- Recommended
Abbot Hall
Main town museum and gallery in a riverside Georgian house, with changing exhibitions, local history and a notable art collection.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£5
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£14
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
1 h 21 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
1 h 45 m
Trains on 18 Sept
5
Distance
100 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Manchester to Kendal is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Manchester to Kendal will cost around £14 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £5.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 5 trains from Manchester to Kendal, including 5 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 100 km distance in an average of 1 h 45 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 21 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 Kendal among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £11 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 52m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £11, while a coach costs an average of £33.
Distance: 100 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£11 Average Price Cheapest | £33 Average Price | £21 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 52m Average total duration Fastest 1h 22m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 57m Average total duration 2h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 26m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Kendal:
A train is £22 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Manchester to Kendal costing on average £33.
Other travel options to Kendal take longer:
Coach takes on average 2h 27m.
The journey is about 4m faster (1h 22m by train vs 1h 26m by car) and roughly £9 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£11 vs £21). 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.
Direct services run with Northern Rail, Northern Trains Limited.
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 Kendal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C21812+ W33935+ G89071 | On time 11:41 Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 1h57 | 13:38 Kendal station (KEN) | 2 changes | |
| Friday 18 September | |||||
![]() | 7:56 Manchester | 1h29 | 9:25 Kendal | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:56 Manchester | 1h29 | 10:25 Kendal | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 9:03 Manchester | 1h22 | 10:25 Kendal | 0 changesdirect | |
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 Kendal run on average 7 times per day, taking around 1h 22m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £5 if you book in advance.
There are 2 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 04:57, the last at 23:01. The fastest train covers the 100 km distance in 1h 19m.
Distance 100 km |
Average train duration 1h 22m |
Cheapest ticket price £5 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 2 |
Fastest train 1h 19m |
First train 4:57 |
Last train 23:01 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Kendal — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Kendal trip today.
Main town museum and gallery in a riverside Georgian house, with changing exhibitions, local history and a notable art collection.
Compact family museum telling the story of Kendal’s mint-cake maker, with original equipment and exhibits on local industrial heritage.
Volunteer-run museum with aircraft, vehicles and wartime objects, offering a local perspective on military and transport history.
Pleasant riverside green space beside Abbot Hall, ideal for a short walk, picnics and views towards the River Kent and castle hill.
Popular woodland and hill walk on Kendal’s edge, with sculpture trails, open views and routes suitable for a longer local ramble.
Long-distance scenic route crossing Kendal, good for a riverside or upland stroll and for linking several of the town’s highlights.
A peppermint sugar sweet invented in Kendal in the 19th century. It became famous as a quick energy source for walkers, climbers and expedition teams.
A Cumbrian sausage made with local pork, herbs and spices. It is a regional staple, often served with mash, gravy or in a breakfast.
A traditional Lake District and Cumbrian pudding of suet pastry with currants or dried fruit, usually steamed and served warm.
Popular independent bakery and café known for artisan bread, pastries, brunch and coffee. Good for a casual daytime meal in the town centre.
Relaxed riverside restaurant and brewery tap serving freshly brewed beer, burgers, pizzas and hearty mains in a modern casual setting.
Well-known Kendal restaurant serving Indian and Bangladeshi dishes in a smart, friendly setting popular for curries and grilled specials.
Moderate for the UK. Kendal is usually cheaper than major tourist cities for hotels and meals, but Lake District demand can raise weekend and peak-season prices.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is usual if service is not included. Round up or add a little for taxis. Tipping in cafés is optional.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Manchester to Kendal 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 Kendal, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Manchester to Kendal trains use the Manchester Airport to Kendal station pair. Use this guide to compare Manchester and Kendal train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Manchester Airport is 13 km from Manchester city centre. Public transport options include:
Manchester Airport has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Manchester Airport.
Wi-Fi is available at Manchester Airport. ATMs are available at Manchester Airport.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester Airport. Information desks are information available from staff: ,Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0800 107 2149, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Available at Manchester Airport: Parking, WC.
Available at Manchester Airport: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester Airport: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: re Step free access is provided from the Ground Transport Interchange to all platforms via lifts or ramps. This station is staffed for all services. This station is Category A. Station staff can provide assistance from Meeting Point 1 (adjacent to the Station Booking Office) and throughout the railway station, and with boarding and alighting the train. Customers requiring assistance should make themselves known to station staff no less than 20 minutes prior to the departure time of their train. Customers requiring assistance to access other services or to connect with terminals should request this from their airline or Manchester Airport Group. Assistance can be requested in advance by contacting the TransPennine Express Assisted Travel Team on 0800 107 2149 (18001 prefix for TextRelay). Please be aware that some platforms at this station have no or only partial tactile paving on the platform edge, Accessible public telephones: In the station cafe on platforms 2 and 3, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Manchester Oxford Road has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Manchester Oxford Road.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester Oxford Road.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Manchester Oxford Road: Parking, WC.
Available at Manchester Oxford Road: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester Oxford Road: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Category B Station, please note there are no tactile pavings at this station - There are two lifts at the Piccadilly end of platform 4 and 2/3 which connect the concourse area platform 4 and 5 with 2/3. Note: there is no lift access to platform 1 at all, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accepts Cash & Cards, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Deansgate is 1 km from Manchester city centre. Public transport options include:
Deansgate has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Bike Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Deansgate.
Ticket office support is available at Deansgate.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Deansgate: Parking, Taxis.
Available at Deansgate: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Deansgate: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A station, please note there are no tactile pavings at this station From Whitworth Street, up a ramp (43 paces, 1:25 slope) and level access through the entrance into the foyer. Or from the junction of Chester Road, Whitworth Street and Deansgate, level access through the entrance, along the corridor and up 21 steps into the foyer. Then, to Manchester: Past the ticket office, via the lift in the foyer. Or up a ramp (34 paces), up 17 steps onto the platform. To Bolton, Warrington and Wigan : Via the lift in the foyer or along the subway (26 paces), up a ramp (32 paces) and up 18 steps onto the platform. Level access to Manchester platform also via overbridge from Metrolink G-Mex Metrolink stop. Lift available first to last train, currently 06:20 - 23:40 Monday to Saturday. 08:10 - 23:30 Sunday, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Kendal has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, Lost and Found Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Kendal.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Kendal: Parking, Taxis.
Available at Kendal: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Kendal: Staff help available: No, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A station, Scooter Friendly Station - Level access from the station building, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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