Month guide · Manchester · United Kingdom
Manchester in March
What March is really like in Manchester: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Imperial_War_Museum_2008.jpg : pit-yacker from UK derivative work: IxK85 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 11.7 hours of daylight. Changeable early spring with lengthening days and the first blossom in the parks.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 11.7 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Manchester: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 13 of its 31 days. Compared with February (8°C (46°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 06:24
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:13
- Daylight
- About 11.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Lengthening days and milder weather, with blossom in the parks and frequent showers; May is often the most pleasant month.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
March has no major recurring festival in Manchester, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in March
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Market · Northern Quarter
Afflecks
Walk the surrounding streets afterwards to find the Northern Quarter's murals and record shops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
Museum · Salford Quays
IWM North
Daniel Libeskind designed this branch of the Imperial War Museum as three interlocking shards representing a world shattered by conflict.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Gallery · Salford Quays
The Lowry
See the Lowry gallery in the morning, then catch a matinee or have lunch by the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
Architecture · City Centre
Manchester Central Library
The rotunda library on St Peter's Square, opened in 1934, has a domed Wolfson Reading Room modelled loosely on the Pantheon in Rome.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 3°C and 13 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Manchester?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Manchester in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Manchester?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Changeable early spring with lengthening days and the first blossom in the parks.
+How warm is Manchester in March?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Manchester in March?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.