Is Manchester Airport a good place to stay in Manchester?

Manchester Airport is a practical base if you have an early flight, a late arrival or a night between flights in the north of England. Several hotels are a walk from the terminals, the rest are a short shuttle ride away, and the airport station has direct trains to Piccadilly along with the Metrolink into the city. It suits business travellers, families flying on holiday and anyone who wants a stress-free start to a trip.

The area is built around the airport rather than any neighbourhood. Hotels line the roads around the terminals and the approach roads, with car parks, offices and fields beyond. The Runway Visitor Park beside the runways has Concorde on display and views of the planes, and Quarry Bank, a National Trust cotton mill with gardens and woodland, is close by at Styal.

The downside is that there's nothing to do in the evening beyond the hotel bar and restaurant. Manchester's centre is a train or tram ride away, so a night out in the Northern Quarter means planning your trip back, and the area has no character of its own. Rooms are not especially cheap either.

What makes Manchester Airport worth considering is convenience. Waking up a short walk or shuttle from check-in takes the stress out of an early departure, the rooms are quiet and modern, and the trains make it easy to see the city before heading home.