Manchester is one of the North's most vibrant cities, bursting with infectious energy and character that makes it a perfect place to visit. Whether you're going on a day trip, staying one night or a whole weekend, you'll never be short of things to do in Manchester.
Known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the city has a rich history in science, politics, music, arts and sport, to name but a few. From world-famous football stadiums to iconic music scene and culture, Manchester has so much to explore. The city centre is jam-packed with diverse bars and restaurants, spanning a range of cuisines to suit your mood. If you're looking to shop 'til you drop, head to the renowned Trafford Centre or take a stroll down the high street to bag a bargain. There's also a variety of museums, galleries and more to discover.
Outside of the city centre, Greater Manchester has more to enjoy. Take in the sights of the countryside, visit a traditional pub for a Sunday roast, or go further afield to one of the nearby market towns for a wander. Make the most of your visit with a sightseeing tour and take in everything the gateway to the North has to offer.
Find trains to Manchester and plan your journey with Northern today!
Popular trains to Manchester
Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly
Average time: 1h 4m
Cheapest Advanced
£4.20
Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly
Average time: 1h 8m
Cheapest Advanced
£5.00
Leeds to Manchester Victoria
Average time: 1h 23m
Cheapest Advanced
£3.70
Manchester train stations
As one of the North's biggest cities, Manchester has several train stations with direct routes from all over the UK. Find out more about each station Northern operates from below and plan your journey today!
Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly is the busiest train station in the city, welcoming over 30 million passengers through its doors each year. Centrally located, it is within easy walking distance of many attractions, as well as providing a great base for travel.
Learn more about Manchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Oxford Road
Opened in 1849, Manchester Oxford Road sees more than 9 million passengers annually to its five platforms. Known for its innovative design, not only is it a vibrant travel hub, it is also a stunning piece of architecture in the city centre.
Learn more about Manchester Oxford Road station
Manchester Victoria
Manchester Victoria serves as an interchange for the tramline, as well being attached to the Manchester Arena and next to the National Football Museum. It is also a short work to the Northern Quarter, which is home to an array of boutiques, bars and more.
Learn more about Manchester Victoria station
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport provides a great base for coming and going from the city, welcoming 6 million passengers every year. Services run to and from Manchester Piccadilly every 10 minutes, 7 days a week, with a Sky Link for easy access to the terminal.
Learn more about Manchester Airport stationThings to do in Manchester
Trains to Manchester FAQs
Save up to 65% on train tickets to Manchester when you book in advance with Northern. Advance tickets allow you to book up to 12 weeks in advance of travel. Visit National Rail to find out the list of dates currently available for booking our Advance tickets.
Don't worry if your plans change – you can swap the departure time of your Advanced train ticket for another same-day Northern service in just a few steps for as little as £2.50.
Manchester Piccadilly is the main train station in the city, thanks to its central location and connections to most destinations throughout the UK. With 16 platforms, Manchester Piccadilly sees over 30 million passengers passing through its doors annually.
While Manchester Piccadilly is the largest station and located in the city centre, Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Victoria are also in the city centre. Manchester Oxford Road is only 2 minutes away from Manchester Piccadilly by train and 10 minutes on foot, while Manchester Victoria is 10 minutes away from Manchester Piccadilly by train and around 20 minutes on foot.
Manchester Piccadilly has two car parks, a long stay and short stay, which are both open 24/7. The long stay car park has over 800 spaces with 35 accessible spaces available, while the short stay has 47 spaces with 3 accessible spaces. You can also use the short stay car park to drop off and pick up passengers. Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Victoria have no official car parks, however, there is limited parking nearby.
It takes around 20 minutes to get to Manchester Airport from Manchester Piccadilly train station, with trains running every 10 minutes, 7 days a week. You can then take a Sky Link to the terminal or a 10-minute walk.
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Northern App
Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.