Working in Manchester United Kingdom
Located in north-west England, Manchester has a population of more than 500,000 and a greater metropolitan population of 2.2 million. It is situated in the middle of the third most populated region of England.
On a global scale, Manchester is best known for its football teams, particularly Manchester United. But the city is also significant for its culture, music and social impact. Manchester experiences a maritime climate that features warm summers with temperatures regularly above 20 °C and cool winters where temperatures drop to an average of 7 °C.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport is the third busiest in the UK, servicing both domestic and international flights. Located in Ringway, Manchester is an option for international travellers trying to skip the hectic nature of London’s airports. To reach the airport from central Manchester, visitors can use train, buses or taxis. Check online for cheapest fare by train or bus.
Railway Station
Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly is the major train station in Manchester. It connects to London Euston, Birmingham New Street and to South Wales in the south, or north to Edinburgh and Glasgow Central. Originally built in 1842, the station services around 20,000 travellers yearly.
Transportation
Manchester has a strong public transport network that features a bus, tram and rail network. The transport system in Manchester is operated by Tfgm, which provides more detail about the network and its services on its website.
The bus system is great for visitors as it consists of a Metroshuttle, which is a free service featuring three routes that cover much of the city’s central area. It also connects well with other transport options in Manchester, such as key rail and tram stops. Outside of the Metroshuttle, Manchester has a bus network that can take travelers to any part of the city.
Manchester’s Metrolink tram system features six lines, with trams running every 10 to 15 minutes, primarily around the city’s central area. Like much of England, the train system in Manchester covers the city, its greater area and beyond to all parts of the country.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Manchester is fairly average by western standards, although far lower than key centres in the UK such as London and Edinburgh. The average monthly wage is typically about $2,000 equivalent.
According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $16.80 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $83.90 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $5.00 |
| Coke (330mL) | $2.00 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.60 |
| Loaf of bread | $1.75 |
| Eggs | $4.00 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $4.20 |
| Monthly pass | $80.40 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.30 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $1100 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $2000 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $35 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $200 |
Accommodation
As one of the largest cities in England, Manchester provides an extensive range of accommodation options for visitors. The most popular areas to stay are in the East Central, North Central and West Central districts.
A few accommodation options to consider when in Manchester include:
Budget
YHA Manchester
The Hatters
Ashton House Hostel
Mid-range
Radisson Blu Edwardian
Jurys Inn Manchester
The midland Manchester
High-end
The Lowry Hotel Manchester
The Chester Grosvenor
Sharrow Bay
Shopping
Manchester has one of the best shopping experiences in the United Kingdom outside of London. Its shopping districts are diverse and are located in close proximity, often just walking distance apart. The central shopping district in Manchester is the Arndale Centre, which was built in the 1970s and has recently been redeveloped. It is regarded as the largest shopping centre in Europe with close to 300 stores. There are also a large number of stores around the Arndale Centre.
For up market goods in Manchester head to Deansgate, while other popular shopping areas include the Trafford Centre and The Avenue.
Emergency
Emergency telephone services:
Police, ambulance, fire brigade and coastguard 999
Insurance and Healthcare
Insurance is recommended, but not compulsory for working holidaymakers on the Youth Mobility Scheme in the United Kingdom. With that in mind, once your visa has been approved and your flights booked, it would be suggested to take out some form of insurance for your stay. Check out www.workingholidaytravelinsurance.com/ for more advice.
The UK has an outstanding health care system featuring extensive public and private sectors. The public sector, known as the NHS, is organised by the government and funded by taxes. Every registered individual is welcome to service through the NHS, including expats living in the UK. Expats in the UK can also take out private care, with an extensive range of services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in the UK are comparable to those in Australia.
According to the government supported Smart Traveller website, the standard of health facilities in the UK is comparable with that in Australia. In addition, it strongly recommends that travellers take our comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before departing Australia.