Manchester Airport parking

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Since it serves more than 25 million passengers a year, Manchester Airport has an abundance of parking options for all types of travellers. Whether you are flying as a family or an individual for a holiday or a business trip, you can compare parking with us at Looking4Parking.com to find a deal that suits your requirements.

There are multi-storey, short- and long-stay, and indoor and outdoor car parks that allow you to leave your vehicle for anything between a few hours and a few weeks – to that end, you can book by the hour, by the day or by the week in any parking facility. Some of the car parks are only available if you pre-book your space, though, so be sure not to leave it until the day you arrive to secure a spot for your vehicle.

You have a range of options from which to choose: Meet and Greet, Park and Ride and On-site Parking are all available at Manchester.

Meet and Greet at Manchester Airport

Meet and Greet allows you to drop your keys off with an attendant to park for you, which is easier when you’re travelling with children. When you’re back, all you have to do is simply pick up your keys from reception and head to your car, which is usually parked only a few metres away.

Park and Ride and On-site Parking at Manchester Airport

Park and Ride and On-site parking mean finding your own parking space before walking or catching a free shuttle bus to your terminal.

The On-site car parks at MAN utilise Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology for hassle-free entry, which means you can simply drive up to the barrier and the sensor will detect your registration details to match it to your booking and let you in.

All of the parking facilities at Manchester either are within walking distance of the terminals or run frequent and reliable transfer services to take you to your desired location. The transfer time is seldom longer than 10 minutes, so you can get straight to check-in after you have parked.

Guide to Manchester Airport

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• +44 (0)800 042 0213
• M90 1QX
• T1, T2, T3
• Car, bus, train, tram, taxi, rental
• Free access for 60 minutes
• www.manchesterairport.co.uk

Manchester Airport (MAN) is the largest regional airport in the UK and the gateway to the north of England for the rest of the world. Over 200 destinations are served by it, which is why more than 25 million passengers pass through its terminals every year.

Location of Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport, which is owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), is located 8.6 miles (13.9 kilometres) south west of the city centre and is connected to it by many modes of transport. The Station, as it is officially known at MAN, offers train and tram services to and from the city and its surrounding areas; the cities of Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Preston can all be reached within 90 minutes of the airport by train. The tram from MAN to Manchester city centre takes approximately 35 minutes via Cornbrook station.

The airport itself is part of transport development plans to improve connection times between the north and the south of England via the High-Speed 2 (HS2) railway, which is due for completion in 2033. The HS2 station at MAN will cut an hour off the journey time to London, making Manchester even more attractive as a destination for holidaymakers and businesses.

History of Manchester Airport

As one of the busiest airports in the world, Manchester gives travellers a wide selection of airlines across three interconnected terminals, commonly referred to as T1, T2 and T3. The youngest of the three terminals, T3, was opened in 1989 by Princess Diana, 51 years after the airport became fully operational in 1938. The site at Ringway, Manchester, was used as a base for the RAF during World War II and reopened to the public shortly afterwards to go on to become the vibrant hub of world travel it is today.

Airport facilities

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Manchester Airport hotel and parking

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As a traveller using Manchester Airport, you can book a hotel and a parking space at the same time to combine a good night’s rest with leaving your vehicle parked safely for as long as you are away.

If you are due to jet off in the early morning and need to get to your terminal before daybreak, this gives you the option to remove the stress and danger of driving in the middle of the night before your flight.

If you want to travel in style, you can choose from the luxury hotels at Manchester Airport to get off to a flying start with perks such as swimming pools and restaurants with panoramic views, whilst the cheaper budget hotels will help you save a little more to spend in your destination.

All of the hotels with parking available are minutes away from the airport terminals, so it’s as straightforward to leave your vehicle before your flight as it is to pick it up again upon your return.

Top things to do in Manchester Airport

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The Runway Visitor Park

Visitors with a bit of time to spare – or even a passing interest in planes – can visit the Runway Visitor Park on the grounds of Manchester Airport. Here, you can watch the aircrafts land and take off from an exhilaratingly close vantage point and grab a bite to eat from the restaurant.

See Concorde

The Runway Visitor Park experience doesn’t stop at watching planes in action. You can even book a tour to see a legendary Concorde in its hangar whilst you’re there. Trust us, it’s an impressive sight on the ground, too.

(Indoor) Plane spotting

If you’re travelling in the middle of winter or just prefer the comforts of the indoors, you can partake in a bit of plane spotting inside Manchester Airport. The floor-to-ceiling windows are lined with seating and designed specifically for increased visibility of the runways, so it’s one the kids are sure to love.

Aspire Lounge

Terminals 1 and 2 boast a couple of the best airport lounges in the country in Aspire. If you’ve got a long-haul flight ahead of you, there is no better way to relax with comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and huge runway-facing windows to watch the planes travelling in and out of Manchester Airport.

Escape Lounge

In all three terminals of MAN, you’ll find an Escape Lounge. It’s the airport’s way of putting your feet up for you before a long flight so you can worry about nothing more than what to eat or drink next.

1903 Lounge

Terminal 3 has the cream of the crop of airport lounges. Its adults-only executive lounge is ideal for getting some peace and quiet in the frantic airport environment, whether you’re working or resting before you jet off.

The Airport Pub and Grill

Manchester Airport is practically a mini-city in itself; there’s even a pub in it. With classic meals and real ales to accompany amazing runway views, you can’t go wrong with counting down the minutes until you take off in here.

Cloud Spa

Fancy getting your nails, lashes and brows done as a last-minute treat before your holiday? Stop by Cloud Spa in Terminals 1 and 2 for the ultimate pre-holiday chill factor and come out feeling refreshed and ready to relax some more.

Wine and dine

As well as a great pub offering, Manchester Airport has its fair share of restaurants for slightly more up-market meals. You can travel the world with your taste buds before you take off in any of the three terminals – they have everything from French to Italian to Mexican, so you won’t be short of choice.

Shopping

One of the reasons MAN is such an appealing airport is the vast array of high-street brands it has in its shops. You can even fill one whole bag in them and take it onto your flight along with your hand luggage. What’s more, if you want to splash out on an expensive item that isn’t fit for travelling with, you can leave it with them in a safe and secure place to collect upon your return. 

Top things to do near Manchester Airport

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Quarry Bank Mill

Take a leap back to the Industrial Revolution by spending a few hours in one of the greatest mills in Great Britain. Located just 2.4 miles from Manchester Airport, Quarry Bank Mill was once awash with hard-workers in a dedicated industrial community and you can sense just what it was like as you take the tour of its grounds.

Gauntlet Birds of Prey

Eagles, vultures and hawks are just some of the incredible birds of prey you can admire at Gauntlet in Knutsford. It’s just five miles from Manchester Airport and perfect for a family day out, especially for the budding wildlife photographer on one of their specialist workshops.

Altrincham Market

Open most days of the week and aimed at fans of food, drink, arts and crafts, Altrincham Market is a true delight for the senses. Experience the best of the local area from chefs and designers alike – this is one for all the family.

Hale Country Club and Spa

Hale Country Club is a place of pure indulgence. Treat your body and mind to a session of tranquillity just minutes from Manchester Airport. Swimming pools and spa treatments in abundance will make you want to stay there forever.

Energi Trampoline Park

If relaxing at the spa isn’t up your street, get bouncing at the trampoline park in Wilmslow. Energi Trampoline Park does everything from disco days to fitness classes in one of the most fun and energetic ways imaginable.

Old Trafford

Manchester is, of course, the home of football to many a fan around the world. Manchester United’s stadium, Old Trafford, is a must-see for any visitor to the city – stadium tours let you see the trophy rooms and dugouts of the world’s most famous sports team.

Etihad Stadium

The eye-catching Etihad Stadium is the electric home of Manchester City and simply has to be on your to-do list. As well as hosting exhilarating football, it regularly brings the biggest acts in the world to the people of Manchester. Get involved or miss out on the likes of Bruce Springsteen, The Stone Roses and Coldplay here.

MediaCityUK

The multi-million-pound media complex in Salford is a sight to behold and an experience not to be missed. Grab a bite to eat on the quayside or get inspired in the theatre at the home of the BBC, the University of Salford and the world-famous Salford Quays.

Which terminal?

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The three terminals at Manchester Airport are used by most of the world’s major airlines. Terminal 1, which is the largest of the trio, is a base for easyJet, Jet2.com and Thomas Cook and a major port for Emirates, Etihad and Lufthansa. The airport is also a hub for Flybe, which operates out of Terminal 3 along with major airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways and Ryanair.

How to get to Manchester Airport

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Car

Manchester Airport is located at Junction 5 of the M56. You can navigate there via the post code M90 1QX.

If you’re travelling from afar, you can reach the M56 via the M6 and the M60. If you’re travelling from a local area, just follow the signs for the A34 or the A5103.

The car parks at MAN are all locally situated and signposted on approach, as are the corresponding terminals for ease of navigation. Make sure you note down the name of the car park you are booked in before you set off so you can easily identify it on the signs as you approach the airport.

Train

The Station at the airport can be reached from Manchester Piccadilly - and vice versa – in around 20 minutes. Services run every 10 minutes to and from the airport, so connections to Manchester city centre are straightforward. It is also possible to connect to other major cities directly from the Station.

The airport itself is only 10 minutes’ walk from The Station and it can be accessed via elevators and escalators.

Tram

The tram services to and from MAN connect it to the city and its surrounding areas. It takes approximately 35 minutes to get from the airport to Manchester city centre via Cornbrook station, 25 minutes to get to Old Trafford football or cricket grounds and 50 minutes to get to Etihad Stadium.

Wherever your destination, you must buy a ticket in The Station or on the platform before you board the tram.

Bus and coach

Manchester Airport is served by regular bus and coach services from the local areas and beyond. As is the case for travellers arriving by train or tram, The Station is the drop-off point for all bus or coach riders and the airport is reachable in a 10-minute walk from there.

Services run up to every 20 minutes in some cases. You can check the timetables here.

Useful tips

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Arrive 2.5 hours before your flight

It goes without saying that you need plenty of time to get through check-in, security and passport control at most airports today, but MAN is a particularly busy one both inside and out.

The motorways and A-roads to the airport are regularly clogged with traffic and the queues inside have been known to take an hour or more at peak times, so give yourself plenty of time to do everything you need to do before you can step onto the plane.

Make drop-offs directly outside Departures

There is no need to pay for parking at Manchester Airport if you are simply dropping someone off ahead of a flight. Simply pull up outside Departures, unload their luggage and wave them off without the stress of finding a last-minute parking space or being rushed on by staff.

Book into a lounge if you want to recharge

The seats in Manchester Airport aren’t designed to be as comfortable as beds and the hum of the many fellow travellers you will almost certainly encounter around them isn’t conducive to a good sleep.

If you are going to be in MAN for a few hours, book into an airport lounge to get access to more comfortable seating, quieter crowds and more plug sockets to recharge your devices at the same time.

Manchester Airport FAQs

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How do I get between terminals?

Terminals 1 and 2 are connected via the Skylink in MAN, which has a moving walkway for ease of transport. If you want to get from T1 to T3, there is a short walkway located outside the terminal building.

What disabled access and special assistance is there?

Manchester Airport offers special assistance to anyone with reduced mobility or visible or non-visible disabilities. To request assistance from your airline ahead of arrival, please find the appropriate contact details on the Manchester Airport website.

Can I combine hotel and parking at the airport?

Yes, it is possible to combine airport parking with a hotel stay at Manchester Airport. There are many hotels ranging from budget to luxury there; you can compare your options with Looking4Parking.com before you travel.

What shops are there?

There is a wide range of high-street names in MAN, so you can shop until you drop into your plane seat. From major coffee chains to popular fashion retailers, shopping in Manchester Airport is almost like shopping in Manchester city centre.

Is there anywhere to charge electronic devices?

Charging points are hard to come by in the main lounges of the airport, but additional sockets are available in the exclusive lounges. You need to pre-book your access to them online before you get there.

Is there anywhere quiet to rest or sleep?

The exclusive lounges at Manchester Airport are the best places to get some rest before your flight, since the main areas are often busy and noisy. Pre-book online to gain access to the quieter lounges.

My baggage has been lost – what do I do?

In the event of lost luggage, passengers are advised to contact their airlines as quickly as possible. The airport lists the contact numbers for every carrier here.

How do I contact Lost Property?

The Lost Property service at Manchester Airport can be contacted here. You can either arrange for shipping of your item, for someone you know to collect it for you or for the service to store it for you for up to 42 days whilst you organise a way of getting back to the airport to retrieve it.