Manchester to Raleigh Flights

  About Manchester

After London, Manchester is the second most important city in England. The city boasts a rich industrial history since the 18th century and continues to flourish as a textile fortitude. The city also hosts a good footfall of tourist crowd thanks to its association with the football club Manchester United as well as Manchester City. Aside from the same, the city also has a slew of museums that bring back ancient history. There are traditional museums as well as interactive ones that continue to engage the tourists.

Manchester enjoys a good population as well as a thriving food and drinks culture. The city is bombarded with lovely distilleries and food joints too, which further elevate a tourist's experience. Plus, it is well-connected with the rest of the UK. The city's charm comes from its lush green expanses, and even though the weather could be a little too cold, the experience of being in Manchester is worth all the frostbites.

Best time to visit Manchester

Manchester is its best between June to August, especially if you're planning a fun trip. Although Manchester is predominantly a cold city with barely good sunlight to keep people's spirits up. However, between June and August, when the city witnesses lovely sun's rays and summer heat, there is a vibrant vibe that envelopes the spirit of Manchester. In fact, even the city calendar is packed with intriguing events. Festivals such as Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, Parklife Festival, Manchester Pride, RHS Flower Festival are some of the fun events that take place. Many performers and musicians flock over to participate while the markets are erected to attract tourists. Although the temperatures are a decent 18 degree Celsius to 20 degree Celsius, it is pleasant and beautiful. Just make sure to carry an umbrella during your trip as the city might see some erratic showers amid summer. Since it is the peak season, it is highly recommended that you make your hotel reservations in advance. Booking a hotel in Manchester a few months before the peak season is the only way to gain some great deals.

It's easier to get flight tickets to Manchester for cheap too, provided you book a few months in advance. Another highlight of Manchester that should be mentioned is the football season that kicks off from August. If catching a match of your favourite (well, everybody's favourite), FC Manchester United is on your list of things to do, this is definitely a good time. Make sure that you have prior flight tickets to Manchester booked to avoid complications later. The months from September through December is also favourable in terms of the weather. Even though the fall is quite cold in Manchester, the fervour of football season that starts from September and continues through these months is enough to keep you fuelled. Plus, the city also honours its culture with festivals such as Manchester Food and Drink Festival, Manchester Literature Festival and of course, Manchester Christmas Markets.

Places to visit in Manchester

For a football fan, Manchester is like a haven, especially if you're a fan of either FC Manchester United or FC Manchester City. For United fans, at the Old Trafford, you'll find fervent fans sharing the same enthusiasm towards the team and their game. It will surely be the icing on the cake if you can watch a United match which you're at the stadium. As for City fans, the Etihad Stadium would give the same zealous vibe. The stadium is known to be one of the UK's biggest stadiums with a massive capacity of 55,000 seats for fervent spectators. From here, you will be thrilled to visit the National Football Museum, which is a six-storey glass structure that celebrates the sport and exhibits a plethora of collections from whatever has been retrieved. From trophies to exhibits on stadiums, there are many interesting collections that will marvel you. Once the football fanfare subsides, you might want to check out some of the other tourist attractions in Manchester. These include The Lowry (an amalgam of art gallery and theatre), Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, People's History Museum, Museum of Transport, to name a few.

Things to do in Manchester

The first and foremost thing for you to do in Manchester after all the sightseeing would be to indulge in some brewery and distillery hopping. Manchester has a plethora of options where you can hang out and enjoy the food and liquor culture. Chinatown is the second-best place to be in to explore more in the said zone. You will be amazed by the lively atmosphere of the streets here. John Rylands Library is another amazing place where you can get lost amid books and documents. They are interesting and will keep you engaged with their compelling collection. A fun and satiating retail therapy at Afflecks is also something that would be of interest to you. You can also opt for a Manchester Hop-On bus tour to sightsee some more of the locales and interact with fellow tourists.

Food and Restaurants in Manchester

Manchester's food culture is quite thriving and something worth indulging in, when in the city. their food halls and market places are a trip that will pique your interest. In fact, you should head to Altrincham Market to get the best of food hall experiences. At Altrincham, you can find some amazing purveyors. You can further elevate your experience at the GRUB Food Fair where you will be blessed with some eccentric but astounding street food as well as craft beer. During your food excursion, do not miss out The Corn Exchange. The establishment basically holds multitudes of restaurants from around the world. The city also has lip-smacking Indian cuisine that you simply cannot miss. Manchester has a soft spot for Indian curry and delicacies and celebrates the same. Curry Mile is one such place where you will find the highest cluster of Asian restaurants. It is for being one of the only places in all of the United Kingdom to have so many Asian establishments concentrated in one spot.

Further in your food expedition, get yourself some lovely pints of beer at The Oakfield, located in Chester Zoo. You should also visit The Eagle Inn, situated in Salford, where they make delicious craft beer. It is close to the Victoria train station, so your transport after some drinks is also quite sorted. While these are basic bars and British pubs, for a posh experience, check out Cloud 23, located at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate. It has the city's coolest view as it sits on the 23rd floor of the Hilton hotel. The place offers appetizers and finger food that go well with alcohol. Manchester has nearly 30 breweries so you can imagine the number of places you need to check off your list to cover them. As an expansion to your brewery-hopping expedition, you can check out Dunham Massey Brewing Company and Martland Mill Brewery. For some British feels interspersed with international cuisine, head to The Laundrette Chorlton. As for some tasty steak, visit Dakota Bar and Grill. The city also has seafood kitchens that would add to your food experiences. The Hip Hop Chip Shop is one such place to serve the classic fish and chips with good beer.

How to reach Manchester (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Manchester from India is excellent with a lew of flights flying regularly. After London, Manchester is the second city in the UK that sees a high demand from India. Metropolitan Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore have regular flights to Manchester. Although usually, there are regular direct flights reaching Manchester from India, sometimes due to their unavailability, connecting flights are considered. There are connecting flights from London to Manchester, which is quite convenient. Many people tend to take direct flights to London, and from here, they opt for rental cars or other local transport. Manchester Airport has great connectivity to the city as there are express trains networking between the airport and the city. Aside from London, many also choose to fly to Liverpool's John Lennon Airport and take a taxi cab from there to reach Manchester. These methods are usually taken up by budget-travellers. Some of the airlines that fly from India to Manchester include British Airways, Thomas Chook Airlines, Condor and Thomson Airways.

These flights to Manchester usually take the popular air route via Europe to reach the city. Since that is the most viable option, plus comes with airports where you can acquire connecting flights. Cities such as Paris, Munich, Zurich, Dubai, etc., have flights connecting to Manchester or London. The accommodation options in Manchester are extravagant. If you do want to experience the fancy living, you should book your hotels in one of Manchester's swanky choices such as Crowne Plaza Hotel or The Edwardian Manchester, a Radisson Collection Hotel, to name a few. You will be overwhelmed and amazed by the exquisite rooms and their services. They don't come cheap though so booking hotels in Manchester way before the trip would be ideal.

  About Raleigh

The capital city of North Carolina, Raleigh's fame comes from its important universities such as North Carolina State University. The city is one of the best in the US for encouraging scholarly institutions pertaining to the fields of science, technology and art. Over the years, Raleigh has also turned a new leaf on its culinary front and has emerged into a foodie's paradise.

Best time to visit Raleigh

Raleigh's spring and fall are two beautiful seasons which see the city in a pleasant view. The temperatures during these two seasons are extremely favourable, and the city's landscape is quite pristine. Colours of red and yellow take over the streets and the scent of blossoming flowers take over the city. The whole air of the place is vibrant and brimming with life and excitement. The months September through November have an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius which is quite ideal for indulging in tourist activities. You can step out in the city and soak in all the beautiful weather as well as the lively atmosphere. It is essential that you carry a light jacket along with you as the brisk winter breeze would surprise you. This is also a good time to walk through some of their parks such as the Umstead State Park or Pullen Park. This time of the year, the accommodation prices also see a good discount. Booking hotels in Raleigh during the fall would be cheap and affordable. Plus, the city would also be celebrating Bugfest, North Carolina State Fair, Hopscotch Music Fest and SPARKcon, to keep you engaged.

The second-best wave of the season to marvel you would be spring, between March to May. The temperatures ascend from cold to hot but in a very comforting and pleasant manner. You wouldn't feel the excess heat or humidity on your face. The parks and streets perk up with blossoming flowers and leaves, that further adds to the aesthetic beauty of Raleigh. Festivals such as Brewgaloo, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Art Festival and Raleigh Rock' n' Roll Marathon & Half Marathon also take place during this time of the year. It would be quite fun to indulge in a marathon or just cheer for the participants. The hotel prices are also not too steep or unaffordable. You will easily be able to make reservations for rooms in Raleigh during spring. In fact, you can book your hotels and flights to Raleigh and gain some lovely online deals too. Summers in Raleigh are not as pleasant as they come with humidity. You will feel the pesky sweat and oiliness on your skin. Plus, the heat would make it difficult to venture out for touristy activities.

Places to visit in Raleigh

Raleigh is a haven for art and science. If you are interested in the two subjects, you will have a good time visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. To get a peek at the history of North Carolina, you should further continue your museum excursion by visiting the North Carolina Museum of History. The city's government structure, also known as the North Carolina State Capitol, is also a good place to visit. The structure is inspired by Greek architecture and reflects a white building with tall pillars. The tour within the capitol will give you a peek at some of the pasts of the state of North Carolina. Marbles Kids Museum is another fun place which was built to enhance the thinking of a growing child. Basically, it is a perfect recreational centre for kids during the trip.

Things to do in Raleigh

Neuse River Trail is a cool neighbourhood where you can rent a bike and explore the trails. The path is actually white and follows the trails of the Neuse River. The place is beautiful as the trail paints a perfect picture for photography. To further continue with this kind of environment, you can also visit the William B. Umstead State Park. Sprawled across over 5,579 acres with wooden trails and lakes flowing, the park is definitely the kind to excite you. You would have a good time riding the bicycle in the trails or opting for a hike. Meanwhile, the place also has opportunities to take up paddle-boating and canoeing. It won't cost you an excessive amount to take up this activity. Pullen Park is highly known for being the first-ever public park built in the state and is recognised to be the fifth oldest amusement park in the United States. The amusement park's entry is very cheap, and the recreational activities are quite engaging. You can also indulge in their food culture. The city has a plethora of restaurants and food establishments that would take you through quite the gastronomical experience.

Food and Restaurants in Raleigh

Raleigh is inching closer towards being a foodie's haven with a growing and flourishing food culture. Much of the credit to this positive change in the city goes to celebrity chef Ashley Christensen. Over the years, she has managed to establish five restaurants and change the face of the culinary world that Raleigh has been acquainted with. Much recently, the city managed to get validation for their culinary excellence by becoming American's favourite cities for barbecue food. Famous publications such as Travel and Leisure and Forbes have credited Raleigh for being one of the best cities to venture into a food expedition. The city has brought forth a slew of restaurants and food establishments that have helped them add a feather to their hat. Ashley's Joule Coffee has also been recognised to be the best in the city. North Carolina's fame in the culinary world stands with their exquisite take on barbequed meat. To get hold of the juicy and smokey meat, you should head to Clyde's Cooper. It is a local favourite and has found fame for its cooking style.

Another famous food establishment that raves barbeque delights that North Carolina is known for is The Pit. The location of this establishment is just as intriguing as the food that they have to offer. From baby back ribs to fried chicken, you will get to explore a slew of barbequed meat with tasty sides. The city has a plethora of international cuisine too that are definitely worth checking out. From Sono's Japanese delicacies to Cheetie Kumar's Garland, these places bring together some extravagant flavours and cooking style to marvel their customers. You should check out Gravy, known for its authentic Italian-American fusion with their signature gravy being the big seller. You should also explore the menu at Jose and Sons, who bring forth their Mexican heritage to add more spice and grills to the platter. While you're stuffing yourself with delicious food, don't forget down some chilled craft beer too. Raleigh Brewing Company or Crak Arm Brewing are two places which serve some impeccable flavoured craft beer that you will certainly enjoy.

How to reach Raleigh (Transportation)

Travelling to Raleigh would mean to invest a lot of time as it takes close to 24 hours to reach the city. The flight connectivity to Raleigh from India is not good but thanks to connecting flights from various airlines, the journey is possible. British Airways, United Airlines and Air Canada are the three airlines that have only layovers and no changing flights business to Raleigh. In fact, British Airways can reach you to Raleigh in close to 24 hours. There is one layover at London's Heathrow Airport. As for United Airlines and Air Canada, where there are no connecting flights that you would have to take, there are lengthy layovers. In fact, you will also require a transit visa if you are travelling from these airlines. The airlines have layovers in European cities such as Frankfurt and Munich, aside from their domestic cities Toronto and Newark as well. The duration though is quite similar to the one offered by British Airways. These are the most popular routes to reach Raleigh from Indian cities. Mumbai and Delhi offer the best airline connectivity to reach Raleigh.

Other airlines such as Air France, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Finnair, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Gulf Air, All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, to name a few, also have flights to Raleigh. They use other international routes to reach Raleigh that mostly consist of a layover at their cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Newark, Hong Kong, to name a few. The flight tickets to Raleigh are rather expensive. A round-trip would cost you a staggering amount. However, if you have some miles in your kitty, this would be a good time to make more or use the ones you have been saving up. You can opt to book flight tickets to Raleigh in advance to get hold of cheap prices. While you are booking your flight tickets, it is recommended that you also book your hotels in Raleigh. Combining the two expenses would give you some great online deals to Raleigh. Besides, it would be convenient to spend on flight and hotel bookings well in advance to avoid excess expenditure during the trip.