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London to Manchester by train
It takes an average of 2h 41m to travel from London to Manchester by train, over a distance of around 163 miles (262 km). There are normally 83 trains per day traveling from London to Manchester and tickets for this journey start from $18.87 when you book in advance.
| First train | 5:10 am | |
|---|---|---|
| Last train | 10:03 pm | |
| Departure station | London | |
| Arrival station | Manchester | |
| Journey time | From 2h 6m | |
| Distance | 163 miles (262 km) | |
| Frequency | 83 trains per day | |
| Changes | Direct trains available | |
| Price | From $18.87 | |
| Train operators |
Traveling from London to Manchester by train
Planning a trip to the Northwest and need more information on how to travel by train from London to Manchester? We’ve got you covered!
Generally, the journey from London to Manchester by train takes around 2 hours and 35 minutes. However, if you want to get there quickly, the fastest services can take you there in as little as 2 hours and 3 minutes. With around 97 direct trains running on this popular route each day, you can sit back and make yourself comfortable as you don’t need to make any changes.
On this route, you’ll board an Avanti West Coast train at London Euston station. Once you’ve found your seat, you can begin to enjoy the onboard amenities, such as free WiFi, power sockets and at-seat catering. If you prefer to travel in style, why not upgrade to Standard Premium Class or First Class? With the latter, you’ll enjoy more legroom, a guaranteed table and complimentary food and drink. In just over 2 hours, your train will arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station.
As soon as you’ve exited the station, you can begin to explore everything there is to see and do in Manchester. Not sure where to begin? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Manchester, including a trip to Manchester Art Gallery and the National Football Museum. Or go even further and follow some celebrity football (soccer) fans by heading to Old Trafford stadium!
Looking to buy cheaper train tickets? Try to travel at Off-Peak times – outside of morning/evening rush hours on weekdays. Also, try to book an Advance ticket, they are usually released 12 weeks before the departure date and tend to be a lot cheaper than purchasing tickets on the day of travel.
Feeling inspired? Start a search for cheap train tickets from London to Manchester today. There’s no need to wait, just head to our Journey Planner at the top of the page. If you’d like to read more information about the journey, scroll down for our FAQs, timetables with first and last train times and tips on booking cheap train tickets.
FAQs for London to Manchester
Want to know more about your journey from London to Manchester? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.
How long does the train from London to Manchester take?
The average journey time by train between London and Manchester is 2 hours and 41 minutes, with around 83 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
What's the fastest journey time between London and Manchester by train?
The fastest journey time by train from London to Manchester is 2 hours and 6 minutes.
How much does the train from London to Manchester cost?
Train tickets from London to Manchester can start from as little as $18.87 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Is there a direct train from London to Manchester?
Yes, it is possible to travel from London to Manchester without having to change trains. There are 83 direct trains from London to Manchester each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
What time does the first train from London to Manchester leave?
The first train from London to Manchester leaves at 05:10. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
What time does the last train from London to Manchester leave?
The last train from London to Manchester leaves at 22:03. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
What's the distance between London and Manchester by train?
Trains travelling from London to Manchester cover a distance of around 163 miles (262 km) during the journey.
Looking for more information?
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Manchester to London.
Cheap train tickets from London to Manchester
Book in advance
Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.
Consider a Season Ticket
If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for London to Manchester is right for you.
Use your Railcard
National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.
Split your tickets
Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.
For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.
Avanti West Coast trains from London to Manchester
Avanti West Coast is one of the major rail operators in the UK. Having taken over the running of the West Coast Main Line in 2019, it now provides services from London Euston and several of the UK’s larger stations including Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street.
Many journeys are on high-speed services where you don’t need to change trains, so Avanti West Coast is a great alternative to flying if you’re looking to explore up and down the country.
Avanti West Coast train classes from London to Manchester
There are three classes on Avanti West Coast services between London and Manchester. As well as Standard and First Class, there’s also Standard Premium Class, which includes some of the perks of First Class at a cheaper price, for a little touch of luxury on your journey.
Standard Class
In Avanti West Coast’s Standard Class, you’ll benefit from free WiFi and the ability to order your food and drink to your seat.
- Free WiFi
- Access to Avanti’s onboard entertainment system
- Power outlets at certain table and window seats
- At-Seat Order
Standard Premium Class
In Avanti Standard Premium Class, exclusive to Avanti West Coast, you’ll get all the amenities of Standard Class plus some extras from First Class, including wider, comfier seats.
- Free WiFi
- Access to Avanti’s onboard entertainment system
- Power outlets at every window seat
- At-Seat Order
- Wider, more comfortable seating
- Extra legroom
- Guaranteed at-seat table
First Class
Avanti West Coast’s First Class offers a little luxury when traveling by train: you’ll get free food and drink, as well as First Class Lounge access at London Euston before you catch your train.
- Free WiFi
- Access to Avanti’s onboard entertainment system
- Power outlets at every window seat
- At-Seat Order
- Wider, more comfortable seating
- Extra legroom
- Guaranteed at-seat table
- Complimentary food and drink
- First Class Lounge access (up to 2 hours before train departure)
Food and drink on board Avanti West Coast trains from London to Manchester
Avanti West Coast offers a service that allows you to order food and drink during your journey and have it delivered to your seat.
The service is available on all Avanti trains – just log onto the free onboard WiFi and you'll be able to order and pay for your items on a dedicated page. Your food and drink will then be brought to your seat by the staff on board.
If you want to stretch your legs, there's also a click-and-collect option on Pendolino trains. You'll receive a notification when your order is ready, then just visit the onboard shop to collect your food and drink.
In First Class, Avanti West Coast serves free food and drinks throughout your journey. The menu can change depending on the type of train you're traveling on and the time/day of your journey. Here's an idea of what you can expect during your journey:
- Breakfast is served until 11:00 am and includes soft drinks like tea or coffee, and usually a bacon roll or a veggie option
- During the rest of the day (10:00 am - 10:00 pm), light dishes or a hot meal will be on offer
- Healthy options are available
- Meals are made with unique, quality products made by local suppliers along the route.
Onboard services from London to Manchester
Learn more about the services offered on board Avanti West Coast trains from London to Manchester.
Baggage
Entertainment
Pets
Bikes
Traveling from the airport to central London
If you’re visiting London from abroad, you might be flying into one of London’s airports. Want to know how to get to central London from the airport? Keep reading for more details.
London has six major airports:
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- Stansted Airport
- London City Airport
- Luton Airport
- London Southend Airport
Each airport is well-connected to central London (zone 1) thanks to the city’s extensive rail and bus network. Trains are typically the quickest way to get from any airport to the city center. Read more about UK airport transfers in our guide.
How to get from Heathrow Airport to central London
How to get from Gatwick Airport to central London
How to get from Stansted Airport to central London
How to get from London City Airport to central London
How to get from Luton Airport to central London
How to get from London Southend Airport to central London
How to get to London Euston station from central London
London Euston station is conveniently located in the heart of the capital. If you’re in the city center, you can simply walk to the station to catch your train. Alternatively, you can travel to the station by:
- London Overground (orange): services run between Watford Junction and London Euston station
- London Underground services: the Northern (black) and Victoria (light blue) lines stop at Euston. The Hammersmith and City (pink), Circle (yellow) and Metropolitan (magenta) lines stop at Euston Square; from here, it’s a short walk to Euston train station
- Transport for London (TfL) buses: Bus lines 18, 30, 59, 68, 73, 91, 168, 205, 253, 390 and night bus lines N5, N20, N73, N91, N205 and N253 stop at London Euston.
For more information, check out our London Euston station guide.
Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly from London
When traveling from London to Manchester, your train will arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station. To get into the city center from Manchester Piccadilly, you can travel in a few ways:
- Metrolink trams: Manchester has an extensive tram network; 4 tram lines stop at Manchester Piccadilly station
- Free bus: there are 2 free bus routes run by Go North West that go from Manchester Piccadilly to various places in the city center
- Bus: other bus companies run paid services throughout Manchester from Manchester Piccadilly station.
If you need to travel to Manchester Airport, you can take the train from Manchester Piccadilly station. To learn more, check out our guide on trains to and from Manchester Airport.
Using public transport in Manchester
Read on for more information about navigating the public transportation system in Manchester.
Taking the tram in Manchester
Manchester has an extensive tram network called Metrolink. There are seven tram lines serving different parts of the city, with many lines stopping at the city’s train stations – so it’s easy to get around!
Generally, Metrolink services run from 06:00 am until midnight, Monday to Saturday. Metrolink’s Sunday hours are between 07:00 am and midnight. Individual services may differ, so it’s a good idea to check online before you travel.
Taking the bus in Manchester
Manchester has frequent bus services operating to help you get around. There’s a free bus in the city center which has two circular routes – this runs approximately every ten minutes during the day, though exact times may vary. You can use these bus services to get between the different train stations in Manchester, or to explore the city while giving your feet a rest!
There are also paid bus services operated by First and Stagecoach which extend into Greater Manchester.
Things to do in and around Manchester
Looking for something to do on your trip to Manchester? We’ve got a selection of guides which will help you decide what to get up to:
Explore Europe by train with a Eurail Pass
Once you’ve finished exploring Manchester, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.