Manchester to Edinburgh bus with Megabus

Manchester to Edinburgh coach

The bus to Edinburgh from Manchester is a comfortable and affordable option and a popular choice for many travellers. These services are operated by 3 different coach companies and are either direct routes or routes with a single changeover along the way. There are 2 departure stations or stops to choose from and 2 arrival stations. The first departure usually leaves Manchester Coach Station early every morning, including weekends, with buses operating throughout the day until close to midnight every evening. The bus schedule from Manchester to Edinburgh is usually consistent throughout the week, with the same number of buses running every day at similar times. The bus prices tend to vary, with cheaper tickets being available on weekends.

Manchester to Edinburgh Bus Time: Daily Departures

Thanks to the high demand for this route, there are various services running throughout the day. Typically, the first bus Manchester Edinburgh departs from Manchester Coach Station at around 1:35 a.m. and the last bus leaves from Manchester Shudehill Interchange around 11:40 p.m. each evening. Buses are operated by 3 different companies. National Express has about 3 services a day and Megabus also offers 3 services a day. Flixbus is the most frequent with many buses operating every day. On average, there are at least 70 buses a week between these cities. To get to the daily schedule, make sure both the departure and arrival cities are selected at the top of this page. Choose the dates you want to travel and select the 'Search' button. This will take you to the daily schedule, with consolidated results displayed on a single page with the ability to filter according to your wants.

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

Travel times for the bus Manchester - Edinburgh vary depending on the bus company used and the route the service takes. If you're travelling with National Express, you'll have the choice of 3 routes. These services all leave from Manchester Coach Station and arrive at Edinburgh Coach Station and you can choose between a direct bus, which takes around 6h 45min, a route via Glasgow, which can take up to 7h 5min, or a trip through Leeds that takes closer to 7h 40min. All Megabus routes are direct routes to Edinburgh Elder Street and the travel time for the bus departing from Manchester Airport takes around 6h 15min, while the service leaving from Shudehill takes closer to 5h 40min. Flixbus routes tend to be the longest routes because they all go via London and can take anywhere between 15 hours to 18h 30min.

Manchester: Lowry Centre. Source: Shutterstock

Where do Manchester to Edinburgh coaches depart and arrive?

The departure and arrival stations for this route depends on the company you're travelling with. If you're on a National Express bus, these services always operate between the main coach stations in the city. Manchester Coach Station and Edinburgh Coach Station. Both these stations are located close to the centre of the city and offer waiting rooms, toilets, cash machines and much more. They're also well connected to the rest of the city by buses and taxis. If you're travelling with Megabus or Flixbus, your route will start at Manchester Shudehill Interchange, which is down the road from Manchester Cathedral and offers toilets, a waiting room and a travel shop. Flixbus routes always arrive at Edinburgh Coach Station in the city centre, while Megabus routes arrive at the Elder Street Stop, which is a basic stop on the street, and a minute's walk away from the main bus station.

What are the bus stops when arriving in Edinbugh?

The only stops you'll have along the way are the scheduled stops stated on your tickets. If you're taking a direct route, you'll arrive at the Edinburgh Coach Station in the city centre or a short walk away at the bus stop on Elder Street. If you're taking a route via Glasgow, your stopover will be at the Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station. If you're taking a route through Leeds, the stop along the way will be at Leeds Coach Station in the city centre. If you're on a Flixbus route via London, you'll stop over at London Victoria Bus Station, down the road from the Victoria Railway Station. The only 2 stops when arriving in Edinburgh are the Elder Street Bus Stop down the road from the main bus terminal or the Edinburgh Coach Station.

What to see between Manchester and Edinburgh

If you're hoping to extend your trip and explore other parts of the country en route, there are a few services to choose from. For a much longer trip, but an exciting one, take a Flixbus route through London and get off at London Victoria Bus Station. From there, you can head over to Westminster and explore one of the most beautiful parts of the city that's also home to one of the most renowned sites in the city, Westminster Abbey. Another route to choose from includes going through Leeds, where you can hop out and visit places like Roundhay Park, the Royal Armouries, Murgatroyd's and Tropical World before jumping on a later bus through to Edinburgh. The last option is to make your way through the port city of Glasgow and explore places like Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Glasgow Cathedral, or the Riverside Museum before heading onwards to Edinburgh.

Information on Edinburgh Bus Station

Edinburgh Bus Station is the only major station in the city and is located about 1 km from the city centre. It's well-connected to the rest of the city via buses and taxis, and is a short walk from Edinburgh Waverley Station, which connects to other parts of the city as well as other cities in the UK, including London. The station's operating hours are between 4:30 a.m. and midnight from Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and between 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The terminal is home to various facilities including luggage lockers, toilets, cash machines and baby-changing facilities. There are also refreshment facilities, vending machines, shops and a cafe.

National Express Manchester to Edinburgh coach

National Express is a major coach provider in the UK and operates a cheap bus from Manchester to Edinburgh at least 3 times a day. All of these routes are different. The first option is a direct trip between the cities that usually takes about 6h 45min. The second service is a route with a single changeover in Glasgow en route and a travel time of around 7h 5min. The last option is a bus Manchester Edinburgh Coach Station via Leeds that has a travel time of close to 7h 40min.

Megabus Manchester to Edinburgh coach

Megabus is another major provider in the UK that operates routes between these cities. There is a Megabus Manchester to Edinburgh bus at least twice a day and all options are direct routes from either Manchester Airport or Manchester Shudehill Interchange to Edinburgh Elder Street.

Flixbus Manchester to Edinburgh coach

Flixbus operates the most frequent buses between these destinations, but they're also some of the longest and most costly. All 4 daily Flixbus routes go via London and the longest travel time for this is around 18h 20min, with a 2h 25min stopover at Victoria Coach Station.

Buses Manchester to Edinburgh: Sustainability Travel

Sustainability is becoming more and more important as we realise the potential harm being caused to the planet. One of the best ways to reduce your carbon emissions is to choose more eco-friendly ways to travel. Bus travel is one of the best sustainable travel options, especially compared to cars and planes. They use much less fuel than planes and offer more efficient use of space compared to cars so more people travel for the same amount of fuel. Flixbus is one of the leaders of sustainable coach travel and even has fleets of solar-powered and electric buses operating in the UK.

Bus Manchester to Edinburgh: Services on Board

Although these bus routes are operated by 3 different companies, all of the buses offer the same onboard services and have the same requirements.

• There is only one class of ticket available for these routes
• Your baggage allowance will be limited to 2 bags and 1 carry-on piece of luggage. The check-in bags cannot weigh more than 25kg.
• Animal travel is prohibited on these buses. The only animals allowed are guide dogs and passengers must inform the company beforehand.
• There is no food or beverages served on these routes. Passengers must arrange their own refreshments.
• Accessible travel options are available for those with mobility issues or other disabilities. Please ensure you contact the company ahead of time to arrange the service you need.
• Folded bicycles can be transported if they fit in the luggage compartment. Non-folded bikes cannot be transported.
• Seat reservation isn't possible on any of these buses.

When to book your bus tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh?

There are a couple of ways to ensure you get the best Manchester to Edinburgh bus price for your trip. Firstly, book tickets as far in advance as you can. Tickets go on sale months before and progressively get more expensive. If you have the time, being flexible with your travel dates may also end up cheaper. Some companies offer different deals on different days. Choosing weekend tickets, especially on a Sunday, is usually cheaper than travelling during the week. If you have a student card or are a senior citizen, most bus companies will offer you a discount on tickets. For this route, connecting buses typically cost more than direct services, and they're also much quicker.

To Edinburgh by bus — travel tips

Edinburgh is praised by many who visit and a lot of people consider it the best city to visit in the UK - it was even voted as such once upon a time by The Telegraph. The capital city is the heart of the country and offers visitors everything they could need from an incredible atmosphere to breathtaking scenery to historical monuments and much, much more. The diverse mix of people, which includes visitors from all over the world as well as locals, is one of the biggest drawing factors and makes the city welcoming and familiar. Thanks to the variety of cultures, the food scene in Edinburgh is broad and you can spend your days trying cuisine from all over the world. The nightlife in Edinburgh is very nearly unbeatable. Not only that, but the city is home to some exquisite architecture, untouchable hiking terrain, and monuments dating back thousands of years. Have a gander at the Edinburgh Window Seat article for some tips on what to do, such as.

• Admire the scenery at the Royal Botanic Gardens
• Visit Edinburgh Castle
• Walk the underground passages of Mary King’s Close
• Explore the history of the war in Scotland at the National War Museum
• Go shopping along Princes Street
• Peruse the art selection at the Scottish National Gallery
• Gawk at the amazing sight of St Giles’ Cathedral

Edinburgh: Old Town and famous Castle of the city. Source: Shutterstock

What are the other cities you can go to from Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and a major transport hub in the city, so it's well connected to many other major cities in the UK. One of the most well-travelled routes is the Edinburgh to Glasgow bus, which happens a few times a day and takes around 1h 15min. There are also numerous buses to London from the city every day, with an average travel time of around 12h and a single stopover en route in Newcastle. Edinburgh to York is another sought-after route, which takes around 7h 15min.