How To Get From Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly EASILY & Vice Versa!

This post may contain affiliate links. I will receive a small commission if you use these links.

---

There are a few ways to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly and one of the things I love about Manchester Airport is how (reasonably) close it is to the city centre!

Landing at Manchester Airport is a great way to see more of Northern England, North Wales, and of course the brilliant city of Manchester and all the things to do here!

In this Manchester travel blog, I’ll give you options for how to get to Manchester Piccadilly from Manchester Airport and the other way round – how to get to Manchester Airport from Manchester city centre.

I’ll give you options for the Manchester Airport train, Manchester Airport tram and the best taxi companies from Manchester Airport!

However, if you land late at night / early in the morning, or there’s a train strike happening (which can be a common thing in the U.K. right now!), you might need to get a taxi from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly instead!

If you arrive late at night because of a flight delay, keep reading to get help on that!

Let’s focus on the train from Manchester Airport first because this will take you to Manchester City Centre aka Piccadilly but also to other areas of the city you might be staying in.

Because Manchester Airport station is stand-alone, it does take some time to exit arrivals and walk towards the station via the Skylink so be sure to give yourself a good 10-15 minutes to get there from any terminal.

There are electric walkways on the Skylink but the last time I was there, they weren’t working so don’t rely on them, you might need to walk it all!

The best place to check the train times in advance is on The Train Line. A trusted train booking website in the UK and Europe, if you are unaware of it.

If your flight arrives late after around 22:00 it’s likely there will be no train service from Manchester Airport. If you arrive late at Manchester Airport unexpectedly because of a flight delay, firstly see here how you can get compensation for flight delays in the UK from AirHelp as you may be able to claim up to £520.00 back,

Then, look into your options. There are hotels within Manchester Airport that you could book for the night and then get the train the next morning. If you arrive in the middle of the night, a taxi from the airport could be around £60-70 so staying in a hotel will be more expensive but not too much more and will let you sleep straight away!

Or, you can wait until you get to the station and pay at the machine there.

It’s best to book the Anytime Day Single if you buy your ticket in advance because there are a large number of reasons why you might not make a specific train time you book – your plane is delayed, immigration queues are long or it takes longer to get to the station than you thought.

Generally, the advance single is always a bit cheaper but I don’t think it’s worth the risk.

Personally, I like booking my tickets in advance because I can arrive at the station knowing if there’s a train there, I can jump on it instead of needing to find a ticket machine first and possibly missing it.

You can download The Train Line app and you’ll be able to access your QR code ticket which will get you through the barriers at the train station.

Manchester Airport Train to Manchester Piccadilly

When you arrive at Manchester Airport Train Station you’ll see lots of screens with information on the departing trains and it’s pretty easy to work out the next one to Manchester Piccadilly.

Sometimes Piccadilly Station will be the final stop, sometimes it will continue on elsewhere.

Manchester Airport Tram to Manchester Piccadilly

Manchester does have a tram system – the Metrolink and there are Metrolink stops at Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly, however, the Metrolink website recommends catching the train instead of the tram..

If you check the train from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly and there’s a train strike, check the Metrolink website here as they might be running instead and be the alternative option to the train since the tram and train are run by different companies.

Taxi from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly

The journey time from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly / Manchester City Centre is roughly 30 minutes. It could take longer in rush hour – about 40-50 minutes and be as little as 20 minutes with no traffic.

There are a few taxi companies serving Manchester and Manchester Airport:

Black Cabs & Taxi Rank

All terminals have a taxi rank as you enter and will have black taxis and minibuses waiting to go. This is a good option if you haven’t had time to plan ahead but note, sometimes there are minimal taxis available.

Street Car Taxi from Manchester Airport

The easiest option is to use Street Cars because they are the only pre-booked taxi service allowed into airport arrivals. You can pre-book a taxi on the Manchester Airport website here and it will cost you roughly £30.00 for a normal-sized car and £45.00 for more seats and luggage space.

You give them your flight details and they’ll be at your arrivals terminal waiting for you.

Uber from Manchester Airport

Uber and another Manchester taxi app I use – Passenger Cars are available from the airport but as with Uber in many airports around the world, you’ll have to go to their designated pick-up area which isn’t directly outside the terminals.

In Manchester Airport the Uber pick-up areas are within the nearby short-stay car parks. There are signs but it can be a little confusing to find.

Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport

Let’s look at the reverse option – if you are in Manchester City Centre and want to go to Manchester Airport.

Although there are a few train stations in Manchester City Centre, Piccadilly is the train station with trains going to the airport.

Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport Train

You can either prebook your ticket online on The Train Line which is where you can also check the train departure times from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport.

Or, you can go to Manchester Piccadilly Station and buy a train ticket at the station.

You’ll be able to see on the screens when the next train to Manchester Airport is and you can also look at the Manchester Airport train schedule on The Train Line.

Platform 13 is the platform for trains to Manchester Airport from Manchester Piccadilly, but double-check on the boards too!

Once at Manchester Airport train station, walk up the ramp or take the lift to the station entrance and from here you’ll see signs for Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

All terminals are linked via internal bridges called the Skywalk and all terminals are a 10-15 minute walk from the train station.

Taxi from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport

When getting a taxi from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport you have a few company options.

I tend to use Passenger Cars to get around Manchester but there is also Uber and a company called Street Cars.

Manchester Airport to Manchester City FAQ:

Here are FAQ about getting from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly and from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport:

Closest train station to Manchester Airport?

Manchester Airport has its own train station called Manchester Airport Station and it is connected to all 3 terminals.

Is there a train station at Manchester Airport?

Yes, Manchester Airport has its own train station within the airport complex.

Best way to get from Manchester Airport to the City Centre?

The 2 best ways are by taxi or by train. If you wish to spend less money (£6-7) you can get the train. A taxi will be about £30.00.

Does Manchester Airport train stop at Piccadilly?

Yes, trains from Manchester Airport train station stop at Piccadilly. Not all of the trains do so check the timetable but the majority of trains going Northbound will.

How long is the journey from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly?

The train from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly takes between 15 to 25 minutes. A car or taxi journey from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly takes 25 to 40 mimutes depending on the traffic.

How much is a taxi from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly?

It’s possible to prebook a taxi from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly / Manchester City Centre with Street Cars for £30.00.

Do trams run from Manchester Airport?

Yes, there is a tram stop at Manchester Airport but they do not run as frequently and the metrolink website often recommends taking the train instead.

How far is Manchester Airport from the train station?

Manchester Airport train station is within the airport complex. It is a 10-15 minute walk via internal skylink bridges from arrivals or departures to the train station.

How long walk from Manchester terminal 1 to train station?

It is a 10-15 minute walk via an internal skylink bridge from terminal 1 arrivals or departures to the train station.

Which platform is Manchester Piccadilly for Airport?

Platform 13 is the platform at Manchester Piccadilly Station for Manchester Airport trains.

What train station is close to Manchester Piccadilly?

Manchester Piccadilly has it’s own train station and it is the biggest station in Manchester.

I hope this post helps you work out how to get from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly and from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport!

• For more of my posts see:
• 22+ GREAT Day Trips From Manchester
• One Day in Manchester Itinerary
• 25+ FUN Family Days Out IN Manchester
• BEST Halal Restaurants in Manchester