As the biggest city in the north of England and one of the biggest cities in the UK, Manchester serves as a major transport hub for the country. With routes into the city from all over the country, including the top of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall, Manchester provides a perfect starting point for your next day trip.
Join CrossCountry as we explore three of the best day trips from Manchester.
Best Train Day Trips from Manchester
Wales
Cardiff gives visitors the best of both worlds in a day trip, as it has the convenience of a big city whilst also providing a quick coastal getaway. In the city centre, find plenty of varied activities to choose from so you can make the most of your Welsh excursion.
If you love nothing more than a shopping trip, you are in luck in Cardiff. The Welsh capital has an eclectic mix of independent shops and high street names threaded throughout the city, plus Kings Road Yard is a bustling market full of quirky shops with a community feel. If you’re out with the family in the Welsh capital, there are plenty of spots to recover from a busy day, with a huge range of family-friendly restaurants in the city to refresh.
If you’re looking for a shorter journey time twinned with a countryside getaway, the north of Wales could just be what you’re looking for. Visit the Llandudno Pier as well as the promenade for the ultimate British day trip to the coast. From Llandudno, you are also not far from taking a trip to Snowdonia, giving you the chance to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK all within the space of a day!
If you’re planning for a Manchester to Wales day trip, CrossCountry provides regular trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central and Newport in South Wales with a change, as well as Llandudno and Holyhead in the North with a change at Crewe via alternative train operators.
Lake District
Manchester is a pivotal transport hub in the UK, and with plenty of routes in and out of the city, Manchester makes it easier to travel to more remote parts of the country. The Lake District is a dream destination renowned for its unrivalled natural beauty. Although the Lake District is an appealing weekend getaway, there is plenty to enjoy on a day trip to the Lake District too.
This area is aptly named, with sixteen lakes and over fifteen thousand archaeological sites to explore, giving visitors more than enough areas to make the most of their adventure to the Northwest of England.
The biggest and most visited lake within the district is Lake Windemere. Stretching over ten miles, Windermere welcomes over seven million visitors each year to take in the spectacular landscapes as well as to explore the charming towns along side the lake. Ambleside is located on the northern tip of Lake Windermere and serves as either the start or finish of a number of classic lakeside hikes. The town is also home to a wide variety of gift shops to commemorate your trip here as well as plenty of cafés to rest and restore after a lakeside hike.
With the Lake District being so large and with plenty to see, Manchester can provide an essential base if you want to extend your stay near the Lake District. Once arriving at Manchester with CrossCountry on one of the many services towards Manchester Piccadilly, alternative transport from Manchester would be required, due to the remote nature of the Lake District.
Oxford
Leave the busy metropolis of Manchester for the quainter city of Oxford. With trains departing every hour, Oxford will feel a whole lot closer and also gives you plenty of time to make your own way through the narrow, cobbled-streets of this historic city.
The first thing that comes to mind for a lot of people is the university in Oxford, as it is one of the most famous universities in the world. Founded almost one thousand years ago in 1096, the University of Oxford is one of the oldest educational institutions in the world. It has played a pivotal part in some of the world’s most famous people’s lives. From renowned scientists such as Stephen Hawking, to Prime Ministers like Tony Blair, one of the twenty-eight British Prime Ministers to attend the University.
The University buildings are spread out throughout the city, with arguably the most famous university building, the Radcliffe Camera, being central to the city. Guided tours are available across some of the university buildings, which will provide you with centuries of fascinating stories.
Beyond the university, which could take a whole day to explore in its own right, there are a number of different parts to tour in this packed city. The Covered Market in the centre of the city is home to a number of different independent shops that have been trading there since the late 18th century. Cowley Road stretches between the centre of the city to the outskirts and provides a huge variety of restaurants and pubs to treat yourself with.
CrossCountry can get you to Oxford from Manchester within three hours, with Oxford station being a fifteen-minute walk from the centre of the city.
If you’re planning a day trip from Manchester, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Info
At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.
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