Home away from home – 14 destinations in the UK and Ireland that you can fly to directly from Manchester

Manchester Airport is one of the best-connected in the UK, with around 200 destinations served by more than 50 airlines. More than 630,000 passengers are expected to jet off from Manchester over the Easter school holidays.

Not everyone travelling from the northern hub is heading for some far-flung corner of the globe, however. Around three million Manchester Airport passengers travel to and from destinations in the UK and Ireland every year – and flying is often both quicker and cheaper than public transport alternatives.

You can get to no fewer than 14 destinations across the length and breadth of the British Isles from Manchester, with a huge variety of things to see and do – from lounging on a white sand beach, to exploring a tropical jungle in miniature and seeking out the legendary Loch Ness Monster.

Dublin

Served by Aer Lingus and Ryanair

One of the best spots on the planet for a pub crawl is Dublin’s Temple Bar, the beating heart of the Irish capital, and the world-famous Guinness brewery and storehouse on St. James's Gate offers tours. If nature is more your thing, escape the city into the stunning Wicklow Mountains National Park.

London

Served by British Airways

A city that needs little introduction, there is too much to do in London to list it all here. Putting the obvious tourist checklist to one side, visitors searching for something a little more unusual could check out every learner driver’s worst nightmare – the dazzling ‘traffic light tree’ installation near Canary Wharf – before perusing the Hunterian Museum’s collection of exhibits from the early days of modern medicine, and exploring Holland Park’s Dutch and Japanese themed gardens.

Isle of Man

Served by easyJet and Loganair

This windswept island in the Irish Sea is perhaps best known as the home of the Isle of Man TT, one of the world’s elite motorcycle races. It offers much more besides, though – the entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and its mountainous landscape is criss-crossed with picturesque walking trails. The Manx Museum in the capital of Douglas tells the story of the island’s history and colonisation by Celts and Vikings.

Aberdeen

Served by Loganair

Scotland’s third-biggest city after Glasgow and Edinburgh, Aberdeen is the gateway to the stunning Cairngorms National Park. The royal residence of Balmoral, nestled within its mountains, has recently been opened to public tours and the nearby village of Braemar is home to the annual Braemar Gathering, more commonly known as the Highland Games – where hardened competitors take part in events including uphill sprints and hammer throwing. The city of Aberdeen itself is well known for its parks and green spaces and has won the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Britain in Bloom’ award a record ten times in the ‘Best City’ category.

Belfast

Served by Aer Lingus, easyJet and Ryanair

The capital of Northern Ireland and the largest city in Ulster, Belfast has a wealth of history and cultural sites. Visitors can explore the Titanic Museum (the famous cruise liner was built in the city’s docks) and take a trip up the scenic Antrim coast road to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway. The National Trust-owned Crown Liquor Saloon in the city centre is a popular spot for a beer and pub lunch – its look and feel has changed very little in nearly 200 years.

Kerry

Served by Ryanair

County Kerry is home to Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain, and the picturesque Killarney National Park with forests, lakes and waterfalls, all of which can be explored on the 200km Kerry Way walking trail. The county’s wild and windy coastline is dotted with sheltered sandy coves and dramatic cliffs. With so much striking scenery packed into an area not much larger than Lancashire, Kerry draws tourists looking to make the most of the great outdoors.

Inverness

Served by Loganair

The UK’s northernmost city, Inverness is one of the best places in the British Isles to catch the Northern Lights in winter. During the daytime, whisky lovers will be tempted to take in a distillery tour in the nearby Speyside whisky region, to the east of Inverness. Head out of town in the other direction, and in less than 10 miles you’ll reach Loch Ness – the purported home of a legendary beastie.

Limerick

Served by Ryanair

Just a half-hour drive from Shannon Airport, Limerick has so much more to offer than humorous five-line stanzas. Its castle and St Mary's Cathedral are nearly 1,000 years old, and it has a growing reputation as a culinary hotspot. The weekend Milk Market, with a huge range of local produce on offer, is the jewel in Limerick’s crown but it boasts a unique café culture as well.

Cork

Served by Ryanair

Another popular Irish destination, although perhaps lesser known than Dublin or Belfast, is Cork – the Republic of Ireland’s second city. The English Market is a great place to grab a bite to eat, and the city also plays host to a number of museums and galleries, great shopping and authentic Irish pubs.

Newquay

Served by easyJet and Loganair

Owing to its position in the far south-west of England, Cornwall has one of the warmest climates in the UK. Perhaps that’s why it was chosen as the home of the Eden Project, the country’s biggest eco tourist attraction, with sprawling botanical gardens and recreations of the world’s rainforests housed in two gigantic glass biomes. The biggest draw to Newquay itself is water sports – Fistral Beach is one of the best places in Europe for surfing.

Jersey

Served by easyJet

Jersey is closer to mainland France than to the UK and offers a more continental climate, frequently bathed in sunshine in the summer months. The island is renowned for its pearls and Jersey Pearl tells the story of its connection to the precious jewels, with a huge 15,000-square foot dedicated pearl showroom and interactive visitor experience. The Channel Islands were the only British territories to be occupied by the Nazis during World War II, and the Jersey War Tunnels offer an insight into the area’s wartime past.

Guernsey

Served by Aurigny

Another of the Channel Islands, Guernsey, is a great spot for seafood and many restaurants offer a local catch of the day, including fresh lobster. A 20-minute ferry ride to the tiny island of Herm will drop you a short walk from Shell Beach, one of the best beaches in all of the British Isles. Its white sand and crystalline waters have been compared to the Caribbean by visitors.

Derry

Served by Ryanair

This vibrant city is steeped in history – it is known for its remarkably preserved 17th century city walls and in the 20th century it was the scene of some of the most notorious events of The Troubles. In recent decades it has become a beacon for reconciliation and cooperation, and the Peace Bridge across the River Foyle linking the city’s principal Catholic and Protestant areas is now one of its main attractions.

Derry also has a burgeoning arts scene and is the setting for the hit series Derry Girls; visitors can take a guided tour of the Channel 4 show’s original sites.

Sligo

Served by Ryanair

Sligo is the nearest large town to Ireland West (Knock) Airport. A surprisingly busy international airport, it occupies a seemingly isolated rural setting but serves a huge swathe of the country.

Sligo itself is known as the childhood home of poet and Nobel laureate W. B. Yeats, who is buried in the town. He is commemorated with a statue and his artwork is on display in a local gallery. The nearby rock formation of Benbulbin is a popular beauty spot and features heavily in Yeats’ work. Sligo also has a diverse music scene with multiple venues dedicated to live performances of a variety of genres, from traditional Irish music to Jazz.