Getting around · Manchester · United Kingdom
Getting around Manchester
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Manchester's centre is compact and flat enough to walk end to end in about 30 minutes. The Metrolink tram network, part of the Bee Network, reaches Salford Quays, Old Trafford, the Etihad, the airport and the suburbs, and buses cover the rest. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- MAN, LPL
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Contactless capping
Ways to get around
Walking
From Piccadilly station to Castlefield via the Northern Quarter, Market Street and Deansgate is about 2.5 km; most central sights are within 15–20 minutes of each other on foot.
Tram
Metrolink trams run on multiple lines through the centre to Salford Quays and MediaCityUK, Old Trafford, the Etihad Campus, Chorlton, Didsbury and Manchester Airport.
Tap in and out with a contactless card or phone at the platform readers; daily and weekly fares are capped automatically.
Bus
Bee Network buses run across Greater Manchester, with frequent services along Oxford Road to the universities, the Whitworth and the Curry Mile in Rusholme.
Train
Piccadilly, Victoria, Oxford Road and Deansgate stations connect the centre to the airport, Liverpool, Leeds, York, Chester and the Peak District.
Taxi
Black cabs wait at ranks at the main stations and can be hailed, and ride-hailing apps operate across the city.
Tickets and passes
Contactless capping
Paying by contactless on Metrolink caps your spending at a daily and weekly maximum, so there is no need to buy a separate travelcard for short stays.
From the airport
Manchester Airport is about 15 km south of the centre. Trains to Piccadilly take about 15–20 minutes and run frequently, many continuing to Oxford Road and Deansgate, and the Metrolink Airport line reaches the centre in roughly 45–60 minutes. Liverpool John Lennon Airport, about 55 km west, is an alternative for some routes.
Do you need a car?
No. Driving and parking in central Manchester are slow and expensive, and trams, buses and trains cover the city and most day trips. A car only helps for rural parts of the Peak District.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Peak District: Edale and Castleton | About 45 minutes–1 hour by train | Train from Piccadilly to Edale or Hope |
| Liverpool | About 35–50 minutes by train | Train from Piccadilly, Oxford Road or Victoria to Lime Street |
| Chester | About 1 hour by train | Train from Piccadilly or Oxford Road |
| York | About 1 hour 20–30 minutes by train | TransPennine Express from Piccadilly or Victoria |
| Quarry Bank | About 30–40 minutes by train and walk | Train to Styal, then a short walk; or a short drive |
| Hebden Bridge | About 35–50 minutes by train | Train from Victoria |
| Lake District: Windermere | About 1 hour 45 minutes–2 hours by train | Train from Piccadilly or the airport, sometimes changing at Oxenholme |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Manchester?
No. Driving and parking in central Manchester are slow and expensive, and trams, buses and trains cover the city and most day trips. A car only helps for rural parts of the Peak District.
+How do you get from the airport to Manchester?
Manchester Airport is about 15 km south of the centre. Trains to Piccadilly take about 15–20 minutes and run frequently, many continuing to Oxford Road and Deansgate, and the Metrolink Airport line reaches the centre in roughly 45–60 minutes. Liverpool John Lennon Airport, about 55 km west, is an alternative for some routes.
+What is the best way to get around Manchester?
Walking: From Piccadilly station to Castlefield via the Northern Quarter, Market Street and Deansgate is about 2.5 km; most central sights are within 15–20 minutes of each other on foot.