Is there a way to reach Manchester from Bristol without a car?

You can take a bus or a train to go from Bristol to Manchester. The two options are convenient and sustainable ways to reach Manchester. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long is the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester?

On average, the trip from Bristol to Manchester takes around 5h, but the quickest bus can get you there in about 3h 25m. This is the time it takes to travel the 141 miles (227 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Bristol and Manchester?

The distance separating Bristol and Manchester is 141 miles (227 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Bristol to Manchester?

If you're headed to Manchester from Bristol, chances are that your bus will leave from Bristol, Bus & Coach Station and arrive at Shudehill. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Bristol to Manchester?

Go for the bus if you want the most economical way to travel this route. $11 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Manchester from Bristol.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester?

You can expect to pay around $23 for a bus ticket. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $11 and $98, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Once in Manchester, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Manchester United Musuem and Tour Centre, Chester Zoo, Ordsall Hall, Sightseeing Manchester and John Rylands Library.

Bristol to Manchester Bus Tickets

TodayMay 25

from $51

TomorrowMay 26

from $35

TueMay 27

from $24

WedMay 28

from $21

ThuMay 29

from $20

FriMay 30

from $13

SatMay 31

from $21

SunJun 1

from $21

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 26 at 1:40pm
Departure city: Bristol
Departure location: Bristol, Bus & Coach Station
Arrival time: May 26 at 9:00pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 20m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 26 at 2:05pm
Departure city: Bristol
Departure location: Bristol, Bus & Coach Station
Arrival time: May 26 at 5:30pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: 116673
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 25m
Departure time: May 26 at 8:40am
Departure city: Bristol
Departure location: Bristol, Bus & Coach Station
Arrival time: May 26 at 12:30pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 50m
Departure time: May 26 at 4:35pm
Departure city: Bristol
Departure location: Bristol, Bus & Coach Station
Arrival time: May 26 at 9:10pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 35m
Departure time: May 26 at 2:05pm
Departure city: Bristol
Departure location: Bristol, Bus & Coach Station
Arrival time: May 26 at 5:50pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 45m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Bristol to Manchester.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$11 - $98	Average Duration5h	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Cheapest
Train	Average Price$40 - $417	Average Duration2h 59m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	FastestMost eco-friendly
Carpool	Average Price$17 - $37	Average Duration3h	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends carpooling from Bristol to Manchester

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Manchester. The journey takes about 3 hours and with fares starting at just $17, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

3hAverage Duration

$17Cheapest ticket

10kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Bristol to Manchester: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$23

Average bus trip duration5h

Number of daily buses14

Earliest bus departure5:50am

Distance139 miles (224 km)

Latest bus departure11:55pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,758 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Users have noted that the service is generally reliable, with punctual pick-ups and helpful drivers. However, there were some concerns about the cleanliness of the toilet facilities on board, specifically a lack of toilet paper and hand towels. Despite this issue, overall experiences remain positive due to timely service and supportive staff.

FlixBus Bristol Manchester recent customer reviews

Everything was great. time and pick up location spot on, the only thing I didn't like was the toilet, there was a mess everywhere which I get is to be expected in a moving vehicle, but no toilet paper or hand towels, had to hoover over was not a pleasant experience. But the rest was great.

Sarah J.

August 26, 2024

The driver was punctual and very helpful.

Agyeman B.

April 9, 2025

National Express

4/529,200 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Based on 29200 reviews, the company was rated 4.2 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the wifi. National Express ticket prices on this trip start at $20.00

National Express Bristol Manchester recent customer reviews

Bus from Birmingham to Manchester was 45 min. late due to traffic from an accident on the highway. It wasn’t the drivers fault. He was very apologetic.

Sarah J.

September 29, 2019

excellent service and very friendly

Ismail K.

January 12, 2020

Megabus UK

3.5/54,166 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.3

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

According to customer reviews, there have been several negative experiences with the bus service. Customers mention issues such as delays, bus problems during the trip, and unpleasant smells inside the buses. However, some positive aspects were also mentioned, including good drivers in spite of accidents causing lateness.

Megabus Bristol Manchester recent customer reviews

I did not engjoy the fact that the bus sas late 20 and I got to my destination 1.15 later thr it was planned.

Malgorzata K.

November 10, 2023

The departed time delayed. And in the midst of the trip, bus problem, changed to another bus. In the end, the time delayed more than 1 hour. More than that, the bus is full of smell of urine.

Dickie W.

July 22, 2023

That coach was disaster because of the vibration and there was a burning smell during the ride inside the bus

Nitheesh R.

July 21, 2023

First Wessex of Bristol

Infobus

4/5469 reviews

Staff4.8

Timeliness4.6

Cleanliness4.8

Wifi3.8

GB bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, National Express, Sindbad, RegioJet, KLR Bus, FlixTrain

Bristol to Manchester Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Bristol to Manchester. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make sure you can find a bus service from Bristol to Manchester from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Discover how much the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in Bristol and Manchester?

Stops in Bristol

A - Bristol, Bus & Coach Station

B - Westbury Road

C - Bond St

D - Park Avenue

E - Cribbs Causeway

F - University of the West of England

Stops in Manchester

A - Shudehill

B - Manchester Airport

C - Coach Station

D - 56 Great Bridgewater St

E - City of Manchester Stadium

F - Manchester Coach Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip Bristol - Manchester

Is there a way to reach Manchester from Bristol without a car?
How long is the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester?
What is the distance between Bristol and Manchester?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Bristol to Manchester?
What is the cheapest way to travel from Bristol to Manchester?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester?
What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

05/23

$67

05/24

$33

Today

$47

05/26

$53

05/27

$25

05/28

$19

05/29

$17

05/30

$10

The cheapest trip from Bristol to Manchester was searched and found on May 30, 2025 with a price of $10

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

You can expect to pay from $10 to $67 for a bus ticket from Bristol to Manchester based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $10 which is on 2025-05-30.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Bristol and Manchester!

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Bristol to Manchester, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Bristol to Manchester will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Bristol to Manchester, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

It takes 27 hours to go by bus from Lima to Cusco, one of the craziest bus trips on the world. This route is used daily by locals and backpackers.

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

What's the cheapest way to go from Bristol to Manchester?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time5h	Avg Price$23	Daily Departures14
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time2h 59m	Avg Price$93	Daily Departures14
Vehicle TypeCarpool	Travel Time3h	Avg Price$30	Daily Departures1

Will you be returning to Bristol by bus?

Bus from Bristol to Manchester

You can also go to Manchester by train

Train from Bristol to Manchester

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud.com makes it easy for you to find, compare and book city-to-city bus tickets, all over the world. We save you the extra trip to the bus station. With several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. Busbud prides itself on its worldwide partnerships. We make it possible for you to buy tickets with its large network of trustworthy bus partners like Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 3 ways to go from Bristol to Manchester.

Bus Bristol to Manchester: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Bristol to Manchester Bus

Where are the popular stops in Bristol and Manchester?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Bristol - Manchester

Is there a way to reach Manchester from Bristol without a car?

How long is the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester?

What is the distance between Bristol and Manchester?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Bristol to Manchester?

What is the cheapest way to travel from Bristol to Manchester?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Bristol to Manchester?

What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from Bristol to Manchester?

Will you be returning to Bristol by bus?

You can also go to Manchester by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Bristol

Buses Leaving from Bristol

Buses Going to Bristol

Popular Buses Connecting Manchester

Buses Leaving from Manchester

Buses Going to Manchester

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers

Popular international trips