In the collective imagination, there is a tendency to think of Manchester as a rather bleak and gloomy city; however, chartering a private jet to get there proves to be a more than apt choice for visiting one of the fastest-growing cities in recent years.
Ranking only after London and Birmingham, Manchester has for some time now been predominant in the economic sector, financial and services thanks to the more than 60 banks in the city; not only that, several consulting firms and English firms belonging to the creative or media sector such as the Guardian or the BBC are also quite prosperous and rapidly developing.
From this we can deduce how Manchester is a reality in which the businessmen travel to do some business practices, preferring to hire a private jet to ensure a comfortable, flexible trip, permeated with the right amount of privacy and filled with exclusive services at the airport that allow them to optimize their time as much as possible.
In addition to all this, the city located in the northwest of England is now a hotspot for shopping and culture with its countless theaters, arenas, and museums that are very popular, just like the upscale stores laid out on the city's main streets.
But what about the specific services to which passengers on private flights have access, some historical background on the city and its most important attractions?
Historical and geographical background on Manchester
Manchester is a fairly large city located in the heart of central England, about 30 miles from Liverpool and at the exact confluence point of the River Irwell.
In Roman times, Manchester was no more than a small encampment that later became an agricultural village of very relative importance to the empire until the Flemish took possession and made it a thriving wool-processing center.
However, it was not until the mid-18th century that Manchester took on a far more important role not only in the English but also in the international arena, becoming a major industrial city in which, thanks to the Revolution of the same name, metalworking, textile and chemical companies sprang up, making it a true economic powerhouse.
Between the 1980s and 1990s, Manchester experienced a period of intense escalation of its fame both in the field of music, churning out artists who would go on to become world-renowned pop stars, and in the field of sports, bringing out soccer teams still respected today for their glorious history.
What to do and see in Manchester
Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral is an imposing religious building dedicated to Saints Mary, George and Denis; it is the most important Anglican place of worship in the city and has the most distinctive architecture in all of England, as it was built entirely following the Gothic style.
Its interior features perfectly preserved wood carvings and artifacts, as well as one of the widest aisles of any church on British soil, leading from the entrance to the altar.
Mention should be made of the Angel Stone, a sandstone tablet that attests to the very ancient existence of a church dating back to 700 A.D. on which the Cathedral rose later.
The historic center of the English city holds the event known as Art Exhibition: Home, an Exploration of Meaning, an exclusive art salon and gallery where various VIPs from the film, fashion and art criticism scene come in to participate in discussions and debates in VIP lounges arranged for the purpose.
Castlefield neighborhood
One cannot go to Manchester without visiting the picturesque Castlefield district, the very soul of the city that still bears witness to its industrial origins.
This is an area composed of an incredible amount of man-made canals formerly used to transport coal and various goods.
The houses facing it are mostly red brick, while abandoned factories and steel bridges dominate the atmosphere of one of the city's pulsating areas.
Despite its rustic character, Castlefield sees the presence of several exclusive clubs, such as the Lawn Club, a venue with panoramic terraces where VIPs spend golden hours over cocktails, aperitifs, and privacy.
John Rylands Library
Lovers of literature and books surely can pay a visit to the John Rylands Library, one of England's oldest libraries with enormous architectural charm.
It was opened in the early twentieth century and has always been housed in a Victorian neo-Gothic building that recalls a cathedral or castle.
The books it contains number about 250,000, while the manuscripts there are around a million: most notable among them is the St John Fragment, a papyrus fragment that includes the New Testament in Greek.
The top hotels in Manchester
One of the most iconic hotels in the entire city is The Midland, a stay option that offers those chartering a private jet to Manchester luxury suites in a chic setting.
The hotel property is known for its elegant architecture and proximity to the historic center, which allows guests to visit the city without having to travel far.
A luxury boutique hotel is Hotel Gotham, whose suites are inspired by Art Deco and offer a range of exclusive amenities such as Jacuzzi, whirlpool and a gourmet restaurant in the inner courtyard.
Mention should also be made of the Lowry Hotel, a 5-star accommodation particularly suited to modern lovers that provides guests with a spa and a restaurant with panoramic views of Manchester.
Manchester's VIP soccer experiences
More affluent tourists can have access to a number of unique Manchester experiences, including the chance to watch the sporting spectacle of the city's soccer derby pitting City and United against each other in the VIP Lounges and Premium Boxes of what are the city's 2 temples of soccer, Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium.
VIP services reserved for the elite audience allows them to sit at exclusive tables sipping cocktails and nibbling on aperitifs in front of the field where the two Manchester teams battle it out to win the extracittadina; not only that, it is also possible to visit the most exclusive areas of the stadium through the many organized VIP tours.
Climate and best time to visit Manchester
When planning a vacation based on chartering a private jet to Manchester, it is essential to consider what the weather is like in the city so that you can choose the best possible time to visit.
In spring, average temperatures range from 9°C to 16°C, with longer days despite fairly frequent rain.
The summer season, on the other hand, sees a rise in temperatures and an improvement in the weather, although it rarely exceeds 30°C (86°F); the frequency of dry and sunny days increases significantly, and, therefore, the organization of events and festivals undergoes a significant surge.
Autumn in Manchester is quite mild but turns abruptly cold around November; the parks begin to fill with the classic foliage falling from the trees, providing an almost magical atmosphere.
Winters are characterized by quite cold temperatures, although snow falls with rarity; in any case, days are mostly overcast and windy.
With this in mind, the best time to travel to Manchester is definitely from May to July, a time frame where the weather is definitely pleasant and perfect for being able to visit the major points of interest without too much confusion.
How and why to fly to Manchester by private jet
Manchester International Airport (ICAO code EGCC), opened in 1929 and often used by the RAF (Royal Air Force) as an air base during World War II, is one of the best terminals in England in terms of passenger traffic and services offered especially to those chartering a private jet.
The 2 runways arranged parallel to each other allow charter aircraft of all weights and types to operate 24-hour routes.
Not only that, the terminal dedicated to general aviation offers those traveling privately various video conferencing equipment, secretarial services, VIP catering, PC stations, free WiFi, conference rooms capable of accommodating more than 400 people, restaurants and reserved stores, as well as a VIP lounge that allows passengers to enjoy some quiet and relaxation after the flight.
Manchester city center is about 15 km from the airport and can be reached by various car rental services, cabs and NCCs with first-class drivers ready to take tourists anywhere in the city.
In any case, it is definitely wise to book the charter flight well in advance in order to avoid having all the slots dedicated to the arrival and takeoff of private jets occupied.
The costs of chartering a private jet to Manchester
Getting to Manchester by using a private jet is extremely easy and convenient.
Obviously, the very first connection the airport operates is with London, which is about 1 hour and 10 minutes away.The cost if you take a Light Jet is around €7,000, a figure that rises to about €14,000 with a Medium Jet and touches €18,000 with a Large Jet.
Another European capital from which to reach Manchester by private jet is Paris, just 580 km away that can be traveled in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
In terms of costs, the rental of a Light Jet involves an expense of about 8,000€, that of a Medium Jet goes up to 14,000€, while travel in a Large Jet involves a cost of about 20,000€.
In addition to London and Paris, Manchester is also connected to Athens: from the Greek capital, which is about 3 hours and 45 minutes away by flight, it is possible to depart on a Light Jet for about €21,000 including a fuel stop given the considerable distance between the two places, a figure that rises to about €38,000 if you choose a Medium Jet and €52,000 with a Large Jet.
A very similar distance separates Manchester with the Greek island of Mykonos, from which one can depart to the English city with a Light Jet covering an expense of about 21,000€, about 40,000€ with a Medium Jet and about 54,000€ with a Large Jet.
The flight takes approximately approximately 4 hours given the approximately 2,500 km as the crow flies between the two locations.
Best planes to fly privately to Manchester
One of the best performing light jets in terms of top speed and capacity is definitely the Cessna Citation Mustang, an aircraft capable of exceeding 700 km/h and covering about 1800 km on a single refueling.
There are 4 interior seats arranged in a cabin that is quite spacious for its category and perfectly capable of putting passengers at ease.
Among the Medium Jets an honorable mention goes to the Cessna Citation Sovereign+, an aircraft ideal for covering long distances at a cruising speed of about 800 km/h.
Inside the wide, high cabin about 1.70 m wide are 9 seats, each with its own space for the passenger to relax and enjoy the flight.
In Large Jets, the Gulfstream G2 should be mentioned, with its as many as 13 seats, its top speed breaking through the 800 km/h wall, and its maximum range of about 3,000 km.
The real striking feature of this aircraft is the size of its interior spaces: the cabin is 2.20 m high and about 2 m wide, parameters that make it easy to deduce how fast as well as comfortable flying on this jet is.
The most frequent flights to and from Manchester
Below of the most frequent links to Manchester:
