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Manchester Airport and surrounding areas

Manchester is located in the centre of England, between the Peak District and the Irish Channel, some two hundred miles northwest of London.

The city gained prominence during the 19th century as a goliath of woven textiles, shipping linens and woollens to every corner of the British Empire – South Africa, Australasia and the Far East. Merchants came to know Manchester as the 'Cottonopolis', a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution.

In 2009, Manchester is best known as the home of two Premier League football teams – Manchester United and Manchester City, although the local nightclubs were the focus for the ‘’Madchester’’ music scene, originating from the (now demolished) Haçienda club on Whitworth Street.

Getting There

Manchester International Airport is located beyond the city limits, about ten miles from the city centre. A taxi from the airport to Piccadilly – the 'beating heart' of Manchester – costs about £25 for a single ticket. Prices are arranged before departure, but a surcharge may be added to compensate for flight delays or any unnecessary waiting.

Larger vehicles are, of course, more expensive, ranging from about £45 for a small minibus (6-8 seats) to about £60 for a giant multi-purpose vehicle, capable of holding up to 14 people. For return tickets, the costs are doubled, but be warned that prices can change without notice, and are unlikely to be homogenous throughout the city’s taxi ranks.

Trips to neighbouring Liverpool cost an average of £50 per car. Liverpool is a haven for music and sport, and an ideal compliment to a short break in Manchester. Most airport transfer specialists provide a twenty-four hour service, seven days a week. Online booking and/or credit card payment facilities are also available at many taxi firms.

Hackney carriages or black cabs can be found patrolling popular nightspots and transport interchanges. Whilst convenient, especially for tired travellers, a trip to the city centre can cost up to 30% more than the fares offered by a specialist firm. Local minicab firms can also be expensive and unreliable at peak times so it is always best to pre-book.

Elite Firms

Many local taxi companies offer a premium service, complete with chauffeur-driven super-car and a variety of perquisites, ranging from in-car entertainment and free newspapers, to meet-and-greet services. Executive cars are expensive, however, and can cost twice as much as a standard saloon. The Mercedes V Class, a minibus in emerald clothing, is also available in the Manchester area.

Premium chauffeurs will monitor your flight details, ensuring that your taxi is on time even if your flight is not. Drivers come well attired, dressed in collared shirt and tie, and possessed of an intimate knowledge of the local area. The service is designed with foreign business travellers in mind, helping nervous executives get to grips with the local area.

Before departure, it is worth getting to know the parking restrictions in place at Manchester Airport. Drop-off and pick-up must be conducted within the short stay parking area, regardless of duration. A thirty minute stay at all three terminals costs £2, increasing to £4 for an hour.

Waiting is prohibited on all roads and forecourts around the terminal buildings. Taxi drivers will likely add the parking fee to your total fare.

Things to Do

Manchester’s gay and lesbian scene is perhaps its most endearing asset. The famous Canal Street, described as one of the most friendly, welcoming places in the UK, attracts around 20,000 visitors a year, regardless of age or sexuality. A trip to the Gay Village, located nine miles from the airport and host to popular bar ‘’slash’’ nightclub, Queer, costs around £25 per car.

The Gay Village is a cornerstone of Manchester’s gay and lesbian community, and was instrumental in legitimising homosexual relationships in the seventies and eighties. Gay history tours are available all year round, which follow rainbow flagstones across the city centre. The tour costs £5 and begins on Saturdays at 3pm.

Manchester United F.C. (or Man United for brevity) is one of the most feared and respected football teams on earth, claiming sixty titles since 1878. The team plays at Old Trafford, just outside the city centre, near Moss Side and Hulme. A taxi ride to the stadium costs the same as a trip to Piccadilly, but minibus journeys are between £5 and £10 cheaper.

The City of Manchester Stadium, home ground of Manchester City F.C., is to the northeast of the city centre, and costs approximately £5 more than the Old Trafford route. A minibus costs between £35 and £49 per vehicle. Match days (typically Saturdays or Sundays) can be very busy, so be sure to depart early, lest you end up sat on the M60 listening to the match on the radio.

Shopaholics rejoice! The Trafford Centre, owned by aviation kings, Peel Airports Group, has over 200 stores, 60 café’s and restaurants, and a chair earmarked for Santa’s arrival at Christmas. Costing about £20 from the airport, the Trafford Centre is also one of the cheapest taxi fares available to visitors. The bimonthly farmer’s market is another favourite attraction, located near Piccadilly.

L.S. Lowry, a man who immortalised the grime of Salford in oil, painter of matchstick folk and their skinny feline friends, has a museum dedicated to his name, showcasing over 300 different works. The Lowry is near Trafford Park, to the east of the city centre, and 10 miles from the airport. The Manchester Museum, the Cube and the Whitworth Art Gallery are all within a short trip of the city centre, and well worth a visit.