£29+ Cheap flights to the Isle of Man

Douglas overview

Douglas is the capital city of the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea between the north west of England and Ireland. This fascinating small city is the site of the Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s parliament. The Tynwald has a 1,000 year history and it is said to be the oldest continuously-operating law-making body in the world. The Manx Museum in Douglas tells the story of the Tynwald. The museum also contains hundreds of other exhibits and artefacts telling the unique history of the Isle of Man, beginning in Viking times with a display of ancient gold and silver. A special gallery is dedicated to the TT motorcycle races. The Manx Electric Railway uses old rolling stock on a route that begins in Douglas, and takes visitors around the island. Animal lovers will know that the Isle of Man is famous for the Manx cat, which has no tail. These cats are plentiful in Douglas. Manx kippers are a local delicacy and there are many stalls along the seafront in Douglas where visitors can try them. Other delicacies available in Douglas include Loaghtan Lamb, a breed said to have been brought to the Isle of Man by Vikings. Most of the roads outside Douglas have no speed limit and, even outside the official racing season, this attracts many motorcycle enthusiasts who are keen to ride their machines on the island’s twisting roads. Douglas is a three hour ferry ride from the vibrant English city of Liverpool.

Getting around Isle of Man

The most unusual way to see Douglas is to use the horse-drawn tram, believed to be one of only two still operating worldwide. It runs along the length of the promenade. Douglas is a compact city, and it is easy to see all of the major sights on foot. Parking is plentiful, and there are regular bus services.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Douglas is served by Isle of Man airport, also known as Ronaldsway Airport. It is located seven miles from the city. A taxi rank is located directly outside the main terminal building. Three car rental agencies have vehicles available at the airport. The journey by road to Douglas takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic. Two bus routes serve the airport.