The easiest way to get to Manchester for fans from the UK is by rail, with two main stations connecting with many cities and towns throughout the country.
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal rail hub in Manchester and the main gateway to the city from across England, Wales and Scotland, with connections to over 90 Greater Manchester stations. Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and London have an average journey time of two hours and 15 minutes.
Manchester Victoria is the second biggest station in the city and offers services to northern cities including Bradford, Chester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Rochdale, Southport and Wigan.
If you are travelling from Europe, Eurostar train services operate to/from London St Pancras Station, from where there are trains to Manchester with a change at London Euston.
To plan your train journey, visit the national rail enquiries website here.
Manchester Chorlton Street is the main coach station in Manchester and is serviced by a number of operators, including National Express and Eurolines. The station is a five-minute walk to Manchester Piccadilly station and offers services to most major UK cities, including London, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow. In addition, coach services also operate from Manchester Shudehill Interchange, which is a five-minute walk from Manchester Victoria.
Manchester is well situated adjacent to the UK’s motorway network. From Birmingham, the journey typically takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours via the M6 motorway, covering approximately 100 miles. This route offers a direct connection, though traffic can be heavy during peak times, so it's wise to check for updates before departure. From London, the drive to Manchester is about 200 miles and usually takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic, primarily via the M1 and M6 motorways. Travelling to Manchester from other locations is easy via major motorways such as the M62 from the west (Liverpool and Leeds), the M61 from the north (Bolton), and the A57 from the east (Sheffield).
Manchester Airport is located to the south of Manchester and offers quick and easy travel links by train, tram and bus to the city centre.
To get to the train and tram station at Manchester Airport, you can take the Sky Link bridge from all terminals. From Terminal 1 it will take around five minutes to walk and ten minutes from Terminal 2 and 3. If you have a lot of luggage, you can also take the free shuttle bus. The train is the most convenient mode of transportation to get to the city centre.
There are designated taxi services from the airport terminal. Alternatively, you can pre-book a private transfer. For further information on local taxis refer to the ‘Getting around Manchester’ section below.
Car hire is available at the airport for visitors looking to drive themselves. Several major rental companies operate here, and advance booking is recommended during peak travel times.
