London to Manchester bus with National Express

Buses from London to Manchester

There are plenty of buses to choose from when planning your journey from London to Manchester. The buses leave frequently throughout the day, almost every half an hour and sometimes with multiple buses departing at the same time in different stations. There are also a variety of destination bus stations to choose from, making it easier for you to plan your journey. The bus journey from London to Manchester can take between 3h50 and 6h30, giving you plenty of time to read the on-board magazine. Tickets are generally affordable and there are both direct and stop over buses available, and they operate every day of the week and you can find them on the Omio website.

London to Manchester Bus Time: Daily Departures

The first bus from London to Manchester departs at 07.00 a.m. and there are departures throughout the day from the various stations right up to 00:10 a.m. The last bus takes about five hours and gets you there in the early morning. Buses are very regular throughout the day, leaving every half an hour, and sometimes with multiple buses leaving from different coach and bus stations in London at the same time.

How long is the journey by bus from London to Manchester?

On average, the bus journey from London to Manchester takes about 5 hours, but there are both faster and slower options to consider. The fastest bus to Manchester from London takes about 3 hours 50 minutes and it is operated by Megabus, departing from London Victoria Coach Station, and arriving at Manchester Airport coach station. The slowest bus available is operated by National Express and departs London Victoria Coach station and arrives into Manchester Shudehill Interchange station.

Bus from London to Manchester: man on a coach from London. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for buses from London to Manchester?

Departure bus station: There are a couple of departure bus stations to choose from when departing London and travelling to Manchester. London Heathrow Coach station is located within terminals 1, 2, and 3 and it is maintained by National Express. It is about 16 miles from the city centre, and it has waiting facilities, toilets, baby changing facilities and a car park. You can find a newsagent, a coffee shop and ATMs and cash points as well as payphones should you need them. The other departure station is London Victoria Coach station which is also operated by National Express. It is about 2 miles from the city centre and it also has toilets, waiting facilities and a coffee shop where you can relax. You can buy snacks or newspapers at the newsagent and there are cashpoints and payphones to use in the station.

Arrival bus station: There are four choices of arrival bus stations to choose from when travelling to Manchester from London. Manchester Airport is about 9 miles from the city centre and it offers ticket machines, and baby changing facilities, as well as the Metrolink to get you into the city. Manchester Victoria Station is less than a mile from the city centre when walking, and is only a short taxi journey away. It has toilets, a café, and luggage trolleys to use but it does not have baby changing facilities. Manchester Coach Station is less than a mile from the city centre as well, and there are taxis that can take you there if you do not want to walk. It has toilets, a newsagent, restaurant where you can buy food, and it has charging points should you need it. It is operated by National Express. Finally, Shudehill Interchange is less than a mile from the city centre, easily walkable, with taxis available to get you thee in about 15 minutes. It has toilets, a newsagent, a travel shop, and it has access to the Metro link too.

Which bus companies travel from London to Manchester?

National Express and Megabus are the providers for the buses from London to Manchester, and they offer plenty of direct and indirect routes, at competitive prices. Both offer journeys throughout the day, and have plenty of departure stations and departure times to choose from, meaning that you can find great, cheap bus tickets from London to Manchester.

Megabus buses from London to Manchester

Megabus offer the fastest bus on this route, travelling from London to Manchester in about 3 hours and 50 minutes. The route departs London Victoria Coach Station and arrives in to Manchester Airport. Megabus offers direct and 1 stop routes, and affordable prices that give you greater flexibility when it comes to planning your journey.

National Express buses from London to Manchester

On average, the National Express bus takes about 5 hours, and it is generally slower than the Megabus when travelling to Manchester from London. It offers a one stop route that stops over in Birmingham, but it takes longer and is more expensive than the usual direct ticket.

Bus London to Manchester: Services on Board

Megabus guarantee you a seat if you reserve your ticket in advance, and there are extra leg room options available. Wifi is free and available to all guests on board, and there are charging points on the seats to make sure that you have the most enjoyable journey possible. You can bring up to 20kg of luggage on board, and there are toilets and air conditioning installed. There is even a coach tracker so you can keep up-to-date with your travel route. National Express allows you to bring up to two 20kg bags on board as well as hand luggage. Wifi is free and available, and when you reserve your ticket, you are guaranteed your seat. Seats are spacious and comfortable and National Express offers an eco-friendly way to travel by bus due to their commitment to providing greener travel.

How to find cheap bus tickets from London to Manchester?

There are a few ways to ensure that you get the best deals when it comes to cheap tickets from London to Manchester. Firstly, we recommend that you try to book your tickets in advance, as this often costs less than if you book your ticket on the same day, or just as you arrive at the coach station. Secondly, if you are flexible about when you depart and when you arrive, you will have more options to consider when it comes to booking your tickets. This means that you can find the best deals out there. Finally, we recommend that you consider taking the slower routes, especially if they require a connection, as they can sometimes be cheaper overall as people pay more to have direct, faster journeys.

Bus from London to Manchester: Castlefield area in Manchester. Source: Shutterstock

To Manchester by bus—travel tips

Manchester is a vibrant city that is truly worth checking out, especially if you have a few hours to yourself. For the sports fan, Manchester is home to two of the biggest football clubs in the world, and it would not be a trip to Manchester without visiting Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium. You may also be interested in the National Football Museum where you can easily spend a few hours learning about the history of the beautiful game!

For those that are more interested in art or engineering, then we recommend a visit to the Manchester Art gallery, or the Industry Museum, as you can find some truly fascinating things there. If you would like to go shopping during your time in Manchester then you should head to the high street, where you will find all of the latest shops and plenty of cool places to grab a drink. The Manchester Arndale shopping mall is another great place to go shopping. Overall, Manchester has plenty to see and do and is well worth a visit, regardless of whether you are travelling for business or for leasure.