getting to Manchester

getting to Manchester

Manchester is easy to get to by car; the ring road connects Manchester to motorways north, south, east and west. It should take around 3-3 1/2 hours to drive there from London.

Manchester Airport is the largest airport outside London and is served by 18 locations throughout Britain. Flights from London to Manchester take around an hour.

If you’re travelling to Manchester by train then Manchester Piccadilly is the main station for trains to and from the rest of the country (though Victoria station served Halifax and Bradford). The two stations are linked by the city’s Metrolink. To and from Manchester trains head to Blackpool (1.15 hours), Liverpool St Lime (45 minutes), Newcastle (3 hours) and London (3 hours).

You can also get to Manchester via bus/coach. National Express serves most of the major UK cities almost hourly from the Chorlton Street coach station in the city centre. Destinations include Liverpool (1.15 hours), Leeds (1 hour) and London (4.45 hours).

getting around Manchester

The best way of getting around Manchester is by the Metrolink. It offers fast, frequent journeys across Greater Manchester in the form of a tram system which has been developed to encourage easier and faster travel around the city. It connects the major railway stations and tourist attractions and also runs every five minutes so it’s a reliable way of getting around.

If you’re driving to Manchester and planning on getting around by car then you’ll be happy to know there are a lot of parking areas and the city is also easy to get to.

Manchester is also easily explored on foot with lots of pedestrian-only zones.

know before you go

Taxi numbers: Manchester Cars 0161 228 3355, Streetcars 0161 228 7878
Local Police: 101
Emergency Services: 999

FLIGHTS TO MANCHESTER

Fly direct to Manchester with Aer Arann from: Galway Shannon Waterford

Fly direct to Manchester with Aer Lingus from: Cork Dublin Shannon

Fly direct to Manchester with Aurigny from: Alderney Guernsey

Fly direct to Manchester with British Airways from: London Gatwick London Heathrow

Fly direct to Manchester with FlyBe from: Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Inverness Isle of Man Jersey Norwich Southampton

Fly direct to Manchester with Ryanair from: Dublin