Travel to Manchester

As the main transportation hub for the north of England, Manchester has excellent international connections. Manchester Airport is served by over 100 airlines, with direct flights from most of Europe and from North America (Atlanta, New York JFK and Newark, Toronto, Vancouver), the Arabian Gulf (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha), Singapore and Pakistan. A high-speed rail link connects the airport to Manchester city centre.

There are also frequent connecting flights from the larger international hub at London Heathrow, and from other domestic airports. Liverpool John Lennon, served by many European short-haul operators, is 35 miles away and has a regular coach/bus service running directly to Manchester.

As the site of the world’s first passenger railway terminus, Manchester is unsurprisingly also a hub of the national rail network. There are direct services to Manchester Piccadilly from London Euston (just over 2 hours), Oxford (2h 45m), Glasgow (3h 15m), Edinburgh (3h 30m), and many other towns and cities. The Eurostar via the Channel Tunnel from Paris and Brussels runs to London St Pancras, giving a straightforward onward journey from nearby Euston to Manchester.

Public transport in the city is frequent and reliable. Manchester’s large student population means that the University area is served by excellent bus services. There is also the Metrolink, a tram/light-rail network with a line to the Salford Quays museum and gallery sites, and free shuttle bus services providing daytime travel around Manchester city centre at no charge.