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

You can take a bus or a train to go from London to Manchester. Both are convenient and sustainable ways to travel to Manchester. You can also use carpool services and share a car ride with other travelers.

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

On average, the trip from London to Manchester takes around 5h 30m, although the fastest bus will take 3h 50m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 163 miles (263 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between London and Manchester?

The distance separating London and Manchester is 163 miles (263 km).

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

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

What is the most cost-effective way to get from London to Manchester?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. $6 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Manchester from London.

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

You can expect to pay around $21 for a bus ticket. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $6 to $115, 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 John Rylands Library, Robinsons Brewery Visitor Centre, Sightseeing Manchester, Play Factore and Coronation Street The Tour.

London to Manchester Bus Tickets

TodayMay 8

from $17

TomorrowMay 9

from $13

SatMay 10

from $11

SunMay 11

from $13

MonMay 12

from $10

TueMay 13

from $7

WedMay 14

from $7

ThuMay 15

from $7

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 9 at 6:30am
Departure city: London
Departure location: Victoria Coach Station
Arrival time: May 9 at 11:50am
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 20m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 9 at 7:40pm
Departure city: London
Departure location: Golders Green
Arrival time: May 9 at 11:35pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 3h 55m
Departure time: May 9 at 2:00am
Departure city: London
Departure location: Victoria Coach Station
Arrival time: May 9 at 7:35am
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Coach Station
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 35m
Departure time: May 9 at 3:30pm
Departure city: London
Departure location: Finchley Road
Arrival time: May 9 at 8:20pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Megabus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 4h 50m
Departure time: May 9 at 6:00am
Departure city: London
Departure location: Victoria Coach Station
Arrival time: May 9 at 12:50pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Manchester Airport
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h 50m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from London to Manchester.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$6 - $115	Average Duration5h 30m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$51 - $434	Average Duration2h 11m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Fastest
Carpool	Average Price$18 - $50	Average Duration3h 50m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends carpooling from London to Manchester

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Manchester. The journey takes about 3 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just $18, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2carpool per day

3h 50mAverage Duration

$18Cheapest ticket

11kgCO₂ emissions

Bus London to Manchester: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$21

Average bus trip duration5h 30m

Number of daily buses149

Earliest bus departure12:05am

Distance154 miles (247 km)

Latest bus departure11:59pm

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/58,545 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Users have shared positive experiences, highlighting the friendly and kind drivers who ensure buses are well on time. The customer service is praised for its patience, with excellent departure and arrival times noted. Additionally, passengers appreciated reaching their destinations ahead of schedule and reported good communication with the driver throughout their journey.

Flixbus London Manchester recent customer reviews

30 min delay

Deqa Rabi K.

March 11, 2025

It was good and we reached half hour before

Sukhpreet K.

January 13, 2025

Very satisfied,good communication with driver.

Olha L.

November 22, 2024

National Express

4/529,170 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Customers have shared positive experiences with the bus service, highlighting its punctuality, smooth rides, and excellent value for money. The staff is frequently praised for their politeness and professionalism. However, some reviews mention concerns about overcrowding on buses and cleanliness issues in the toilets. Overall satisfaction remains high among travelers despite these minor inconveniences.

National Express London Manchester recent customer reviews

I had a wonderful trip, ßs and longing to enjoy another trip with National express

Stanley S.

March 3, 2025

Ridiculous to pay more for a direct connection, only for the driver to stop at some point and tells everyone to get cause he needs to take a break

Mostafa Ali H.

February 15, 2025

C'était la première fois que je voyageais avec et ce fut un super voyage malgré beaucoup de pluie.. le premier chauffeur de Victoria était très gentil puis il y a eu un échange et le deuxième chauffeur était également sympathique... mais je pensais que pour un voyage de presque 5 heures il faudrait faire une pause café... et tout ! It was my first time traveling with it and it was a great trip despite a lot of rain.. the first driver from Victoria was very nice then there was an exchange and the second driver was also nice... but I thought that for a trip of almost 5 hours we would have to take a coffee break... and everything!

Sandra Souza P.

October 16, 2024

Megabus UK

3.5/54,163 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.3

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

Customers generally had a positive experience with the bus service, highlighting its punctuality and comfortable seating. Many appreciated the smooth journey and friendly staff. However, some users mentioned issues such as non-functional WiFi and inconsistent air conditioning during their trips. Overall, passengers were satisfied with their travel experiences despite minor inconveniences.

Megabus London Manchester recent customer reviews

My trip was so disappointing. The bus was smelling because the toilet wasn’t flushing. Again, the sockets weren’t working and as such we couldn’t charge our phones.

Edith I.

September 17, 2024

The bus environment was dirty, especially toilet vey dirty. The bus driver did not stop at any services despite he was told.

Kudirat O.

August 30, 2024

I booked round trip of mega bus . Outbound was fine however return trip was about 40 minutes late due to this I missed my next bus and I had wait for 2 hours for my next bus. Worst trip ever

Jyoti R.

June 27, 2024

The Airline

4.5/5277 reviews

Staff4.8

Timeliness4.4

Cleanliness4.9

Wifi4.2

Infobus

4/5466 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4.7

Cleanliness4.8

Wifi3.8

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

London to Manchester Bus

With Busbud, comparing and booking tickets for a bus from London to Manchester is a breeze. Browse through an extensive selection of bus fares and bus schedules to find the best deals.

Bus service from London to Manchester will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

From cheap bus tickets to more luxurious buses traveling from London to Manchester, 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 London and Manchester?

Stops in London

A - Victoria Coach Station

B - Finchley Road

C - Green Line Coach Station

D - Marble Arch

E - Earl's Court

F - Stop SC - Hammersmith Bridge Rd.

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

Frequently asked questions for your trip London - Manchester

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

05/06

$37

05/07

$22

Today

$17

05/09

$13

05/10

$11

05/11

$13

05/12

$10

05/13

$7

The cheapest trip from London to Manchester was searched and found on May 13, 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 London to Manchester, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $7 to $68 for a bus ticket from London to Manchester based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $7 which is on 2025-05-13.

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

Meet and talk to locals at the bus stations while traveling from London to Manchester.There is no better way to get inside travel information while exploring a new city than to go straight to its people.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from London to Manchester, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

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 London to Manchester 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 London to Manchester while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

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 London to Manchester?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time5h 30m	Avg Price$21	Daily Departures149
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time2h 11m	Avg Price$124	Daily Departures16
Vehicle TypeCarpool	Travel Time3h 50m	Avg Price$35	Daily Departures2

Will you be returning to London by bus?

Bus from London to Manchester

You can also go to Manchester by train

Train from London to Manchester

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. 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.

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 London to Manchester.

Bus London to Manchester: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

London to Manchester Bus

Where are the popular stops in London and Manchester?

Frequently asked questions for your trip London - Manchester

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

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

What is the distance between London and Manchester?

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

What is the most cost-effective way to get from London to Manchester?

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

Will you be returning to London 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 London

Buses Leaving from London

Buses Going to London

Popular Buses Connecting Manchester

Buses Leaving from Manchester

Buses Going to Manchester

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers

Popular international trips