The airport has a direct rail connection which is the most convenient and affordable way to get to the city and back.
Train
You can take a Northern Rail/FirstTransPennine Express train directly from the airport to Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly in 20 minutes. Monday to Saturday, there are six trains per hour and on Sundays, there are four per hour. You can also go to Crewe, Wigan, Southport, Birmingham, York, Newcastle, Leeds and even Edinburgh and Glasgow from the airport.
Cost: starting from GBP 2.90 one-way off-peak, the cost is higher when you buy at the station Location: Between Terminals 1 and 2, accessible via the Skylink walkway, at The Station
Bus
The bus takes longer to get to the city but it runs 24 hours a day from the airport. National Express coaches take you to Manchester Coach Station in 30-40 minutes.
Cost: starting from GBP 4 one-way Location: Between Terminals 1 and 2, accessible via the Skylink walkway, at The Station
Taxi
A taxi to Piccadilly takes 25-30 minutes, depending on traffic. If you take a black cab outside the terminals, fares are metered and the driver should tell you a rough price (negotiable) before you leave the airport. You can also pre-book a taxi with the airport's private transfer company, Arrow Cars: www.manchesterairport.co.uk/to-and-from-the-airport/taxi-and-transfer. Be aware that prices may differ from the black cabs.
Cost: GBP 20-30 Location: Black cabs leave from ranks outside each terminal
Manchester Airport lies 14km south-west of the city centre, and is the largest airport in the UK outside the London area.
It has three terminals:
Terminal 1: The largest terminal, and a base for easyJet, Jet2 and Thomas Cook. It has two piers, with 29 gates.
Terminal 2: A base for Monarch, Thomson Airways and Virgin Atlantic. It has 16 gates.
Terminal 3: Mainly handles domestic flights and is primarily used by low-cost carriers like Flybe and Ryanair, as well as British Airways (BA). A regular BA shuttle bus runs from here to its London base in Heathrow's Terminal 5.
There's a transport hub called 'The Station' between Terminals 1 and 2 for easy transport into Manchester.
Old Trafford stadium is seven miles from Manchester Airport. Take a guided tour of Manchester United's home ground and immerse yourself in the history of this iconic football club. Tours last 80 minutes and run seven days a week, from 09:40 to 16:30. The schedule will be interrupted on match days.
A taxi to Old Tafford costs around GBP 20 and there is also a minibus service from the airport.
Located right next to the airport, the Runway Visitor Park offers entertainment for all ages. Take a front row seat to watch planes taking off, or enjoy a guided tour of British Airway's flagship Concorde. The museum also has a souveneir shop and a restaurant with impressive views.
Entry to the Runway Visitor Park is free. Parking costs GBP 3 per hour up to a maximum of GBP 12.
Only five minutes walk from the airport, the Raddisson Blu hotel offers shower and leisure facilities for short-term visitors. Access to shower and changeroom costs GBP 6.50 per person. An extra GBP 5.50 gets you entry into the health and fitness club, which includes spa and beauty treatments.
Near Terminal 3 you'll find Britain's only public house that's situated right next to an airport runway. The pub serves a a wide selection of beers, spirits and food, and gives you a chance to get up close and personal with the airplanes. Activities for children both younger and older are available. Car parking costs GBP 3 for two hours and GBP 1 for every following hour.
Terminal 1 You'll find baby change facilities next to selected Ladies and Gents toilets. They can be used by either parent. The best facility is on level 5. It has attractive decor, a children's high chair, a bottle warmer, a soft padded changing mat and a specially designed chair for nursing mothers.
Terminal 2 You'll find baby change facilities next to selected Ladies and Gents toilets. They can be used by either parent.
Terminal 3 You'll find baby change facilities next to selected Ladies toilets.
The Skylink moving walkway connects Terminals 1 and 2. Walking time is around 15 minutes. Terminals 1 and 3 are connected by a covered walkway, which takes about five minutes.
Connecting to another flight
If you've booked two separate flights with different airlines (i.e. there is no transfer agreement and you don't have an onward boarding card), you'll need to reclaim your baggage and check-in again, possibly in a different terminal.
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