Trains to Manchester Piccadilly

Manchester Piccadilly blends historic, 19th-century industrial grit with modern hustle and bustle, convenience, and excellent public transport to the rest of Manchester. Admittedly, it’s a busy station (the second busiest outside of London, actually), and you may find yourself jostling with commuters as you rush to catch your train or check the departure boards. Yet, amongst all the commotion, Piccadilly is a testament to modern travel as it’s quick, convenient, and has enough eateries to shake a stick at.

Found just south east of the city centre, in, you guessed it, Piccadilly, the station places you within easy reach of Manchester’s main attractions and iconic locales. That’s why you’ll find everything from busy commuters, diligent students, local sightseers, and long-distance travellers at Manchester Piccadilly. It’s a station that really does keep the UK connected.

With its origins dating back to 1842, at the very epicentre of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester Piccadilly has a long and varied history. Nowadays, the station offers a contemporary way to travel, while keeping its traditional railway station characteristics intact.

Manchester Piccadilly has tons of amenities, including:

• A ticket office at the main concourse (opening times: Monday to Saturday: 4.30am – 10.30pm; Sunday: 7am – 10.30pm). You can book train tickets as well as monthly and annual season tickets at the ticket office.
• Self-service ticket machines and accessible ticket machines. Plus, you can collect tickets you have bought online from the self-service machines.
• First class lounge (opening times: Monday to Friday: 6am – 7.30pm; Saturday: 8am – 6pm; Sunday 9.30am – 7.30pm).
• Step-free access to all platforms.
• Boards to check the real-time train timetable.
• ATMs, shops, and hospitality.
• Public telephones, public Wi-Fi, and post boxes.
• 254 bicycle storage stands and lockers.

Manchester Piccadilly is a great station for its public transport connections. Being in the centre of Manchester, it’s very easy to reach by public transport. Local buses stop outside the station, taxis can drop you off outside the entrance, and they are available at the Fairfield Street exit. Piccadilly is a major stop on the tram network, too.

If you’re flying into Manchester, there’s a regular train service from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly, which takes only fifteen minutes between stations. Plus, if you’re departing from Manchester Oxford Road or Manchester Victoria, you can easily walk to Piccadilly if you’d prefer.

Manchester Piccadilly is the busiest station in the city, serving long-distance, inter-city, and cross-country routes to destinations such as London Euston, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bournemouth, and Edinburgh. It also runs regional services to cities like Leeds, Newcastle, and York, and operates local commuter routes around Greater Manchester.

London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly

Avanti West Coast services routes between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly. Travelling directly to Manchester takes, on average, two hours and six minutes.

Stalybridge to Manchester Piccadilly

TransPennine Express offers services to Manchester Piccadilly from Stalybridge. This journey only takes fifteen minutes, and trains usually depart every half an hour or so.

Milton Keynes to Manchester Piccadilly

Avanti West Coast runs services from Milton Keynes to Manchester Piccadilly, which usually takes one hour and forty minutes.

Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly

TransPennine Express and Northern run services every ten minutes, seven days per week, from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly. The journey between stations is roughly fifteen to twenty minutes.

As a central UK railway hub and one of the busiest stations outside of London, a whole host of railway operators use Manchester Piccadilly, which serves routes heading North, East, South, and West. These are: Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, East Midlands Railway, Northern, CrossCountry, and TransPennine Express.

If you’re arriving in Manchester Piccadilly, then you’re in luck, the station places you right in the city centre, surrounded by the names of famous locations, great eateries, excellent shopping, and eminent landmarks.

If you like shopping, the Arndale Centre is only a few minutes’ walk from the station, while the Trafford Centre, the third largest retail space in the UK, is only thirty minutes from Manchester Piccadilly by tram. If you’re after something more unique, then there are tons of vintage stores, independent boutiques, and trendy shops in the Northern Quarter.

No matter what you’re into, there’s a whole host of things to do—the National Football Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Chinatown, and the entertainment hotspot The Printworks are all nearby. So, whether you want to shop till you drop, immerse yourself in some culture, or head out for a bite to eat and drink, Manchester Piccadilly has you covered.

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Where is Manchester Piccadilly Station located?

Manchester Piccadilly station is located at Piccadilly Station Approach, between Store Street and Fairfield Street, south east of the city centre.

What is the main railway station in Manchester?

Manchester Piccadilly is the main railway station in Manchester. It’s also the busiest station in the region and the second busiest station outside of London. The other main stations in Manchester are Victoria, Oxford Road, and Deansgate.

What station code is Manchester Piccadilly under?

The station code for Manchester Piccadilly is MAN.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.