Car Hire Manchester Airport

With so much to see within easy driving distance of Manchester, you’ll be keen to get going as soon as you arrive. The airport has outstanding connections to the rest of the United Kingdom. Once you’ve left the pick-up location, you can take the M56 into the centre of Manchester in 20 minutes, while trips to the cities of Leeds and Birmingham take around one and two hours respectively.

UK roads are well connected and maintained, with motorways having a speed limit of 112 km/h. As you’d expect, smaller roads have lower speed limits, and if you want a true British experience you can always try some of the winding and less well-known routes.

It’s a varied landscape that can change quickly from well-kept main routes to narrow roads boasting beautiful views in more rural areas like the Peak District.

Hiring a car gives you the opportunity to see amazing areas of the country often overlooked by visitors to the UK. Follow signs for the M1 motorway when you leave Manchester Airport and in less than an hour you’ll be driving through the stunning countryside of Yorkshire.

Head west to find the home of the famed Brontë sisters in Haworth, or visit Whitby in the north to see where Bram Stoker drew inspiration for his masterpiece, Dracula. The walled city of York offers museums, boutique shopping and the majestic York Minster. The Yorkshire region has a wealth of history, coupled with stunning scenery that few places in the UK can match.  

You can find the rules of the road, and the different speed limits on roads in the UK here.

Manchester Airport is the perfect launch pad for adventure. Whether you’re a soccer fan wanting to see the homes of England’s world-famous teams, or simply looking to escape to a place of outstanding natural beauty, you’ll find it all just a short drive away from Manchester Airport.

Shopping and soccer in Manchester

Soak up the laid-back vibe of the Mancunian way of life, and begin to explore the delights of this historical but uber-cool metropolis. Head to the city’s Northern Quarter to load up on a hearty breakfast and sip coffee at one of its industrial-chic-style cafes, before diving into the sights and sounds of this thriving city.

Browsing Manchester’s cornucopia of shops is sure to leave you wide-eyed and clutching bags filled with new goodies to take home. Part independent shopping haven, part designer-fashion mecca, you’ll struggle to leave the city empty handed.

Find elegant independent boutiques around King Street in the CBD and in the Spinningfields district. For a different retail experience it’s worth a trip to Afflecks – where quirky stores offer everything from funkily customised clothing to Caribbean cuisine and handmade jewellery.

A short drive from the centre of Manchester, you’ll find the sprawling Trafford Centre. Packed with nearly 300 shops, this a shopaholic’s dream-come-true. You can spend a whole day hopping from store to store, and then relax over a meal at one of its many restaurants.

Of course a trip to Manchester wouldn't be complete without a visit to Old Trafford. Whether you’re a big fan of the team or just of the ‘Beautiful Game’, it’s a chance to explore 130 years of soccer history. Take a tour of the impressive stadium to pay homage to the legends who honed their skills here, making the team one of the most famous in the world.

Just be aware that if you’d like to combine your trip with the unforgettable experience of watching a live game, you’ll need to book tickets well in advance.  

Time for a road trip

Hiring a car from Manchester Airport means you can easily explore the walled city of Chester, which was founded as a Roman fortress. Step inside the walls of the 1,000 year-old cathedral to soak up the ancient splendour of this impressive structure. Gaze up at the beautifully sculpted arches, and take a moment to admire the glowing rainbow of colours of the grand, stained-glass window. 

Seek out lions, tigers and bears and so much more at the family-friendly Chester Zoo. Let your little ones peek into the enclosures to point out their favourites, zip round the park on the Zoofari monorail or try catch a wildlife talk with one of the park’s expert zoo keepers. 

A popular spot since the Victorian era, Southport is roughly an hour away from Manchester. With vintage charm and a traditional feel, this is a quintessentially British seaside town. The bright lights of Blackpool, often referred to as the Las Vegas of the UK, is also close by. Brave the epic rollercoaster ‘The Big One’ and feel your pulse race as it clicks up to its 72m summit, before plunging at eye-watering speed, down and around twisting tracks.

Explore the beautiful countryside in this part of the UK by taking a drive through the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You’ll feel dwarfed by the towering cliffs and mountains, and awestruck by areas of natural beauty such as Malham Cove, an imposing limestone formation.

Manchester music

For music lovers you couldn’t land anywhere better than Manchester Airport. Jump in your rental car and head to the centre of Manchester to walk the streets that gave us famous bands such as The Smiths and Oasis. The music scene continues to be as vibrant today – find second-hand record stores laden with classics, or catch a gig at one of the legendary indie venues around the city such as Band on the Wall.

Drive an hour north to make a musical pilgrimage to Liverpool. Home of the Beatles, you can learn all about their rise to fame at The Beatles Story museum, or visit the famous Cavern Club where the Fab Four regularly played. It’s a bustling and lively city with a soundtrack all of its own.

Wherever you’re heading, car hire from Manchester Airport gives you the key to unlocking some of the best things to see and do around Manchester and the rest of the UK – all at your own pace.