Getting to Preston Campus

With fantastic transport links, visiting our Preston Campus is a simple and stress-free experience. Here are some directions and travel advice to help you find us.

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Thinking about commuting to classes?

Many of our students live at home and commute to campus for their studies. If you're thinking about doing the same, we have lots of information that might help.

Find out more about commuting

By car

From the North or West Coast, leave the M6 at junction 32 (M55) and take Exit 1 (A6) to Preston/Garstang. Follow the A6 to Preston and proceed through five major sets of traffic lights. Immediately after the fifth set, take the right-hand lane and bear right at the next set into Moor Lane, following the signs to Liverpool. You'll see signs for the University on this route.

From the South or East, motorways M6, M61 or M65. Leave the M6 at Junction 29 or M61 at Junction 9 and join the M65 towards Preston, then leave the M65 at its end (Junction 1). At the motorway terminal roundabout take the second exit. Follow the A6 to Preston, you'll come to a set of traffic lights with a large retail centre to the left. Go straight on at this set of traffic lights, and at the next set. You'll need to move into the middle lane for the next set of traffic lights to go straight on, follow Liverpool and Southport. Continue straight through the next set of traffic lights. Move to the right-hand lane and turn right at the next traffic lights, signposted for Blackpool and the University.

Parking

Our car parks require a University parking permit. To manage the space available on campus, parking permits for students are offered on a semester-by-semester basis to those meeting the criteria. Currently, this includes those with a declared mobility issue, those with childcare commitments and students whose daily commute to campus is over one hour. For further advice please email the Car Parking Team.

Visitor parking

Official visitors can request a pre-booked space in Victoria car park which needs to be arranged in advance (48 hours) by the member of staff they are visiting. Visitor spaces are limited and space is allocated on a priority basis.

Applicants attending a School open day (week-day events) or interview day should refer to paperwork provided by the School. A limited number of pay and display facilities are available on Harrington, Victoria 2 and Foster car parks (evenings and weekends only - £1/hour to a max of £4 for a full day ticket). For more information on University permits and visitor parking please call us.

By train

Our Preston Campus is situated within walking distance of Preston train station. Preston also benefits from direct rail links north and south to London, Glasgow and Manchester Airport. For more information visit the National Rail website. If you're walking from the train station, exit from the main entrance, turn right and then left down Corporation Street to Ringway. Cross Ringway at the lights, turn right, then take first left down Corporation Street. Go straight ahead and follow signs to the University. 

Bus or coach

Preston bus station provides reliable and extensive transport links in and around the city. The number 31 bus service runs regularly from the bus station and stops outside C&T Building, which is opposite the Students’ Union. The University is a 15-minute walk from the bus station. Head towards Lancaster Road until you arrive at the Cenotaph. Turn right downhill on Friargate. Walk through pedestrianised area down to traffic lights at Ringway. Cross Ringway and continue up Friargate. Follow signs to University. For more information visit the Preston Bus website and you can also download the free Preston Bus app.

National Express coaches operate to and from Preston bus station to destinations across the UK. You can book via the National Express website. Low-cost intercity bus travel is also available from Megabus.

Inclusive spaces

We aim to create physical social spaces to be inclusive to everyone and meet the needs of our staff and students.

Inclusive spaces

Through the implementation of our Travel Plan, we are working hard to help make the University Campus and Preston a healthier and more sustainable place in which to work, study or visit.

  1. We encourage you to use sustainable forms of transport – including cycling, walking and car sharing. Should you need to travel by a car, here are details of parking and parking permits. 

    Preston Campus
    Preston Campus does have a lot of parking available but the car parks do get full during term-time. This means we will have a limited number of parking permits available each semester.

    UCLan car park permits are only awarded to those that meet our eligibility criteria. This considers things such as blue badge holders, mobility, and childcare commitments. It also looks at where you live and any course placement obligations.

    To reduce solo car commuting to campus we offer a 50% reduction in permit costs and provide dedicated car sharing bays on our car parks.

    There are several pay-and-display car parks in the city centre. St. Mary’s Car Park and Walker Street Car Park are two of the nearest to the campus.

    UCLan car parks are free of charge for all users between 6.00pm and 7.00am Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday. Occasionally car parks may be closed at these times for events and works. This will be clearly signed at the entrance to the relevant car parks.

    Burnley Campus
    If you are studying at our Victoria Mill and Princess Way buildings, you can apply for a parking permit. 

  2. Cycling is a great way to get to and around our campuses and we have excellent cycling facilities and schemes.

    Preston Campus
    At Preston, there is a range of cycle storage options to choose from including:

    • Open bike racks outside most building entrances. Some are covered.
    • Over 60 individual velo-safe cycle lockers, which are fully-enclosed and water resistant. These can be hired for £30 per semester or £50 per year.
    • There are secure bike compounds outside the Student Centre, Greenbank and Maudland buildings.
    • We also have cycle equipment lockers available to use for the storage of cycle or motorcycle gear.

    You can hire a range of bikes from our bike hub at Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre at a cost of £40 for three months hire, plus £100 security deposit.

    Burnley Campus
    Secure cycle lockers and cycle shelters are available at Burnley Princess Way. A secure cycle compound is also available at Victoria Mill. Both sites offer storage lockers and showers for cyclists.

  3. Preston Campus
    One of the easiest ways to get to campus is on the bus. Preston bus station provides reliable and extensive transport links in and around the city. The station is a 10-minute walk to the campus, but there are several bus stops on campus.

    Burnley Campus
    Burnley Campus is situated on major bus routes and buses to Preston, Blackburn and Manchester run regularly.

    Discounted travel
    Please check with individual providers for pricing at it is subject to change.

    • Preston Bus offer discounted “UCLan term tickets”.
    • The Preston UniRider bus pass provides unlimited travel on Stagecoach services in Lancashire at a great discount.
    • Transdev offer student and under 19s discount on tickets between Burnley, Blackburn and Preston.
    • Avoid the stress of city centre car parking with one of the two Preston Park and Ride options. There is one in Walton-le-Dale behind the Capitol Centre and another at Portway.

  4. Preston Campus
    Preston train station is a 5 to 10-minute walk away from our campus. Preston is an inter-change station. It's mainly served by Avanti West Coast, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express services.

    There are direct trains to Blackpool, Lancaster, Blackburn, Burnley, Liverpool, and Manchester. There are also direct trains to London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

    Burnley Campus
    Victoria Mill is a 5-minute walk from Manchester Road Station, the main station in Burnley. The station is served by services from Blackpool North or Preston to Leeds and York. There is also an hourly service to Manchester Victoria.

    Princess Way is a 2-minute walk from Burnley Central Station. Trains from Burnley Central train station run every hour to Colne, Preston and Blackpool South.

    Discounted train tickets
    Full-time students, or part-time students under the age of 25 can buy a Young Persons Railcard. This will save 33% on all your train tickets – an average saving of £189 per year.

    There is also a Disabled Persons Railcard available which will save 33% for both you and an adult companion.

Further information

  • Getting to Burnley Campus

    Our compact Burnley Campus is easily accessible by car or public transport. Here are some directions and travel advice to help you find us.

  • Getting to Westlakes Campus

    Our picturesque Westlakes Campus in Cumbria is located near Whitehaven. Here are some directions and travel advice to help you find us.

  • Life in Preston

    At university, you'll make friends for life, explore your potential and discover new passions. There are plenty more reasons why you'll love living in Preston too.