A varied mix of music, shopping, sport, a buzzing social scene and many thrilling activities make living in Manchester fantastic regardless of age, ethnicity or cultural affiliation. There is always something for everyone even down to the amenities the city has to offer. If you're wondering what you can expect from Manchester regarding transportation, we have got you covered!
Getting Around: Manchester Transport Link
The city has one of the best bus, train and tram systems in the whole country. While trains aren’t as popular for getting around the city, as people use them to get to other places further out of Manchester, buses and trams certainly are.
The way people commute in Manchester depends on where they live and where they are going. If you live a bit outside of the city, then it’s likely that you will opt to drive or get the bus. People who live in the city tend to use the tram system, which is one of the best in the UK. If they don’t need to go far and the weather is nice, they often bike or walk around. Manchester also has an international airport that offers direct flights to many destinations across the world.
Taxis and Uber
If you don’t own a car and don’t want to rely on public transport, you can always get a taxi or an Uber. Both of these are very convenient as they can be with you within minutes of requesting and can take you anywhere you want. Granted, they are a bit more expensive, but a whole lot of people have not shied away from using them.
Buses, Trains & Trams
Using a bus or a tram, you can get to any point within the city. Aside from commercial buses, there are also Free Buses (formerly known as Metroshuttle) within the city centre, which provide a free ‘hop on, hop off’ service linking all the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas. If your travel requires getting a combination of bus, train and tram, you can purchase a System One Travelcard, which will allow you to transfer seamlessly from bus to bus or from one transport mode to the other as many times as you like.
When it comes to trains, people use them to travel outside Manchester more often than not, as previously mentioned. There are 92 National Rail stations in Greater Manchester, including trains to London every 20 minutes.
Walking & Cycling
Manchester is usually very pedestrian-friendly, so it is not uncommon for people to walk to places. And since Manchester is not situated in a hilly area, you can opt to cycle when going to places that aren’t close but not too far either.
Driving Your Own Car
Owning a car in Manchester can be quite expensive, especially if you live in a more central location. Traffic and the high cost of parking are some of the many reasons why people don’t tend to drive their own cars in the city. That said, you do have the luxury of jumping in your car and driving on-demand.
Plane
Manchester Airport offers direct flights to more than 199 destinations across the world. It’s located just 20 minutes from the city centre and over 100 airlines and 300 tour operators offer direct flights to all of Europe’s major cities, as well as daily flights to the Far East and US, including 4 flights a day to New York.
As one of the best commuter towns in the UK, Manchester has one of the best transport connections in the whole country thanks to the fleet of buses, trams and trains available. Whether you choose to hop on a bus or train or get a train ride, there are lots of resources available to help you plan your travel. Discover more about Manchester!
