h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What is the simplest/cheapest way to get from Manchester Airport to central Manchester (Canal Street)?

Train? Bus?

http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/Bus

Same site also has pages for trains


Fastest is probably train to Piccadilly then walk to Canal Street
Cheapest will be the bus
Unless you want to fork out for a taxi.

I found a train ticket from the airport to Oxford Road and back (within 2 months) for a total price of £11.10

It may seem a bit pricey but it allows me to travel whenever I feel like it - and since I'm travelling outside peak hours there ought to be enough free seats - so I find it acceptable.

But what do you think?

I found it here:

http://www.thetrainline.com/?utm_source=Affiliates&utm_campaign=text&tduid=bf9075d7876d515988b89670e3b19aff

The hotel on canal St, err, Velvet isn't it? is barely any distance from the picadilly station I think Must. find. trian times... I think there's work happening on whatever the more direct line is, from 'the South' 'up Northwards', as I think I may have to travel via Birmingham... Hopefully its the Birmingham in the UK, not the US though...

Thx!

Will try the link.

My plan is to arrive at Manchester airport and fall on the kindness of the information booth to tell me which way to go to catch either a train or bus near The Palace Hotel. Picadilly station is close, so I'll probably take the train. It's all adventure over destination after that. I just want to get my luggage to the hotel. There will be a quantum change in my attitude after that. I'll have a base of operations. My blood pressure will drop significantly.

Oxford Road is even closer (to The Palace)

so... yous all arriving on the Thurs? or the Weds? I shall be at Piccadilly circa err... I've forgotten... err... about twenty to 7, in the evening I think... by which time I'll probably be starving.... unless I'm organised enough to make a packed lunch for the train trip hmmm... that'd take up bag space though... ahh, sod it, who needs clothes, just a small bag full of sandwichs oughta suffice

Ah, yes. Oxford road. Thanks for the clarification.

I'll be arriving Thursday and if I'm not too lagged I'll try to find the gang.

Just folow the magic yellow footprints. We'll be easy not to miss.

From the airport to Manchester city centre, as long as you arrive at a reasonable hour, the train is the way to go. 15ish mins for the non stop journey, 25ish for the stopper, £4.10 for an off peak single. Much cheaper than a taxi and quicker than the bus. As yet the trams don't go to the airport and when they do they'll most likely be more expensive and take longer.
Canal St is close to Piccadilly (the main Manchester station), the Palace hotel is accross the road from Oxford Rd station, the fare is the same.

and so speakith someone who knows

Yup

very much, Phil

Thanks.

Talking of transport.... and rahter than starting a new thread, and, just in case anyone is I dinny suppose anyone else is travelling up on the Thursday, and using the train that I'll be joining....? (I think its the Norwich to Liverpool Lime street service, which passes through many many places, en-route to Manchester, including where I'll hopefully* be joining it, at Ely.....), just in case there'll be anyone else on the same train at teh same time... err... nope... can't recall from memory which time one I'm on (gets into Manchester about twenty to 7 in the evening, I think...... which means it must be passing through Ely circa 2.40something....) damn. which reminds me. must plug my zenstone in to charge up so I've some music to listen to

One of the two buses I can get to work - 44, I think - is the one that goes to/from the airport. It runs every 20 minutes or so, and goes straight past the Palace Hotel, into Piccadilly Gardens. It's the method I always use for the airport, although that's partly because I live nowhere near a train station.

No wait, I think it's the 43. Possibly 41, but I am pretty sure 43.