Plan Your Visit
On this page, you can find information regarding accessibility before, during, and after the festival.
Our aim is to make the festival as accessible and inclusive as possible for a neurodiverse audience and visitors with visible and non-visible disabilities. We endeavour to understand any support needs you may have, and to make your visit as safe and comfortable as possible.
​
Please also visit our Frequently-Asked Questions page for extra information.
Please note: All venue-specific information is correct as of March 2025. Visit the Bridgewater Hall website for all the latest information. Thank you.
Before the Festival
If you purchase your ticket through our official Eventbrite booking page, you will receive a booking confirmation email.
​
A couple of days before the event, a reminder email will be sent to the same email address you registered with when booking. This email will include an electronic copy of the programme with speaker and talk descriptions. (You will also receive a printed programme upon arrival at the venue.)
​
Your ticket contains a QR code that will be scanned by the registration staff when you arrive at the Bridgewater Hall. You are welcome to show the QR code on your phone/tablet or bring a printed copy of your ticket if you prefer.
​
If you have specific support needs we should be aware of, or any questions please let us know as soon as possible (by 1 October 2025 latest). For example, a BSL sign language interpreter will be available on the day upon request, or special seating arrangements can be provided.
​
Contact us as soon as possible to discuss any requirements you may have and we will liaise with the venue and entire event team to establish how all necessary arrangements can be made.
​
A private Facebook Page is available for ticket holders. A great space to connect with other attendees and make plans if you wish!
​
​
Public Transport, Parking, and Hotels
Location: The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, M2 3WS
​​
Nearest bus stops: St Peter's Square, Portland Street, Deansgate
Nearest tram stops: St Peter's Square and Deansgate Castlefield​
Nearest railway stations: Deansgate, Oxford Road, and Piccadilly
​
Rail Strikes: For up-to-date information see National Rail. Please plan your journey carefully.
​
With the venue being so central, there are lots of hotel options. The two closest ones are Premier Inn (Lower Mosley Street) and Leonardo (Great Bridgewater Street).
The Manchester Mindfulness Festival is not associated with any hotel or transport partners.
​
For info about parking spaces, disabled parking spaces, venue-related security, prohibited items, and more, please visit the venue website here.
On the Day
Doors open at 09:30 am (street level).
​
Security: Bridgewater Hall staff are likely to carry out bag checks. See here for prohibited items.
​
Registration starts at 09:30 am (Circle Foyer, second floor)
The event starts at 10 am sharp (Barbirolli Room).
​
Arriving later? No problem, you will receive the same warm welcome from our event staff (who wear orange lanyards).
​
The location of the registration desk and rooms for the various talks/workshops are signposted throughout the venue, including on TV screens in the lobbies.
​
You will receive a printed programme upon arrival with descriptions of the speakers and sessions.
​
If applicable, we encourage you to bring your own sensory tools, but we also provide sensory tools that you can borrow for the day.
Optional name badge stickers and interaction stickers will be provided upon registration. Feel free to add a blue dot sticker to your name badge to communicate your preference for some personal space and quiet conversation.
​
Coffee and tea (including decaf and herbal) will be served upon arrival, and once again in the break between sessions 1 and 2. Water is freely available throughout the day.​​
​
Accessibility
​
There are disabled parking spaces available at NCP Manchester Central.
​
​If you would like to pre-book parking or have any further enquiries please contact NCP on 0845 050 7080 or visit NCP website.
​
The Bridgewater Hall has step-free access into all the spaces used during the festival (including toilets). All floors are accessible via lift.
​
Refreshment areas have low-level, accessible counter positions.
​
Wheelchair spaces are located in various level access areas at all the sessions.
Please ​Contact us as soon as possible to discuss any requirements you may have. Thank you.
​
(Image used with guest permission.)
​
The Main Event Spaces
It can be helpful to know what the venue will look like on the day.
Registration and sessions take place in these bright, well-ventilated, and accessible spaces:
Circle Foyer Registration Area
Circle Foyer Area with Partner Stalls ("Resources Hub")
Circle Foyer
Barbirolli Room
Toilets
​
In addition to gender-specific toilets, there is one gender-neutral accessible toilet available on each floor of the building. The facilities on Level 2 feature a sliding door, with all other levels comprising accessible swing doors. Staff will always be available to direct you to the nearest facility.
Changing Places: Unfortunately, the venue does not currently offer a changing place facility. The nearest ones are Central Library and HOME.
How to Get the Most out of Your Day
​The day is split into five sessions. The first four sessions each have a choice of two talks to
attend, either in the Barbirolli Room or in the Circle Foyer. Session 5 takes place in Barbirolli.
​
Between sessions there are 15-minute comfort breaks. You will hear a bell ring five minutes before the next session is about to start to give you time to find a seat and get settled.
Seating is flexible throughout the day (no assigned seating). Feel free to move your chair if you would like more space around you. Wheelchair spaces are located in various level access areas at all the sessions, including at the front row of both rooms.
​
​We ask you to put your phone on silent mode or “do not disturb.”
​
Our speakers are wearing blue lanyards and our event staff are wearing orange lanyards to help identify points of contact throughout the day.
​​
Lunch is not included in the ticket price, nor is food available at the venue. There are many
local shops and cafes nearby. Please just ask the event team if you would like information and directions.
​
You are in choice around your levels of participation throughout the day. All practices are invitational. Although mindfulness practice is generally very safe, you take part at your own risk, and we ask you to stop practicing if you feel uncomfortable, and let a member of the event team and/or speaker know if you require assistance.
​
During practices, there is no hierarchy between objects of focus or between anchors (e.g., the breath is not superior to the feet on the floor, etc.). Use what is accessible and comfortable for you.
​
Please inform the event team and/or speaker(s) before the session starts if you have special support needs they should be aware of.
​
A public quiet area is available in the Circle Foyer if rest and quiet time is desired.
The speakers will let you know if/how a copy of their slides can be obtained after the festival.
Filming and photography will be taking place throughout the day, but the event is not being
live-streamed. By attending the event you give your permission to be recorded, if you wish to
be removed from photos or videos please let a member of the event team know and we will
make our best endeavours to ensure you are not visible in final footage/images.
After the Festival
We are always keen to hear about our guests' experiences! Feel free to tag us in your social media posts and/or leave your feedback via the Contact page on our website.
​
To support the continued growth of the festival, we are currently producing an Impact Report documenting the ripples created over the years. Please contact us to share your case studies.