- Recommended
Herne Bay Museum
Local museum covering seaside life, local archaeology, and town history, with accessible displays in the town centre.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£43
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£43
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
5 h 6 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
5 h 6 m
Trains on 18 Sept
1
Distance
327 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Manchester to Herne Bay is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Manchester to Herne Bay will cost around £43 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £43.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 1 trains from Manchester to Herne Bay, including 1 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 327 km distance in an average of 5 h 6 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 5 h 6 m .
The slowest trains will take 5 h 6 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.


Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Herne Bay among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £20 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 4h 10m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £20, while a train costs an average of £61.
Distance: 327 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£61 Average Price | £20 Average Price Cheapest | £69 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 10m Average total duration Fastest 3h 40m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 5m Average total duration 7h 35m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 57m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Herne Bay:
A coach is £41 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Herne Bay costing on average £61.
Other travel options to Herne Bay take longer:
Coach takes on average 7h 35m.
The journey is about 1h 17m faster (3h 40m by train vs 4h 57m by car) and roughly £8 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£61 vs £69). 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 Manchester to Herne Bay trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 7:55 Manchester | 3h50 | 11:45 Herne Bay | 1 change | |
![]() | 8:55 Manchester | 3h50 | 12:45 Herne Bay | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach 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 Manchester to Herne Bay run on average 5 times per day, taking around 3h 40m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £58 but you can travel from only £20 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 04:48, the last at 20:46. The fastest train covers the 327 km distance in 4h 27m.
Distance 327 km |
Average train duration 3h 40m |
Cheapest ticket price £58 |
Trains per day 5 |
Fastest train 4h 27m |
First train 4:48 |
Last train 20:46 |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sept |
Best time to book 42 days |
Discover the best of Herne Bay — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Herne Bay trip today.
Local museum covering seaside life, local archaeology, and town history, with accessible displays in the town centre.
Nearby historic house museum with collections, period rooms, and exhibitions, suited to visitors exploring the wider Herne Bay area.
Working art gallery and studio space showing contemporary pieces by local artists near the seafront.
Long shingle beach and promenade with sea views, colourful beach huts, and easy walking close to the town centre.
Large public park with gardens, play areas, sports space, and a memorial garden, popular with residents and visitors.
Coastal country park with clifftop paths, wildlife habitats, and broad views over the Thames Estuary.
Fresh oysters from the North Kent coast, long linked to nearby Whitstable and Herne Bay. Briny, seasonal shellfish are a classic local seaside treat.
A traditional Kent shellfish dish of whelks, usually served cold with vinegar and pepper. A simple old-fashioned snack sold around the coast.
Small brown shrimps from the Kent coast, often served in a potted style with butter and spice or simply dressed. A classic local seafood speciality.
Stylish seafront venue with coffee, brunch and modern British dishes. Relaxed interiors and sea views make it a dependable all-day stop.
Popular seafront fish and chip shop known for classic suppers, quick service and casual coastal atmosphere near the beach.
Well-known local pub and restaurant serving British favourites, Sunday roasts and drinks in a relaxed historic setting by the seafront.
Moderate for a UK seaside town. Accommodation and dining cost less than London, but summer stays, seafront cafés and rail travel can raise daily costs.
Service is sometimes included in restaurants; otherwise 10% is polite for good service. Taxis are often rounded up. Café tipping is optional.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Manchester to Herne Bay 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 Herne Bay, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Manchester to Herne Bay trains use the Manchester Piccadilly to Herne Bay station pair. Use this guide to compare Manchester and Herne Bay train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
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.
Herne Bay is 1 km from Herne Bay city centre. Public transport options include:
Herne Bay has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Ticket office support is available at Herne Bay. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point, Helpline Contact: 0345 322 7021 or Text relay 18001 0345 322 7021 Freephone 0800 783 4524 or Text Relay 18001 0800 783 4524, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Herne Bay: Parking, WC.
Available at Herne Bay: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Herne Bay: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Category B3. This station has a degree of step-free access to the platform, which may be in both directions or in one direction only - please check details -Step free access to platform 2 for services away from London direct from the station entrance. There is no step free access to Platform 1. Only Stepped access via the station subway to platform 1 for services towards London. No step free interchange between platforms, Accessible public telephones: Public telephones are not wheelchair accessible, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available to book, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: platform 2, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Wheelchairs available open hours: Monday - Friday 06:10 - 19:00 Saturday 06:10 - 19:00 Sunday 09:10 - 16:00, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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