Cheap city break Manchester

When is the best time to go?

May to September are the best months for Manchester, with temperatures of 15 to 22 degrees and plenty of sunshine. June and July are busiest but most lively: outdoor festivals and long summer evenings create a unique atmosphere. May is an excellent alternative: quieter, with cheaper flights. December has the cosiest atmosphere, with Christmas markets on Albert Square among the best in the UK.

The best areas in Manchester

• Northern Quarter The creative heart of the city: street art, vintage shops, small breweries and a vibrant bar scene. Oldham Street is the epicentre, great for walking and evening events.
• Ancoats Former industrial district turned hipster hotspot. Modern restaurants and coffee bars in historic mills, named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by Time Out.
• Castlefield The Roman heart of Manchester: canals, iron viaducts and waterside terraces. The Castlefield Bowl is an iconic outdoor venue for summer concerts.
• Didsbury Quiet residential area 5 km from the centre, with Victorian townhouses, Fletcher Moss Park and cosy cafes along Wilmslow Road. Easy to reach by Metrolink.
• Salford Quays and MediaCity Modern waterfront complex with the Lowry Museum, BBC studios and a food hall. 15 minutes from the centre by tram.

Top 5 things to do in Manchester

• Museum of Science and Industry Free museum about the Industrial Revolution in a former railway shed in Castlefield. Book your free ticket online in advance (daily 10 am to 5 pm).
• Manchester Art Gallery Free collection of British and European paintings, including an exceptional Pre-Raphaelite gallery. Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, Mosley Street.
• John Rylands Library Free neo-Gothic library with precious medieval manuscripts. One of the most beautiful library interiors in Europe. Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm.
• Old Trafford or Etihad stadium tour Pick your club: Manchester United (Old Trafford, approx. €41) or Manchester City (Etihad Stadium, approx. €52). Changing rooms, players tunnel and press rooms included.
• Northern Quarter Street Art Route Free self-guided tour along murals in the alleyways around Stevenson Square and Tib Street. Combine with a visit to Afflecks Palace, an alternative shopping centre on four floors.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

Ryanair flies direct from Eindhoven (EIN) to Manchester (MAN) in 1 hour 25 minutes. The route operates three times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday), with return tickets often from approx. €60. From Schiphol, easyJet and Ryanair fly daily to Manchester in about 1 hour 20 minutes, return from approx. €71.

From Manchester Airport the Metrolink tram takes 55 minutes to Victoria Station in the city centre. A day ticket for zones 1 and 2 costs approx. €5. The tram runs every 12 minutes and payment is by contactless or Bee Card.

What does a Manchester city break cost?

Hostels in the Northern Quarter cost approx. €35 to 50 per night, mid-range hotels approx. €100 to 160. A lunch costs €10 to 15, an evening meal €20 to 30 and a pint of beer approx. €6 in a local pub. With three free top museums and a free street art walk you keep costs low. For 3 days budget approx. €320 per person including a direct flight from Eindhoven.