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

The best way to travel from Manchester to Preston is by bus. Traveling by bus offers a budget-friendly, secure, and easy way to go between the two cities. You also have the choice of using carpooling services.

How long does it take to get to Preston from Manchester by bus?

The average travel time from Manchester to Preston is about 1h 25m, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 50m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 28 miles (45 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Manchester and Preston?

The distance between the two cities is 28 miles (45 km).

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

If you're headed to Preston from Manchester, chances are that your bus will depart from Shudehill and arrive at Preston City Centre Bus Station. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

What is the most affordable way to go from Manchester to Preston?

If you want the cheapest way to travel this route, choose the bus. With prices starting at $9, you won't find a cheaper way to get there.

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

The average bus ticket price from Manchester to Preston is $13. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $9 and $22, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

Is it possible to take a day trip from Manchester to Preston?

Yes, you can do a day trip from Manchester to Preston. The total time it takes to make a round-trip between Manchester and Preston is about 1h 40m. So you'll have enough time to visit Preston before returning to Manchester in the evening.

Manchester to Preston Bus Tickets

TodayMay 4

from $17

TomorrowMay 5

from $10

TueMay 6

WedMay 7

ThuMay 8

FriMay 9

SatMay 10

SunMay 11

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 5 at 6:10am
Departure city: Manchester
Departure location: Coach Station
Arrival time: May 5 at 7:10am
Destination city: Preston
Destination location: Preston, Lancashire
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 5 at 1:35am
Departure city: Manchester
Departure location: Coach Station
Arrival time: May 5 at 2:25am
Destination city: Preston
Destination location: Preston, Lancashire
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 50m
Departure time: May 5 at 1:35am
Departure city: Manchester
Departure location: Coach Station
Arrival time: May 5 at 2:25am
Destination city: Preston
Destination location: Preston, Lancashire
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 50m
Departure time: May 5 at 3:30pm
Departure city: Manchester
Departure location: Shudehill
Arrival time: May 5 at 4:30pm
Destination city: Preston
Destination location: Preston Bus Station
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 1h
Departure time: May 5 at 1:35am
Departure city: Manchester
Departure location: Coach Station
Arrival time: May 5 at 2:25am
Destination city: Preston
Destination location: Preston, Lancashire
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 50m

Accepted payments

Compare 2 ways to go from Manchester to Preston.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$9 - $22	Average Duration1h 25m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Carpool	Average Price$12 - $12	Average Duration1h	CO₂ emissions 2kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars	Fastest

Busbud recommends carpooling from Manchester to Preston

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Preston. The journey takes about 1 hour and with fares starting at just $12, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

1hAverage Duration

$12Cheapest ticket

2kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Manchester to Preston: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$13

Average bus trip duration1h 25m

Number of daily buses5

Earliest bus departure1:35am

Distance27 miles (43 km)

Latest bus departure10:25pm

Compare bus companies

National Express

4/529,164 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Based on 29164 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 $12.00

National Express Manchester Preston recent customer reviews

During a time of rail strikes and utter chaos with public transport the bus was an essential and trustworthy service. A delightful change from the post apocalyptic scenarios I have endured on train stations over the last few weeks.

John Paul C.

December 21, 2018

good service on day of extreme weather and rail cancellations

Alastair L.

February 10, 2020

FlixBus

3.5/58,490 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.

Megabus UK

3.5/54,163 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.3

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

Based on 4163 reviews, the company was rated 3.6 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the wifi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at $18.00

Megabus Manchester Preston recent customer reviews

The bus was 1.5 hours late and no update on twitter. I had to keep phoning customer service which closed at 6pm. Then I had to call an emergency line and updates were completely inaccurate.

Denise O.

August 1, 2023

V good

William H.

October 26, 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

Manchester to Preston Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Manchester to Preston. 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 Manchester to Preston from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

From cheap bus tickets to more luxurious buses traveling from Manchester to Preston, we offer a wide range of bus services to best suit your needs depending on how much your budget is.

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Preston?

Stops in Manchester

A - Coach Station

B - Manchester Airport

C - Shudehill

D - 56 Great Bridgewater St

E - City of Manchester Stadium

F - Manchester Coach Station

Stops in Preston

A - Preston City Centre Bus Station

B - Preston Bus Stop

Frequently asked questions for your trip Manchester - Preston

Is there a way to reach Preston from Manchester without a car?
How long does it take to get to Preston from Manchester by bus?
What is the distance between Manchester and Preston?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Manchester to Preston?
What is the most affordable way to go from Manchester to Preston?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Manchester to Preston?
Is it possible to take a day trip from Manchester to Preston?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

05/02

$7

05/03

$7

Today

$17

05/05

$10

05/06

$9

05/07

$10

05/08

$7

05/09

$7

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Preston was searched and found on May 3, 2025 with a price of $7

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

You can expect to pay from $7 to $29 for a bus ticket from Manchester to Preston based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $7 which is on 2025-05-08.

Usually National Express will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

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 Manchester and Preston!

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

Taking the bus creates the smallest carbon footprint compared to other modes of transport. Not to mention that buses will allow you to discover scenic gems from Manchester to Preston that are otherwise impossible to come by with a plane.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Manchester to Preston while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

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.

The Superbus, created by a Dutch engineer is the world's fastest bus with 250 km/h. Too bad it's only a prototype for now.

Will you be returning to Manchester by bus?

Bus from Manchester to Preston

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 several language and currency options available, Busbud seeks to cater to international bus travelers no matter where they are in the world. 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.

Bus Tickets from Manchester to Preston

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

Compare 2 ways to go from Manchester to Preston.

Bus Manchester to Preston: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

National Express Manchester Preston recent customer reviews

Megabus Manchester Preston recent customer reviews

Manchester to Preston Bus

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Preston?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Manchester - Preston

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

How long does it take to get to Preston from Manchester by bus?

What is the distance between Manchester and Preston?

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

What is the most affordable way to go from Manchester to Preston?

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

Is it possible to take a day trip from Manchester to Preston?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Manchester by bus?

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 Manchester

Buses Leaving from Manchester

Buses Going to Manchester

Popular Buses Connecting Preston

Buses Leaving from Preston

Buses Going to Preston

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