If you’re planning a trip to Manchester, you’ll find the city is one of the most accessible destinations in the UK. As gateway to the north of England, Manchester has a good road network and excellent road links to other major northern cities.

Manchester Airport, the third busiest flight destination in the UK is within easy reach of the city centre. The airport offers flights to more than 200 locations worldwide and welcomes close to 30 million passengers a year.

If you are flying into the UK, you’ll find Manchester Airport is an international hub connecting you to all that Northern England has to offer.

So, whether you’re travelling to Manchester for work or for pleasure, our friendly Avis team at Manchester Airport is ready to assist, with a fast, efficient check-in service.

Our Avis counter at Manchester Airport is in the Car Rental Village located on the Ringway Road a short distance away via the free bus transfers which run every 10 minutes from each of the airport’s terminals. On your return journey you’ll be dropping off your car at the same car park. If you return your car to us outside business hours, Avis has a 24-hour drop-off at Manchester Airport.

Manchester city centre is 11.5 miles north of Manchester Airport. The airport is within easy reach of the motorway network and is right next to the M56, with good links to the M6, M60 and M62.

The drive into central Manchester from the airport takes around 30min depending on the time of day. Head left out of the car park and at the airport exit turn onto the M56 towards the west. After 4 miles join the A5103 following signs to ‘city centre’.

As one of the most popular cities in the UK, Manchester has so much to see and do and is the perfect destination for a UK city break.

With its rich history as the first industrialised city in the world, Manchester has a lot to offer – from its unique heritage to its thriving music, arts and sports scenes.

Explore Manchester city or head off in your Avis car hire to explore the quintessentially British countryside of Northern England.

In the city centre, check out the Manchester museum with its huge collection of artefacts, stop off at the city’s art gallery and visit the Printworks, a popular venue during the day and also for nightlife. Visit Salford with its media centre, museum and art gallery and recreated Victorian Streets. If you are visiting Manchester in Winter, don’t miss the magical Manchester Christmas Market with more than 300 stalls spread across locations over the city centre.

While the bustling city centre of Manchester boasts undeniable charm, you may want to explore set off beyond the urban limits to see what the British countryside has to offer.

Hop in your Avis hire car and take a day trip to the Peak District – a national park covering an impressive 555 square miles to the southeast of the city. Here, you’ll find steep limestone valleys and dramatic ridges waiting to be discovered.

Or perhaps head to the magical Lake District. Collect your Avis car rental at Manchester airport and head north of Manchester via the M6 motorway. The Lake District is dotted with quaint little towns that nest between glacial ribbon lakes and rugged fells.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Dales National Park is yet another great destination for those seeking a day out with a Manchester rental car. The Yorkshire Dales are as close as you can get to the English wilderness plus, after a busy day exploring its moors, valleys and hills, there are plenty of cosy pubs and restaurants to enjoy.

There is a good public transport network in Manchester by rail, airport coach and tram – however, if you are travelling to the area for business or leisure, a hire car gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel further afield and explore the wider area.

You’ll find our Avis team at Manchester Airport is ready to help make your trip a smooth one from the moment you touch down. If you plan to hit the road and want some inspiration, check out our guide to extraordinary road trips from Manchester compiled by our experts.