14 Great Day Trips From Manchester For The Weekend

Manchester is a very cool city, one that I’ve spent lots of time in over the years. It’s got everything you could want from a city – theatre, independent coffee shops, a thriving restaurant scene, historic sights, and many museums. It’s a great place to enjoy a city break but it’s also a great city from which to enjoy a day trip.

If you’re looking for day trips from Manchester, here are 14 options from gorgeous seaside breaks to catching a train to another incredible city. Manchester is also within easy reach of some of the UK’s national parks, so if you like getting into the great outdoors, some of these day trips from Manchester will be perfect for you.

All the day trips below are easily accessible by car, train or coach with most being less than 2 hours away so you can really enjoy a full day out. There are also some options where you can jump onto a tour straight from Manchester City Centre – perfect if you want everything organised for you on the day!

So, what are you waiting for? Here are some incredible day trips from Manchester!

1. Liverpool
2. The Peak District
3. Marsden
4. Blackpool
5. Leeds
6. North Wales
7. York
8. Chester
9. Hebden Bridge
10. The Lake District
11. Formby
12. Yorkshire Dales
13. Sheffield
14. RHS Garden Bridgewater

14 Day Trips From Manchester

Liverpool

Liverpool is one of my favourite cities. It’s full of fun, great places to eat, proper pubs and lots of history.

If you’re a music fan you’ll want to check out everything to do with The Beatles – walk in the footsteps of these Liverpool legends on a Beatles Highlights Walking Tour, enjoy the Beatles Museum or a Cavern Quarter Walking Tour which will show you all the best parts of Liverpool while you learn about the origin of The Beatles.

Maybe music isn’t your thing? Well, Liverpool has two world famous football teams and you can do a tour of Liverpool Football Club or even go see a Liverpool game for yourself! To explore Liverpool’s history, head down to the Royal Albert Docks where not only will you find The International Slavery Museum but also the Maritime Museum. Both are currently closed but are undergoing major refurbishment. The Tate Liverpool is down at the Royal Albert Docks too if you’re interested in modern art. Alternatively, you could see the Royal Albert Docks on a sightseeing cruise on the Mersey River where you’ll also get to see Liverpool’s Three Graces.

For a refreshment break, the traditional pubs of Liverpool are well worth a visit – The Dispensary, The Belvedere and Ye Cracke are some of my favourites. And then there’s Bold Street with all its incredible food options – you could easily spend a whole day just on this street sampling everything on offer! For something that’s suitable for a special occasion, The Art School is a wonderful place and is one of my favourite places especially at Christmas time.

The Peak District

Time to drive from Manchester to Peak District: 1 hour

Manchester is luckily within easy reach of the Peak District, the UK’s oldest National Park and is home to some gorgeous places like Bakewell (home of the delicious Bakewell Tart), Buxton and Dovedale. Castleton is one of the more easily accessible places to visit by car. Here you can visit Blue John Cavern, Winnats Pass and climb to the peak of Mam Tor for great views across the valley.

Bamford Edge is one of the main landmarks of the northern Peak District and Dovestone Reservoir is a really good reservoir walk if you need to stretch your legs in the countryside.

Marsden

Time to drive from Manchester to Marsden: 50 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Marsden: 59 minutes

Marden is a gorgeous village nestled in the Colne Valley, in between Manchester and Huddersfield on the banks of the River Colne. If you like the outdoors, there are plenty of walking paths from Marsden that will take you out into the hills. You can then loop back and cosy up in one of the many pubs of Marsden.

One of the most historic things about Marsden is the Stanedge Tunnel. On the foothills of the Pennines, the Stanedge Tunnel is the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in the UK. If you want to experience Stanedge Tunnel yourself you can go on a 30 minute Discovery Boat Ride or a Stanedge Tunnel Through Trip – I got to journey inside Stanedge Tunnel when I was at school and it’s fascinating to learn about its history and how it was constructed.

If you don’t want to go in the tunnel, there is a great cafe canal side where you can watch boats float in and out of the Stanedge Tunnel.

Now, Marsden also hosts the Marsden Jazz Festival every year where the whole village comes alive with music. Founded in 1992, it’s one of the UK’s oldest music festivals with internationally acclaimed musicians and local schools all taking part. This is definitely worth a day trip if you’re into your jazz music!

Blackpool

Time to drive from Manchester to Blackpool: 1 hour 2 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Blackpool: 1 hour 19 minutes

Blackpool, one of the UK’s main seaside resorts can be a lot of fun. If you’re visiting with family, head to the Sealife Centre or bring your bucket and spade for a day on the beach.

For the thrill seekers out there, enjoy a day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and ride The Big One, Valhalla (bring your waterproofs!) and the Grand National. If you prefer a bit more culture, take a tour around the world famous Blackpool Ballroom, a historic destination well loved among dancers around the globe. Listen to the Wurlitzer organ and get the chance to step onto the unique sprung floor surrounded by gorgeous architecture.

Leeds

Time to drive from Manchester to Blackpool: 1 hour 2 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Blackpool: 1 hour 9 minutes

I’m biased because I live in Leeds but it really is a great city to enjoy a day in. You could easily spend a long weekend in the city exploring its many independent restaurants and coffee shops.

I’d start off by enjoying breakfast or brunch in Laynes. Right next to the train station, not only is Laynes convenient if you’re travelling to Leeds by train but they also have one of the best brunches in Leeds. 

I’d then get the Leeds Water Taxi along the River Aire to Leeds Dock to visit the Royal Armouries where you can learn about Arms and Armour from around the globe. Best of all, this place is free so it’s perfect if you’re travelling on a budget. Grab a coffee from North Star Roast Coffee Shop for your walk back into Leeds where it’s time to do some shopping. High end shops such as Anthropologie and John Lewis are in Victoria Gate and high street shops such as Space NK and Apple are in Trinity Leeds. 

Then there’s the arcades of Leeds, gorgeous, ornate alleys filled with coffee shops, independent shops and luxury outlets. The Victoria Quarter is one of the most stunning of Leeds’ arcades and if you’re in Leeds around Christmas time is one of the most beautiful places in the city. The Leeds Corn Exchange is one of Leeds’ best spots for independent shopping too but is also worth checking out for its unique architecture.

Once you’ve done some shopping, either pop into Leeds Art Gallery or head to Roland’s down Call Lane from some amazing cocktails – their espresso martini is regularly said to be the best in the city.

For dinner, Stuzzi is a great Italian place or Ox Club is where to go for consistently good food – my favourite place in Leeds for a gorgeous date night.

Other things you could do in Leeds is a Leeds Food Tour where you’ll get to try out some of the city’s best eateries or Leeds Kirkgate Market is full of history and great street food stalls. Basically you need to come to Leeds hungry because it’s a wonderful place to eat.

North Wales

North Wales is a very scenic area of the UK and is best visited by car if you want to see a few key sights in one day. Conwy Castle, Zip World (home of the fastest zip line in the world) and Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) are all key highlights but might take some planning if you want to fit them all into one day.

This area of Wales is quickly becoming a hotspot for adrenalin junkies and adventure seekers wanting to get their thrills from the outdoors. If you want to take your day a bit more leisurely, take a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway for incredible views with minimal effort.

York

Time to drive from Manchester to York: 1 hour 46 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to York: 1 hour 14 minutes

Full of medieval sights and mazes of alleyways, York is a beautiful historic city on the River Ouse. I never tire of visiting here and I discover something new every time.

York Minster is one of the main attractions to enjoy in the city and can be enjoyed easily from the outside. However, you can buy a ticket to visit inside York Minster where you can see the Rose Window in all its beauty and if you want to see York from a different view point, you can also climb up York Minster’s Central Tower. 

Clifford’s Tower is another of York’s historic attractions and has recently reopened after a huge refurbishment. The steps up are quite steep but there are resting places along the way. Once you’re in Clifford’s Tower though, you’ll get a great insight into the history of this building as well as what life in York was like between 1190 and 1684. 

Other things to do in York include visiting Jorvik – a great thing to do if you’re visiting the city with kids – and York Dungeons if you really want to learn about York’s gruesome past. York also has plenty of ghost tours if you’re staying later into the evening.

Personally, I love just walking around York. Taking a stroll along the walls, browsing the shops on The Shambles (Monkbar Chocolatiers is a must for their melted chocolate pot), and popping into some favourite bars such as Fossgate Social and Evil Eye for great cocktails.

For food, there are a few hog roast shops in York where you can get a great sandwich or tubs of roast potatoes and pork scratchings and Bettys is the place to go for a special slice of cake – or for afternoon tea if you book ahead. 

Chester

Time to drive from Manchester to Chester: 1 hour 5 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Chester: 1 hour 6 minutes

Chester is another Roman City, smaller than York but with just as much charm, that’s worth a day trip from Manchester. Walk along the Roman Walls, visit Chester Cathedral or go shopping on The Rows – two-tiered timber framed galleries that line Chester’s main streets. The Rows also house places to eat and you can even do a free audio tour called Discover The Rows to guide you around The Rows history.

A small journey out of Chester is Chester Zoo where you can see endangered snow leopards, elephants and tigers. You can very easily spend the whole day here and at certain times of year there are special events where the zoo opens after hours.

Hebden Bridge

Time to drive from Manchester to Hebden Bridge: 1 hour 11 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Hebden Bridge: 42 minutes

One of the easier places to get to via train from Manchester is Hebden Bridge. One of the most inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly places in the UK, you’ll find Hebden Bridge full of independent shops and great little bars and pubs. 

Spend a day here enjoying a walk along the canal before grabbing a table at Vocation Brewery for a refreshing pint. You might also want to drop in on Hebden Bridge when their Steampunk Weekend is on and the village becomes full of fun, music and markets.

The Lake District

Time to drive from Manchester to The Lake District: 1 hour 34 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to The Lake District: 1 hour 51 minutes

I know it’s another National Park, but the Lake District really can’t be missed. With Windermere only 1.5 hours away by car, it’s a great way to get out into the countryside for the day. There are several walks you can do around Windermere or take a leisurely boat ride on the lake between Bowness and Ambleside.

If you’re happy to drive a bit further, Ullswater is around 2 hours away by car and is definitely worth the extra travel as it’s the most beautiful lake and has access to places like Aira Force Waterfall, Hellvelyn, and Pooley Bridge. One of my favourite hotels is here too – Another Place, which has a gorgeous pool and spa if you want to treat yourself.

Formby

Time to drive from Manchester to Formby: 1 hour 5 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Formby: 1 hour 22 minutes

For a day by the coast, Formby is hard to beat. With vast spaces of sand, there’s plenty of room here even on the warmest of summer days. It feels wild here with big sand dunes and pine trees backing the beach. You might even get the chance to spot red squirrels here as it’s one of the main refuges and strongholds for red squirrels in the UK.

Further along the coast is Crosby Beach, famous for Antony Gormley’s “Another Place” installation, an art piece of 100 iron men facing into the sea – a slightly eerie sight when the tide is in. Although Crosby is a great place to see art and for a beach side stroll, it’s not suitable to swim or bathe here due to strong tides and the potential for quicksand. Therefore Formby is a better option if you want a day by the sea.

Yorkshire Dales

Time to drive from Manchester to Yorkshire Dales: 1 hour 45 minutes

To enjoy a day trip from Manchester to the Yorkshire Dales, you do ideally need a car to enjoy the area. Malham Cove is one of the easiest places to reach via car and is a really good walk with the option of a pub lunch after.

Grassington is another place within easy reach if you have a car. The filming location of All Creatures Great and Small is a wonderful village and there’s also a great circular walk you can do from the village centre.

Sheffield

Time to drive from Manchester to Sheffield: 1 hour 31 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to Sheffield: 1 hour 17 minutes

Sheffield is both an industrial city and a gateway to the great outdoors of The Peak District. Maybe you want a day full of food and drink, in which case the city has lots to offer. Maybe you want a day to enjoy the northern Peak District, in which case Sheffield is the perfect base for a weekend.

Kelham Island is home to a whole regeneration of food and drink businesses and in 2022 was voted one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. Here you can enjoy Kelham Books and Music, Cutlery Works which is a giant food hall, and Church which is a 100% vegan bar owned by Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes. If you like chocolate, make sure to pay Bullion Chocolate Makers a visit – a bean-to-bar chocolate maker where you can enjoy a factory tour or do a chocolate making workshop. 

If you need more greenery, head to Sheffield’s Winter Garden which is the largest urban glasshouse in Europe and home to over 2500 plants. The perfect activity if it’s raining a bit when you visit Sheffield!

RHS Garden Bridgewater

Time to drive from Manchester to RHS Garden Bridgewater: 30 minutes
Time on train from Manchester to RHS Garden Bridgewater: 1 hour 7 minutes

RHS Garden Bridgewater allows visitors to get away from the busy city and into the heart of nature. Explore the Weston Walled Garden, The Kitchen Garden, Moon Bridge Water, The Chinese Streamside Garden and more over this 154 acre site which was opened in May 2021 after it became Europe’s biggest horticultural project.

Have any of these inspired you to enjoy a day trip from Manchester? Maybe you’re visiting the city on a long weekend break? Maybe you live in Manchester and need something to do on the weekend or on a day of annual leave? All the above are great options but if you have any other suggestions, let me know so I can add them in!