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Getting from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport

Located in the centre of Manchester and surrounded by restaurants, shops and attractions, Manchester Piccadilly Station offers long-distance, urban and cross-country services to destinations all across the UK.

There are four transportation options for the journey from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport; taxi, private transfer, bus or train. Taking a taxi or private transfer is by far the most comfortable and convenient choice. The door-to-door transfer takes around 18 minutes and costs £42 (€50). If you’d rather use public transport, the train is the best of the bunch. It’s the cheapest option and takes just 15 minutes to get from Manchester Piccadilly to the airport. Lastly, you could opt to use Manchester’s bus service. It costs a similar amount to the train, however, the journey is significantly longer than all of the other transport options.

If you’d rather avoid public transport and are looking for the most comfortable and convenient option, booking an airport taxi in advance with Welcome Pickups guarantees you a set-rate fare and a smooth door-to-door experience. 

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 €54 18min 24/7
Taxi €50 18min 24/7
Train €8 15min 02:36–00:46
Bus €8 45min 24/7

How to get from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport by taxi

There’s nothing better than arriving at the airport and hopping straight into your door-to-door transfer vehicle. This is why the most comfortable way to travel from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly is by taxi. They are available 24/7 and will take you on a private ride to Piccadilly Station in just 18 minutes in light traffic.

Taxi fare from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport

Manchester Taxis don’t offer a set-rate fee for the journey from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport. They operate on a taximeter system, calculating fares based on the time of day, distance travelled and so on. 

Having said this, the average price of a taxi from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport is £42 (€50). Your final fare could be affected by traffic and surcharges, so if you’d rather book your airport taxi in advance and secure a fixed-rate fare, you can pre-book with a reliable company like Welcome. We offer 24/7 customer support, sightseeing rides and even the use of our app.

Cost

£42 (€50)

Trip Duration

18 Min

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Manchester Piccadilly Station.

Where do I get the taxi from?

There are official taxi ranks scattered all over central Manchester. All you have to do is follow the signs from Manchester Piccadilly Station until you see the taxi rank in front of you. 

Convenience

Taking a taxi is by far the most hassle-free option, allowing you to avoid waiting times and public transport. The ride is quick, comfortable and takes you door-to-door, all you have to do is sit back and relax while our drivers take care of all the rest.

Editor’s Note

Taking a taxi is extremely comfortable and a great option if you're travelling in a group or with lots of luggage.

Useful Tips

Most taxis accept card, you can ask before you get in just to be sure.
Always double-check the taximeter is turned on and working before you get going.
You can ask your driver for an estimated price to get from Manchester Piccadilly to the airport, but the final amount will depend on traffic levels and the distance travelled.

How to get from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport by train

The quickest public transport option is to take the train, as it takes just 15 minutes to get you to the airport. Three train companies operate between Manchester Piccadilly Train Station and Manchester Airport; TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales and Northern Rail, with over 160 trains per day.

How much is the train from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport?

Taking the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport is inexpensive. A one-way ticket will cost you £3.20 (€4).

You can purchase tickets from ticket booths and self-service machines at Piccadilly Train Station or online in advance. Purchasing tickets online in advance could save you up to 61%.

Cost

£3.20 (€4)

Trip Duration

15 Min

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

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The trains are available from 02:36 to 00:46.

Where do I get the train from?

Catch the train from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station in central Manchester and once you’ve arrived at the airport, you can use the Sky Link bridge to connect to all terminals. The yellow tram service (MetroLink) and local buses can get you from your hotel to the train station, or you can pre-book a private transfer to get there as fast as possible.

Convenience

Using the train service from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport is the cheapest and fastest way to travel. The trains run frequently and take just 15 minutes to get to Piccadilly Station. Unless you are travelling with a lot of luggage, this is a great way to get from Piccadilly to the airport quickly.

Editor’s Note

Book your train ride online in advance to get the cheapest possible tickets.

Useful Tips

There's WiFi available on board the train.
Be sure to arrive 5 minutes before the train is due to leave to ensure you can get a seat.

How to get from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport by bus

Travelling by bus from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport is one of the cheapest options but the bus doesn’t leave directly from Piccadilly Station and it has one of the longest journey times, taking approximately 45 minutes to get to the airport.

How much is the bus from Manchester Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport?

Taking the bus from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport won’t cost you much. A one-way ticket for the 43 and 103 buses costs just £3.50 (€4). 

You can purchase your tickets from self-service machines, from the driver, or by scanning your debit or credit card on the bus.

Cost

£3.50 (€4)

Trip Duration

45 Min

Waiting times for the 43 and 103 buses can be up to 15 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The 43 and 103 buses are available 24/7 from Piccadilly Station.

Where do I get the bus from?

The 43 and 103 Stagecoach buses depart from the bus station at Manchester Piccadilly Gardens. To connect to the bus station from Piccadilly Train Station, you can either walk for 8 minutes or hop on the Metrolink tram service for a quick one-stop ride. 

Convenience

Using the bus service to get from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport is one of the least expensive options, however, it has the longest journey time of all the options, and if you’ve got luggage in tow, it may be easier to hop in a cab. 

Editor’s Note

Whilst this is the cheapest option, it takes double the time to get to the airport compared with the train. If you’re landing and there’s trains available, we recommend choosing this option for a smoother transfer.

Useful Tips

Bus drivers in the UK must accept cash and cards.
There is limited luggage storage on the buses, so if you’ve got lots of luggage with you, we recommend opting for a taxi or the train.

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

Prices

DAYTIME
€54.0
NIGHTTIME
€62.0
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

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

Read More

Frequently asked questions

How far is Piccadilly Station from Manchester Airport?

Manchester Piccadilly Train Station is approximately 14 km away from the airport. The journey from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport takes 18 minutes by taxi, 15 minutes by train and 45 minutes by bus.

What is the best way to get from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport?

The fastest and cheapest way to get from Piccadilly Station to the airport is by train. The journey takes around 15 minutes and costs just £3.20 (€4). Alternatively, if you’d rather not use public transport, you can book a private transfer in advance with Welcome Pickups and enjoy a stress-free, comfortable transfer from the train station to Manchester Airport.

Is there a direct train from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport?

Yes, three train companies operate a direct route between Manchester Airport and Piccadilly Train Station. It’ll cost you £3.20 (€4) and take just 15 minutes. Once you’ve arrived at the airport, just walk across the Sky Link bridge to connect to the terminals.

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