Our run of unseasonably dry and sunny weather is coming to an end (I know, just in time for the bank holiday, how rude), and if you’re desperate for more of it, it might be time to escape our lovely Manchester.
Travel experts at Manchester Airport have put together 12 underrated but beautiful beaches you can jet off to from here.
And with flights starting from just £28 return, there’s plenty to tempt you away from town and into Tunisia (or a number of other destinations).
The list includes far-flung trips to Mexico and the USA as well as some little-known beaches that are much closer to home.
Manchester Airport is predicting that more than a million passengers will travel through Manchester over half term, with popular beach resorts in Europe expected to be packed with sun-seekers.
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So these less popular locations might give you the chance of having a bit of peace and quiet while you sun yourself on the shores.
Playa de Las Catedrales, Galicia
The best beaches you can fly to from Manchester. Credit: Supplied / Wolfgang Miller, Wikimedia Commons
Let’s start with the proper bargain – you can jet off to Spain’s underrated north-west coast, the Galicia region, for less than £30 this summer.
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The most famous beach here is Playa de Las Catedrales, or ‘Beach of the Cathedrals’, where natural rock arches tower over smooth white sands.
You’ll need to hire a car and commit to around a three-hour drive to make it here from Santander, but it’ll be worth it.
Fly from Manchester to Santander with Ryanair from £28pp return
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Dune du Pilat, Arcachon
Credit: Rundvaldccby, Wikimedia Commons
Fancy spending your day relaxing on the highest sand dune in Europe, before spending an evening in a town that’s famous for its seafood? This is the one.
Arcachon is around an hour from Bordeaux, and the Dune du Pilat towers at almost 350ft high and a mile in length.
It means it’s never too crowded and you’ll always get a spot to take in a sunset.
Fly from Manchester to Bordeaux with easyJet from £84pp return
Golden Horn Beach, Croatia
Golden Horn Beach, Croatia. Credit: Pixabay
When a lot of us think of summer beach adventure, we think of Croatia – and you can whizz off to Split from just over £100 per person.
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On the island of Brac, you’ll find Golden Horn Beach, surrounded by a pine forest and shimmering aquamarine waters.
From windsurfing to swimming it’s a popular spot, and only a 20 minute stroll from the town of Bol.
Fly from Manchester to Split with easyJet from £105pp return
Elafonisi, Crete
Credit: Pixabay
Fancy a little holiday to Greece? Look no further than Crete, the largest of the country’s 6000 islands and home to one of the world’s most famous beaches – because it’s pink.
Elafonisi Beach is a narrow strip of sand wrapped around a shallow lagoon, with crystal clear emerald waters.
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It’s picked up this mesmerising pink hue thanks to all the shells scattered along the shoreline.
Fly from Manchester to Chania with Ryanair from £92pp return
Holbox, Mexico
Credit: Pixabay
Let’s go a little further afield now – all the way to sunny Mexico.
Pass beyond the party hotspot of Cancun, with its year-round flights and all-inclusive holidays, and head out to the island of Holbox.
It’s about 40 miles north and a total tropical paradise – expect white sands, laid-back vibes, local beach bars and restaurants.
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You can even swim with whale sharks in summer, and may see flocks of wild flamingos and pelicans.
Fly from Manchester to Cancun from £290pp return
Cala Goritze, Sardinia
Credit: Pixabay
Ciao bella, it’s time for a trip over to one of Italy’s much less touristic destinations – the island of Sardinia.
Beaches here are unspoiled and uncrowded, like Cala Goritze on the east coast, which is only accessible by boat from Santa Maria Navarrese, or a three-mile hike.
Once you get here, you’ll be rewarded with a white sand cove and limestone cliffs.
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Fly from Manchester to Olbia with TUI from £90pp return
Legzira Beach, Morocco
Credit: Pixabay
If you think of souks and riads when you think of Morocco, think again – it’s also got some of the world’s best beaches, like those that pepper the coast around Agadir.
If you head a couple of hours south of this popular city, you’ll find the sleepy town of Legzira, said to look almost Martian with its red sands, dunes and cliffs thanks to the sands blown over from the Sahara desert.
A centrepiece is the Arch of Legzira, which splits the beach in two with just a narrow walkway that’s cut off at high tide.
Fly from Manchester to Agadir with TUI from £94pp return
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Praia de Porto Santo, Madeira
Credit: Unsplash, Marco Pireson
Madeira is rocketing in popularity these days, but there are still undiscovered gems to find for yourself.
Take the two-hour ferry to the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, where the beach has a five-mile stretch of golden sand, family-run restaurants, and a golf course.
Flights to Funchal – Madeira’s capital – are a bargain too.
Fly from Manchester to Funchal with Ryanair from £56pp return
Scala dei Turchi, Sicily
Credit: Pixabay
Italy pops up a few times on this list for good reason – affordable flights from Manchester, great food, and gorgeous quiet beaches. Just like this one.
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The Scala dei Turchi, or ‘Turkish Steps’, are hugely popular with locals but seem to fly under the radar for international tourists.
They’re white cliffs that descend to the sea in a series of jagged, sloping platforms like a staircase, ending in golden sands and gentle blue waters.
The area was apparently a haven for Turkish pirates in previous centuries, hence the name.
Fly from Manchester to Catania with Jet2.com from £188pp return
Plage de Sidi Mahrez, Tunisia
Credit: Unsplash, Aleksandra Lion
On Africa’s north coast is the popular holiday destination of Tunisia, but swerve the busy Hammamet-Sousse region near Tunis and instead go to the island of Djerba.
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You can fly here direct from Manchester for a holiday filled with gorgeous beaches.
One of the best is Plage de Sidi Mahrez, a 10-mile stretch of white sand with a laid back atmosphere where you can enjoy water sports and camel rides.
Fly from Manchester to Djerba with easyJet from £157pp return
Shell Beach, Herm
Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Christian Pinatel de Salvator
Did you know the British Isles could do beaches this well, and with such a short flight from Manchester?
Over on the tiny Channel Island of Herm is Shell Beach, made up of millions of multi-coloured shell fragments washed in from the Atlantic ocean.
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There’s almost a mile of golden shores to explore, with a much nicer climate than the mainland, and you can reach Herm with a 20-minute ferry from St Peter Port in Guernsey.
Herm is also a car-free island, but it’s only a 15 minute walk from the ferry terminal to the beach.
Fly from Manchester to Guernsey with Aurigny from £130pp return
Smith Point County Park, Long Island (NY)
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
If you ever fly to the Big Apple but find yourself thinking ‘Actually, that’s a bit too much Big Apple now’, turn yourself around and head to nearby Long Island.
In summer, it has a climate similar to the Mediterranean and loads of beaches, like the legendary Coney Island Beach with thrill rides, a boardwalk and family attractions.
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A quieter spot is Smith Point Country Park, popular with families for camping and wildlife watching – you’ve got a good chance of spotting dolphins here.
Fly from Manchester to New York JFK with AerLingus from £350pp return
Manchester Marathon 2026 guide – waves, start times, route map and much more
Danny Jones
It’s nearly that time again: the adidas Manchester Marathon has come back around for 2026, so it’s about time we gave you a helpful guide on everything you need to know.
Doesn’t matter whether you’re running it or are simply set to be one of the countless people expected to line the streets in support of the annual event; there are plenty of important details that can help make it as stress-free as possible.
Well, there are obviously going to be plenty of nerves out on the tarmac, but we already know you’re going to smash it.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in…
The great big Manchester Marathon guide – all the key info
We can start off by letting you know that, no, there aren’t any places left to join this year’s Manchester Marathon, but as always, it’s worth keeping an eye out on social media for any last-minute bibs going.
There’s always a fair few drop-outs in the last few weeks leading up to a big race, and while we hope it’s not happened to you or anyone you know, do let people know down in the comments if you know of any spares so we can field out the field as much as possible.
Waves and start times for the 2026 MCR Marathon
Where else to begin than with the start times themselves? If you’re joining the pack this year, you should have long received your race pack by now – if not, you can collect yours/try to sort a back-up bib at the adidas store on Market Street – and therefore should already know when you’re getting going.
However, even if you’re just watching, it can be helpful to know the exact minute that your friends and loved ones’ waves are starting. Here’s a full breakdown:
(Credit: adidas Manchester Marathon)
If you’re wondering how best to track those taking part, as well as sharing names and numbers on race bibs for predictive tracking, we would always recommend turning on the ‘Find My’ app on Apple devices and/or your phone’s equivalent.
We would also suggest sharing your location on WhatsApp, which can be set for several hours and beyond, which is usually pretty accurate.
Manchester Marathon route and event map
As for this year’s marathon route, 2026 marks just the second year that the sell-out Manc run will see its final stretch along the Oxford Road Corridor, with the finish line hosted just outside The University of Manchester’s historic Whitworth Hall.
Complete with a series of adidas-branded hoardings tilted at an angle for those cheering from the sidelines to slam and spur finishers along those last few yards.
Once again, the course will take participants from beneath the Trafford City Arch near White City retail park, down Bridgewater Way, then Chester Road, before heading towards Castlefield and Deansgate, on to Stretford, Sale, Timperley, Altrincham, and then out of Trafford in the direction of Baguley.
Eventually, you’ll make your way back to central Manchester, passing through Chorlton, Whalley Range, Hulme and eventually to the home straight on Oxford Rd for a grandstand finish.
You can see a detailed version of the Manchester Marathon right HERE and/or watch a full virtual tour of the 2026 route down below.
The start area is outside Man United’s Old Trafford stadium, which can be easily accessed by tram or car
Toilets, water and fuelling stations
Now, next up on the list of crucial locations is, obviously, the issue of toilets, as well as water and refuelling stations.
You’ll be glad to know that there will be places to go for your pre-race pees and poos, both in the first pan and in a secondary section just after you begin the starting process and head towards the retail park and Trafford Arch.
From there, runners will be able to use the toilet (fingers crossed you won’t need one) whenever they come across a water station, and in addition to the eight or nine points along the course, you can refuel energy and nutrition-wise with High5 Orange Aqua Gels.
Here’s a quick rundown of where you’ll find them:
Manc Marathon road closures
Next up, it goes without saying that such a big event is not just city centre-wide, but one spread across multiple Greater Manchester boroughs, doesn’t go ahead every single year (not to mention bigger and better each time) without some major logistical planning.
The adidas Manchester Marathon returns to the streets of Greater Manchester this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has now been announced. 🏃♂️🏅
Bag drop and collection points for the Manchester Marathon
The bag drop is situated near the front of Manchester United’s famous home ground, where you’ll also find the official starting area within the E2 car park.
If you plan to use this service (small sports bag or rucksack only), the organisers recommend arriving at least 45 minutes before you are due to access the start line.
Bags will then be collected and loaded into lorries corresponding to your wave colour, which will then transport them to the finish line, where they can be collected with proof. If you’re still unsure about anything, here’s a full explanation.
Fan zones, cheers squads and popular spectator spots
As for this year’s dedicated Manchester Marathon fan zones and cheer points, you’ll find popular spectator hotspots, including the Deansgate-Castlefield Interchange, the Chester Road roundabout and strip leading up past Stretford Mall and a main section of Chorlton’s high street, just to name a few.
Thankfully, you can find lots more tips on where to cheer on your friends and family via the online Supporter Hub, including help when it comes to tracking them.
In addition to the multiple signposted junctures and atmosphere hubs, with more live music and festivities from artists, charities and local organisations than ever, last year’s Manchester Marathon official Event Village at Circle Square has also seen a big upgrade. Find out more below.
As always, Transport for Greater Manchester is advising everyone making their way to the event this year to use public services wherever possible.
In terms of using the Metrolink trams, Old Trafford tram station is just 10 minutes from the start line, while Trafford Bar, Wharfside, Imperial War Museum and Exchange Quay are your next best options and still only a reasonable walk away.
One could even say they’re the perfect distance away to go through your full warm-up routine and pre-race checks; you can also check out a full interactive map of the relevant tram lines:
As for this year’s dedicated Manchester Marathon fan zones and cheer points, you’ll find popular spectator hotspots, including the Deansgate Interchange, the Chester Road strip leading up past Stretford Mall and a main section of Chorlton’s high street, just to name a few.
Thankfully, you can find lots more tips on where to cheer on your friends and family via the online Supporter Hub , including help when it comes to tracking them.
In addition to the multiple signposted junctures and atmosphere hubs seen in the virtual route tour above, with more live music and festivities from artists, charities and local organisations than ever, the 2025 equivalent of previous years’ event village comes in the form of an all-new fan zone on Oxford Rd.
Finally, if you were looking to use the bus this weekend, you can see the full list of bus diversions HERE.
Last but not least, there’s nothing else left for us to say other than good luck to everyone taking part, and whatever reason you’re running the 2026 Manchester Marathon, go and SMASH it!
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Manchester Marathon)
Travel & Tourism
First look at the lavish two-storey penthouse hotel suite opening at the Etihad campus
Daisy Jackson
The Medlock – the new hotel opening on the Etihad Campus later this year – has shared brand-new images of its luxury penthouse suite.
The lavish new two-storey suite will come with its own private terrace, views across the city, and its own entrance.
That’s on top of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living area and dining space.
The hotel itself, which takes its name from the river that runs beneath the area, is set to open later this year, and is under construction immediately beside the Etihad Stadium.
When it’s complete, it will boast 401 upscale bedrooms, including the newly-revealed penthouse suite, with panoramic views across to the city centre.
Guests in The Medlock’s two-storey suite will have floor-to-ceiling windows, luxury finishes across the 150sq ft interior, and five-star service.
Privacy will be a key feature – the penthouse comes with its own dedicated entrance separate from the main hotel, plus a personal concierge service. You’ll even be able to ride an express list direct to the private dining room of the hotel’s brasserie.
Still not fancy enough? The penthouse offers provisions for a private chef and an additional suite suitable for a nanny or personal staff, perfectly suited to VIP guests.
The private terrace at The Medlock penthouse suiteLuxury bathroom finishes at the hotelThe dining space within the hotel suiteOne of the two bedrooms in The Medlock penthouse suite
Bosses hope the hotel will be a perfect base for the year-round events taking place at the Etihad Campus, whether it’s matches at the Etihad Stadium, gigs at the Co-op Live, or the new hub for culture, leisure, and entertainment, Medlock Square.
Richard Pearson, general manager of The Medlock, a Radisson Blu Hotel, commented: “The Medlock’s penthouse suite is a space that we are particularly proud of, truly offering our guests the best in class when it comes to a luxury stay in the city.
“We’re perfectly positioned to serve both the Etihad Campus and Co-op Live, but also the wider city which you can enjoy undisrupted views of from the private terrace.
“For those looking for a discreet and high-end stay in Manchester, guests will be blown away by the space when we officially open later this year.”
The Medlock, a Radisson Blu Hotel, is set to open this autumn, with bookings now live HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
24th May 2025 
