How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Cardiff?

The cheapest bus tickets from Manchester to Cardiff start at R 282. The average price for this route is around R 472. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Manchester to Cardiff?

The average bus journey time from Manchester to Cardiff is 7h 15m, covering a distance of 229 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 5h 40m and is operated by National Express .

Which bus companies service the Manchester to Cardiff route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 10 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus , National Express , Megabus UK .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Cardiff?

The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Cardiff at 00:45. And the latest bus departs at 23:59.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff?

A bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff produces an estimated 6 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.

What is the best bus company from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is National Express , with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 29762 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Cardiff?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company National Express has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.

Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is National Express , with a punctuality rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is National Express , with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Bus Manchester to Cardiff from R 218 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 15 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	08:50	Shudehill	6h 40m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	18:20	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h	00:20	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	11:40	Shudehill	6h 55m	18:35	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	07:30	Coach Station	8h 40m	16:10	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	15:00	Shudehill	7h 15m	22:15	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 16 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	08:50	Shudehill	6h 40m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	09:10	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 20m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	00:45	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	04:10	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	11:40	Shudehill	6h 55m	18:35	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 17 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	08:50	Shudehill	6h 40m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	09:10	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 20m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	00:45	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	04:10	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	10:50	Manchester Airport	9h 35m	20:25	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 18 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	08:50	Shudehill	6h 40m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	18:20	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h	00:20	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	00:45	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	04:10	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	11:40	Shudehill	6h 55m	18:35	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 19 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	08:50	Shudehill	6h 40m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	09:10	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 20m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	00:45	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	04:10	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	11:40	Shudehill	8h 5m	19:45	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 20 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	15:00	Shudehill	7h 15m	22:15	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	18:20	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h	00:20	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	00:45	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	04:10	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	08:50	Shudehill	6h 40m	15:30	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 4:11 AM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to travel from Manchester to Cardiff

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Cardiff. The journey takes about 2 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just R 400, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

2h 50mAverage duration

232 kmDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average priceR 282 - R 2 353	Average duration7h 15m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Train	Average priceR 754 - R 3 707	Average duration3h 30m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average priceR 400 - R 584	Average duration2h 50m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Cardiff?

Stops in Manchester

A
Shudehill
Shudehill Interchange, Stand G, Manchester M60
Visit page
B
Manchester Airport
C
Coach Station
16 Chorlton St, Manchester M1 3HW, UK
Visit page
D
56 Great Bridgewater St
56 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE, UK
E
City of Manchester Stadium
Citylink, Manchester M40 7EP, UK
F
Manchester Coach Station
Manchester Coach Station, Chorlton St., , Manchester M1 3JF, United Kingdom

Stops in Cardiff

A
Sophia Gardens
2 Sophia Cl, Cardiff CF11, UK
Visit page
B
Cardiff University (o/s Cathays Rail Stn)
50 Park Place (Bus Stop, o/s Cathays Rail Stn), Cardiff CF10
C
Cardiff Coach Station - Sophia Gardens
22 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9LJ, UK
Visit page
D
Cardiff - Castle Street Bus Stop
21A Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BT, UK
E
National Museum
Gorsedd Gardens Rd, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK
F
Cardiff Bus Stop - Westgate
206 Westgate St, Cardiff CF10, UK

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511 616 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

National Express

4/529 768 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.1

Cleanliness4.7

WiFi3.4

Megabus UK

3.5/54 284 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.4

WiFi2.6

Based on 4284 reviews, the company was rated 3.6 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at R 548

Megabus Manchester Cardiff recent customer reviews

Bus came 1hr late. Stopped o. The way 50mns waiting for change of driver. I couldn't get home yesterday 😩 because we arrived 2hrs late no train to go home

Jessica Y.

30 October 2024

I was unable to make the date of booking, I did try to exchange my bus ticket to another date however the process made it to hard to do so

Gareth J.

14 November 2023

It was late one hour.

Wehazit S.

5 December 2024

GB Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, National Express

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Manchester to Cardiff by bus

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or differ at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Cardiff?
The cheapest bus tickets from Manchester to Cardiff start at R 282. The average price for this route is around R 472. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Manchester to Cardiff?
The average bus journey time from Manchester to Cardiff is 7h 15m, covering a distance of 229 km. The fastest bus gets you there in 5h 40m and is operated by National Express.
Which bus companies service the Manchester to Cardiff route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 10 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus, National Express, Megabus UK.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Cardiff?
The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Cardiff at 00:45. And the latest bus departs at 23:59.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff?
A bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff produces an estimated 6 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and Busbud’s recommended way to travel.
What is the best bus company from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is National Express, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 29762 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Cardiff?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company National Express has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is National Express, with a punctuality rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is National Express, with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

13/12

R 1 852

14/12

R 643

Today

R 447

16/12

R 427

17/12

R 281

18/12

R 479

19/12

R 364

20/12

R 624

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Cardiff was searched and found on 17 Dec 2025 with a price of R 281

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Manchester to Cardiff as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from R 281 to R 1 852 for a bus ticket from Manchester to Cardiff based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at R 281, which is on 2025-12-17.