How to get from Manchester airport to Harrogate?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
21
It's around 45 miles from my brother's place to Manchester airport and the fare is also £55 so distance isn't necessarily a good indicator.

Hubby's last taxi ride from Manchester airport to Harrogate was last October and cost £120. The one before that was £115 and the one before that was £125 based on the info on his expenses sheet. It' a pity I don't have the details of the companies he used to be able to recommend them but it just gives the cost on his excel sheets here.

Edit: I just asked him and apparently he often used this site to book a taxi.

http://www.j21airporttaxis.co.uk/Def...x?step=service

22
Just checked the firm offered by Annie which is quoting £62 (not too bad actually) to my home address, and £140 to Harrogate vs the train fare of £21.50 total.

23
Yep, that's it!

Thanks for the heads up, but will I have to go through passport control coming from Geneva? I hadn't budgeted time for it since I usually just walk out of the airport at the end of a flight within Europe, but then the last time I flew to the UK was five years ago so I don't remember the details.

Thanks so much for the detailed info and advice!!!

24
Thanks so much everyone for all of your tips! I will count on taking the train which gets me to Harrogate a half hour before my meeting (an advisory board --- they are aware that I may be late), but I will also look into some of the taxi companies and have a few numbers on hand in case I miss a connection somewhere.

Hopefully I'll find a little time to visit Harrogate, I've never been to Yorkshire!

25
Re passport control. Yes.

26
It's a wonderful place!

27
If you got an eligible Passport, you can use the automatic

Passport Gates to save time.

28
Then you've not lived. Harrogate is lovely, York even better but if you have time on your return journey, Leeds (my home city) is a vibrant city with amazing shopping and some great pubs and restaurants.

29
Aye, Betty's is a must. Betty's Tea Rooms were actually started by a Swiss family, which is why you'll find Rösti and Birchermuesli on the menu. But really, make sure you don't leave Harrogate without a nice cup of tea and a Fat Rascal or two from Betty's.

Oh god, a pang of homesickness has just shot through me. Fortunately I'll be in York soon, so don't have long to wait for a decent cuppa.

30
Passport control at Manchester I do at the same time every week.

Fastest will be 5 mins. Hit a queue and you will be up to 30 mins. Actually, it seems to take less time than you think it will.

There are now 10 automatic gates and since they updated the software last year, these are now faster than going via a human. IF they are all working.

If you check in a bag, Manchester is not fast at delivering them. Typically 20 mins to 30 mins.

Your other problem will be the time it takes to get a train ticket. I have previously booked ahead for collection at station, or just turned up to buy. Both take the same amount of time as it is the same machine you use. There are 4 and one is usually broken. I have queued half an hour before... And no, you can't use an app like the SBB to buy it on your phone.

Didn't realise there were so many fellow Leodensians and Yorkies on here!

Regards

Ian

31
apologies if already posted

https://www.thetrainline.com/

32
I just realised that there were new posts on my thread, sorry!

What is an eligible passport? I have a French passport (and a Canadian one, though I doubt that's any better).

33
If your EU passport, the french one, is relatively recent, two, three years old, it will have a chip with biometrics details, suitable for the E-gates.

You simply have it scanned, look into the camera and then the gate automatically opens to let you through.

Enjoy Yorkshire, they say it's 'God's own county'.

34
It's three years old -- should be good, right? I'm going to count on it!

I'm not sure how much I will see of Yorkshire. I didn't plan any extra time for visiting as I'm leaving my husband alone with our three small children for the first time. I thought it best I hurried home

35
Look out the window of your train... You will see Yorkshire. The cross pennine and up to Harrogate trip is reasonably scenic.

You must be a saint. Most people I know with 3 young children would take any excuse to stay away for a little longer!

Enjoy your visit.

Regards

Ian

36
Haha, nope, not at all a saint! I spent last weekend in Lisbon with a friend (while my husband took the kids to visit his parents and avoid being on his own with them...). I'll go back to Yorkshire someday!

37
Hi all! I received so much helpful advice on the forum that I thought I should update you all on how the trip went.

Despite having to check in at Terminal 2 (who even knew Geneva had a Terminal 2??), we ended up leaving a bit early from Geneva and arriving very early in Manchester. I flew through the automatic passport control and out of the airport, and arrived at the train station at around 11, before my plane should have even landed! Caught the 11.33 to Leeds, had no trouble changing trains and arrived in Harrogate with time to shop before my 15.00 advisory board meeting. No need to call a taxi (though I had the numbers with me), and the trip was quite pleasant.

Thanks again for all the help, the trip never would have been so smooth without it. Cheers!

38
Good to hear that all went so well. Thanks for coming back to tell us. (Not that I offered any help of course. Not my patch. )

39
You did look out of the train window, right?

Hope you enjoyed! I shall be doing some of that trip tomorrow... Pudsey bound, for a nice long weekend.

Regards

Ian

40
Blimy, whatever airline were you flying on?

Terminal 2 is the ancient airport building by the control tower and is normally only used by charter flights bringing over the winter ski bores.