Best way to get to Knowsley Safari Park from Manchester?

[Jalinne]

I have to be there for a shift at 6:30 PM on 14th December and I'm not sure what the best way is to get there. I'm willing to spend a bit more time on the journey if it means getting a bit of a cheaper fare. Would it also be smart to buy a Plusbus ticket for Knowsley considering I'd probably be taking the bus to and fro the venue? I stay in Manchester city center.

 

[Rail Ranger]

If you use the Traveline journey planner at www.traveline.info for a journey from Manchester Piccadilly to Knowsley Safari Park on that date it shows a train at 15.54 from Piccadilly to Rainhill, walk 5 minutes then catch the 10A Arriva bus to a stop near the safari park, arriving at the safari park at 17.10 after a 12-minute walk. The same journey is possible an hour later but beware Saturday cancellations on Northern. Best to change the journey leg option to 1000 metres. The bus fare would be £2 single. I've just checked and last Saturday 7th December both the 15.54 and the 16.54 Northern trains from Piccadilly to Rainhill were cancelled. Safer to travel to Liverpool Lime Street then catch the 10A bus from Liverpool? You could check tomorrow if the 15.54 or 16.54 are running.

 

[Jalinne]

@Rail Ranger I'm honestly impressed wow thank you. May I ask, where did you check the cancellations from last week? Was it realtimetrains by any chance? And another general question, by when can I know for sure if a service is running or not? Ideally, Rainhill would suit me the best. I was checking trains via Huyton as well but looks like that might get me to Knowsley a lot earlier than I need.

But yeah, looks like going directly to Liverpool might be my best bet.

 

[Rail Ranger]

You're welcome. Yes I checked realtimetrains to see what happend last Saturday. Today appears to be better with no cancellations shown for the service between Piccadilly and Rainhill on the Northern website. If you see the train leaving Liverpool to go to Manchester Airport on realtimetrains it will almost certainly come back from the Airport towards Liverpool.

 

[childwallblues]

Better going to Huyton Statiom and getting a taxi if you can afford it. The Safari Park is on the Prescot by pass which has no lighting. Alpha Taxis 0151 722 8888 operate throughout Merseyside.
Good luck and beware of the monkeys.

 

[Bevan Price]

There are no buses passing Knowslley Safari Park entrance. It is located on a dual carriageway with no footpaths on either side. The nearest bus routes run along the A57 and A58, with probably a 10 - 15 minute walk along grass verges to the Park entrance. If you don't want to get a taxi, your best option from Manchester is a train to Rainhill, then a 10A bus (Arriva or Stagecoach). Cross the skew bridge next to the station, turn right snd you will see a bus stop. Alight a couple of stops after Prescot town centre, and you will see a roundabout; follow the signs for the Safari Park.

 

[Gathursty]

Taxi or walk through the suburbs from Whiston.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Think the OP's planned journey to the Safari Park was actually last Saturday evening (14th). Be interesting to see how they got on. @Jalinne. Can you possibly advise?