About Us

How to Find Us

The Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics has offices in several locations.

Alan Turing Building

The Alan Turing Building
The Alan Turing Building

Most of the research astronomers have offices on the 3rd floor of the Alan Turing Building on the university campus in central Manchester. The Alan Turing Building is number 46 on the campus map. You can also find us on Google Maps.

By car

The easiest way to get directions is to enter "M13 9PL" as your destination postcode into Google Maps or your GPS unit. This will probably bring you to Oxford Road, which is in the centre of Manchester. If you are coming up from the South on this road, then you will pass a large circular building on your right before passing under a red brick building. Take the right after this red brick building. If coming in from the North, then turn left just before a red building going over the road. At the traffic lights down this road turn right and you will come to the Aquatics car park. Park here (the cost is around £10 per day); the Alan Turing Building is the silver building just South of this car park.

By train

The nearest train station is Manchester Piccadilly. Exit the station from the South entrance using the escalators between Platform 10 and Sainsbury's (go down two layers). This will bring you to the taxi rank. From here, either catch a taxi (5-10 minutes), or walk (15-20 minutes).

If you are walking, then cross the cross-roads in front of you diagonally and head under the railway bridge. Immediately after the railway bridge, turn right onto the former UMIST campus. Go straight to the end of this road (passing a barrier) At the end of the road there will be a security lodge on your left. Turn left; you will pass under a white building that goes over the road. Following the pavement will take you under an overpass; take the next left and you will go under the Mancunion Way overpass. Continue, and you will cross a single-way road. You will then come to a complex pedestrian crossing; go across the first crossing, then turn right and cross the multi-lane road. Once across, turn left and walk south for 5 minutes. After crossing over a road (be careful of cars turning!) you will come to a silver-coloured building on your right; this is the Alan Turing Building.

In the Alan Turing Building

The entrance to the Alan Turing Building is located in the passage between the two parts of the building, underneath a bridge between them. Enter the larger part of the building via the double-doors; then take one of the lifts (on your right) to the third floor. You will then be at Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.

Local accommodation

Some of the hotels located within walking distance to the Alan Turing Building include:

Jodrell Bank Observatory and Visitor Centre

Road Map around Jodrell Bank

Approach

Jodrell Bank Observatory lies 20 miles south of Manchester on the A535 between Junctions 17 and 18 of the M6 motorway. Here is a map of the region south of Manchester and zoomed in to the area around Jodrell Bank.

Visitors driving from Manchester should follow the A34 through Wilmslow, turning right on to the A535 just before Alderley Edge Railway station. The A535 is signposted Chelford and Holmes Chapel.

Visitors arriving along the M6 should leave the motorway at Junction 18, take the A54 into Holmes Chapel, and then the A535 (Signposted Chelford). Alternatively, if arriving from the South, follow the A50 from Newcastle-under-Lyme, turning right on to the A535 at Holmes Chapel.

There is no public transport to within walking distance of the observatory. The closest railway station is Goostrey which is on the Manchester-Crewe line.

Entrance

The visitors' entrance, which lies on the northerly boundary of the site, is reached by turning to the west of the A535 on to a minor road (Bomish Lane).

Sat nav

Visitors wishing to use sat nav to guide them to Jodrell Bank Observatory and Visitor Centre should use postcode SK11 9DW as this will bring you to the end of Bomish Lane near to the signposted north entrance. The official postcode SK11 9DL in our postal address will unfortunately attempt to bring you in via our southern entrance which is not open to the public.

Mobile Phones

Please note mobile phones must be switched off while on site as they interfere with our radio observations.

Local Accommodation

There are a number of local bed & breakfast establishments, for example:

For lots more alternative accommodation see Cheshire Tourism Accommodation and click on either the Congleton or Macclesfield areas. Jodrell Bank is just on the border of these two regions.

As mentioned above the accommodation is not really within easy walking distance of the observatory. If you do not have your own transport then you will need to book a taxi to the observatory.