The island you can fly to from Manchester Airport from £19 for winter warmth

Picture the scene: a lush, green island surrounded by azure-blue waves, where you’ll find breathtaking mountains, beautiful gardens and pastel-coloured buildings. It certainly sounds a world away from Manchester in January.

If this island escape is appealing to you, then it’s exactly what you’ll find in Madeira, the largest island in a Portuguese archipelago, located off the northwest coast of Africa. With a subtropical climate, the island enjoys highs of up to 20C in January, making it the ideal destination to visit for some winter warmth.

There are flights available in January from Manchester Airport to Madeira on Skyscanner, starting from £19 one way. There are returns available from around £30 (it’s worth noting you may have to pay extra for luggage and seat allocation).

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Madeira is an island rich in geological drama, where steep cliffs meet the crashing waves of the Atlantic ocean and mountains rise up from green valleys. The island is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna, as well as its hiking and climbing routes.

The island’s gardens are a must-visit during your holiday, and capital city Funchal is home to three of them. In the hilltop suburb of Monte, which can be reached by cable car, is the Monte Palace Gardens, a magical place packed full of exotic plants from across the world with intriguing follies hidden among them.

Or spend a few hours exploring the botanical garden, which is nestled in the cliffside and offers beautiful views out to sea. A little further out are the Palheiro Gardens which were built in the early 19th century. It is famous for its collection of Camellias and the best time to see them in