Travel Information

Where is Manchester and Getting to the Conference Venue.

								When arriving at Manchester (by air) you are greeted by Manchester Airport. Manchester Airport is one of the busiest in Britain as it has recently opened a second runway. The Manchester Airport web site is very well developed. Take a look to find travel and tourism information, local transportation information, and many other helpful links to enhance your travel experience.
		Manchester is located in the Northwest of England, near Liverpool, Chester and North Wales. It is about 200 miles from London and from the border with Scotland.
				Click here for a more detailed map of the UK.
	Your most likely next port of call is your hotel. It's time to drop your bags off before going out to enjoy the city before the conference starts on Monday morning. The easiest way to get to the town centre is by taxi, which you'll be able to hail from outside the airport terminal. You may wish to consider hiring a car, but just remember parking in the town centre can be very difficult. So now that you are in the town centre, please enjoy yourself. See the Manchester links page for a whole host of things to do and see!!

Ground Transportation

Taxi Service and Airport Shuttles

Black Taxis are available on a hail basis in almost every part of town and are frequent in all areas around the town centre, train stations and the airport. All other taxis must be prebooked. A taxi fare from the airport to hotels in Manchester should cost about 20 - 25 pounds sterling.

You may also take a train from the airport to Picadilly Station and then a taxi to your hotel for approximately 10 pounds.

Car rental agencies

The following car rental companies are available at Manchester Airport, and some are available from the town centre.

You will need to check the opening times with the individual companies.

Trains and Buses

There is good information on all forms of public transport at the GMPTE site.

There are a number of train stations in Manchester. Manchester Oxford Road station is the most convenient for the conference site and a number of the hotels, while the major station Manchester Piccadilly is more convenient for other hotels and for travelling to and from other parts of the UK.

Trains also provide a great opportunity to visit other areas in the region, with direct links to all other cities in the North of England. Train timetables are available from The Trainline and Rail Track.

Bus services 43 and X3 travel from the airport to the centre of town.

For all other destinations useful information can be found at the GMPTE site.

Passports and Visas

Citizens of EU member states only need a valid passport or identity card. Citizens of the USA will only need a valid passort, but no visa. Others may need a visa for travel to the United Kingdom, along with a valid passport. Please check with the United Kingdom Embassy or Consulate in your area for detailed information or talk to your travel agent.

Currency

From the moment you arrive in Manchester to the time you leave, you'll need a supply of local currency. In the UK we use pounds sterling and pence.

Currency, including traveler checks, can be exchanged at a bank or at Manchester airport. Information on the location of Thomas Cook Foreign exchange and Travelex shops can be found easily on the Manchester Airport map.

Near the conference facility there are a number of cash (ATM) machines which will work with most cash cards. These are located on Moseley Street, and can be reached from St. Peter's Square by following the Metrolink tracks towards town (turning left), or there is a cash machine in the opposite corner of St. Peter's Square (turning right out of the town hall).

Most credit cards can be used in Manchester, in particular, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

For other cash machines and foreign exchange near your hotel, please contact the hotel staff.

Go to the The Universal Currency Converter™ web site for help with foreign exchange rates.

Weather

The weather in Manchester can be quite variable. May tends to be temperate with temperatures ranging from 7–15 C, 40–60 F. For up-to-date information please look at the weather forecast.