- 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
£57
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£79
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
4 h 22 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
4 h 44 m
Trains on 18 Sept
2
Distance
294 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Southend-on-Sea to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Southend-on-Sea to Manchester will cost around £79 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £57.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 2 trains from Southend-on-Sea to Manchester, including 2 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 294 km distance in an average of 4 h 44 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 22 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 flight as it is the most popular option from Southend-on-Sea to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £83 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 3m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £83, while a flight costs an average of £141.
Distance: 294 km
| Train | Most popular Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£83 Average Price Cheapest | £141 Average Price | £71 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 34m Average total duration 4h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 3m Average total duration Fastest 1h 3m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 42m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.9 - 1.8kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Southend-on-Sea to Manchester:
A train is £58 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Southend-on-Sea to Manchester costing on average £141.
Other travel options to Manchester take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 4m.
You'll arrive about 38m sooner (4h 4m by train vs 4h 42m by car). Tickets start at around £83 compared to roughly £71 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.
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 Southend-on-Sea to Manchester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W34065+ P66710 | Delayed 5:08 4:00Southend Victoria (SOV) | 4h25 | 8:25 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
Tube from London Liverpool Street to London Euston+ W34204+ P66720 | On time 4:30 Southend Victoria (SOV) | 4h15 | 8:45 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 2 changes | |
Tube from London Fenchurch Street to London Euston+ W34177+ W84670+ F45415 | On time 4:33 Southend Central (SOC) | 5h34 | 10:07 Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 3 changes | |
Tube from London Fenchurch Street to London Euston+ W34021+ F45415 | On time 4:33 Southend Central (SOC) | 4h46 | 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 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 Southend-on-Sea to Manchester run on average 5 times per day, taking around 4h 4m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £61 but you can travel from only £54 by flight.
The earliest train runs at 00:07, the last at 21:41. The fastest train covers the 294 km distance in 3h 49m.
Distance 294 km |
Average train duration 4h 4m |
Cheapest ticket price £61 |
Trains per day 5 |
Fastest train 3h 49m |
First train 0:07 |
Last train 21:41 |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 56 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 Southend-on-Sea 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 Southend-on-Sea to Manchester trains use the Southend Victoria to Manchester Piccadilly station pair, with some services arriving at Manchester Victoria. Use this guide to compare Southend-on-Sea and Manchester train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Southend Victoria has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Southend Victoria.
Wi-Fi is available at Southend Victoria. ATMs are available at Southend Victoria.
Ticket office support is available at Southend Victoria. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0800 028 28 78, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Southend Victoria: Parking, WC.
Available at Southend Victoria: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Southend Victoria: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible taxis: Taxi rank at front of station, 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: No.
Southend Central has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Southend Central.
Wi-Fi is available at Southend Central. ATMs are available at Southend Central.
Ticket office support is available at Southend Central. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 03457 44 44 22, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Southend Central: Parking, WC.
Available at Southend Central: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Southend Central: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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.
Manchester Victoria 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 Victoria.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester Victoria.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Manchester Victoria: Parking, WC.
Available at Manchester Victoria: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester Victoria: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A station, Scooter Friendly Station - Step free access around the whole station via use of lifts between platforms 3-6, connection with Manchester Metrolink using ramps, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accepts Cash & Cards Located near the ticket office, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Wheelchairs available open hours: As per ticket office opening hours, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need