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

You have the option of traveling from one city to the other by either bus or train. Both are practical and sustainable ways to travel to Manchester. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

How long is the bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester?

The average travel time from Cardiff to Manchester is about 7h 10m, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 4h 55m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 144 miles (232 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Cardiff and Manchester?

About 144 miles (232 km) separate Cardiff and Manchester.

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

If you're headed to Manchester from Cardiff, chances are that your bus will leave from Sophia Gardens and arrive at Manchester Airport. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What is the cheapest way to go from Cardiff to Manchester?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. With prices starting at $15, you won't find a cheaper way to get there.

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

The average price of a one-way ticket from Cardiff to Manchester is $30. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $15 to $106, so it's good to do your research before booking.

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 Chinatown, Manchester City Football Club, Robinsons Brewery Visitor Centre, City Centre Cruises and Jodrell Bank.

Cardiff to Manchester Bus Tickets

TodayMay 5

from $35

TomorrowMay 6

from $20

WedMay 7

from $21

ThuMay 8

from $22

FriMay 9

from $22

SatMay 10

from $20

SunMay 11

MonMay 12

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 6 at 6:10am
Departure city: Cardiff
Departure location: Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)
Arrival time: May 6 at 2:25pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 15m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 6 at 10:40am
Departure city: Cardiff
Departure location: Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)
Arrival time: May 6 at 5:30pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: 116673
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h 50m
Departure time: May 6 at 10:40am
Departure city: Cardiff
Departure location: Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)
Arrival time: May 6 at 5:50pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 10m
Departure time: May 6 at 12:45pm
Departure city: Cardiff
Departure location: Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)
Arrival time: May 6 at 8:50pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 5m
Departure time: May 6 at 10:40am
Departure city: Cardiff
Departure location: Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)
Arrival time: May 6 at 5:30pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: 116673
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h 50m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Cardiff to Manchester.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$15 - $106	Average Duration7h 10m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$61 - $223	Average Duration3h 41m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars
Carpool	Average Price$27 - $38	Average Duration3h 10m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends carpooling from Cardiff to Manchester

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Manchester. The journey takes about 3 hours 10 minutes and with fares starting at just $27, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

3h 10mAverage Duration

$27Cheapest ticket

10kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Cardiff to Manchester: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$30

Average bus trip duration7h 10m

Number of daily buses10

Earliest bus departure2:45am

Distance142 miles (229 km)

Latest bus departure10:15pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,501 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

National Express

4/529,166 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Based on 29166 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 $24.00

National Express Cardiff Manchester recent customer reviews

Very efficient. Driver was friendly and helpful.lovely trip thank you

Glyn N.

June 18, 2018

National express runs a top class service thankyou

Mark R.

April 11, 2018

Megabus UK

3.5/54,163 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.3

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

According to 11 reviews, Megabus UK received a 3.7-star rating for this journey. Travelers were especially satisfied with the departure location and the cleanliness, but some complained about the wifi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at $30.00

Megabus Cardiff Manchester recent customer reviews

Drive was best and on time

Jessica Y.

October 29, 2024

I forgot my luggage in the bus and I don’t know how to go about it

Yetunde R.

August 14, 2024

Drivers were very nice, polite and welcoming

Gareth J.

October 13, 2023

Infobus

4/5465 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.7

Cleanliness4.8

Wifi3.7

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

Cardiff to Manchester Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from Cardiff to Manchester.

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

Whether it is cheap bus tickets or more luxurious buses going to Manchester from Cardiff, we help you find what you're looking for based on how much of a budget you have.

Where are the popular stops in Cardiff and Manchester?

Stops in Cardiff

A - Sophia Gardens

B - Cardiff University (o/s Cathays Rail Stn)

C - Cardiff - Castle Street Bus Stop

D - Cardiff Coach Station - Sophia Gardens

E - National Museum

F - Cardiff Bus Stop - Westgate

Stops in Manchester

A - Manchester Airport

B - Shudehill

C - Coach Station

D - 56 Great Bridgewater St

E - City of Manchester Stadium

F - Manchester Coach Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip Cardiff - Manchester

Is there a way to reach Manchester from Cardiff without a car?
How long is the bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester?
What is the distance between Cardiff and Manchester?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Cardiff to Manchester?
What is the cheapest way to go from Cardiff to Manchester?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Cardiff 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

05/03

$26

05/04

$24

Today

$34

05/06

$20

05/07

$21

05/08

$22

05/09

$22

05/10

$20

The cheapest trip from Cardiff to Manchester was searched and found on May 6, 2025 with a price of $20

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

You can expect to pay from $20 to $36 for a bus ticket from Cardiff to Manchester based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $20 which is on 2025-05-06.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

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

Buses are energy-efficient. Carrying a passenger over 100 kms by coach only takes 0.6-0.9 liters of gas. Compare that to the 2.6 liters required by high-speed train, 6.6 liters by airplane and 7.6 liters by gas-powered car, and it's clear that the bus is a more environmentally-conscious option for your bus transportation from Cardiff to Manchester.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from Cardiff to Manchester.

Did you know?

The word 'bus' is an abbreviation of 'omnibus" which means 'for all' in Latin as buses were meant to be transportation for everybody.

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!

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

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

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time7h 10m	Avg Price$30	Daily Departures10
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time3h 41m	Avg Price$72	Daily Departures12
Vehicle TypeCarpool	Travel Time3h 10m	Avg Price$35	Daily Departures1

Will you be returning to Cardiff by bus?

Bus from Cardiff to Manchester

You can also go to Manchester by train

Train from Cardiff to Manchester

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud helps you easily search, compare and book intercity bus tickets on a worldwide scale with our comprehensive list of bus routes and schedules. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. Busbud partners with safe and reliable bus companies throughout the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others so you can buy tickets without a worry.

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

Compare 3 ways to go from Cardiff to Manchester.

Bus Cardiff to Manchester: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Cardiff to Manchester Bus

Where are the popular stops in Cardiff and Manchester?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Cardiff - Manchester

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

How long is the bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester?

What is the distance between Cardiff and Manchester?

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

What is the cheapest way to go from Cardiff to Manchester?

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

Will you be returning to Cardiff 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 Cardiff

Buses Leaving from Cardiff

Buses Going to Cardiff

Popular Buses Connecting Manchester

Buses Leaving from Manchester

Buses Going to Manchester

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers

Popular international trips