5 Ways How To Get From London To Manchester

Are you wondering what are the ways on how to get from London to Manchester? London is well-connected with Manchester. This makes traveling between two destinations a breeze because you are spoiled with different options that address the various needs and wants of every traveler. 

You can reach Manchester from London by bus, train, coach, rental car, carpool and flight. The road distance between London and Manchester is 321.8 kilometres or 200 miles while the direct distance is 262 kilometres or 162.7 miles. It takes about three hours and 48 minutes to travel this distance by car. 

In order to help you find the best mode of transport for your upcoming trip, I have listed down the widely used ways on how to get to Manchester from London. Whether you are a luxurious traveller, a businessman on-the-go or a thrifty backpacker, I am sure you’ll find what suits you best.

How to get from London to Manchester

OPTION 1: How to get from London to Manchester by Standard Bus or Coach

• Travel Duration: about 3 to 5 hours
• Travel Fare: from £10.74

Travelling from London to Manchester by bus is easy and affordable. Megabus is one transport company that services this route, and it has regular trips which you can catch in order to reach Manchester from London. You can book your Megabus ticket here or the Flixbus tickets here in advance so you can get cheaper coach deals.

There are lots of coach trips running daily from London to Manchester. You can book the first one out which leaves at 7:00 am, and if you are aiming for the latest trip – it is scheduled at 11:30 pm.

The coach leaves from London Victoria Coach Station and arrives at Manchester Coach Station in Chorlton Street. It takes at least five hours to travel between the two destinations via coach, and since this is a direct trip, no changes are required. 

The standard buses are well-equipped with air conditioning, toilet, Wifi and charging points. They also have wheelchair accessibility. 

Depending on your preferred origin and final destination, the bus trip from London to Manchester can last from three to five hours. Here are samples of the different bus timings which you can book online conveniently:

Standard bus from London Heathrow Airport (T2 and T3) to Manchester Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)

Standard bus from London Victoria Coach Station to Manchester Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)

Standard bus from London Victoria Coach Station to Manchester Airport Bus Station

Standard bus from London Heathrow Airport (T2 and T3) to Manchester Airport Bus Station

Coach from London Victoria Coach Station to Manchester Coach Station

OPTION 2: How to get from London to Manchester by Train

• Travel Duration: about 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £22.80

Getting on a train from London by Manchester is probably the most convenient way to travel between the two destinations. There are a lot of timings and operators to choose from, and there are direct services available so you can reach Manchester fast.

The train from London departs frequently from London Euston, although some leave from London St. Pancras Station. Trains coming from these stations arrive at Manchester Piccadilly. Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains are two train operators that service this route. 

The earliest train leaves London around 6:00 am while the last train leaves at 10:00 pm. By train, Manchester is about 163 miles or 262 kilometers away from London.

Travel with National Rail and get exclusive railcard deals by checking out their promotions. 

OPTION 3: How to get from London to Manchester by Rental Car

• Travel Duration: from 3 hours 47 minutes
• Travel Fare: from £69.48

Having a rental car with you when you explore the top UK destinations is a true convenience. You get to plan your itinerary more personally, stopping by cities that interest you and taking much-needed breaks as much as you want to.

On the other hand, you can also enjoy the efficiency of driving directly from London to Manchester in your private ride. You can do away with the bus transfers, long waits and missed timings with a rental car.

The cost to rent a car in London starts at £69.48. It all depends on the type of vehicle you wish to get and for how long you desire to keep it.

When it comes to driving in the UK, here are some helpful tips you need to know:

1. Check if you have a valid license and driving insurance.
2. Always drive on the left side of the road.
3. Pay attention to the bus lanes.
4. Strictly follow the UK road speed limit.
5. Familiarise and follow the road signs and parking rules.

I talked more about these in my tips for UK visitors who would like to drive the UK roads.

OPTION 4: How to get from London to Manchester by Carpool

• Travel Duration: about 4 hours
• Travel Fare: from £30

With BlaBlaCar, you can connect with other travellers going from London to Manchester who are looking for people to split the cost with. This is a good option for those wanting to travel by land but would rather not drive on their own.

Carpooling schedules cannot be easily determined ahead of time; it all depends on the vehicle owners who publish their routes as they please.

Aside from convenience, choosing to share a ride with someone on your trip to Manchester from London enables you to meet locals you might otherwise miss out on should you have opted for public transport. 

OPTION 5: How to get from London to Manchester by Flight

• Travel Duration: about 1 hour
• Travel Fare: from £104

You can fly from London to Manchester if you are pressed for time or would simply prefer travelling on an airplane. 

British Airways has regular flights that bring you from London to Manchester. The direct flight departs from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and arrives at Manchester Airport (MAN.) 

This option is arguably the fastest way to get to Manchester from London, even if you add in the time you have to allow for airport protocols to commence.

For the best deals, make sure to plan your trip ahead of time so you can book your flight ticket in advance.

More about Manchester UK

FAQs on How to Get from London to Manchester 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

Travel Blog

Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas and travel guides for travellers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.