Luxury holidays in Manchester

When to go

Summer means long, laidback evenings on bar terraces. There’s fun to be had all year round, though.

Getting there

• Planes

  Manchester Airport (+44 (0)161 489 3000) is a 15–20-minute train trip from Piccadilly station; a cab from the city centre should cost £20.

• Trains

  Trains to and from London Euston run as frequently as every half hour, with the journey on the Virgin Pendolinos taking just two hours and 20 minutes.

• Automobiles

  The M56 leads to the joys of the M6 | and London in about four hours | if you’re lucky with the traffic around Birmingham. Be warned when parking in town: wardens hover like vultures.

• Taxis

  Black hackney cabs can be hailed from the street; for a dependable private firm, try Radio Cars (+44 (0)161 236 8033).