Getting a train from Manchester Airport is an easy and affordable option if you’re flying into Manchester Airport on a work trip or on your holidays. From there, major towns and cities of northern England are within easy reach by train. That's destinations such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool that are open to explore and use as a gateway to the rest of the UK.
The trains from Manchester Airport train station to Manchester Piccadilly Station run at intervals of around every 10 minutes, every day of the week. Train operators TransPennine Express and Northern Rail operate these trains, giving you more choice on when to hop onboard. Manchester Airport train station is a 10-15 minute walk from the airport terminals via the Skylink walkway meaning there’s no real need to take a shuttle bus unless you have a lot of luggage or reduced mobility.
Continue reading to learn more about buying train tickets, timetables and where else you can get to and from Manchester.
Getting to Manchester from Manchester Airport by train
You can use Trainline to book cheap train tickets from Manchester Airport train station to Manchester Piccadilly. This way, you won’t have to spend money on taxis and airport parking, which means you can budget more for your holidays. To get the lowest prices, we recommend you book long before your journey starts. National Railcards can help you save even more. In fact, an adult Railcard gets you 1/3 off the fare and a kids Railcard saves you up to 60%.
Trains take approximately 20 minutes, every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 01:00, Monday to Sunday. As well as direct trains running to Manchester Piccadilly, you can also travel directly to York, Sheffield, Doncaster and Leeds. Other major UK towns and cities, such as Leicester, Liverpool and London, can be easily accessed from Manchester Piccadilly. Furthermore, Manchester Piccadilly train station is a major transport hub, which makes it easy to connect to if you’re travelling long distances.
When flying into Manchester Airport, you’ll arrive at one of three terminals. All these are connected to the train station via a 10-15 minutes’ walk along a ‘Skylink’ walkway. If you’re arriving late at night, there’s also a Radisson Blu hotel next to the train station. It’s connected to Terminal 2 and Manchester Airport train station via the Skylink.
How to get cheap train tickets from Manchester Airport
Buying your train tickets from Manchester Airport in advance is the easiest and fastest way to find cheap fares. To make your life a bit easier, sign up for our Advance ticket alerts and receive handy emails as soon as tickets become available for your favourite routes. Don’t forget to apply your National Railcard to any tickets you buy, as you’ll be able to save 1/3 of the fare. Please note that Railcard discounts can’t be applied to Season tickets.
Travelling en masse? Be sure to apply a GroupSave discount if your group is between three and nine people in number. Bear in mind that GroupSave savings only apply to certain train operating companies and can't be used with children, but if you're eligible, what are you waiting for?
Another tried and tested method of getting cheaper train tickets from Manchester Airport is to buy Return train tickets instead of shelling out for two single journeys. The savings you make depend on the type of journey and how quickly you book but it's also worth comparing these two options.
Ready to book your train ticket from Manchester Airport? Use our Journey Planner to search for your preferred route.
Useful travel tips
We want to make travel easier for you, which is why we’ve compiled a selection of useful travel tips to help you on your way.
Off-peak fares
Learn more about peak and off-peak fares, and how they can affect the cost of your journey.
Seat reservations
Need information about seating? Read our guide to find out more about what's available.
Interrail
Planning to travel Europe by train soon? Read our handy guide on how to save with an Interrail Pass.
Things to do in Manchester
Trains run from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly station. This train station is situated within short walking distance of Manchester City centre. Manchester also has a Metrolink tram service which can get you to the centre in a couple of minutes. Added to which, buses run day and night.
Manchester is famous for its red brick buildings. A walk around the centre will reveal many from the times of the Industrial Revolution. To see some examples of these, walk to or take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Deansgate train station. Nearby, you can explore some impressive Manchester architecture such as that of Deansgate Station, The Manchester Ship Canal, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Albert Hall, and The John Rylands Library.
Of course, a visit to Manchester isn’t complete without visiting the Manchester United football stadium. A Metrolink from Deansgate to Old Trafford will take you there. Manchester city centre also has a large selection of shops, bars and traditional British pubs. A good place for shopping and evening entertainment is the area around Exchange Square Metrolink station.