Manchester Travel Forum

Hi,

I will be travelling from Machester to Nottingham on 04 Jan 08 to avoid
the jam packed immigration clearance at Heathrow Airport. Is Machester Airport better than Heathrow or just as bad ?

From Manchester to Nottingham, what's the best mode of travel By bus or train ?

Thanks alot.

Manchester Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, but not as busy as Heathrow so there won't be as many people going through immigration. I'm an American citizen with British residency, so I still have to check in with immigration. In my experience most of the people on my flights to Manchester have been British, who are waved through a separate queue, and everything moves along fairly quickly.

At the airport, follow signs for 'The Station' which is the train station between the terminals. Most all trains which stop here will call at Manchester Piccadilly, which is the main station for the city. The ride from the airport into the city centre only takes 15-20 minutes. Change here for the direct train to Nottingham. Altogether it can take as little as 2 hours and 20 minutes. A bus would take much longer, which you'd have to catch from Manchester Central coach station, which is about a 10-minute walk from Piccadilly. You could take a taxi with luggage, but the train is faster, more comfortable and less hassle.

The station at the airport has a ticketing office where they can sell you a through ticket and advice on changing trains. It's all a lot smoother and faster than Heathrow!

www.nationalrail.co.uk for all train times and fares.

www.nationalexpress.com should you wish to investigate coaches; cheaper, but take longer.

Getting through Manchester will be a breeze (hopefully) in comparison to Heathrow!

You can take a direct train from Manchester to Nottingham - as well as the site Leics recommends also look at www.centraltrains.co.uk.It has some fare offers and city guides too. The train you would take would be a Liverpool to Norwich train via Manchester and Nottingham.

Another way to get from Manchester Airport is to take bus 199 (every 30 minutes) to either Stockport or Buxton, then catch the "Transpeak" coach service from there to Nottingham (it runs every 2 hours - see www.transpeak.co.uk).

This is a very scenic journey through the Peak District and fairly cheap (buy a "ZigZag Plus ticket on the 199 bus and use it to travel on the Transpeak Coach as well - I think it costs about £8). However, the train will probably be quicker and easier.