Travel to Manchester

Travelling to Manchester

Flights

Manchester Airport is the 3rd busiest in the UK, from Manchester Airport you can fly to around 225 destinations both nationally and internationally. Manchester Airport is Located 15km south of the city centre and will take just under 20 minutes by car. Alternatively, from the airport visitors can also get to the city centre by train, which run every 10 minutes. There are also 9 bus services running to and from the city centre to the airport, operating 24 hours a day.

Train

Manchester Piccadilly is the busiest and biggest train station out of the 4 stations in the city and is the fourth busiest station in the UK. It serves mainly intercity routes to London, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow and Liverpool. Manchester Piccadilly is located very centrally in Manchester, it is therefore within walking distance of the city. If you wish to use public transport, there are Metro Shuttles and trams that leave the station every 7 minutes.

Bus

Buses to Manchester are frequent from most cities in the UK. The journey from London takes around 4 hours and buses arrive into the bus station near the city centre.

About Manchester

Manchester, a city in the North West of England, is widely regarded as the business capital of the North and is the second most populous urban area in the UK after London. Manchester has long been regarded as a cultural hub, with an exciting nightlife and genre defining music. This has contributed to Manchester's current status as the third most visited city and third largest economy in the UK.

Quick Guide to Manchester

Must Know Manchester is one of the more popular cities in the country and has officially gained the title of the second city of the UK.

Must See John Rylands Library, which opened in 1900, is a stunning gothic style building and one of the most impressive places in the city.

Must Do Known for its music scene, there’s always live shows around the city, a must do while visiting.

Did You Know There are more than 70 restaurants on the famous ‘curry mile’

Travelling Around Manchester

The public transport system is extremely expansive and covers the entirety of Greater Manchester. The system encompasses tram, trains and buses and tickets are usually purchased immediately prior to travel. On buses you buy the ticket from the driver upon entering the bus; tram tickets can be purchased via self service ticket machines on the platform and train tickets from self service ticket machines or at a kiosk at the station.

Cycling is popular during the summer months in Manchester and there are numerous bike rental shops littered around the city. There are fairly extensive cycle paths in Manchester, however they can often be slightly unreliable, e.g cutting off at random points.

The central shopping districts in Manchester are predominantly pedestrianised and pavements can be found almost everywhere. It is easy to see the main sites of the city by foot.

Chinatown

In Manchester you can find the second largest Chinatown of the UK, located in the city center close to Princess Street and Mosly Street. It's a great place if you're looking for some Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Nepali or Malaysian restaurants, shops, bakeries or supermarkets, or if you just want to walk around and enjoy the vibe.

John Rylands Library

This beautiful late-Victorian neo-Gothic building opened up to public in 1900 and is one of the highlights of the city. The John Ryands Library is home to one of the most unique collections of books and rare manuscripts and they often have some interesting exhibitions as well.

Town Hall

The Manchester Town Hall on Albert Square is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city, located near the Central Library and the Town Hall Extension. Visitors can go on the Clock Tower tour, where you can climb the spiral staircase of Manchester and see the iconic clock of Manchester.

This is what travel blogger Jack Edwards had to say about Manchester

Best Time to visit Manchester

When travellers head to Manchester largely depends on what they want to see and do. For example, anyone who wants to watch Manchester City or United playin the EPL will want to book their tickets between late August and early May. May is also time for the popular Manchester Jazz Festival, while mid-July sees the Manchester International Festival dominate the city's cultural life, with global music acts and theater performances. Otherwise, summer is definitely the best time for pure sightseeing. Spring and fall tend to see plenty of rain in Greater Manchester (although attractions will be much less busy). However, between June and the end of August, the weather is usually bright, warm, and perfect for getting to know the city. This period is also the peak period for music festivals and community street events, such as June's Parklife Festival in Heaton Park or August's Manchester Pride. Winter breaks could work well too, with plenty of Christmas Markets, foodie events, and sales at malls like the Trafford Center for visitors to enjoy. Just remember to dress warm and, carry a weather-resistant jacket.