Travel optionsfrom Manchester to Reading
You can get from Manchester to Reading by train, bus or flight.
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Travel Information between Manchester and Reading
 | Distance | 149 miles (240 km) |
 | Available travel modes | Coach, flight or train |
 | Ticket price range | £16 - £122 |
 | Cheapest mode | Coach • £16 • 3 h 55 min |
 | Fastest mode | Flight • £122 • 1 h |
 | Popular travel companies | Megabus, British Airways or Avanti West Coast |
Travel 149 miles (240 km) by coach, flight or train to Reading from Manchester. If speed is a priority, then a flight is the best option with an average duration of 1 h; whereas, if saving money is more important, then a coach is the best option with prices starting as low as £16. The most popular travel providers which serve this route are Megabus, British Airways or Avanti West Coast among others. Travellers can even take a direct coach or train from Manchester to Reading.
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
How do I go from Manchester to Reading?
There are 3 ways to get from Manchester to Reading: coach, flight or train.
What is the cheapest way to go to Reading from Manchester?
A coach service offers the cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Reading, which costs on average £16.
This is compared to other ways of getting to Reading:
A coach is generally £106 less than a flight for the same route. A flight costs on average £122 from Manchester to Reading.
A coach is £66 less than a train for this trip with tickets for a train from Manchester to Reading costing on average £82.
What is the fastest way to get from Manchester to Reading?
The quickest way to travel between Manchester and Reading is by flight, which takes on average 1 h compared to other travel options that may take you longer to get to your destination:
In comparison, taking a coach requires on average 3 h 55 min of travel time.
In comparison, taking a train requires on average 3 h 12 min of travel time.
How many miles from Manchester to Reading would I travel?
The distance between Manchester and Reading is around 149 miles (240 km).
How many services a day are there 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 route from Manchester to Reading as scheduled services by coach, flight or train can vary by season or day of the week.
What are the departure and arrival points when travelling from Manchester to Reading?
These are the most popular departure and arrival points when travelling from Manchester to Reading:
- Most travellers board their coach from Manchester, Coach Station and arrive in Reading, Christchurch Green / Redlands Road (University of Reading).
- Most travellers take a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading.
Which travel operators 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 from Manchester to Reading by coach with Megabus. You can find cheap tickets on Omio for £16 with Megabus from Manchester to Reading.
- You can travel to Reading from Manchester by flight with British Airways. You can find cheap tickets on Omio for £122 with British Airways from Manchester to Reading.
- You can take a train from Manchester to Reading with Avanti West Coast. Cheap tickets can be found for £82 with Avanti West Coast from Manchester to Reading.
Is there a direct service to Reading from Manchester?
Yes, there are direct services available to Reading from Manchester with the following travel operators:
- You'll find direct coaches per day with.
- You can take a direct train with Cross Country with 12 direct trains per day.
Direct services tend to save you time and add more convenience in getting you to Reading as you won't need to change in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking your tickets between Manchester and Reading.
What is another destination I should add to my tour from Manchester to Reading?
How far in advance should I book my Manchester to Reading ticket online to get the best deals?
When planning your trip from Manchester to Reading, it’s good to keep in mind what tickets to book and their prices in the next 7 days:
- Coach tickets cost on average £16 one way.
- Plane tickets are costing on average £122 one way.
- Train tickets are costing £82 one way on average.
However, we recommend buying tickets from Manchester to 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