- Recommended
Erewash Museum
Volunteer-run local museum covering Ilkeston's social and industrial history through objects, photographs, and changing displays.
Cheapest price on 23 Sept
£19
Average ticket price on 23 Sept
£19
Fastest journey on 23 Sept
3 h 2 m
Average journey duration on 23 Sept
3 h 2 m
Trains on 23 Sept
1
Distance
84 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Manchester to Ilkeston is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Manchester to Ilkeston will cost around £19 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £19.
On Wed 23 Sept, we found 1 trains from Manchester to Ilkeston, including 1 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 84 km distance in an average of 3 h 2 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 3 h 2 m .
The slowest trains will take 3 h 2 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 Ilkeston among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £15 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 1m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £15, while a train costs an average of £19.
Distance: 84 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£19 Average Price | £15 Average Price Cheapest | £16 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 1m Average total duration Fastest 1h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 0m Average total duration 2h 30m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 7m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Ilkeston:
A coach is £5 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Ilkeston costing on average £19.
Other travel options to Ilkeston take longer:
Coach takes on average 2h 30m.
You'll arrive about 36m sooner (1h 31m by train vs 2h 7m by car). Tickets start at around £19 compared to roughly £16 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with East Midlands Railway.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Manchester to Ilkeston trains for tomorrow, Wednesday 23 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 11:42 Manchester | 3h02 | 14:44 Ilkeston | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train 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 Ilkeston run on average 14 times per day, taking around 1h 31m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £13 if you book in advance.
There are 4 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:43, the last at 23:03. The fastest train covers the 84 km distance in 1h 27m.
Distance 84 km |
Average train duration 1h 31m |
Cheapest ticket price £13 |
Trains per day 14 |
Direct trains 4 |
Fastest train 1h 27m |
First train 5:43 |
Last train 23:03 |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 5 days |
Discover the best of Ilkeston — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Ilkeston trip today.
Volunteer-run local museum covering Ilkeston's social and industrial history through objects, photographs, and changing displays.
Nearby community museum on the former Bennerley School site, presenting local education and everyday history with volunteer-led exhibits.
Independent arts venue with exhibitions, performances, and workshops. A useful stop for contemporary local creativity near the town centre.
Large country park on Ilkeston's edge with woodland, lakes, and marked trails. Ideal for longer walks and a mix of nature and heritage.
The town's principal park with formal gardens, play areas, and event spaces. A pleasant base for a relaxed walk close to the centre.
Linear waterside route popular for walking and cycling, offering a quieter side of Ilkeston and links to surrounding countryside.
A soft white bread roll from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, often filled with bacon, cheese or cobs-and-beer staples. It is a strong local identity marker.
A traditional Derbyshire pudding made with dried fruit, spice and suet, usually served sliced with custard. It is a classic county comfort dessert.
A baked tart of curd cheese, eggs, sugar and currants linked with Derbyshire baking traditions. It is a well-known regional teatime treat.
Popular Ilkeston Indian restaurant serving classic curries and tandoori dishes in a relaxed, established setting.
Established Italian restaurant with pizzas, pasta and classic mains, suited to relaxed meals with family or friends.
Well-known local pub and restaurant offering British favourites, grills and drinks in a traditional, casual atmosphere.
Moderate for the UK. Dining and local transport are manageable, while hotels nearby can raise overall trip costs compared with cheaper Midlands towns.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is appreciated if service is not included. Round up in taxis. Cafes and pubs usually do not expect tips, but small change is welcome.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Manchester to Ilkeston 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 Ilkeston, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Manchester to Ilkeston trains use the Manchester Piccadilly to Ilkeston station pair. Use this guide to compare Manchester and Ilkeston 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.
Ilkeston is 1 km from Ilkeston city centre. Public transport options include:
Ilkeston has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Ilkeston.
Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point, Helpline Contact: 08000 11 33 23.
Available at Ilkeston: Parking.
Available at Ilkeston: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Ilkeston: Staff help available: No, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Level access to platforms, Accessible ticket machines: There are no accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: No, Wheelchairs available: No.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need