Got a stopover in Manchester, a night near the airport before a flight, or friends and family who live nearby? You are in luck, as there are lots of lovely things to do near Manchester Airport!
I live just 7 minutes from the airport, and I love the location. It is close to the motorway, but also to leafy suburbs like Hale and Wilmslow, the Cheshire countryside and some great National Trust places, so there is plenty to fill a few hours.
Related posts: Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly / 22 Best Day Trips From Manchester / 16 Extreme Day Trips from Manchester Airport
Quick Tips for a Stopover at Manchester Airport
- Leave the airport if you have more than a few hours. Terminal 2 has had a big upgrade, but there are still no proper relaxing areas, and there is so much nearby. Just check your visa allows it.
- None of these places are walkable from the terminals. You will need a taxi, a train or a hire car.
- The closest options are 10 minutes away: the Runway Visitor Park, the Romper pub, Quarry Bank and Hale.
- Short on time? The train gets you into Manchester city centre in under 20 minutes.
- Remember the terminals have changed. Terminal 1 has closed, so it is now Terminal 2 for most airlines and Terminal 3 for Ryanair.
Getting Around From Manchester Airport
Taxi: There is a taxi rank outside both terminals. Uber pickups are in the car parks rather than outside arrivals. If you are not going far, I suggest grabbing a taxi from the rank there and using an app to come back. I always use Veezu, and you can pre book Street Cars on the Manchester Airport website.
Train and tram: Manchester Airport has its own train station and tram stop at The Station, linked to both terminals by covered walkways. Check train times on The Trainline, and see my guide on getting from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly.
Car hire: If you have a bit more time, hiring a car is a great idea, as public transport around the Cheshire villages is not very frequent. I always use Rentalcars to compare the big rental companies.
Things To Do Near Manchester Airport
1. Quarry Bank, National Trust
- Time needed: 10 minutes each way, plus 1 to 3 hours there
- How to get there: A 10 minute taxi or drive. Styal train station is about a 12 minute walk away, but trains are not very frequent.
- Good to know: Winter hours from late October, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- National Trust Link
We are so lucky to have lots of National Trust places near Manchester, and Quarry Bank is the closest to the airport.
It is one of my favourites, with a woodland walk along the River Bollin, cafes, beautiful gardens, and a real cotton mill where you can learn how the cotton industry put Manchester on the map. You can visit the mill and the Apprentice House, where child workers once lived.
If you want to get some fresh air, peace and quiet before or after a flight, this is the place to go. It is free for National Trust members, and you can walk parts of the woods for free too.
2. Runway Visitor Park
- Time needed: 10 minutes each way, plus 1 to 2 hours there
- How to get there: A short taxi ride from the terminals. It is not connected to the airport buildings.
- Good to know: Free entry without a car; parking from £6 for 2 hours
- Website Link
Tucked around the back of the airport, the Runway Visitor Park is so much more than plane spotting, and it is one of the most fun things to do in Manchester with kids!
You can watch the planes take off and land just metres away, then explore five retired aircraft, including Concorde G-BOAC, which you can tour inside, and the former RAF spy plane, Nimrod.
There is also a cafe, play areas and an aviation shop. Entry is free if you arrive by taxi or on foot, and if you drive, parking starts from £6 for 2 hours.
3. The Romper Pub
- Time needed: 10 minutes each way, plus 1 to 2 hours there
- How to get there: A short taxi ride, or a few minutes’ drive from the Runway Visitor Park
- Website Link
Looking for where to eat near Manchester Airport? The Romper is the closest proper pub.
It is a whitewashed former coaching inn tucked down a country lane in Ringway, run by Chef and Brewer, serving good value British pub food and drinks.
It is just a few minutes from the Runway Visitor Park, so the two make a perfect pairing for food and an activity without straying far from the airport.
4. Head Into Manchester City Centre
- Time needed: Under 20 minutes each way by train, plus 2 to 6 hours in the city
- How to get there: Direct train from Manchester Airport station to Manchester Piccadilly
If you have half a day or more, I would definitely head into the city. Trains run every 10 to 20 minutes and take 15 to 20 minutes to Manchester Piccadilly, but give yourself extra time on the way back, as trains can run late.
Manchester is quite compact, so it is easy to see a lot in a few hours. Follow my One Day in Manchester itinerary, wander the Northern Quarter for food and drinks, or visit the free museums. I would only go if you have at least 2 hours to spend in the city itself.
Here is my full guide to getting from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly by train, tram, bus and taxi.
Quick activities to do in Manchester City Centre:
5. Manchester Stadium Tours: Old Trafford or the Etihad
- Time needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour each way, plus 2 to 3 hours for the tour
- How to get there: By taxi, or by public transport via the city centre
- Good to know: Book ahead, and check dates, as tours do not run on match days
Manchester is famous around the world for its football, and if you have half a day on your stopover, you can go behind the scenes at either of the city’s two big clubs. Here is what to expect from each.
Manchester United Stadium Tour and Museum, Old Trafford
- Getting there: 15 to 30 minutes by taxi depending on traffic, or 40 to 50 minutes by public transport
- Book the Old Trafford tour here
Old Trafford is the closer of the two stadiums to the airport, so it is the easier one to fit into a stopover.
I took my stepsons, and although we are not big football fans, we really enjoyed it, especially seeing the changing rooms and the dugout! Your ticket includes the museum, which is packed with the club’s history and trophies, so allow time for that after the tour.
Make a full visit of it with lunch at the Red Cafe, inside the stadium, which is open to the public every day except on home match days.
Manchester City Stadium Tour, the Etihad
- Getting there: Around 30 to 40 minutes by taxi depending on traffic, or by tram to Etihad Campus via the city centre
- Book the Etihad Stadium tour here
If you are a City fan, the Etihad is a must. It is in East Manchester, so it is a little further from the airport than Old Trafford, but still very doable on a longer stopover.
The guided tour takes you behind the scenes into the player facilities, including The Tunnel Club, where fans can watch the players walk out before a match. Your ticket also includes the interactive exhibition, plus a discount at the CityStore if you want to pick up a souvenir.
Which tour should you choose? If you support one of the teams, the answer is easy! If not, Old Trafford is quicker to get to from the airport and includes a big museum, so it is the one I would pick for a shorter stopover.
6. Meet the Alpacas at White Peak Alpaca Farm
- Time needed: 20 minutes each way, plus 1 to 2 hours there
- How to get there: By car or taxi only. It is quite rural, so arrange your taxi back in advance.
- Good to know: Pre booking is essential
- Website Link
For something a bit different, and one of the most fun things to do near Manchester Airport with kids, head to White Peak Alpaca Farm!
It is not a drop in petting farm, so you need to book ahead. You can choose a meet and greet, where you go into the pens to pet the alpacas and then wander round to see the other animals, or a longer alpaca walk, where you lead one of their friendly alpacas around the farm.
We did the meet and greet, and although it was short, we had such a lovely time with our little one.
Right opposite is the Plough and Flail, a traditional country pub serving food and drink, so you can easily turn it into a lunch stop too.
7. Walk Around Alderley Edge
- Time needed: 25 minutes each way, plus 1 to 2 hours exploring
- How to get there: By car or taxi
- National Trust Link
If you just want to stretch your legs in nature after a long flight, Alderley Edge National Trust is one of our favourite family walks with a car park, a small cafe and lots of trails through the trees.
The kids love it because the woods are big and full of paths to explore, but it is still easy to get to. When you reach “the Edge”, look out for the view over the Cheshire Plain to the Manchester skyline!
Related post: 7 Best National Trust Places Near Manchester
8. Hale Village
- Time needed: 10 minutes each way, plus 1 to 2 hours there
- How to get there: A 10 minute taxi or drive
If you want good food and a wander somewhere pretty, head to Hale Village, just 10 minutes from the airport.
I go to Hale all the time for brunch and dinner, as it is packed with lovely places to eat, plus a few independent shops. It is a very upmarket, traditionally English village, which is great to see if you are visiting from overseas.
My food picks in Hale:
- Juniper Hale: a relaxed cafe for breakfast or lunch
- The Garden Eatery: healthy brunch and lunch with fresh juices
- Cibo Hale: an upmarket Italian for lunch or dinner
- Piccolino Hale: another lovely Italian
- The Plant Boost – healthy cafe Drink, Breakfast or Lunch
- Pizza Express – casual restaurant for Lunch or Dinner
- Yogberries – Frozen Yogurt Snack
9. Wilmslow
- Time needed: 15 minutes each way, plus 1 to 2 hours there
- How to get there: A short direct train from Manchester Airport to Wilmslow, or a 15 minute drive
Wilmslow is another lovely Cheshire town near the airport, and it is easy to reach by train, as there are direct trains from Manchester Airport station. Check times on The Trainline.
It is a bit bigger and busier than Hale, without quite the same village feel, but it has lots of independent shops and places to eat, so it is a great spot for lunch and a wander on a stopover.
My food picks in Wilmslow:
- Juniper Wilmslow: a casual cafe for breakfast or lunch
- Sip ‘n’ Spice: Modern Indian restaurant for brunch, lunch or dinner
- Smoke: a laid back bar and restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner
- Buzzy Bee: a bakery for amazing sweet treats
- Unico Lounge: a relaxed, family friendly cafe bar
10. Relax at Hale Country Club & Spa
- Time needed: 10 minutes each way, plus 2 to 3 hours there
- How to get there: A 10 minute taxi or drive
- Website Link
Want to unwind between flights? Book a spa day at Hale Country Club & Spa!
It is a members’ club, but the spa offers treatments and spa day packages for non members too. There is an indoor pool, a heated outdoor pool and a rooftop infinity pool, plus saunas and steam rooms, all included when you book a spa day.
It is just a 10 minute drive from the airport, so it is perfect for a few hours of calm before you fly.
Best Hotels Near Manchester Airport
- Dakota Manchester Airport: brand new for July 2026 and billed as the UK’s first luxury airport hotel, with 154 stylish rooms, a Bar and Grill, a terrace and complimentary transfers to the terminals
- TRIBE Manchester Airport: a stylish newer Accor hotel just steps from the terminals and train station, that feels more like a cool city hotel than an airport one, 4 star
- Radisson Blu Manchester Airport: linked to the terminals by the Skylink walkway, 4 star
- Holiday Inn Manchester Airport: one of the newest hotels, right opposite Terminal 2, 4 star
- Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport: within the airport complex and walkable to the terminals, 4 star
- Holiday Inn Express Manchester Airport: just outside the airport and budget friendly, 3 star
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Manchester Airport: close to the airport with leisure facilities, 4 star
Things To Do Near Manchester Airport FAQs
What is there to do near Manchester Airport?
The closest options are the Runway Visitor Park, the Romper pub, Quarry Bank and Hale Village, all around 10 minutes away. With a bit more time, you can head into Manchester city centre by train in under 20 minutes.
Is it worth leaving Manchester Airport on a layover?
If you have more than a few hours and your visa allows it, yes! The airport itself does not have many relaxing areas, and there is lots to do within 10 to 20 minutes.
How do I get from Manchester Airport to the city centre?
The train is quickest, taking 15 to 20 minutes to Manchester Piccadilly. You can also take the tram, the 43 bus for £2, or a taxi.
Can you watch planes at Manchester Airport?
Yes, the Runway Visitor Park is the best place to watch planes, and it is free to enter if you arrive without a car. You can also tour Concorde there.
Where can I eat near Manchester Airport?
The Romper pub in Ringway is the closest, or head to Hale or Wilmslow for lots of cafes and restaurants, both around 10 to 15 minutes away.
Which terminals does Manchester Airport have?
Since Terminal 1 closed in 2026, Manchester Airport has two terminals. Terminal 2 is used by most airlines, and Terminal 3 by Ryanair.
Manchester Travel Resources
- Book your accommodation in Manchester: Booking.com and Hostelworld make it easy to check availability and book ahead!
- Get your car rental from Manchester Airport in advance to make your trip easier. I always use Rentalcars!
- Book your train tickets to and from Manchester, including the airport, with The Trainline!
- Get tickets and guided tours for Manchester’s top attractions with Viator and GetYourGuide!
I hope this helps you make the most of your time near Manchester Airport!