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Arrival, information and city transport
 

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From Manchester Airport , ten miles south of the city, direct trains run to Piccadilly (every 15min 5.15am-10.15pm, reduced service through the night; 25min) and cost A?2.35, A?2.80 on weekdays before 9.30am. A taxi from the airport to the centre costs A?12-15.

Mainline trains pull into Piccadilly Station , on the city's east side, from where you can walk the few hundred yards west into the centre (or catch the free Centreline bus #4 every 10min, not Sunday, to all main locations). Regional trains to points south, east and west call both here and at Oxford Road Station , south of the centre, while Victoria Station , in the north, services the northern hinterland and Bradford. National Express and long-distance buses use Chorlton Street Coach Station , a few hundred yards west of Piccadilly train station.

The Manchester Visitor Centre is in the town hall extension on Lloyd Street, facing St Peter's Square (Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm; tel 0161/234 3157 or 0906/8715 533; ). To find out what's on , buy the fortnightly City Life magazine ( ), from any newsstand.

Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station is the hub of the urban bus network, though a new transport interchange at Shudehill (north of the Arndale Centre; due for completion by 2003) may affect the location of some routes. Information about all services is available from the Travel Shop, in Piccadilly Gardens (Mon-Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm); or call the GMPTE Travel Line (tel 0161/228 7811; daily 8am-8pm). A Day Saver ticket (A?3) gives unlimited travel on any city bus. Metrolink (tel 0161/205 2000) - the electric tram service - whisks through the city centre and out to the suburbs (every 6-15min 6am-11.30pm). There are stations at Piccadilly Station, Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter's Square, G-Mex, Market Street and Victoria Station, though (trips to Salford Quays aside) you're unlikely to use the system for getting around, unless you simply fancy the ride.


Other useful information for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):




United Kingdom,
Manchester