Last Updated on January 27, 2023 by Natalia
If you’re looking for some interesting places to visit near the city, there are some great tours, day trips and days out from Manchester. Some of the best day trips in the UK are possible from the city, with plenty of amazing places to visit within 2 hours of Manchester. This list covers some of the best options including trips to the Peak District, North Wales and the Lake District, as well as to some of the big cities near Manchester. Check out the best day trips and days out from Manchester below!
Find out the best way to spend your time in the city itself with our weekend in Manchester itinerary!
Best day trips and days out from Manchester
Peak District
One of the most scenic days out from Manchester is to the stunning viewpoints in the Peak District. It’s around an hours drive to the Peak District, so it’s a great spot to head to if you’re looking to spend a day walking or hiking.
There are some lovely walks to enjoy in the area, with some of our personal favourites being Thor’s Cave and Stanage Edge, as well as a longer hike up both Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill. All of these spots are within a 2 hour drive of Manchester, so can easily be visited as a day trip or as a weekend trip.
If you want to visit the Peak District without committing to a strenuous hike, then make sure to check out our list of easy walks in the Peak District for ideas of where to go. There are still some great spots to visit if you don’t want a tough hike, and some of the best viewpoints in the area are accessible via easy walks!
The Peak District also has more to offer than just walks, and is home to quaint villages, impressive stately homes and more. Some highlights you may want to include on days out from Manchester are Haddon Hall, Chatsworth House and Matlock Bath.
Using public transport will limit your options in terms of where you can visit, so if you can we recommend driving from Manchester to the Peak District. If you don’t have a car then we recommend renting one for the day as it’s a lot easier to visit the spots you want if you’re driving!
Click here to find great deals on renting a car on the Rental Cars website!
Thankfully there is a great alternative if you aren’t able to drive, as Get Your Guide offer day trips from Manchester to the Peak District. Priced at £46 per person, the tour takes you to a number of different spots including Castleton, Monsal Head and Bakewell.
Click here to book an amazing tour to the Peak District through Get Your Guide!
York
Another one of the great days out from Manchester is the historic city of York. It’s a city that is well-known for its beautiful architecture, castle, and ancient city walls.
There are some lovely spots to visit around the city, and one street you won’t want to miss is the Shambles. It’s a beautiful, traditional street with buildings dating back as far as the 14th century, which make it incredibly picturesque.
During your visit you should make sure to walk along the city walls, which offer some lovely views of the city. It’s also worthwhile taking a stroll along the city streets and admiring some of the lovely architecture from the old buildings. There are plenty more things to do in the city listed on the Visit York website.
Day trips from Manchester to York are possible by driving or public transport. If you drive it will take around 1½-2 hours each way between the two cities.
The fastest trains take around 1 hour 20 minutes from Manchester to York, but some services do take 2 hours to complete the journey. Train tickets start from £33 round trip if you book in advance on Omio’s website.
Click here to book train tickets for a day trip to York through Omio!
Lake District
If you don’t mind a bit of a drive then a trip to the Lake District is one of the best days out from Manchester. It takes around 2 hours to drive there, but it’s well worth it thanks to some lovely walks and amazing views.
The distance means it’s generally easiest to explore Windermere and the southern part of the Lake District when visiting on a day trip from Manchester. If you don’t drive then tours from Manchester to the Lake District are available, which is much more convenient than using public transport to get there and back in one day!
One of Get Your Guide’s days out from Manchester takes you to the Lake District, with stops at Windermere, Coniston Water, Ullswater and Lancaster. Priced at just £49 per person, you’ll have the chance to enjoy some stunning scenery in England’s largest national park.
Click here to book a brilliant tour of the Lake District with Get Your Guide!
If you would rather drive yourself then you get the benefit of being able to choose exactly which spots you want to visit. For ideas of where to go we recommend reading our list of hidden gems in the Lake District, which includes some of our favourite scenic spots like Blea Tarn and Cathedral Quarry.
With so much to discover in the Lake District, we do recommend visiting for more than just a day trip from Manchester if you have the time.
Click here to find some amazing accommodation deals in the Lake District on Booking.com!
North Wales
A trip to North Wales to visit the stunning Snowdonia National Park is one of the best days out from Manchester. It is possible to drive yourself, but it’s a lot easier if you opt for one of the organised tours from Manchester.
One of the best organised tours visits the lovely Conwy town, the beautiful Snowdonia National Park before a final stop back in England in the historic city of Chester. The tour offers the chance to take in some amazing scenery, and can be booked for just £49 per person through Get Your Guide.
Click here to book a fantastic tour of North Wales on Get Your Guide!
The best option if you aren’t taking a tour is to take a road trip for the day from Manchester to North Wales. There are plenty of wonderful places to visit including the aforementioned Snowdonia National Park, as well as Anglesey, Caernarfon Castle, Llandudno and many more!
Liverpool
One of the easiest days out from Manchester is a day trip the nearby city of Liverpool. It’s a good option for a spontaneous day trip, with regular trains running throughout the day and taking just over half an hour.
There are lots of great things to do and places to visit in Liverpool, as the city is home to a variety of interesting museums, Beatles-themed attractions, quirky bars and more! A few spots you won’t want to miss are the Royal Albert Dock, the city’s cathedral, and the waterfront of the River Mersey near the iconic Liver Building.
When it comes to deciding exactly what to do in Liverpool, we recommend taking a look on Get Your Guide’s website. They have a range of great options including river cruises, Beatles tours, football stadium tours, walking tours and more!
Click here to book some great activities for your day in Liverpool on Get Your Guide!
If you can we recommend spending a few days in Liverpool, but if you don’t have time then thankfully it’s one of the easiest day trips from Manchester by train. Trains start from as little as £7 return, with travel times varying from just over half an hour to around an hour depending on the specific train.
Click here to book your train tickets in advance on Omio’s website!
Make sure to check out our one day Liverpool itinerary for ideas of other places to visit and things to do on your trip to the city.
Football Stadium Tours
If you’re looking for easy days out in Manchester then football stadium tours are a great option. If you time your trip well you may be able to attend a match (if you can get a ticket!), but if not then you can take stadium tours at both the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford – the homes of Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.
Stadium tours give you the chance to walk in the footsteps of some of footballs biggest names. Tours include visits to the home dressing rooms, the players tunnel, pitch-side at the dugout and more!
Both stadiums are great to visit, but Old Trafford is probably slightly more iconic due to Manchester United’s impressive history. Tours of Old Trafford cost £27 per person through Get Your Guide, with entrance to the Manchester United museum included in the price.
Click here to book an Old Trafford tour though Get Your Guide!
If you opt for the Etihad Stadium tour you’ll get to visit the home of one of the best teams in the world right now. These guided tours cost just £25 per person, and are full of interesting facts and anecdotes.
Click here to book an Etihad Stadium tour through Get Your Guide!
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