- Must visit
Science and Industry Museum
Major science and industry museum on historic railway land, with galleries on textiles, transport and Manchester’s role in modern innovation.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£56
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£56
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
3 h 16 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
3 h 21 m
Trains on 18 Sept
3
Distance
265 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Ilford to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Ilford to Manchester will cost around £56 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £56.
To travel from Ilford to Manchester you need to make at least 2 changes.
C36921+
Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston+
W34175
C38281+
Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston+
W34204
C38321+
Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston+
W34021
C38281+
Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston+
W34204
C38321+
Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston+
W34021
C36921+
Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston+
W34175Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Ilford to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £22 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 0m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £22, while a flight costs an average of £147.
Distance: 265 km
| Train | Most popular Coach | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£67 Average Price | £22 Average Price Cheapest | £147 Average Price | £77 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 16m Average total duration 3h 46m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 27m Average total duration 4h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 0m Average total duration Fastest 1h 0m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 3h 51m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Ilford to Manchester:
A coach is £45 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Ilford to Manchester costing on average £67.
A coach is £125 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Ilford to Manchester costing on average £147.
Other travel options to Manchester take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 46m.
Coach takes on average 4h 57m.
The journey is about 5m faster (3h 46m by train vs 3h 51m by car) and roughly £10 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£67 vs £77). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Ilford to Manchester trains for tomorrow, Friday 18 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W34204+ C38281+ Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston | 5:29 Ilford station (IFD) | 3h16 | 8:45 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 2 changes | |
W34175+ C36921+ Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston | 5:39 Ilford station (IFD) | 3h26 | 9:05 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 2 changes | |
W34021+ C38321+ Tube from Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line) to London Euston | 5:58 Ilford station (IFD) | 3h21 | 9:19 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 2 changes | |
This is the last train 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.
Trains from Ilford to Manchester run on average 4 times per day, taking around 3h 46m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £52 but you can travel from only £8 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 00:04, the last at 22:28. The fastest train covers the 265 km distance in 3h 4m.
Distance 265 km |
Average train duration 3h 46m |
Cheapest ticket price £52 |
Trains per day 4 |
Fastest train 3h 4m |
First train 0:04 |
Last train 22:28 |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 63 days |
Discover the best of Manchester — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Manchester trip today.
Major science and industry museum on historic railway land, with galleries on textiles, transport and Manchester’s role in modern innovation.
Large university museum with natural history, archaeology and cultural collections, plus changing exhibitions in a prominent Oxford Road building.
Leading art museum with British and European paintings, design, costume and craft collections in a landmark city-centre building.
Historic canal-side warehouse district with restored brick buildings, waterside walks, bars, galleries and one of the city’s most atmospheric settings.
Lively central square framed by major civic buildings and event space, ideal for architecture, seasonal markets and city-centre orientation.
Characterful Northern Quarter street known for independent shops, record stores, creative spaces and eye-catching street art.
A flaky shortcrust pie filled with spiced minced beef, potato and onion. It is closely associated with Oldham and Greater Manchester chip shops.
A hearty hotpot of slow-cooked lamb or mutton with onions and sliced potatoes. A long-standing North West comfort dish served across Manchester pubs.
A rich tripe stew cooked with onions, milk and stock. It was a classic working-class Manchester meal linked to the city’s historic tripe trade.
Refined modern British tasting menus in an intimate city-centre setting. Best for a special meal with seasonal ingredients and polished service.
Historic Victorian dining room known for oysters, seafood and classic British dishes. Traditional atmosphere with one of Manchester’s best-known interiors.
Casual northern favourite serving Bury black pudding, pies and hearty breakfasts. Good for trying regional staples in a relaxed market setting.
Moderate for a UK city. Hotels can be pricey at peak times, but dining, pubs and local transport are usually cheaper than London.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common if service is good and not already added. Round up taxi fares; cafés usually do not require tips.
Official public transport app
Manchester Piccadilly -> Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Ilford to Manchester by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Manchester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Ilford to Manchester trains use the Ilford to Manchester Piccadilly station pair. Use this guide to compare Ilford and Manchester train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Ilford has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Ilford.
Ticket office support is available at Ilford. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0343 222 1234, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Ilford: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Ilford: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Ilford: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Accessibility Category C. This station does not have step-free access. Staff ramp assistance is always available. Accessible seating is available on platforms 3&4, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accessible ticket machines are located At the York Mews station entrance At the Ilford Hill temporary station entrance At the Ilford south station entrance, Accessible toilets: No, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Wheelchairs available open hours: Staff are available to assist from the first to last train, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Manchester Piccadilly has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Burger King, Caffè Nero, Carluccio’s, Hotel Chocolat, Starbucks, The Pasty Shop, Costa Coffee, Pret a Manger, Upper Crust, McDonald's, & more
Pay as you go Wi-Fi is available through BT Wi-Fi. ATMs are there are ATM machines on the main concourse, Platform 10 and on the mezzanine level.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 04:30 - 22:30, Sun: 07:00 - 22:30. Information desks are located near the Fairfield Street entrance on the mezzanine level.
Luggage storage is operated by Excess Baggage Co. Llocated between Platforms 10 and 11 and open daily from 08:00 to 21:00.
Available at Manchester Piccadilly: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Manchester Piccadilly: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester Piccadilly: There is step-free access throughout the station. Ramps for train access and wheelchairs are also available.
Nearby hotels include DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Manchester - Piccadilly, Premier Inn Manchester City, Staycity Aparthotels - Manchester Piccadilly.
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