FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Manchester

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Manchester each year. The main ones are listed below.

Saint Patrick's Day is a major event in Manchester, a city with an important Irish population. It gives way to the major Manchester Irish Festival, taking place for two weeks around Saint Patrick's Day with parades, shows and street plays. As part of the festival, a huge procession takes place in the streets on Saint Patrick's Day.

In the United Kingdom, the National Holiday is celebrated on the feast day of Saint George, who died on this day in 303 A.D. Manchester's main festivities include a large parade, street performances and various free activities, all in a carnival-like spirit.

Well-known and popular among Mancunians, this music festival programs concerts all around town for one week. More than 500 artists perform live to introduce their own musical universe to the audience, around one common passion: jazz.

One day during the month, Mancunians gather in the city centre to party. From morning till night, parades and street music generate a lot buzz.

Organised every two years (even years), the Manchester International Festival is the city's most important cultural event. It encompasses music, dance, drama and visual arts, with international artists exhibiting their latest creations before showing them to the rest of the world.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Manchester

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	2/35	8/46	69/2.7	Not the best period to go
February	2/35	8/46	69/2.7	Not the best period to go
March	3/37	10/50	49/1.9	Not the best period to go
April	5/41	13/55	62/2.4	Not the best period to go
May	8/46	16/61	51/2	Good period to go
June	10/50	19/66	57/2.2	Good period to go
July	12/53	21/70	53/2.1	Good period to go
August	12/53	21/70	68/2.7	Good period to go
September	10/50	18/64	62/2.4	Good period to go
October	7/44	14/57	87/3.4	Not the best period to go
November	4/39	10/50	82/3.2	Not the best period to go
December	2/35	7/44	78/3	Not the best period to go

Manchester International Airport

The Manchester International Airport is located 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of the city centre.

• Three terminals:
  • Terminal 1
  • Terminal 2
  • Terminal 3 (Air France)

• By car
  • Accessible via the M56 freeway and A34 Kingsway.
  • 14,000 parking spots are available, spread throughout the three terminals:
    • Short Stay, GBP 3 for the first 30 minutes, GBP 5.40 for one hour, GBP 9 for two hours, GBP 17 for four hours and so on, with a maximum of GBP 38 for one day.
    • Long Stay, from GBP 31 for one day, GBP 50 for two days and GBP 10 per extra day after that.
  • Several car rental companies have counters on the arrivals level of each terminal.
• By rail
  • The TransPennine Express connects the Manchester Piccadilly (city centre) in only 20 minutes and runs every 10 minutes. Standard single fare is GBP 3.69.
• By coach
  • National Express operates express coaches that connect the airport to the Piccadilly Gardens station (in the city centre) with a travel time of 30 minutes. Standard single fare from GBP 3.20.
• By bus
  • Bus lines 43 and 103 connect Manchester's city centre (last stop: Piccadilly Gardens) in under an hour. These two lines are operated every day, including weekends and holidays. Line 43 runs 24/7, and line 103 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Standard single fare from GBP 3.50.
  • Please note: all trains, coaches and buses leave from the airport connecting station aptly named “The Station”, linking all terminals with a system of moving walkways.
• By taxi
  • There are taxi ranks outside each terminal. Travel time to central Manchester is about 20 minutes and fares are about GBP 33.
• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +44 (0)808 169 7030
• Website: www.manchesterairport.co.uk

GETTING AROUND Manchester

Manchester's public transport system is dense and convenient to explore the city.

By tramway

Manchester's Metrolink is probably one of the best tramway networks in the country, fast and efficient. Seven lines are operated, mostly from 6 a.m. to midnight, every day of the week, and run every 12 to 20 minutes. The grid is divided in zones, and fares depend on the number of zones being travelled (starting from GBP 2.10). For more information, please visit www.tfgm.com/public-transport/tram

By bus

The “Free Bus” lines (1 and 2) run in two rings around the city centre, connecting Piccadilly Station, Chinatown, Oxford Road, Albert Square and Central Library among others. These completely free buses operate Monday to Saturday, from 6.30 a.m. (8.30 a.m. on Saturday) to 10 p.m., and run every 10 minutes. They operate from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and holidays, and run every 12 minutes. For more information, please visit www.tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/free-bus

By taxis

The “Black Cabs” (similar to the famous London ones) are easily recognizable. Initial charge is GBP 2.30 during the day and GBP 2.80 at night (from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Fare is then based on distance per mile (GBP 1.22 during the day and GBP 1.63 at night).

By car

Renting a car may be a good solution to get around Manchester. Rental agencies are essentially located at the airport and near the Manchester Piccadilly station. Do not forget to drive on the left-hand side!

By bike

Thanks to its many bike lanes, Manchester is a welcoming bicycle city. To rent one, expect about GBP5 per day. You may also use the Mobike, a self-service bike rental mobile application. A GBP 15 deposit is required to open the account. Service is then billed per 20 minutes (GBP 1). For more information, please visit www.mobike.com/uk/

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Manchester, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Manchester's Tourist Information Centre offers helpful information and recommendations for your stay in Manchester and its surrounding area.
Address: 1 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester M1 1RG
Telephone: +44 (0)871 222 8223
Website: www.visitmanchester.com

The official website developed and maintained by Visit Britain, the main UK tourist board, provides a wealth of information on Manchester.
Website: https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/england/northern-england/manchester

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Manchester counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to the United Kingdom.

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38, Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are no specific food safety risks.

Tap water is safe to drink in Manchester.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for the United Kingdom

Citizens or nationals of several countries must carry a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
For further information, visit the website of the United Kingdom's Government Digital Service: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Manchester, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Good to know

+44

+ phone number (without the 0)

-1 : 00
of time difference with
Budapest

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Banks Usually open Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and for some Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon

Government offices Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Manchester as in the rest of the United Kingdom, there are no fixed rules for tipping. At restaurants, a service charge is sometimes included in the bill. Otherwise, it is customary to tip about 15% of the bill, unless you are not satisfied with the service. A 10 to 15% tip is also expected by taxi drivers.