Travelling to Manchester
Visiting the UK
Visitors from some countries may need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to be able to visit. You can visit the UK for up to 6 months for business, conferences, tourism, etc. with these in place.
Getting a visa or ETA usually does not take long, and can be done online. As a visitor to the UK, you will probably need one of these documents. Most Europeans will not need a visa, but will need an ETA. If you need a visa, you usually do not need an ETA as well.
Use the following link to see if you should apply for a visa: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
(Links to ETA information are shown on that page once you have completed the form)
Getting here
By air
Manchester is served by an international airport (MAN), with direct routes to many major hubs.
You can travel from the airport into the city in a number of ways:
By rail
The railway station is located at the heart of the airport campus, which means passengers have easy access to all the terminals. With walkways throughout, it should take no more than 5 - 15 minutes to get to and from the terminals.
Trains from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly station in the city centre take around 20 minutes. They run every 10 minutes, 7 days a week. Manchester Picadilly station is approx. 15 minutes' walk to the conference venue.
The cost of the train is generally under £5 per person, and tickets can be purchased at the airport railway terminal via the ticket machines.
'Black Cab' Taxi
Public taxis are avaialble from the airport, and do not require booking. A typical trip to the city centre from the airport will be around £25 - £35 depending on the exact distance, etc. - You can confirm this with the driver before you take the journey. If you wish to use a public taxi, you should only catch them at the official taxi ranks outside the terminals
Private hire car
A number of private hire companies operate at Manchester airport, allowing you to pre-book your journey to the city.
The official operator for the airport is 'StreetCars', but you can find many alternatives with a simple web search that may offer better deals.
Ferries from Europe
If you're travelling to the UK by ferry, you will probably arrive at one of the following ports. The following information may be helpful:
Newcastle upon Tyne
- Approx 2h 45m from Manchester by car (155 miles / 260 Km)
- Routes to Amsterdam
Hull
- Approx 2h 10m from Manchester by car (110 miles / 180 Km)
- Routes to Rotterdam
Harwich
- Approx 4h 30m from Manchester by car (260 miles / 420 Km)
- Routes to Hoek van Holland
Dover
- Approx 5h from Manchester by car (300 miles / 480 Km)
- Routes to Calais
By train
Both Manchester Picadilly and Manchester Oxford Road stations are within walking distance of the conference venue and nearby hotels.
Train routes and tickets can be booked online at thetrainline.com
By car
The city is well-connected by major motorways such as the M60 ring road, which links to the M62, M6, and M56, making the journey straightforward. Parking options are available near the venue, and at many of the local hotels.
The Booth Street West car park, located within walking distance of the museum, is a convenient choice. Additionally, the Cecil Street car park provides another nearby alternative. Both locations offer ample parking spaces and are situated close to the University of Manchester, where the conference venue is based. If these are full, other nearby parking facilities include the Aquatics Centre car park and the Manchester Science Park parking areas, which are also within easy reach. Always check parking restrictions and fees to ensure a smooth visit to the city.
