- Must visit
Bolton Museum and Art Gallery
Bolton's main museum with local history, art, Egyptology and aquarium displays, all close to the town centre.
Cheapest price on 04 Sept
£17
Average ticket price on 04 Sept
£17
Fastest journey on 04 Sept
55 m
Average journey duration on 04 Sept
55 m
Trains on 04 Sept
1
Distance
38 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Southport to Bolton is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Southport to Bolton will cost around £17 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £17.
On Fri 04 Sept, we found 1 trains from Southport to Bolton, including 1 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 38 km distance in an average of 55 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 55 m .
The slowest trains will take 55 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 Southport to Bolton among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £7 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 25m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £7, while a coach costs an average of £16.
Distance: 38 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£7 Average Price Cheapest | £16 Average Price | £8 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 25m Average total duration Fastest 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 50m Average total duration 1h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 5m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Southport to Bolton:
A train is £9 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Southport to Bolton costing on average £16.
Other travel options to Bolton take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 20m.
The journey is about 10m faster (55m by train vs 1h 5m by car) and roughly £1 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£7 vs £8). 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 Southport to Bolton trains for tomorrow, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:30 Southport | 0h55 | 9:25 Bolton | 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 Southport to Bolton run on average 7 times per day, taking around 55m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £7 if you book in advance.
There are 6 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 06:03, the last at 22:51. The fastest train covers the 38 km distance in 1h 1m.
Distance 38 km |
Average train duration 55m |
Cheapest ticket price £7 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 6 |
Fastest train 1h 1m |
First train 6:03 |
Last train 22:51 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 3 days |
Discover the best of Bolton — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Bolton trip today.
Bolton's main museum with local history, art, Egyptology and aquarium displays, all close to the town centre.
Independent museum telling the story of local steam, electricity and engineering through working exhibits and volunteer guides.
Art gallery and museum in a former house, showing decorative arts, paintings and objects linked to local collecting history.
Large country park with moorland views, reservoirs, walking trails and access to one of Bolton's best-known hilltop panoramas.
Popular beauty spot with a reservoir, woodland paths and open moor walks, well suited to gentle strolls or longer hikes.
Historic village area with cobbled character, old buildings and scenic access to museum grounds and woodland walks.
A hearty black pudding made in nearby Bury from pig’s blood, fat and oats. It is a defining Greater Manchester breakfast staple.
Soft bread rolls split and filled with buttered chips, often with salt and vinegar. A classic North West cheap eat loved in Bolton.
A savoury pie from nearby Wigan filled traditionally with potato, onion and meat. It reflects Lancashire’s working-class baking heritage.
Popular Turkish restaurant serving charcoal-grilled meats, mezze and fresh bread in a smart but relaxed setting.
Well-known local Indian restaurant with curries, tandoori dishes and a comfortable neighbourhood dining room.
Refined Indian dining with regional dishes and attentive service, suited to a more polished evening meal.
Bolton is usually cheaper than Manchester or London for hotels, meals and local travel, making it good value for most visitors.
Service is often included or optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is typical for good service. Round up taxi fares. Tipping in cafés is optional.
Official public transport app
Bolton Station -> Bolton Town Centre
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Southport to Bolton 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 Bolton, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Southport to Bolton trains use the Southport to Bolton station pair, with some services arriving at Lostock. Use this guide to compare Southport and Bolton train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Southport has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Southport.
ATMs are available at Southport.
Ticket office support is available at Southport. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0151 555 1111, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Southport: Parking, WC.
Available at Southport: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Southport: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A: “This station has step free access to all platforms / the platform” Ticket office is step free. Both platforms accessed via concourse, Accessible ticket machines: There are no 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.
Meols Cop is 2 km from Southport city centre. Public transport options include:
Meols Cop has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Taxis and Accessibility.
Food and drink options are available at Meols Cop.
Available at Meols Cop: Parking, Taxis.
Accessibility facilities are available at Meols Cop.
Hillside is 3 km from Southport city centre. Public transport options include:
Hillside has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Hillside.
Ticket office support is available at Hillside. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0151 555 1111, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Hillside: Parking, WC.
Available at Hillside: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Hillside: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Category C: “This station does not have step-free access to any platform.” The nearest station with disabled access is Ainsdale, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Bolton is 1 km from Bolton city centre. Public transport options include:
Bolton has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Bolton.
Wi-Fi is available at Bolton.
Ticket office support is available at Bolton.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Bolton: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bolton: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bolton: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A Station, this station is scooter friendly, a scooter permit is required for travel, Level access through the ticket barriers to an overpass and via lifts to all platforms. Lifts available from first to last trains, 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: Yes, Wheelchairs available open hours: As per ticket office opening hours, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Lostock is 4 km from Bolton city centre. Public transport options include:
Lostock has practical services for this route, including Parking, Accessibility, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Ticket office support is available at Lostock.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Lostock: Parking.
Available at Lostock: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Lostock: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category B station, Level access from car park (22 paces, 1:12 slope) and Booking office to Bolton/Manchester platform. For services to Preston, separate ramped access (96 paces, 1:10 slope) from Rumworth Road overbridge onto the platform, 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: No.
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