• NEXT EDITION
  • 23-27 OCT 2024
  • Manchester, UK

Getting To Manchester

There are many ways to get to Manchester. You can fly, come by train, coach, car, or even catch a ferry! Thanks to an integrated transport network Manchester is one of the most accessible cities in the UK for both national and international visitors.

BY AIR

Manchester Airport is the 3rd largest airport in the UK, more than 50 airlines ensure that Manchester is directly connected to over 190 destinations around the world.

Located 15.5km (9 miles) from the city centre, the airport offers excellent connections to the city with a train station and Metrolink tram station on site:

Go by train: For ease and speed there is a train station onsite at the airport and trains run regularly to Manchester Piccadilly station in the city centre, taking just 20 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes, 7 days a week and tickets cost £4-£6. You can buy train tickets online, or there are ticket machines and an information desk at Manchester Airport train station.

Go by tram: Use the tram to get to the city centre and board at the Metrolink station onsite at the airport. There are direct services through the city centre, running every 12-15 minutes, 7 days a week. To check the first and last tram times and get more information check out www.tfgm.com.

View Getting to and From Manchester Airport for full details.

Alternatively private hire taxis also operate from Manchester Airport with taxi ranks located at all terminals.

Arriving at a different UK airport
Our advice is to fly directly to Manchester if you can. There are flights to Manchester Airport connecting from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and London City Airports. Alternatively, you can continue to Manchester by train, with direct trains departing every 20 minutes from London Euston to Manchester. The quickest way to get from any of the London airports to Euston is to take the tube (underground train).

BY RAIL

UK train
Manchester has three main train stations, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, and Manchester Oxford Road. The train from London Euston arrives into Manchester Piccadilly and usually takes just over 2 hours. You can find further information on train times and how to book train tickets on National Rail’s website or on the Trainline website.

Eurostar
The UK is close to and easily reached by train from some European cities. One option is to take the Eurostar, arriving in the UK at London St Pancras International, before transferring to London Euston to connect onwards to Manchester Piccadilly. Journey times are longer but this option is a greener way to travel with competitive ticket prices. Unfortunately there isn’t an option to buy your ticket to Manchester straight through, instead you would have to buy a separate ticket for trains in Europe and then a train in the UK. To get your ticket and plan your journey, please visit either Eurostar’s website or on the Trainline platform.

BY SEA

There are ports at Newcastle and Hull with ferries crossing the North Sea to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Hook of Holland. Travelling across the Channel from Calais to Dover, will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and is available to book all year round with Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways. Alternatively, you can travel from France to England via the Eurotunnel between Calais and Folkestone.

When planning your journey, it is important to factor in the time it takes to get to these connections – Manchester to Newcastle is approximately 3 hours; Manchester to Hull, just over 2 hours, Manchester to Dover or Folkestone, just under 6 hours.

BY COACH

Travelling by coach is usually the cheapest way to travel within the UK. National Express, Flixbus and Megabus are the key coach operators in the UK and provide services from all over the country into Chorlton Street Coach station, in the heart of Manchester city centre and Manchester Airport.

National Express and Flixbus offer international coach services to European cities and these coaches depart and arrive into London Victoria station, so you would need to connect onwards.

BY CAR

Manchester is well connected to the rest of the UK via excellent motorway links. The M60 ring road connects the city to motorways to the north, east, south, and west. Once you arrive in the city, we recommend that you park your car and walk or use public transport.

Visa Information  Getting Around 

 

Travel Guide: Manchester

Hotels For Delegates

Manchester offers a wide array of accommodation options in several price ranges.


 Hotels for Delegates

Visit Manchester

For more detailed touristic insights about Manchester check out Visit Manchester


 
  www.visitmanchester.com

Location & Venues

Find out which venue in Manchester is hosting what of the WOMEX 24 programme.


  Venues in Manchester

Getting Around Manchester city centre

Manchester is a compact city, and it is easy to find your way around, whether on foot, by bike or public transport.

Manchester is a very walkable city, so you can easily explore it on foot whilst taking in the beautiful buildings and architecture around you – don’t forget to ‘look up’ when you are in the city. City hosts are dotted around the centre to guide you with directions, public transport information and details on events taking place in the city centre.

There is a free ‘hop on, hop off’ bus service, operating on two circular routes, linking all the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas in the city centre.
View a map of the free bus routes and timetables.

The Bee Network run by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) includes bus services, the Metrolink tram network and the inter-city rail network connecting the city to neighbouring towns and districts of Greater Manchester.

The Metrolink offers an easy way of getting across the city and visiting popular venues and attractions across the region. With frequent services there’s no need to worry about a timetable, just head to your nearest stop and the next tram won’t be far away. There is a tram stop at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria station which makes it very convenient when coming in and out of the city. Don’t forget to buy your ticket before you board at the on-station ticket machines, or by tapping in using your contactless payment card.

The city centre stops are in Zone 1 and can be viewed on the Tram Map.

Visit TfGM’s Bee Network website for more information and journey planning tools.

Recently awarded ACES European Capital of Cycling 2024, Manchester is a bike-friendly city with marked cycle lanes and dedicated routes throughout the city centre and beyond.

The Bee Network has a self-service cycle hire scheme and there are lots of hire stations throughout the city. Visit Cycle Hire: TfGM Bee Active to find out how it works.

Transport for Greater Manchester have compiled ideas of the best routes in the city and surrounding areas to follow by bike – to find out more check out the link

There are black cab (hackney carriage) ranks located at the rail stations, bus stations, night clubs, hotels and in key areas of the city centre. There are 24-hour taxi ranks on the same street or close to all the venues being used for WOMEX. View map to see the taxi ranks in Manchester city centre.

There are also licenced private hire taxis that can be pre-booked and operate within the city centre. Recommended operators include:

Do not use unlicensed taxis. Manchester City Council is responsible for the licensing of black cabs and private hire vehicles and their drivers. Licenced drivers will display their badge in the vehicle showing their photograph, licence details and expiry date.

Beware Of Scammers


Please watch out for dubious services call ups or misleading letters from fraudulent expo companies, offering hotel services or tricking you into payment for directory services. This is a fraud!