We took a scenic trip through leafy suburbs into heart of Manchester and realised commuting isn't all bad

The daily commute is something which remains a regular part of life, with students and workers hopping on and off public transport and in and out of cars across the country, with Manchester of course being no exception. Some commutes can be dull, with not much to look at with few interesting features standing out. 

The Metrolink Tram network is the mode of transport for many commutes and trips around the city. Workers, students and tourists alike use the network regularly and the ease of which it can be used keeps it a popular transport option. 

With the network stretching out into Greater Manchester, some of the stations at the very end of the lines feel a world away from the city centre. You might only think of the trams as they traverse the busy streets of the towns and cities in Greater Manchester, but several of the end-of-the-line stops are a world away from this. 

One of these is a stop which has become an ideal commuter destination for people heading to Manchester from the south. East Didsbury is on the pink tram line, at the opposite end is Rochdale and after passing through Manchester you will also find yourself stopping off in Oldham. 

The journey from East Didsbury takes passengers through leafy surroundings at first, stopping at Didsbury Village and West Didsbury on the way. One particular area of greenery makes you feel as though you are hundreds of miles from a city centre, whereas in reality at this point it's about five miles.  

Ticking off several stops along the route and my quiet tram soon filled up. A particularly sunny morning, the trees of Didsbury and Withington made for a pretty Friday morning picture, the scenery would soon start to change. 

The tram line from East Didsbury brings passengers up towards the city centre via Cornbrook and Deansgate/ Castlefield. Before seeing the looming tall buildings of the city, you start to go over areas which seem forgotten. 

Some signs of the industrial past of Manchester start to meet the eye as the tram zips its way towards the city and beyond. The canals are the biggest giveaway, and the history of just how important the waterways were back in day can easily be overlooked- especially on a tram. 

Deansgate/ Castlefield is the first real feeling of you being in the city, and on this particular morning the stop was surrounded by a hive of activity. This was due to the Conservative Party Conference beginning just two days later. 

From this stop onwards, the leafy suburbs of Didsbury feel a long way away and in their place you are taken through one of Manchester’s many lively spots. St Peter’s Square was my stop, and with it being a main artery on the Metrolink network there are always plenty of people and plenty of trams to take them all across the region. 

Going from the peaceful to the pulsating in a short amount of time makes for somewhat of an interesting journey. Being able to hop on a tram and get around from one setting to a very different one is a good quirk of public transport, and another positive for the public transport options across the region.