Flights from Dubai to Manchester

Visit northern England's cultural hotspot

Manchester is northern England's answer to the capital, with a rich cultural heritage, vibrant nightlife scene and plenty of options for any interest. From an array of memorable dining options for the food enthusiast, museums for the culture enthusiast and a wide variety of shopping and sightseeing options for almost everyone else, make sure Manchester is one of your must-see cities in the UK. 

Best time for a Manchester trip

Manchester has an excellent selection of annual events, meaning that at any time of year you will be sure to find plenty to do. Some well-known and popular events include the Jazz Festival at the end of July, the Manchester Literature Festivals in September and October, and the Manchester Food and Drink Festival in September. There are also big Chinese New Year celebrations around January-February each year

Manchester - what to expect

The cost of living in Manchester is mostly cheaper than in London but about average for the UK, so whilst you may not have to budget as much as if you were heading to the capital, it's still good to be prepared. 

Manchester public transport and accommodation

To get from Manchester Airport railway station to Manchester Piccadilly costs around £4.50 and will take about 15 minutes. Alternatively, when arriving you can catch the Metro link to central Manchester in around 35 minutes for the same price. Other transport options from the airport include the number 43 bus and the taxi ranks at Terminal 1. A taxi to the city centre from the airport will cost about £18 and take 25 minutes.

Budget accommodation is available from around £15 per person in a shared room and three star hotels are from around £60 per room.

For travelling around the city, the metro shuttle bus is free and has 3 routes serving all major central areas. Stagecoach buses cost around £1.50 for a single fare. A tram day ticket will cost around £5 but many of the city centre sights can be explored on foot. TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) sells the 'any bus day ticket' or the 'system one' ticket which are valid on all buses regardless of operator. Taxis are generally cheaper in Manchester than in London, but traffic in the city centre can be very slow.

For tourist information, the Manchester Visitor Information Centre is located at Piccadilly Plaza.