Car Rental Manchester Airport

Renting a car from Manchester Airport is a great way to get around, as it lies at the heart of an extensive road network, providing quick and easy access to the major cities of the north of England.

Just nine miles from Manchester city center and within easy reach of the M56, M60 and M6 motorways, it's a highly convenient pick-up location for visitors to the north of England.

First stop, Manchester. You can get to the city center in 30 minutes – simply drive out of Car Rental Village, follow the Ringway Road to the M56 and head north.

In the UK you’ll be driving on the left hand side of the road, overtaking on the right. The national speed limit on motorways and divided highways (or ‘dual carriageways’) is typically 70mph, unless otherwise signed. Within towns and cities, this usually drops to 30mph, with clear signage to make you aware if the rules are different. 

Driving around Greater Manchester is easily done with the help of the M60 circular road. You’ll find many of the city’s main attractions along this route. Old Trafford stadium - a must-see for soccer fans - is around 20 minutes’ drive from Manchester Airport via the M56 and M60, while the Etihad Stadium - home of Manchester City F.C. - is equally close if you take the A5103 northbound.

From football to fashion, take a trip to the mall and browse the stores at the Trafford Centre. Just 20 minutes from the airport, off junction 9 on the M60, this is shopping heaven. You’ll find department stores, boutiques and restaurants galore – with free parking as well.

The M62 runs across the width of the country, bringing a variety of lively towns and cities within easy reach. The M62 eastbound links Manchester with Leeds, a boom town with superb restaurants and areas of natural beauty. In the opposite direction, the M62 westbound delivers you to Liverpool in less than one hour – home of rock ‘n’ roll legends The Beatles.

Manchester is arguably the pride of England's north, famous for its Premier League soccer clubs, extensive shopping and ‘Madchester’ musical heritage.

Located in the north-west of England, the city offers everything from green parks to museums, quirky shopping to street performers, cricket to cuisine. 

City sights 

In the 19th century Manchester was an industrial capital of the world, and the civic legacy of this powerful period has blessed the city with a rich array of museums, galleries, theaters and sporting stadia.

The city center has been transformed over the last 20 years, paving the way for a stylish, 21st century landscape. As a result, Manchester and nearby Salford Quays - also known as Media City – are now home to some of Britain’s most exciting modern architecture.

Highlights include the Imperial War Museum, Bridgewater Hall - where you can listen to Manchester's magnificent Hallé Orchestra - and Urbis, a stunning glass exhibition center which glistens in the sun.

Musical and sporting heritage

The birthplace of chart-topping bands including Oasis, The Smiths and New Order, Manchester is a legendary location for British music. While the local gig scene inevitably changes over time, the energy and passion stays strong. From small concerts to big shows, you can catch some of the world’s biggest artists at the Manchester Evening News Arena (M.E.N).

Dance fans around the world know about the Warehouse Project - one of Britain’s best clubbing venues. Tickets for DJ sets and concerts cost around £30 each, and regularly sell out weeks before the event. But there’s also something going on somewhere in Manchester.

Manchester is a city with a passion for soccer – and home to two of Britain’s most successful clubs. This is probably the best place in the whole of the UK to get to grips with the game. Whether you support Man United or City, the atmosphere is always electric on match day.

It’s not all about football though, with one of England’s most accomplished cricket teams – Lancashire County Cricket Club - based next to Manchester United. The club plays matches at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, where you can also catch major international tests during the summer season.

Discover the north

Manchester is well-connected, with plenty of opportunities for road trips across the north-west of England, and beyond. Explore the Roman town of Chester, packed with boutique shops and historic treasures, and stumble upon olde worlde reminders around every corner.

For a breath of fresh air, pack up the car and take a trip to the UNESCO Lake District National Park, with its rolling hills and stunning scenery that inspired Wordsworth. This is the UK’s most popular national park, and you’ll soon discover why.

Whether you’re cheering on a soccer team in one of the city’s packed arenas, or driving into the idyllic, northern countryside, hiring a car at Manchester Airport is a fantastic way to explore this wonderful part of the British Isles.