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Are you looking for the best day tours from Manchester? We are here to help!
Manchester’s prime location means that it makes it an excellent place to enjoy a day trip. Within 2 hours, you can find national parks, mountains, lakes, beaches and historical cities. Basically, no matter what you want, you can get it!
There are so many day trips from Manchester you can take and if you are visiting and don’t want to hire or car or have to organise your day, then opting for one of the excursions from Manchester will be the perfect idea.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about the best Manchester day tours and which one you should choose.
1. Lake District and Windermere tour
⏰ Duration: 11 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
The Lake District is one of the best day trips from Manchester and it should be on your agenda.
With Southerners boasting of the South Downs National Park and the New Forest, Northerners know that the Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England.
Start this national park adventure by meeting at the NCP Car Park on Store Street.
This meeting location is just a stone’s throw from Manchester Piccadilly train station.
From here you will take the Rabbie’s Tours minibus to your first stop – Bowness on Lake Windermere.
Here you will stop for a cruise on the lake which is included in the cost of the trip.
Next, you’ll head to the cute village of Hawkshead where William Wordsworth attended school.
Next up it’s the famous Grasmere! Be sure to pop into Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread Shop for some of the best gingerbread on the planet (it’s that good).
Whilst you are there you can also head to Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage. Finally, it’s time to take in views of Ullswater Lake before returning to Manchester.
You will need to bring lunch or buy something when you are out for this trip. The tour starts at around 8:30am and lasts around 11 hours.
If you were looking for Rabbie’s tours from Manchester, this one is definitely a must do.
2. North Wales, Snowdonia, and Chester Tour
⏰ Duration: 11 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.8/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
One of Rabbie’s tours in Manchester is this North Wales, Snowdonia and Chester tour.
The tour leaves at 8:30am and is around 11 hours to allow for all the sites and attractions you will see.
Upon leaving Manchester you will head straight to Conwy.
Conwy is a picturesque harbour town and you’ll be able to see the castle next to the sea, the smallest house in Conwy, take a look around the cute shops and smell the tempting scent of fish and chips.
Your group will then hop back on the minibus and travel to the Snowdonia National Park and Betws-Y-Coed (proper pronunciation will be provided on board the bus!).
Known as the gateway to Snowdonia, Betws-Y-Coed is quaint and known for its alpine trees and cute cafes.
Before heading back to Manchester, the final stop is Chester.
You will get to check out the ancient cathedral and your driver and guide will provide you with some insight on Chester’s history.
Though roundtrip transport and admission to Conwy Castle is included you will need to bring your own food or buy something when you are out.
3. Derbyshire and Peak District Day Trip
⏰ Duration: 8 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.8/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
The Peak District National Park is a great Manchester day tour as it’s super close to the city. This eight-hour day trip starts at the NCP Car Park on Store Street.
The first stop on this trip is Castleton, a lovely village in the Hope Valley known for its caves, Christmas lights and all-round charm.
Next up is Bakewell, home of the famous Bakewell tart.
You will stop for lunch in Bakewell where you can buy an assortment of British classics from any number of bakeries dotted around the town.
Next on the list of attractions is Poole’s Caverns, an enormous limestone cave.
You will marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites and the colossal size of the chambers.
Visitors love the exciting day of activities, from villages to rolling hills to caves.
In addition to top sites, the professionalism and knowledge of the driver and guide is highly appreciated.
4. Manchester One Day Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private
⏰ Duration: 8 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.5/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
If you’re looking to explore Manchester with a private guide, you can customize your day tour to suit your group’s interests.
You will choose everything: the start time, meeting point, and duration and then, together with your Mancunian guide, build an itinerary.
Everything from lunch to admission tickets will be at your own expense but you will get all the knowledge that comes with a local and experienced guide.
Perhaps you are a football fan and want a local to show you around all of Manchester’s stadiums?
Or maybe some places in Greater Manchester have caught your eye but you’d like to travel with a local?
Whether you want to fully be involved in the planning of your trip or leave a lot of it up to the guide it’s up to you.
This one-day tour is excellent for first-time overseas visitors or those looking for a hassle-free trip around Manchester.
While you are wandering from place to place, pick the brains of your local host on all the best pubs, restaurants and bars you should head to in the city.
5. Lake District Tour
⏰ Duration: 10 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.6/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
This Lake District day tour from Manchester is perfect for anyone staying in the city with a short amount of time on their schedule.
This tour starts at around 9am on Chorlton Street just over a five minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station.
You will set out in your minibus heading north along the M6 towards Hawkshead, which is famous for the literary legends Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.
You will have time to explore the village, walk the cobbled streets, grab a bite to eat (at your own expense) and visit the cute shops, cafes and galleries.
You will pass by some of the best mountain scenery and there will be ample stops for photographs.
You will also see the Langdale Valley which includes the picturesque and lumpy bumpy Langdale Pikes.
One of the best things about this tour is it’s limited to six participants.
The intimate group makes you feel more like you are traveling with friends than part of an organized tour.
Previous visitors on this tour love the driver’s friendly manner and informative commentary.
You will start heading back to Manchester arriving at around 7pm.
6. Lake District Sightseeing Day Trip
⏰ Duration: 9 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.8/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
The Lake District is always a good choice for day tours from Manchester.
In just an hour and a half you can be immersed in the tranquil views of Lake Windermere, one of the most popular places in the national park.
This tour is operated by BusyBus tours which departs from Manchester Airport. Departing at 9:15am the trip lasts for around 9 hours.
This is ideal for those flying into the city and wanting to make the most of their time heading straight to one of the UK’s top nature destinations.
Without the hassle of passing through central Manchester, you will be in the Lake District in no time.
Your first stop will be the underground Rheged Discovery Center which is housed within the UK’s largest grass-covered building.
You will stop by the Castlerigg Neolithic Stone Circle before continuing to the charming village of Grasmere.
Be sure to get in line to visit the minuscule Sarah Nelson’s gingerbread shop for some mouth-watering treats. In Grasmere, you can also pick up lunch if you didn’t bring your own.
Next up you will meander through the Langdales which provides you with amazing picture opportunities.
You will make frequent stops, both on and off the bus, to see some of the beautiful vistas.
You will also get to step out and walk for a while around Blea Tarn before stopping at quaint Ambleside.
This Manchester day tour sure packs in a lot of sites so you will really get your money’s worth.
7. North Wales Sightseeing Adventure Day Trip
⏰ Duration: 9 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.8/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
Did you know that you can be in Wales in around an hour from Manchester?
Many might assume that Wales is too far away for a day trip but they’d be wrong.
This north Wales sightseeing trip is one of the best Manchester day tours.
Another of BusyBus’ tours, this once again departs from Manchester Airport.
If you are coming from central Manchester you can get a train to the airport that takes just 20 minutes and runs every 10 minutes.
Departing at 8:45am this is a nine-hour day trip.
This tour will take you on a 90-minute journey to Llandudno, with guided commentary along the way. Llandudno is right on the coast facing the Irish Sea.
Here you will discover the 12th century St. Tudno chapel.
Next up it’s the walled town of Conwy which is just across the River Conwy estuary from Llandudno.
You’ll get to check out Conwy Castle which was built in 1283 and marvel at the history.
From castles to the countryside next up is Snowdonia National Park.
In the park, you will go to the beautiful Llyn Ogwen, a lake just off the A5.
The remaining stop is the Pontcysyllte Canal Aqueduct, an architectural and engineering wonder built between 1795 and 1804.
This is a hassle-free way to enjoy a whistle-stop tour of Northern Wales. It’s a perfect introductory trip for those with little time.
8. Yorkshire Sightseeing Day Trip
⏰ Duration: 9 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.8/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
From Wales to Yorkshire, Manchester is perfectly placed to visit so many amazing places in the north of England.
This full-day (9 hours) mini bus tour starts from Manchester Airport at 9:15am.
After a two hour drive, you will arrive at your first destination Haworth.
Literary lovers will know Haworth as the location of the Brontë house where sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne lived.
Some of their most notable work includes Jane Eyre (Charlotte), Wuthering Heights (Emily) and Agnes Grey (Anne).
From books to a Harry Potter filming site, Malham Cove is a fascinating geological landscape formed from glacial meltwater more than 12,000 years ago.
It was also the site where Harry and Hermione pitched their tent in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
You will also get to the impressive Ribblehead Viaduct which is around 35 minutes’ drive from Malham Cove.
If you love cheese then you will enjoy the next stop – the Wensleydale Creamery made famous by Wallace and Gromit.
Here you’ll get to try some of their best cheeses. Next up it’s the market town Hawes and then Hardraw Force.
Hardraw Force is the highest single drop waterfall (30 metres) in the UK. It should be noted that you’ll need to purchase a ticket to see the falls.
With so many things to see and do this is one of the best day tours from Manchester.
9. North Wales from Manchester
⏰ Duration: 9 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 4.5/5 – See all reviews here | ✅ Check Rates and Availability
This is another of the best coach day trips from Manchester to north Wales.
Starting outside Yates Wine Bar on Chorlton Street in central Manchester, this tour departs at 9am and returns to the city at around 6pm.
Traveling via Chester in a 16-seater Mercedes Sprinter minibus you will head to Great Orme and Llandudno.
Coastal views are guaranteed for the next couple of hours as you pass by Conwy Castle and head towards the popular village of Betws-y-Coed via Ros on Sea.
Here you will be able to find some lunch (not provided) and explore the area.
From the coast to the beautiful mountain scenery of Snowdonia National Park.
You will then stop at the scenic lake, Llyn Ogwen. Along the way, you will learn about the area as the driver provides you with in-depth commentary.
You will have passed Conwy Castle on the way to Snowdonia but as you head back to Manchester it’s time to look around the historic town and castle.
10. Smile Adventures Day Tour
Smile Adventures are a company that offer day trips and tours specifically from Manchester.
The list of tours they offer from Manchester is seemingly endless.
From countryside day trips to theme parks, historical sites and mountain scenery Smile Adventure has got you covered.
As well as public tours they also offer private group tours and tailor-made activities for wellness days out.
You can check out all the tours they have on their website to pick one that suits your adventure and schedule.
It should be noted that the tours are released by date so check out ones around the time you will be in Manchester.
Some of their countryside trips have included north Wales, Snowdonia and Anglesey, the Lake District, Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales, and the Peak District.
Some of their day-trip city destinations include Liverpool, York, Blackpool, Chester and Oxford. London and Edinburgh trips are offered on weekends.
There’s also their fun Alton Towers (Stoke-on-Trent) Manchester day tour for those who love roller coasters.
All of their excursions are well planned and you can easily see what is on the agenda for each trip.
These are better for locals though because they will give you a chance to meet new people and make friends.
Day trips tend to leave from the Smile Adventures offices at Piccadilly Gardens on Portland Street.
Now that you know everything there is to know about the best day tours from Manchester, the only thing left to do is to book one and enjoy!
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