–Fri, all day Sat–Sun
- Operator
- University of Manchester
- Distance
- 89 m from the venue
- Address
- Between Dilworth Street and Devas Street, Manchester M13 9PR
Good to know
- • University car park directly behind the Academy — permit holders only on weekday daytimes, open to the public on gig-friendly evenings and weekends. The venue's recommended Blue Badge parking is here on Dilworth Street.
Numbered pins are our three picks for this event — tap one for details. Every other dot is a verified street bay or car park. Live availability shows in the app only — download the app to see where drivers found spaces in the last hour.
Why these three?
1 · Official venue parking
Manchester Academy Rear Car Park: the fastest route in
This is the venue's own car park on Dilworth Street, just 1 minute walk from the door. At £4.50 for an evening flat rate, it's hard to beat on price. It fills up during busy shows, so if you're arriving within an hour of doors, get there early or have the app open for live reports to know if there's space before you drive over.
Manchester Academy Rear Car Park (Dilworth Street) · ~1 min walk
2 · Make a night of it
Dover Street Car Park G: your backup if the rear is rammed
Run by the University of Manchester and just 2 minutes' walk away, Dover Street gives you a solid alternative when the Academy's rear car park hits capacity. It's a paid operator car park, so check the app for current rates and availability. This is your 'arrive on time, find parking, grab a pint' plan — easy enough that you won't feel rushed.
University of Manchester Dover Street Car Park G · ~2 min walk
3 · Quick getaway
Cecil Street Car Park E: the smart choice if you hate post-gig queues
Five minutes' walk from the Academy, this University car park in Ardwick is quieter than the venue's own lot and fills later. If you can get a space here and don't mind the extra couple of minutes on foot, you'll beat the main exit rush — other drivers report it's genuinely calmer when everyone else is scrambling for their cars.
University of Manchester Cecil Street Car Park E · ~5 min walk
Getting parked for I love you, but... I chose The Maine: the plan
Doors open at the Academy in Hulme, and people will start arriving early — that's just how it goes for a show like this. Plan to arrive 45 minutes before doors if you want a relaxed walk and time to grab a drink first. The venue's own rear car park fills fast, but there's plenty of verified street parking nearby, plus two University car parks within a couple of minutes on foot. Check the Parkwise app for live availability before you set off — reports refresh every few minutes and expire after 60 minutes, so you'll see what's actually free right now, not a guess from last week.
Your three best bets are the Manchester Academy Rear Car Park (the venue's own lot, just 1 minute walk, flat £4.50 evening rate), the University of Manchester Dover Street Car Park G (2 minutes, paid operator, good if the rear is full), and the University of Manchester Cecil Street Car Park E (5 minutes, also paid operator, but quieter for an easy exit later). All three are verified parking — other drivers have reported actual availability and conditions. The street bays scattered across Hulme are free evening parking and worth checking the app for, but the car parks give you certainty.
When the encore wraps and everyone heads for the exits, you'll thank yourself for parking at Cecil Street if you grabbed it — it's a bit further but the queues to leave are calmer. If you went for the rear car park, you'll be out quickly but expect a short wait with everyone else. Either way, download the app before you go, check live availability on the way, and you'll avoid the post-gig car park crawl entirely.
Make an evening of it
Download the Parkwise app before you leave home. Live availability expires after 60 minutes, so check it on the way to the gig — you'll know exactly which car park has free spaces right now, not a guess from an hour ago.
Arrive 45 minutes before doors if you want an easy walk and time for a pre-show drink. The rear car park will be busiest in that final 30 minutes before the show starts.
The area around Manchester Academy has good local options for a quick bite or pint — grab food first, park once, and stroll in relaxed. You'll hear the queue building outside and know exactly when to head in.
If you're staying for the whole night including the encore, consider Dover Street or Cecil Street. Yes, it's a couple of minutes longer to walk, but you'll avoid the crush of everyone leaving the rear car park at the same time.
Street parking in Hulme is free in the evening, and there are 120 verified bays nearby. Check the app for live spots before you circle — no point guessing when you can see what's actually available.
Have a backup plan. If your first choice car park is full, the app will show you alternatives with current availability. Don't drive around hoping; open Parkwise and know where you're going.
Live availability
Spaces come and go in minutes — see what's free right now in the app
The map around Manchester Academy updates as drivers report spaces. Green means someone recently confirmed availability; amber and red mean limited or full. Every report expires after 60 minutes — so you are never looking at stale data.
- Filter by duration, price, and parking type before you set off
- Set your destination to Manchester Academy and see parking around it
- Earn free access by reporting spaces when you park
I love you, but... I chose The Maine at Manchester Academy: parking questions
How much does parking cost for this show?
The venue's own rear car park is £4.50 for an evening flat rate. The University car parks (Dover Street and Cecil Street) are paid operator car parks — rates vary, so check the app for current prices. Street parking in the area is free in the evening.
How early should I arrive to guarantee a space?
There's no guarantee with any car park, but arriving 45 minutes before doors gives you a good shot at the rear car park or nearby street bays. If you're later than that, use the Parkwise app to check live availability before you drive — it'll tell you which car parks and streets actually have space right now.
Can I park on the street near Manchester Academy?
Yes. There are 120 verified street bays in the area, and evening parking is free. Use the Parkwise app to see live reports of where other drivers have actually found spaces. Street parking is first-come-first-served, so the app will help you avoid empty-looking roads that are actually full.
How do I know if a car park has space before I drive there?
Open the Parkwise app. It shows live availability reports from drivers who've actually just parked or left. Reports refresh every few minutes and expire after 60 minutes, so you're seeing real-time data, not old guesses. This is app-only — the website doesn't have live availability.
What about parking after the gig when everyone's leaving at once?
If you parked at the venue's rear car park, you'll be out quickly but expect a queue with everyone else. If you parked at Cecil Street or Dover Street, you'll have a slightly longer walk back but avoid the main crush. Either way, don't rush — leave the car park when it's calm, not when the encore's still echoing and everyone's bolting.
Do I need to pay via an app like RingGo or PayByPhone?
The venue's rear car park is a flat rate, so you pay at the barrier or on exit — no app needed. The University car parks are paid operator car parks; check their signage or the Parkwise app for payment methods. Street parking is free in the evening, so no payment required.
What if the rear car park and nearby streets are full?
The Parkwise app will show you alternatives with live availability — Dover Street and Cecil Street are both within a few minutes' walk. There are 120 street bays verified across the area, so something will be free. Use the app to find it instead of driving in circles.
Not here for this show? See all Manchester Academy parking — car parks, street bays, and every upcoming event.
Know before you go.
Verified tariffs, live space reports, and free access for contributing drivers.