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Manchester
Football, music and red-brick mills
- Best time to visit
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Currency
- GBP
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Country
- United Kingdom
The home of two of the world's biggest football clubs, a city of converted mills, free museums and a big music scene.
- London
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Liverpool
Quick facts
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Capital
- London
- City population
- 570,000
- Population of United Kingdom
- 69.3M
- Country area
- 242,495 km²
- Official language
- English
- Currency
- British Pound (GBP) · 1 USD ≈ 0.7565 GBP
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Calling code
- +44
- Drives on the
- Left
- Elevation
- 38 m
- Plugs
- G · 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 999 · 112
- Best time to visit
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 7° | 8° | 10° | 13° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 21° | 18° | 14° | 10° | 8° |
| Low | 2° | 2° | 3° | 5° | 8° | 11° | 13° | 13° | 11° | 8° | 5° | 3° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$76
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$150
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$350
Top things to do
- ≈ $40
Old Trafford stadium tour
Behind the scenes at Manchester United's ground, with the museum and the players' tunnel; no tours on match days.
- Half day
- Salford Quays and Old Trafford
- Good for kids
- ≈ $35
Etihad Stadium tour
Manchester City's home: the dressing room, the pitch-side and the trophy displays.
- Half day
- Etihad Campus
- Good for kids
- Free
Science and Industry Museum
Free galleries on the world's first industrial city, in the oldest surviving passenger railway station.
- Half day
- City centre
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Free
John Rylands Library and the cathedral
A neo-Gothic library like a cathedral, with medieval manuscripts, then the real cathedral nearby.
- Half day
- City centre
- Indoors
- Free
Northern Quarter and Ancoats
Old mills and warehouses turned into cafés, independent shops, street art and food halls.
- Half day
- Northern Quarter and Ancoats
- Good in the evening
- ≈ $20
Day trip: the Peak District
Hills, stone villages and walks under an hour away by train, such as Edale or Hope Valley.
- Full day
- City centre
Before you go
Entry and visas
Visitors who don't need a visa, including EU and GCC citizens, now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; others need a Standard Visitor visa. Check your passport on GOV.UK.
Official websiteFrom the airport
Manchester Airport has direct flights from the Gulf and India; trains to Piccadilly station take about 20 minutes. Trains from London Euston take about 2 hours.
Getting around
Metrolink trams and Bee Network buses cover the city; contactless cards work on both.
Local tips
- Book stadium tours in advance and check the fixture list first.
- It rains often; keep an umbrella handy.
- Match days fill trains, trams and hotels near the stadiums.
- Liverpool is under an hour away by train for a day trip.
Areas worth knowing
- City centre
- Etihad Campus
- Northern Quarter and Ancoats
- Salford Quays and Old Trafford
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Sources: GOV.UK: Check if you need a UK visa · Visit Manchester (official) · VisitBritain