Travel options
from Manchester to Reading

You can get from Manchester to Reading by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

To get from Manchester to Reading on 1 Dec we recommend taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

10:05Manchester, Airport3h55 14:00Reading
0 changes
£211One-way
Cheapest
10:05Manchester, Airport3h55 14:00Reading
0 changes
£211One-way
Other options
14:00Manchester, Airport4h05 18:05Reading
0 changes
£211One-way
09:35Manchester4h25 14:00Reading
0 changes
£211One-way
13:30Manchester4h35 18:05Reading
0 changes
£211One-way

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, and flight, .

These companies trust us. We sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

COMPARE Prices for trains, buses and flights

Tue
30 Nov
£84Avanti West Coast
£19Megabus
£75British Airways
Wed
1 Dec
£84Avanti West Coast
£19Megabus
£205British Airways
Thu
2 Dec
£84Avanti West Coast
£19Megabus
£127British Airways
Fri
3 Dec
£99Cross Country
£19Megabus
£86British Airways
Sat
4 Dec
£85Avanti West Coast
£20Megabus
Find prices
Sun
5 Dec
£68Avanti West Coast
£20Megabus
Find prices

How to Travel from Manchester to Reading

Buses and direct trains make the 180 mile trip from Manchester to Reading, with flights to nearby Heathrow Airport an additional option. Manchester is an important post-industrial city and media centre, with some stunning architecture, witnessed in buildings like the ornate John Rylands Library. Reading is a bustling commuter town on the Thames, with some notable attractions such as the Georgian manor and landscaped grounds at Basildon Park.

Train: CrossCountry Trains offer direct connections from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading Station, with the schedule starting early in the morning. There are trains every hour throughout the day, until the final departure in mid-evening. Journey times are around 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Bus: National Express offers seven bus connections between Manchester Coach Station and Reading, including an early morning departure and an overnight option. These services require a change at London Victoria Coach Station or Birmingham Coach Station, and the fastest journey time is 7 hours and 20 minutes.

Flight: British Airways offers up to eight direct flights daily from Manchester Airport to London Heathrow Airport, with departures from early morning to mid-evening. The flight time is just over an hour. The airport is around 25 miles from Reading, connected by regular local shuttle buses.

Travelling from Manchester to Reading: Travel Tips

  • What is the cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Reading? Bus fares are the most economical option on this route.
  • What is the fastest way to travel from Manchester to Reading? Flying is the quickest way to make the journey, with flight times around 2 hours faster than the train connection.

Travel Tips

Travel from Manchester to Reading
Travel to Reading easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Manchester to Reading.
FAQs
How do you get from Manchester to Reading?

There are 3 ways to get from Manchester to Reading: coach, flight or train.

What is the cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Reading?

The cheapest way from Manchester to Reading is by taking a coach. You can find average ticket prices around £23 compared to other travel options to Reading:

A coach is £70 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Manchester to Reading costing on average £93.

A coach is £26 less than a train for this trip with tickets for a train from Manchester to Reading costing on average £49.

What is the quickest way from Manchester to Reading?

The fastest way from Manchester to Reading is by flight with an average journey time of 1 h 10 min.

Other travel options from Manchester to Reading can usually take longer:

In comparison, taking a coach requires on average 4 h 25 min   of travel time.

In comparison, going by train can take 3 h 12 min   on average.

How many miles from Manchester to Reading would I travel?

The Manchester to Reading distance is approximately 149 miles (240 km).

How many scheduled departures are there a day from Manchester to Reading?

The average frequency per day from Manchester to Reading is:

  • 12 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your journey between Manchester and Reading as scheduled services by coach, flight or train can vary by season or day of the week.

Where do I depart from Manchester? Where do I arrive in Reading?

These are the most popular departure and arrival points when travelling from Manchester to Reading:

  • Most travellers board their coach from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange and arrive in Reading, Station North Interchange (Stop NE).
  • Most travellers who buy a train ticket from Manchester to Reading depart from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading.
Who can get me from Manchester to Reading?

Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Manchester to Reading:

  • You can travel by coach between Manchester and Reading with National Express, and you can find National Express Manchester to Reading tickets for £23 on Omio.
  • You can travel by plane from Manchester to Reading with British Airways, and you can find British Airways Manchester to Reading tickets for £93 on Omio.
  • You can take a train from Manchester to Reading with Cross Country. Cheap tickets can be found for £49 with Cross Country from Manchester to Reading.
Can I travel directly between Manchester and Reading?

Yes, there are direct routes from Manchester to Reading with the following travel companies:

  • You can find a direct coach to Reading with Megabus.

As you won't need to change at another stop in between, direct services to Reading tend to save you time and add more convenience, so it's worth paying attention to before you book tickets for this trip.

What other popular destinations should I add to my itinerary for my trip to Reading from Manchester?
Your journey from Manchester to Reading doesn't have to end in Reading. Many of our customers like to extend their holidays to explore other popular destinations like London, Luton or Stansted. If you’d like to add London, Luton or Stansted to your Manchester to Reading trip, check Omio for the best and cheapest ways to travel to any of these top destinations from Reading today!
How far in advance should I buy my Manchester to Reading ticket online to get the best deals?

When planning your trip to Reading from Manchester, it’s good to keep in mind what tickets to purchase and their prices in the next 7 days:

  • Coach tickets cost on average £23 one way.
  • Plane tickets are costing £93 one way on average.
  • Train tickets cost £49 one way on average.

However, we recommend buying tickets between Manchester and Reading online a few months in advance to get the best deals and save money on your upcoming journey.

Travelling from Manchester to Reading: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need