Trains to Manchester Airport
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Taking the train to Manchester Airport couldn’t be easier when you travel with CrossCountry.
Located 7.5 miles from Manchester city centre, Manchester Airport is a great choice for those flying on international or domestic flights from the north. Manchester Airport has its own train station located within the airport, offering passengers ready access to all terminals. It takes just 10-15 minutes to walk to the airport terminals from the station. The walk is indoors via the Skylink walkway.
Benefits of taking the train to Manchester Airport
- Saves you paying for airport parking
- No need to stress about traffic
- Saves you paying for a taxi
- Eco-friendly compared to a car
- Get tickets straight to your smartphone
Save yourself the time, money and stress when you travel to the airport by choosing to go by train. CrossCountry makes it cheap and easy to travel to Manchester Airport.
Take advantage of the luxuries that travelling by train can provide and utilise our at-seat service, which gives you the opportunity to order light snacks as well as hot and cold drinks. Our trains also come equipped with luggage storage and charging points, so you can charge your devices before you fly.
There’s no need to worry about traffic when you travel by train, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Watch a film on your tablet, read a book, or check out the scenery from the window on your way to Manchester Airport.
With CrossCountry, you can purchase a through ticket all the way to Manchester Airport. Not only will this save you money, if you buy a CrossCountry Advance Ticket to the Airport, you can get it sent straight to your phone as an e-Ticket, meaning all you need to travel is your mobile phone. Saving you the time and hassle of collecting tickets at the station.
Getting to Manchester Airport by train
Once CrossCountry has delivered you to Manchester Piccadilly Station, Manchester Airport is only around 20 minutes away on a separate service which runs 7 days a week from the station.
Manchester Airport train station is just next to Terminal 2 – one of the airport’s three terminals. It takes between 10-15 minutes to walk from the train station to the other terminals using the Skylink walkway, giving you quick and easy access to departures and without the need for a shuttle bus.
Station Accessibility
Manchester Piccadilly Station is fully accessible to those with a range of mobility needs. The whole station is step-free, with accessible ticket machines and ticket office counters as well as ramps for train access.
More questions?
For more information about getting to Manchester Airport, visit Manchester Airport's website.
Our Top Travel Tips
Here are our top travel tips to make sure your journey runs smoothly:
- Discover the best time to travel – Learn more about Anytime and Off-Peak fares and what they mean for your journey.
- Avoid the ticket office queue by purchasing your ticket on our website, or on our mobile site via your smartphone, and have them immediately sent to your device as an m-Ticket via our app.
- Download the CrossCountry Train Tickets app for real-time train information, tickets and live departure information.
- Manchester hotels – If you have an early flight and want to stay in Manchester for the night, you’ll want to book a great value hotel.
- If you’re spending time in Manchester before or after your trip, check out our handy Manchester destination guide.
Once you have arrived in Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport has enough shops, restaurants and other facilities to set you up for the perfect trip.
Shopping in Manchester Airport
Browsing the shops at the airport is all part of taking a trip abroad. Whether you need last minute essentials or want to treat yourself to something new, Manchester Airport has many shops for you to check out.
Head to Boots for your factor 50 sun cream and meal deal for the plane. WHSmith is great for magazines, books and sweets to take on-board. Dixons Travel has the best new gadgets, so whether you need a new pair of headphones or speaker for the pool, you’ll find it all here and at the best prices.
Always at the cutting-edge of fashion, Accessorize is the perfect place to find that bit of bling to add the final touch to your holiday outfits. Whether you want a statement necklace, sparkly belt, or a bag to take out in the evenings, Accessorize is a safe bet. If you’re travelling with a little lady, you can head to Claire’s to treat her too.
You’ll find top skincare and beauty brands like Clarins, Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown and The Body Shop. And how about treating yourself to some new underwear from Boux Avenue or Victoria’s Secret.
Parents will go as wild as the kids at William & Henry’s, a traditional sweet shop with an incredible range of childhood favourites, nostalgic treats and the world’s finest contemporary sweets and chocolate. Try the delicious fudge and stock up for the flight.
Restaurants in Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport has a fantastic selection of bars and restaurants as well as grab and go options to suit all your dining needs.
Fast food fans will be over the moon because not only does Manchester Airport have a Burger King, but there’s a KFC too. Sit and eat in the restaurant or buy something to take onboard.
There’s many coffee shops on offer, including all your favourite chains as well as some independent stores. You can get your usual order at Costa, Caffé Nero, Starbucks and even Greggs. For something a little different, Broderick’s is a boutique café offering great coffee and freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads.
You’ll feel like you’re abroad already if you dine at Café Balzar, an artisan café bar where French cuisine has been blended with North African flair. There’s a great range of classic cocktails focusing on high-class French spirits, but also make sure to try their homemade pink lemonade.
Families have a great choice of child-friendly restaurants including Frankie & Benny’s and Giraffe. Both have a relaxing atmosphere and fantastic value kids menu.
If you just want to grab something to take with you, you really can’t go wrong with Pret a Manger, Upper Crust or Pork & Pickle.
Amenities in Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport has a range of facilities to ensure your time spent at the airport is a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, you can relax in style at one of Manchester Airport’s lounges. There are two lounges you can choose to book, both offering complimentary food and drink, free WiFi, charging outlets and TV screens. The 1903 Lounge, which can be found in Terminals 1 and 3, is adult only (16+) while the Escape Lounges, which are found in all three terminal buildings, are a peaceful environment for the whole family.
Manchester Airport offers free WiFi for up to an hour. So you can surf the web from your laptop, mobile phone or tablet. A premium internet service is available at a small cost if you want to download a last-minute movie or series before the flight.
There are four multi-faith prayer rooms serving Manchester Airport which remain open 24 hours a day. Any faith is welcome in the prayer rooms, whether you want to pray or want space for peace and contemplation.
Smoking areas are available outside all three terminal buildings before check-in and after arrivals.