London to Manchester train tickets from £28

Trains from London to Manchester

Trains from London to Manchester run very frequently throughout the day, seven days a week. The journey takes between about 2h and about 3h 30min, with most trains averaging around 2h 10min. The exceptions are the last trains of the night, which take about 6h 15min to get to Manchester. During peak times, trains run at about 15min intervals, stretching to roughly 20min off-peak.

London to Manchester Train Time: Daily Departures

You won't want for options when looking for a London to Manchester train – there are about 45 travelling this route every day, giving you over 300 trains a week to choose from. The first trains typically leave at around 06:00 and the last after 22:00. Almost all are direct routes that don't require any stops or train changes on the way, bar a handful each day.

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

A train from London to Manchester usually takes just over 2h, depending on the train company, the time of day, and whether there are any stops on the way. These direct trains all take just about 2h 06min to around 2h 20min, making this a very dependable route, particularly for regular commuters. The few trains that stop en route take between 3h and 3h 30min, changing trains once.

Trains from London to Manchester: Tower Bridge in London. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from London to Manchester?

Departure train station: Any given train to Manchester from London usually leaves from London Euston Station. You can get there from Central London in roughly 11min on the Northern Underground line or in about 13min with London Bus No 168. A few trains each day leave from London St. Pancras Station. Take the Piccadilly Underground line to get there in about 7min. Both stations have many modern facilities, including step-free and wheelchair accessibility, cafés, coffee shops, fast-food outlets and retail shops.

Arrival train station: Regardless of your departure station, your London to Manchester train will arrive at Manchester Piccadilly Station. It is really close to the city centre, so it will only take about 3min to get there on a Go North West bus. The station is owned by the same company as the London ones, so you'll have the same accessibility amenities, including induction loops and tactile strips. There are Help Points throughout the concourse, with baby changing rooms also available. Shopping is plentiful, as are places to eat and drink.

Which train companies travel from London to Manchester?

There are two main train companies operating trains from London to Manchester. The first is Avanti West Coast, which travels a direct route between the two cities for a travel time in the 2h to 2h 20min band. Trains run throughout the day, from early morning until mid-evening, with the last one leaving close to 22:00. The other main train provider on this route is West Midlands Railway, making one stop on the way in Crewe, where you'll leisurely switch trains in about 40min before continuing to Manchester. Your travel time will be between about 3h and 3h 30min.

Night trains to London

There is a single night train from London to Manchester, leaving at around 22:30 from London St. Pancras Station. You'll travel on East Midlands Railway, with the journey taking about 6h 20min, arriving in Manchester Piccadilly Station at roughly 05:00 after a stop in Sheffield. This is also the longest train trip to Manchester on offer.

Avanti West Coast trains from London to Manchester

Avanti West Coast provides the quickest train to Manchester from London, without having to make any stops on the way there. Trains can certainly be classed as high-speed, travelling at speeds between 125 mph (200 km/h) and 140mph (225 km/h). They will get you from London to Manchester in around 2h 10min on average and run throughout the day.

West Midlands Railway trains from London to Manchester

West Midlands Railway offers a one-stop London to Manchester train route, taking between 3h and 3h 30min for the trip. Trains leave from London Euston Station and travel via the town of Crew to arrive at Manchester Piccadilly Station. Your stopover in Crewe will take about 40min. Trains run at standard speed, using a combination of diesel and electric models, and operate from early morning till mid-evening.

East Midlands Railway trains from London to Manchester

East Midlands Railway operates a train from London to Manchester a few times a day. They also take between roughly 3h to 3h 30min, except for the night train, which takes about 6h 20min. The day trains depart from London St. Pancras Station, travelling via Sheffield and running from early morning till early evening, the night train once again an exception. These aren't high-speed trains, and you'll find yourself travelling at a more sedate pace.

Trains from London to Manchester: Sustainability travel

Taking a train is a more sustainable way of travelling in general, and certainly vastly more so than if all the passengers made the trip by car. Additionally, UK train companies all have pervasive sustainability programmes in place, focused on both short- and long-term environmental impact. Some of these include using specific percentages of recycled materials in building their carriages and switching to more electric trains from diesel locomotives. You'll certainly take a step toward reducing your carbon footprint by taking a train to Manchester from London.

Train London to Manchester: Services on Board

Avanti West Coast offers several types of tickets, including Standard and First Class. Trained Passenger Assist personnel can help with boarding and disembarking for passengers with limited mobility, and support animals are welcome. You can take up to two small domestic pets with you, and they travel free of charge. You can also reserve space for a bicycle in a dedicated cycle carriage. West Midlands Railway has spaces for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with personal assistance on hand. You can also bring two domestic pets, either on leads or in travel containers. The trains have room for two bicycle spaces, which you can book in advance. Otherwise, you can put a folded bike in a container as a luggage item. First-class travel is available on some of the trains, so just check beforehand. East Midlands Railway offers First and Second-class tickets. You can only bring a foldable bicycle, which goes on board with you. All carriages have full accessibility amenities and wheelchair space. You can bring a dog, cat or bird in a container free of charge on their trains from London to Manchester.

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Manchester?

There are a few ways to get cheaper tickets for a train from London to Manchester. One is to book well in advance; tickets can often be cheaper as the train companies strive to fill their seats as quickly as possible. The other approach is to remain very flexible about the day and date on which you travel. This will put you in a position to benefit from any last-minute deals that arise due to other passengers cancelling their tickets. You can also choose longer train trips and those that make stops or change trains on the way, as these are typically cheaper, too. Another tip is to set price alerts on Omio so that you'll be notified when cheap tickets become available.

Trains from London to Manchester: Irwell river and cityscape of Manchester. Source: Shutterstock

To Manchester by train—travel tips

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Manchester is Castlefield. It's an Urban Heritage Park surrounded by restored Victorian Houses, with a reconstructed Roman fort as its centrepiece. It follows the contours of the Bridgewater Canal. If you're after museums, you'll find plenty of those once you start exploring the city after arriving on a train to Manchester from London. The pick of the bunch is the Science and Industry Museum, which houses a very interesting Air and Space Gallery. You can also pay a visit to the Manchester Art Gallery. On the sporting side, you can visit the National Football Museum, fittingly located at Old Trafford. For architectural sites, head to the Victorian-era St. Mary's Catholic Church or Manchester Town Hall. If you're with kids, Heaton Park has an animal farm, an adventure playground and boating activities. For more ideas, check out our Omio online travel magazine, The Window Seat.

• Manchester Food and Drink Festival, in September and October;
• Manchester Christmas Markets, in November and December;
• Parklife Music Festival, in June;
• Manchester Pride, in August;
• Manchester Literature Festival, in October and November.