- Must visit
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Main city museum covering Sunderland’s history, archaeology, and changing exhibitions. A practical introduction to the city and region.
Cheapest price on 31 Aug
£17
Average ticket price on 31 Aug
£26
Fastest journey on 31 Aug
3 h
Average journey duration on 31 Aug
3 h 14 m
Buses on 31 Aug
12
Distance
168 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Manchester to Sunderland is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Manchester to Sunderland will cost around £26 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £17.
On Mon 31 Aug, we found 12 buses from Manchester to Sunderland, including 8 direct services.
These direct buses cover the 168 km distance in an average of 3 h 14 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h .
The slowest buses will take 3 h 25 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.
FlixBus
NX172
FlixBus
FlixBus
NX172
NX172
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
NX172Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Sunderland among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £11 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 19m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £11, while a flight costs an average of £185.
Distance: 168 km
Most popular Coach | Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£11 Average Price Cheapest | £50 Average Price | £185 Average Price |
3h 47m Average total duration 3h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 19m Average total duration Fastest 2h 49m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 11h 38m Average total duration 9h 38m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* |
0.2 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
The table below shows live departures for Manchester to Sunderland coaches for today, Sunday 30 August. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NX170 · NX133 | 16:40 Manchester, Coach Station | 4h45 | 21:25 Sunderland, Interchange | 1 change | |
NX170 · NX426 | 17:50 Manchester, Coach Station | 3h45 | 21:35 Sunderland, Interchange | 1 change | |
NX172 | 19:30 Manchester, Coach Station | 3h00 | 22:30 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
NX170 · NX426 | 20:00 Manchester, Coach Station | 4h25 | 0:25 Sunderland, Interchange | 1 change | |
NX170 · NX172 | 21:10 Manchester, Coach Station | 6h45 | 3:55 Sunderland, Interchange | 1 change | |
NX172 | 0:15 Manchester, Coach Station | 3h40 | 3:55 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
NX172 | 7:15 Manchester, Coach Station | 3h25 | 10:40 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 8:40 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 3h15 | 11:55 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
NX172 | 11:35 Manchester, Coach Station | 3h40 | 15:15 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 11:50 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 3h15 | 15:05 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 15:50 Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 3h15 | 19:05 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
NX172 | 16:00 Manchester, Coach Station | 3h40 | 19:40 Sunderland, Interchange | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, coach and flight 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.
Buses from Manchester to Sunderland run on average 11 times per day, taking around 3h 17m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £7 if you book in advance.
There are 7 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:01, the last at 23:56. The fastest coach covers the 168 km distance in 3h 15m.
Distance 168 km |
Average bus duration 3h 17m |
Cheapest ticket price £7 |
Buses per day 11 |
Direct buses 7 |
Fastest bus 3h 15m |
First bus 0:01 |
Last bus 23:56 |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sept |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Sunderland — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Sunderland trip today.
Main city museum covering Sunderland’s history, archaeology, and changing exhibitions. A practical introduction to the city and region.
Glass-focused museum with exhibitions, demonstrations, and studio activity reflecting Sunderland’s industrial heritage and creative scene.
Volunteer-run museum at the restored station featuring vintage trams, buses, and transport displays. Best for engineering and family visits.
Long sandy seafront with promenade, cafés nearby, and broad views. Popular for walking, sea air, and classic coastal Sunderland scenes.
Seaside area north of Roker with beach, promenade, and open views. A relaxed place for walks and a local feel beyond the city centre.
Historic public park beside the museum and winter gardens. It offers flower beds, monuments, and a central green break in the city.
Panackelty is a North East comfort dish of layered potatoes, onions and corned beef or bacon, slowly baked. It is a long-standing Wearside home staple.
Pease pudding is a thick split-pea savoury paste, often served with ham or stotties. It is a classic staple across Sunderland and the wider North East.
Stottie cake is a dense round North East bread, usually split and filled with ham and pease pudding. It is strongly associated with local working-class food culture.
Popular seafront seafood restaurant at Roker serving fish, shellfish and classic British dishes in a relaxed modern setting.
Well-known city centre Italian restaurant with pizzas, pasta and grilled dishes. Lively, dependable and good for casual meals.
Established Indian restaurant known for curries, tandoori dishes and friendly service. Comfortable setting close to the city centre.
Generally cheaper than London and many UK tourist cities, with lower hotel rates, modest dining prices and reasonably priced local transport.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common for good service if not already added. Round up taxi fares; cafés usually do not expect tips.
Official public transport app
Sunderland Interchange -> Sunderland Railway Station
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Manchester to Sunderland 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 Sunderland, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Manchester to Sunderland buses use the Manchester, Coach Station to Sunderland, Interchange station pair. Use this guide to compare Manchester and Sunderland bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Manchester, Coach Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Café at the Station (in the station), Fast Food Express (in the station).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located within the station for cash withdrawals.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Coach Station.
Available at Manchester, Coach Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Coach Station: Ramps, assistance.
Manchester, Airport is 2 km from Manchester city centre. Public transport options include:
Manchester, Airport has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Burger King (in the station), Giraffe (in the station).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located throughout the airport, offering multiple currency options.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Airport.
Available at Manchester, Airport: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Airport: Elevators, ramps, assistance.
Manchester, Shudehill Interchange has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange.
Available at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange: Elevators, ramps.
Sunderland, Interchange has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Fast food outlets available.
Free WiFi available in waiting areas. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Sunderland, Interchange.
Available at Sunderland, Interchange: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Sunderland, Interchange: Step-free access throughout.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need