Month guide · Manchester · United Kingdom
Manchester in September
What September is really like in Manchester: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DrPhoenix, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
September is one of the best months to visit Manchester. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 12.6 hours of daylight. Often settled and mild early in the month; the university term starts and the city's energy returns.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 12.6 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in September
September is the 4th-warmest month in Manchester: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 30 days. Compared with August (20°C (68°F)), September is cooler; by October highs drop to around 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:42
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 19:26
- Daylight
- About 12.6 hours
Autumn (September–November). The football season, the food festival and university term bring energy; it turns wetter and darker by November, when the Christmas markets open.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in September
- Manchester Food and Drink Festival (usually late September into October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · City Centre
Manchester Cathedral
Look under the choir-stall seats for the carved misericords, including a rabbit cooking a hunter.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Spinningfields
People's History Museum
Britain's national museum of democracy, in a former Edwardian pumping station on the Irwell, tells the story of the fight for votes, workers' rights and protest through banners, posters and objects from the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 to modern campaigns.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
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
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 11°C and 12 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit Manchester?
One of the best months to visit Manchester, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are May–August. Compare every month.
Manchester in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Manchester?
It is one of the best months to visit Manchester. Often settled and mild early in the month; the university term starts and the city's energy returns.
+How warm is Manchester in September?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Manchester in September?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.