Manchester city breaks
Once an industrial powerhouse, now a thriving city of innovation, Manchester is a destination that knows how to let its hair down in a place with a strong music heritage. Forward-thinking museums brush shoulders with independent shops and a lively nightlife scene, while the city’s many charming, redbrick former factory buildings give Manchester a distinctive look and feel. From Factory Records to Old Trafford and Corrie, the city looms large in public consciousness.
Manchester flights + 7 days car rental
Come on feel the buzz
Rivalling London for liveliness, Manchester has bars and clubs, music and museums; but it’s striking distance from the Peak District’s craggy climbs and charming spa towns.
Soak up the vibes of the none-hipper Northern Quarter before enjoying a nightcap at Schofield’s Bar with a cocktail from a menu written by proteges from Claridge’s. Poke around the lively food market Mackie Mayor, one the city’s best. The former meat market has been reimagined and is now bursting with cool street food vendors, craft breweries and wine bars.
While Manchester is a perfectly walkable city, you can always hop on a free bus that shuttles you around its major landmarks. Book your flights to Manchester today and start exploring.
Carefully selected Manchester hotels
Best hotels in Manchester for all types of traveller
INNSiDE by Melia Manchester is an upscale hotel a five-minute walk from Deansgate. Book a treatment in the full-service spa and enjoy some authentic Italian cuisine at Gino D’Acampo Manchester.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester - Piccadilly sits at the heart of Manchester’s buzzing commercial district. Enjoy tasty food and craft beers at the Store Street Exchange Restaurant and Craft Bar and lounge around on the seasonal terrace.
Native Manchester occupies Grade 2-listed building the Ducie Street Warehouse just a five-minute walk from tram stops. Attracting a younger breed of visitor, this funky aparthotel offers modern serviced apartments with a social hub offering all-day dining, a mini-cinema and outdoor terrace.
The Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel resides in a Grade 2-listed building close to the central shopping district with bedrooms showcasing rustic brickwork and beamed ceilings.
Wilde Aparthotels St Peter’s Square Manchester is a modern aparthotel building inspired by the writer Oscar Wilde right next to St Peter's Square tram stop, close to Manchester Art Gallery and Arndale Shopping Centre. It features rainfall showers, high-end appliances and luxuriant mattresses.
Manchester city break FAQs
- The fast-developing area of Ancoats is packed with tempting, prized eateries such as Erst, mana and Rads amid the modern, repurposed architecture of office blocks and apartments. By contrast, stroll along the canal-side quarter of Castlefield with its redbrick buildings, little bridges and weeping willows draping the colourful barges.
- The sooty-red Neo-Gothic extravagances of the cavernous cathedral of books that is the John Rylands Library is well worth a peek. Afterwards you can pause for a moment of reflection at the statue of pioneering mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing in Sackville Gardens – he worked at Manchester University for six years, during which time he was prosecuted for homosexuality.
- Catch a show at the Lowry surrounded by over 300 artworks by the celebrated Mancunian painter and then stop for a drink in the city’s exuberant Gay Village along Canal Street. Call in at MediaCityUK, the main northern outpost of the BBC and where Britian’s longest-running soap opera Coronation Street is made.
- Spinningfields is a neighbourhood just off Deansgate where the city’s slick finance hub brushes up against notable institutions such as John Ryland’s Library and the People’s History Museum. It’s also something of a foodie mecca being home to the likes of 20 Stories, where posh grub and dazzling cocktails are served.
- Arguably Manchester’s most desirable suburb, Didsbury is a leafy neighbourhood with a strong community vibe. It’s home to many great charity shops and the family-friendly Fletcher Moss Park. There’s no shortage of enticing dining options here, with many of its bars and restaurants found on Burton Road, which is served by a convenient tram stop. A monthly Makers’ Market offers everything from home-baked delicacies to art prints and scented candles.
- Altrincham is worth the 20-minute tram ride from the city centre. Its greatest asset is probably its market with an indoor food hall and stalls heaving with arts and crafts. Its home to numerous artisan brunch spots and craft cocktail bars, while other notable attractions include an ice-skating rink and the Everyman cinema where you can watch the latest movies on luxurious sofas.
- A short tram ride from Manchester proper lie the Salford Quays, a feast for lovers of modern architecture, and a mecca for eating, drinking and shopping. Main attractions here include the Lowry for cutting-edge theatre and art and just across the water MediaCityUK, the northern home of the BBC, where you may spot celebrities and presenters having a chinwag in the building’s many bars and cafes. Across the footbridge there’s also the Imperial War Museum North, which throws some light on conflicts from World War I to the present day and their impact.
- Are you looking for a stay that’s close to the Manchester Christmas markets? Check out the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel. This four-star hotel offers chic rooms in a very convenient setting for everything, including the airport and main train station. The hotel sits next to Piccadilly Gardens with a tram stop outside, while you can savour panoramic city views from the Brasserie restaurant.
- For cheap hotels in Manchester, consider the Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre. This stylish hotel in Manchester’s buzzing Northern Quarter comes with breakfast included, while you can enjoy dinner at the Glasshouse Restaurant in the neighbouring Crowne Plaza Hotel before retiring with a refreshing drink in the hotel’s cool bar. It ranks highly in any round up of budget hotels in Manchester.
- Planning to visit during Manchester Pride? Maybe the Moxy Manchester City could be for you. Modern and stylish, the dog-friendly Moxy eases you in with a complimentary welcome drink. You can also stock up on snacks and drinks at the 24-hour grab 'n' go station.
- Perhaps you’re looking for a luxury stay in Manchester. The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel could be up your alley. With its clocktower and Victorian facade this hotel makes a bold impression. Luxury touches include premium toiletries, a range of travel amenities and some welcome treats.
- Voco Manchester - City Centre could be the ideal place for a Manchester city break. This hotel radiates charm and charisma, with Canal Street, Sackville Park and the Northern Quarter all on your doorstep. Settle in for an indulgent meal at Runyan’s Restaurant and enjoy a drink on the terrace.
Why choose British Airways Vacations?
The British Airways experience is more than a flight.
We offer carefully chosen hotels, resorts and villas in the most amazing places, and car rental with no hidden extras. Our access to the extensive British Airways global network and oneworld® alliance puts us in a unique position to create packages with convenient flights across the globe. From start to finish consider your vacation taken care of.
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Secure your vacation with a small deposit and spread the cost with flexible installments.
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Terms and conditions
- Flight only prices are updated every 24 hours and are accurate when published. Flights at these prices are limited and may sell out quickly.
- Package vacation prices (flight + hotel or flight + car) prices are updated every 24 to 48 hours and are accurate when published and may vary upon reaching subsequent pages. Availability may be extremely limited particularly during peak periods.
- Return fares displayed are the lowest adult return prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges, based on a 7-day return journey.
- Package vacation prices (flight + hotel and flight + car) shown are in USD per person based on 2 adults sharing one room or one car and prices include taxes, fees and carrier charges unless otherwise specified. Flight + car prices based on drivers aged 30-70 years.
- Additional charges will be applied for payments made using a corporate credit card.
- Advertised fares are available on ba.com. Additional charges may apply if purchased through British Airways outlets or travel agents.
- Combine and save on Vacations: Guaranteed savings are only available when booking a Flight + Hotel or Flight + Car booking including one land product, it does not apply to a ‘Customise your trip’ vacation including more than one hotel and / or car.
- Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply.
1. Vacation Sale offers can be booked online at ba.com or through the British Airways call centre from January 6, 2026 and January 22, 2026 at 23:59 EST.
2. Vacation sale offers are valid on travel between January 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026. All travel must be completed by September 30, 2026. For travel from all British Airways operating airports in the US.
3. To qualify for the up to $400 discount per booking offer certain booking requirements must be met.
4. The savings are $50, $100, $200 or $400 and apply to new Vacation Package bookings only where a minimum spend is met:
a. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $8,000 per booking can save $400 per booking.
b. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $5,000 per booking can save $200 per booking.
c. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $3,000 per booking can save $100 per booking.
d. Vacation Package bookings with a total cost of $1,500 per booking can save $50 per booking.
5. The savings are per booking.
6. A Vacation Package booking means any booking including round trip flights and either a hotel, car or combination of both for the duration of the travel period. Hotels/cars added to flights only after a flight has been selected or booked will not be eligible. To be eligible for savings, we invite you to choose ‘Flight + hotel’ or ‘Flight + car’ when commencing a search. Quotes in our ‘Create your trip’ booking tool will not include this offer and are discounted in a different way.
7. Flight + car Vacation Package savings are applied before any Extras (insurance waiver, car seats etc.) are added to the booking.
8. Prices advertised on ba.com include the additional discount where applicable.
9. Vacation sale lead-in prices include all airline-related taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
10. Economy flight and hotel package lead-in prices are based on 2 adults traveling on the same itinerary, round trip in Economy Class, pricing per adult person, based on 5 nights for double occupancy accommodation.
11. Economy flight and car rental package lead-in prices are based on 2 adults traveling on the same itinerary, round trip in Economy Class, pricing per adult person, based on 7 days Avis or Budget car rental in a ‘Group A Economy Manual’ car. Prices are based on drivers aged 30-70 years. (Automatic car rental available at higher prices).
12. Car rental prices do not include fees charged locally such as airport charges, additional driver, insurance, navigation aids and similar options.
13. All prices are liable to change at any time and are subject to flight, hotel and car rental availability. Availability is strictly limited.
14. Offers are valid for new bookings only, made during the promotional period. Valid only when combined with British operated flights or BA code share flights departing from a US gateway.
15. Prices are based on travel during dates and board basis stated.
16. Limited availability of flights at these prices. Individual travel dates are subject to availability. Promotional travel is subject to availability and capacity control, and availability may be limited over holidays and peak periods. The number of seats available on each flight at a particular fare may be restricted and it is possible that seats allocated to a particular fare on a particular flight may be fully booked even though seats are still available for sale at a different fare or booking class in the same cabin.
17. Deposits can only be paid for bookings created as flight + hotel or flight + car packages. All flight only, hotel, car and experience only bookings, and any hotel, car or experiences added to a flight only booking are excluded from this offer. The following deposit levels apply based on the total spend per booking:
I. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $1000-$1999 - pay from $198 deposit per booking
II. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $2000-$2499 - pay from $250 deposit per booking
III. Flight + hotel and flight + car vacations between $2500-$2999 - pay from $300 deposit per booking
18. The deposit balance will be due 28 days prior to your departure date. The actual payment date will be displayed on the payment details page. You can pay the balance in as many instalments as you want. This allows you to spread the cost of the vacation over a longer period. You will have full flexibility of when you make the payments and how much they are, the only requirement is that you must have paid the full balance by the balance due date.
19. British Airways holidays standard terms and conditions and conditions of carriage apply. For full terms and conditions please refer to https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/legal/package-booking-terms-and-conditions
20. All travel on BA operated flights is subject to BA's General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage (see ba.com http://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/legal/british-airways/general-conditions-of-carriage) and the notice and conditions of contract contained on each ticket and itinerary. Passengers carried by code share services are subject to the ticketing carrier's conditions of carriage.
21. British Airways is not liable for the reproduction of this offer or indirect access via third party websites of these terms and where such reproduction misstates or omits any of the information or terms and conditions connected with this promotion.
22. Normal booking conditions, including amendment and cancellation charges, of a hotel purchase apply.
23. Normal booking conditions, including amendment and cancellation charges, of a car purchase apply.
24. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
25. This offer may be withdrawn or limited by British Airways without notice.
26. Other significant restrictions may apply.
We reserve the right to cancel any bookings that violate any of these terms and conditions.