The cheapest and fastest coaches from Darlington to Manchester
Cheapest price
£9
Average price
£18
Fastest journey
2 h 50 m
Average duration
3 h 43 m
Buses per day
2
Distance
124 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Darlington to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Darlington to Manchester will cost around £18 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £9.
Of the 2 buses that leave Darlington for Manchester every day 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct buses cover the 124 km distance in an average of 3 h 43 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 2 h 50 m .
The slowest buses will take 4 h 35 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus19:502h50Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre)22:40Manchester, Shudehill Interchange£91One-way0 changes
NX591 · NX17014:254h35Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre)19:00Manchester, Coach Station£271One-way1 change
FlixBus19:502h50Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre)22:40Manchester, Shudehill Interchange£91One-way0 changes
NX591 · NX17014:254h35Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre)19:00Manchester, Coach Station£271One-way1 change
Travel Information
Compare train and coach for Darlington to Manchester
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Darlington to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £5. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 8m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £5, and a train costs an average of £10.
Distance: 124 km
Compare bus with
| Coach | Most popular Train |
|---|---|
£14 Average Price Cheapest | £37 Average Price |
3h 20m Average total duration 2h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 38m Average total duration Fastest 2h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Darlington to Manchester bus times
The table below shows live departures for Darlington to Manchester coaches for today, Wednesday 3 June. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 19:50 Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre) | 2h50 | 22:40 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
| Thursday 4 June | |||||
NX591 · NX170 | 14:25 Darlington, Feethams (Dolphin Centre) | 4h35 | 19:00 Manchester, Coach Station | 1 change | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Darlington to Manchester by train or coach
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
04 Jun
05 Jun
06 Jun
07 Jun
08 Jun
09 Jun
10 Jun
Why should you book Darlington to Manchester coaches with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs National Express?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for National Express, but also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus or Megabus to find the best option for your trip from Darlington to Manchester.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Darlington to Manchester.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus or Megabus to find the best option for your trip from Darlington to Manchester.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Darlington to Manchester.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Darlington to Manchester
Buses from Darlington to Manchester run on average 3 times per day, taking around 2h 50m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £5 if you book in advance.
There are 1 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:06, the last at 23:55. The fastest coach covers the 124 km distance in 2h 35m.
Distance 124 km |
Average bus duration 2h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price £5 |
Buses per day 3 |
Direct buses 1 |
Fastest bus 2h 35m |
First bus 0:06 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 14 days |
Bus providers: National Express, FlixBus, Megabus from Darlington to ManchesterYou can travel by bus between Darlington to Manchester with National Express, FlixBus, Megabus for as low as £5. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
National Express
Megabus
FAQs: Darlington to Manchester coach
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Darlington to Manchester by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Manchester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Megabus
- Megabus is ADA-compliant and provides assistance to customers with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters, and those with service animals.
- National Express
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Accessible toilets.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Megabus
- Megabus reservations cannot be canceled or refunded, but they can be traded in for another journey up to 3 hours before your original scheduled departure for a fee.
- National Express
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- Megabus
- One piece of luggage is included per passenger reservation. For guidance, a piece of luggage must not exceed 62 inches (length + width + height) and should not weigh more than 50 pounds (23kg).
- National Express
- Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- Megabus
- Additional luggage can be purchased by buying an additional travel ticket in advance or by adding up to two additional pieces when booking for a fee.
- National Express
- 10€ per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Important Stations and Airports in Darlington and Manchester
- 06:00-22:00
- Free Wi-Fi
- Café at the Station (in the station)
- Fast Food Express (in the station).
- Available outside the main entrance.
- Ramps, assistance
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 50, 192, 201, 203, 205, 219, 255, 256 Train: Manchester Piccadilly Metro: Piccadilly Gardens
- 00:00-23:59
- Free Wi-Fi
- Burger King (in the station)
- Giraffe (in the station).
- Available outside the terminal, with several companies offering services.
- Elevators, ramps, assistance
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 43, 103 Train: Manchester Airport
- 05:00-23:30
- Free Wi-Fi
- Available outside the interchange.
- Elevators, ramps
- Available in the station.
- Bus: 42, 43, 135 Tram: Metrolink
More options for your journey from Darlington to Manchester
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

