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London to Manchester

train journey information

  • Train fares from
    £42.00
  • Fastest route
    2h 5m
  • Average journey time
    2h 38m
  • Trains per day
    Around 37
  • Changes
    Direct
  • Train operators
    Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern, Transpennine Express, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains

    London to Manchester

    train FAQs

  • How long does it take to travel from London to Manchester by train?
    Average journey time2h 38m
    It takes around 2 hours 38 minutes by train from London to Manchester. Bear in mind that the journey time may be a little longer on weekends and holidays.
  • How much does the train from London to Manchester cost?
    Train fares from£42.00
    Train tickets from London to Manchester cost as little as £42.00 if you book in advance, and the train fares are often higher when purchased on the day. Ticket prices also vary depending on the time of day, route, and class you book.
  • What is the fastest journey from London to Manchester by train?
    Fastest route2h 5m
    The fastest train will get you from London to Manchester in 2 hours 5 minutes. The slowest service is the late-evening departure which takes nearly 8 hours 42 minutes travelling at a slower pace throughout the journey.
  • What time does the last train from London to Manchester leave?
    Last train16:40
    The last train from London to Manchester departs at 16:40. Don’t miss it!
  • When can I catch the first train from London to Manchester?
    First train15:40
    The first train leaves London at 15:40. Book in advance to save yourself some time in the morning.
  • How many trains a day are there from London to Manchester?
    Trains per day37
    On an average weekday, around 37 trains travel from London to Manchester. The first train departs London Euston some time after 15:40 with departures continuing at intervals, until 16:40.

    • Travel info from London to Manchester


    Transportation

    London to Manchester train: It’s about 200 miles from London to Manchester, and by far the best way to make that journey is by train, which takes about three hours. The trains in the UK are like buses, with lots of stops to cities and towns across the country. Manchester has four main train stations: Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport, Oxford Road and Manchester Victoria. Check the train tickets now.

    Booking train tickets in the UK is very convenient. You can either book train tickets on TrainPal (where there’s no booking fee), or buy train tickets at the rail station, where there are many manned ticket offices and automatic ticket machines, depending on the station. To get from London to Manchester, you can opt for Virgin Express, which takes just more than two hours, and there are also more local, indirect train services, like East Midlands and Cross Country, which take four to five hours. If you buy rail tickets for the express train on the same day you want to travel, an Off-Peak train ticket can cost around £50-60 pounds or more. Book in advance though, it’ll cost you around £20–30. If you’re going to be making more than one train journey, and you’re eligible, you might want to purchase a discount card for booking train tickets. If you’re willing to spend around £30 on one of these, then the train ticket price can be up to 1/3 cheaper.

    You can also choose to take the National Express long-distance coach from London to Manchester. Bus fares in the United Kingdom are sometimes cheaper than train tickets. For example, the bus fare from Manchester Victoria Station to Liverpool Lime Street is £8 for a one-way coach ticket and £12 for a one-way train. However, it is recommended that travellers do not take the bus for long-distance travel. The author took a coach from Manchester City to London (5 hours) and could not walk normally after arriving in London.


    About Manchester

    Manchester is the third-largest city in the UK and a model of urban renewal. Once the centre of the British textiles industry, formerly known as “Cottonopolis”, it’s a thriving, modern city woven with the threads of British industrial history. Manchester is a well-connected city with trains running to Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham in just over 40 minutes. It’s home to more than 700 industries including heavy machinery, weaving, refining, glass, plastics and food processing. It’s not only a political and cultural centre in the northwest of England, but a commercial and employment hub too.Check the trains to Manchester.