There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Manchester each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national) March 17: Saint Patrick's Day (national)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.
April 23: Saint George's Day (national)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.
May: Manchester Jazz Festival (local)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.
Mid-June Sunday: Manchester Day (local)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.
July: Manchester International Festival (MIF) (local)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.
December 25: Christmas (national)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
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June | 10/50 | 19/66 | 57/2.2 | Good period to go
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July | 12/53 | 21/70 | 53/2.1 | Good period to go
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August | 12/53 | 21/70 | 68/2.7 | Good period to go
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September | 10/50 | 18/64 | 62/2.4 | Good period to go
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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 |
The Manchester International Airport is located 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of the city centre.
Manchester's public transport system is dense and convenient to explore the city.
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
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
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).
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!
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/
Upon your arrival in Manchester, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Manchester Visitor Information CentreManchester'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
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:
There are no specific food safety risks.
WaterTap water is safe to drink in Manchester.
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
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Manchester, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
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.