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How to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester City Centre

Manchester is a vibrant city located in the North of England. Known for its live music venues, large shopping centres, melting pot of cuisines and famous football team. There’s something in Manchester for everyone to enjoy.

There are three different ways to transfer from Manchester Airport to Manchester city centre; taxi, train or bus. The quickest transfer option is the train, which takes 15 minutes to reach the city centre and costs just £3.20 (€4). Another convenient and quick transfer option is taking a Manchester Airport taxi as it takes just 20 minutes to reach the city centre. For a more personalised and reliable option, we recommend booking a private transfer in advance for a smooth arrival. Your final option is to take the Stagecoach 43 or 103 bus, which takes 45 minutes to reach Manchester and costs £3.50 (€4).

Once you’ve arrived in Manchester, you can continue to use Welcome’s transfer services to move around the city or even visit other towns and cities in this culturally rich region. Whether you need a ride to or from the airport, to Manchester Piccadilly Station or other popular destinations such as Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and more, you can count on our trusted drivers to get you there.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Manchester at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €54 15min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €52 15min 24/7
Train €8 15min 02:51–01:53
Bus €8 45min 24/7

How to get from Manchester Airport to the city centre by taxi

One of the fastest and most convenient ways to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester is by taking a local taxi or booking a private transfer. They are available 24/7 and have lots of different-sized vehicles to accommodate different groups.

Taxi fare from Manchester Airport to city centre

There’s no set-rate taxi fare from Manchester Airport to the city centre. Manchester taxis calculate fares based on several things including vehicle size, the time of day, the number of passengers and the exact destination within the city centre. However, the average cost is around £44 (€52).

If you feel more comfortable securing a set fare ahead of time and want to be sure that all your needs are taken care of, you can pre-book a Manchester Airport transfer in advance for a seamless door-to-door service.

Cost

£44 (€52)

Trip Duration

15 MIN

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Manchester Airport

Where do I get the taxi from?

Manchester taxis are readily available 24/7 outside of the arrivals hall of all terminals at Manchester Airport. Simply look for the long line of cars and walk to the one at the front.

Convenience

Taking a taxi is an extremely convenient and comfortable way to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester. There’s no need to wait in cold train or bus stations and your driver will take you directly to the door of your hotel in the city centre.

Editor’s Note

Although taking a taxi is comfortable and highly convenient, if you're a single traveller or have light luggage, taking the train from Manchester Airport to the city centre will take the same time and cost much less.

Useful Tips

The larger the taxi you choose, the more expensive it will be.
Taxi drivers in England don't expect tips, but you can round up your fare if you wish.
Some taxi drivers in Manchester accept credit card payments, be sure to ask your driver before getting into the taxi if you need to pay by card.

How to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester city centre by train

Taking a train from Manchester Airport to the city centre is the fastest transfer option available. You can reach Manchester in just 15 minutes and tickets cost £3.20 (€4), making it the cheapest transfer option too.

How much is the train from Manchester Airport to the city centre?

A one-way ticket for the train from Manchester Airport to Manchester costs £3.20 (€4). However, you can save up to 61% if you purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets can be bought online or from the self-service ticket machines at the station.

Cost

£3.20 (€4)

Trip Duration

20 MIN

There's a wait time of up to 15 minutes for the train.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The train from Manchester Airport to the city centre is available from 02:51 to 01:53.

Where do I get the train from?

The train from Manchester Airport to the city centre is located at the train station at the airport. You can take the Sky Link bridge from all terminals to get there. From Terminal 1 it will take around 5 minutes to walk, 10 minutes from Terminal 2 and 7 from Terminal 3. You can also take the free shuttle bus if you have a lot of luggage or reduced mobility.

Convenience

As taking the train is the fastest way to get from Manchester Airport to the city centre, it’s very convenient. They also have some luggage storage space, free WiFi and comfortable seats on board, making the journey very comfortable. However, once you reach the train station in the city centre, you will need to take another mode of transportation to get to your hotel.

Editor’s Note

Taking the train is one of the best ways to get from Manchester Airport to the city centre. However, if you're travelling in a large group or have a lot of luggage, you may want to consider taking a taxi for your comfort.

Useful Tips

The train from Manchester Airport is temperature controlled all year round so is very comfortable.
There's WiFi available on the train.
Luggage rails for large items and overhead storage for smaller items are available throughout all cabins on the train.

How to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester by bus

Two Stagecoach buses run from Manchester Airport to the city centre of Manchester, numbers 43 and 103. Taking the bus is a good budget option, but it’s the slowest transfer as it takes 45 minutes to reach Manchester.

How much is the bus from Manchester Airport to the city centre?

A one-way ticket for the 43 or 103 bus costs £3.50 (€4). You can purchase this from the driver by cash or card.

Cost

£3.50 (€4)

Trip Duration

45 MIN

There's a waiting time of up to 15 minutes for the 43 and 103 buses.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The Stagecoach 43 and 103 buses are available 24/7 at Manchester Airport.

Where do I get the bus from?

The buses run from the train station at Manchester Airport. You can reach them using the Sky Link tunnel. It will take around 10 minutes to walk there from all terminals.

Convenience

Although they run 24/7, taking the Stagecoach buses from Manchester Airport to Manchester city centre is the least convenient transfer option. There are multiple stops along the way, making the journey take over double that of the other transfer options. Plus, once you reach the city centre, you will need to take another mode of transportation to get to your hotel.

Editor’s Note

If you're travelling on a budget, I strongly recommend that you choose to travel by train rather than by bus as it costs less and is much quicker.

Useful Tips

The Stagecoach buses run 24/7 from Manchester Airport but more frequently during the day.
You can pay the driver on the bus, but you must carry change in the local currency or use your card.
There's very limited luggage storage on the buses.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Manchester. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get to Manchester?

Manchester Airport is located 14.5 km from the city centre of Manchester. The journey from Manchester Airport to the city centre will take around 20 minutes in a taxi or by private transfer, 15 minutes by train and around 45 minutes if you take the 43 or 103 bus.

How much is taxi from Manchester Airport to city centre?

The local taxi drivers at Manchester Airport don’t offer set-rate fees for your journey. They will decide on your fare using a few factors such as time of day, number of passengers, vehicle size and excess luggage. If you’d prefer a set fare you can rely on, why not book your Manchester Airport transfer with Welcome Pickups?

How to get from Manchester Airport to city centre?

There are three different ways to transfer from Manchester Airport to Manchester city centre; taxi, train or bus. The train is the quickest transfer option, taking 15 minutes to reach the city centre and costing just £3.20 (€4). Another convenient transfer option is taking a Manchester Airport taxi or private transfer, as it takes just 20 minutes to reach the city centre. Lastly, you can take the Stagecoach 43 or 103 bus, which takes 45 minutes to reach Manchester and costs £3.50 (€4).

How to get to Manchester Airport from Manchester city centre?

There are three options when travelling to Manchester Airport from Manchester city centre; taxi, train and bus. The quickest option is the train, which leaves from Manchester Piccadilly Station every 10 minutes and costs £3.20 (€4). You can also take a Megabus from Manchester Shudehill bus station to Manchester Airport, this will take you about 40 minutes and departs every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can also take the Stagecoach 43 or 103 bus from Piccadilly Gardens which takes 1 hour and 25 minutes and leaves every 10 minutes.

If you’d rather avoid wandering around the city centre searching for bus stops or waiting for trains, you can pre-book a personalised private transfer with Welcome Pickups and let us do the heavy lifting for you.

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