toast2906

Our family of 4 will be arriving in Manchester at 11 am from San Francisco in late July. We expect to be exhausted and are looking for a place to stay within an hour of the airport for 1 or 2 nights. We will be heading toward Harrogate or Edinburgh so would like to head in that general direction (north/northeast). The kids (teens) have never been to England and a picturesque town/village would be an ideal introduction but we'd be open to a non-chain hotel in a walkable area of the city. Thanks!

toast2906

Forgot to mention that we will have a car.

PatrickLondon

Are you really tied to the car from the off? By train direct from the airport, you can be in York or the Lake District within your timeframe, without having to worry about the effect of jet lag on your driving (and on the "other" side of the road).

Rubicund

After such a long flight, I'd be reluctant to drive straight off the plane as far as Harrogate. As you're landing in Manchester, what's wrong with taking a train into the city, getting rid of the jet lag and then renting your car after a night or two. There's lots to do, great hotels, excellent restaurants etc. in Manchester.

Harrogate is an easy drive from Manchester via the M62 and you'd be there in about 90 minutes, traffic permitting.

janisj

I would NOT get a car on arrival. I'd take the train to York and stay the 2 nights (1.5 days) there car-less. Then collect a car and explore Yorkshire and Northumberland en route up to Edinburgh.

Or - Rubicund's idea of spending the first night in Manchester would work. But don't drive after an overnight, 8 time zone flight.

tuscanlifeedit

A train to York leaves directly from Manchester Airport. Very easy and easy to rent a car in York, right at the train station there. I think York is an ideal town for the kids.

BritishCaicos

It's entirely up to you , and only you will know, how far to drive after a multi time zone long flight.

When I was young on my first trans Atlantic trip to Boston, I had scheduled to drive to Cape Cod after landing. I couldn't even make it safely out of the airport and checked into the nearest Holiday Inn.

Twenty five years, and many, many trips later, we regularly drive two or three hours after landing. Only you will know your capabilities.

Problem with Northern Manchester ie on the way to Harrogate is that it isn't the most picturesque. The prevailing winds have always been South Westerly which led to much of the industrial development occurring in the north of the city and the gentrification was in the south.

We don't stay in hotels on our doorstep but I'll have a think about possibilities.

BritishCaicos

One idea would be to short term rent one of the many contemporary apartments in the city centre, it's a short direct train ride from the station at the airport.

toast2906

Thanks, everyone. We do have a lot of experience driving after long flights (including in England), so we know what we're in for and definitely don't want to be too ambitious. We love the train, but we are going to be visiting some out of the way places and will need a car -- I'll do the math, but I think train tickets (e.g. to York) for 4 people would add up pretty quickly and it'll be easier and cheaper to have a car the whole time. Staying in Manchester for a night or two sounds like it might be a good option. Any suggestions for a neighborhood? FYI, we are both American but my husband grew up outside of Harrogate and my dad taught at Leeds, so we have both spent quite a bit of time in the area but this will be the first time with kids.

Rubicund

If you're going to stay in Manchester, then look for accommodation in the City Centre. You'll be at the heart of everything that there is to do and won't need the car until you leave. Give me an idea of your budget and I'll recommend a choice of hotels. Aletrnatively have a look at these two booking sites that are very good for Manchester:

www.lastminute.com
www.laterooms.com

BC, the North Manchester "industrial" thing may have been true some years ago, but not for a long time. Towns like Oldham, Bury, Rochdale etc. are no longer hubs of the cotton trade and the mills that housed it have been demolished and redeveloped or converted into good apartments. Once you get out to the M60 (Manchester's Orbital Motorway)on the north side, you're in countryside and rolling hills.

MissMarble25

Hello,

I live in Manchester so happy to help you with some hotel recommendations. There's lots available for all budgets and types of stays - would you consider an Air B&B or would you prefer a hotel. I can also recommend some areas of the city which I would avoid.

The city centre is a very easy to walk area so you don't need to worry about getting around. Theres lots to do and I hope you have a great time here!

Gardyloo

Why not a village in the Peak District? From Manchester airport you're an hour away (give or take) from a number of picturesque places in the Peaks. Find a B&B or small hotel, walk on some paths or use the car to explore some of the countryside. Look at Bakewell, for example.

janisj

If you are sure you want to drive. I'd agree with Gardyloo's suggestion of the Peak District. Just about any town in the region - Bakewell, Baslow, Rowsley or even Matlock would be convenient and close to Chatsworth etc.