Manchester to Cardiff bus with Megabus

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The cheapest and fastest coaches from Manchester to Cardiff

Showing times and prices for 24 May

Cheapest price

£32

Average price

£40

Fastest journey

5 h 5 m

Average duration

5 h 38 m

Buses per day

Distance

231 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Manchester to Cardiff is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Manchester to Cardiff will cost around £40 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £32.

Fast coaches

Of the 17 buses that leave Manchester for Cardiff every day 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

These direct buses cover the 231 km distance in an average of 5 h 38 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 5 m .

The slowest buses will take 6 h 5 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.

NX120 · NX111

13:305h40

Manchester, Coach Station

19:10Cardiff, Sophia Gardens

£321One-way

1 change

NX120 · NX100 · NX216

21:458h00

Manchester, Coach Station

05:45Cardiff, Sophia Gardens

£331One-way

2 changes

NX121 · NX111

14:305h40

Manchester, Coach Station

20:10Cardiff, Sophia Gardens

£351One-way

1 change

FlixBus · FlixBus

15:206h55

Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East

22:15Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)

£361One-way

1 change

12:405h40

Manchester, Shudehill Interchange

18:20Cardiff, University

£361One-way

0 changes

Travel Information

Compare train and coach for Manchester to Cardiff

Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Cardiff among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £11. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 3h 31m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg.

Compare coach with

Most popular Coach	Train
£27 Average Price Cheapest	£55 Average Price
8h 42m average duration 8h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time*	4h 1m average duration Fastest 3h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time*
0.2 - 0.6kg CO2 emissions	0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest
Direct Options	Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Live departures

Manchester to Cardiff bus times

Showing buses for tomorrow, Saturday 24 May

Last updated at 23:37

Provider	Departs	Duration	Arrives	Changes
FlixBus · FlixBus	07:50 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange	7h25	15:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)	1 change
FlixBus · FlixBus	08:10 Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East	7h05	15:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)	1 change
NX121 · NX111	On time 10:30 Manchester, Coach Station	6h05	16:35 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	1 change
FlixBus · FlixBus	10:40 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange	6h55	17:35 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)	1 change
FlixBus · FlixBus	11:00 Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East	6h35	17:35 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)	1 change
	11:40 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange	5h40	17:20 Cardiff, University	0 changesdirect
	12:15 Manchester, Airport	5h05	17:20 Cardiff, University	0 changesdirect
NX120 · NX111	On time 12:30 Manchester, Coach Station	5h40	18:10 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	1 change
NX121 · NX111	On time 13:30 Manchester, Coach Station	5h40	19:10 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	1 change
FlixBus · FlixBus	14:00 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange	7h15	21:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)	1 change
FlixBus · FlixBus	14:20 Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East	6h55	21:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)	1 change
NX121 · NX106 · NX202	On time 16:35 Manchester, Coach Station	7h15	23:50 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	2 changes
NX540 · NX509	On time 16:45 Manchester, Coach Station	9h10	01:55 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	1 change
NX540 · NX509	On time 18:15 Manchester, Coach Station	8h30	02:45 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	1 change
NX120 · NX100 · NX216	On time 20:45 Manchester, Coach Station	8h00	04:45 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	2 changes
NX422 · NX100 · NX201	On time 22:40 Manchester, Coach Station	11h20	10:00 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	2 changes
NX424 · NX100 · NX201	On time 22:40 Manchester, Coach Station	11h20	10:00 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens	2 changes
This is the last bus of the day.

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Compare prices and tickets Manchester to Cardiff by train or coach

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Journey information

Overview: Bus from Manchester to Cardiff

United Kingdom

Buses from Manchester to Cardiff run on average 21 times per day, taking around 8h 12m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £11 if you book in advance.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.

Price information

Distance

231 km

Average bus duration

8h 12m

Cheapest ticket price

£11

Buses per day

Direct buses

Bus providers

Fastest bus

5h 15m

First bus

08:30

Last bus

23:40

Price information

Coach companies: Megabus, National Express and FlixBus Manchester to Cardiff

Find the best coaches to Cardiff from Manchester with Omio's travel partners Megabus, National Express and FlixBus from £7. We can find you the best deals, timetables and tickets when comparing and booking the best journey.

National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach provider operating over 550 coaches per day and serving over 900 destinations across the UK. National Express also operates coach services to all major UK airports, such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Bristol, 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches have air conditioning and provide free WiFi access along with onboard entertainment. Most coaches come with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, so you can charge your phone or laptop during a long journey. For your coach to Cardiff from Manchester, you can select from three ticket fares: Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare.

Coach information from Manchester to Cardiff with National Express:

Average Duration: 9 h 20 min
Cheapest Price: £21

FlixBus is one of Europe's leading low-cost coach operators, founded in Germany and offering long-distance coach services in Europe and the U. S. FlixBus also operates overnight coaches on select routes throughout Europe. Standard amenities on FlixBus include free Wi-Fi, power outlets to charge your phone, tablet or laptop during long coach journeys, extra legroom, luggage space and toilets. You can even purchase snacks and drinks onboard. FlixBus offers only the Standard ticket for all its routes, which allows you to bring one hand luggage and one hold luggage per person. Additional fees apply for extra luggage and specific seat reservations, such as if you want to book an Extra Seat, Table Seat or the Panorama Seat.

Coach information from Manchester to Cardiff with FlixBus:

Average Duration: 10 h 50 min
Cheapest Price: £11

Transport for Wales is a public transport provider in Wales, UK. It operates a comprehensive network of trains, buses and ferries across the country. The trains are modern and comfortable, with a range of different types including InterCity Express Trains, Regional Trains, and Metro Trains. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a range of food and drink options. There are a variety of ticket types available, including single and return tickets, season tickets, and group tickets. The most popular routes include Cardiff to Swansea, Cardiff to Newport, and Cardiff to Manchester.

Transport for Wales from Manchester to Cardiff coach information:

Average Duration: 3 h 5 min
Cheapest Price: £39

FAQs: Manchester to Cardiff coach

FAQs: Take the bus from Manchester to Cardiff with ease. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have the information you need to know so you can find the best option from Manchester to Cardiff.

Cheap coach tickets from Manchester to Cardiff can start from as little as £11 when you book in advance. The average coach ticket price for Manchester to Cardiff is £27; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.

The average journey time by coach from Manchester to Cardiff is 5 h 15 min to travel the 143 mile long journey, with around there are 21 coaches per day. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays.

The first coach from Manchester to Cardiff leaves at 08: 30. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.

The last coach from Manchester to Cardiff leaves at 23: 40.

Yes, there are 8 direct coaches a day from Manchester to Cardiff with Megabus or Transport for Wales. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer direct coaches.

For the best Manchester to Cardiff coach to buy, you can travel safely and comfortably with Megabus, National Express, FlixBus or Transport for Wales. However, it's always good to check all possible coach companies with services to Cardiff from Manchester to compare what amenities they may offer.

When departing from Manchester, you have various coach station options to start your route from including Manchester, Shudehill Interchange, Manchester, Airport and Manchester, Shudehill / Bradshaw Street. When arriving in Cardiff, you can end your trip in coach stations like Cardiff, University and Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).

Passengers board the coach most frequently from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange, which is located around 0.5 miles (833 m) away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Cardiff, University, located 1.1 miles (1.8 km) away from the city centre.

The cheapest month for a coach from Manchester to Cardiff is September.

You have options as you can travel between Manchester and Cardiff 2 different ways: train or coach.

No, the coach from Manchester to Cardiff has no accessibility options.

No, there are no bathrooms on board the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

No, bikes are not allowed on board the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Manchester to Cardiff, follow these tips:

Book in advance: Tickets are often cheaper when booked early.

Be flexible with dates and times: Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money.

Use our search filters: Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options.

Look for special deals or discounts: Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.

Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!

Yes, there is food available to purchase on board the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

No, luggage for the coach from Manchester to Cardiff needs to be booked in addition.

No, there are no additional luggage options for the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

No, there are no USB plugs on board the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

No, there is no WiFi on board the coach from Manchester to Cardiff.

popular bus stations

Important Stations and Airports in Manchester and Cardiff

Manchester

Cardiff

The major coach station for departures in Manchester is Manchester, Shudehill Interchange. Find all the information you need to know about services, amenities and connections at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange for your trip from Manchester to Cardiff.

Manchester, Shudehill Interchange Wifi