Trains to Manchester
From its industrial past to a present driven by music, media, and sport, Manchester has always been independent and forward-thinking. Today it buzzes with a huge student population, two top-class football teams and a superbly regenerated inner-city packed with great shopping, cool microbreweries, and buzzing bars. With the arrival of Michelin-starred chefs Simon Rogan and Jason Atherton, its restaurant scene is hitting the next level too. Is there anything this city can't do?
If you'd like to take a trip to Manchester but you're unsure how to get there, take a look at our guide on the best way to travel from London to Manchester.
How to find cheap train tickets to Manchester
To get the cheapest train tickets to Manchester, you’ll need to be super-savvy when searching for tickets. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you with our top tips for saving money on rail travel. Before you know it, you’ll have a few extra quid to spend when out and about in the city, instead of just using it to get there!
Our top tips for finding cheap train tickets to Manchester:
- Get a Railcard: Save up to 1/3 for a whole year
- Book tickets to Manchester in advance: Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, East Midlands Railway and CrossCountry usually release tickets 12 weeks in advance
- Travel Off-Peak: Tickets are usually cheaper during quieter times on weekdays and weekends
- Use GroupSave: If you're travelling in a group of 3-9 people you could save 34%
- Split your train tickets
You can find more details about each of these tips below.
1. Get a Railcard
First up, you’ll want to think about using a National Railcard. If you don’t quite make enough journeys to warrant buying a Season ticket, but you’re still going to travel by train more than a few times a year, then a Railcard is well-worth your time. Their big selling point is that they can allow you to save up to 1/3 off the price of your train tickets*. Railcards cater to different age ranges and circumstances so, from the Senior Railcard to the Disabled Persons Railcard and the newly-introduced 26-30 Railcard (Millennial Railcard), you'll be sure to find your match. Check out our Railcards page if you’d like to purchase one online or see the various eligibility requirements for each type.
2. Book tickets to Manchester in advance
Next up on our Mancunian money-saving checklist, make sure to buy your train tickets in advance. In some cases, the price of a train ticket can rise as the date of departure edges nearer. So, by purchasing an Advance ticket as far ahead as possible, you’ll be giving yourself a better chance of securing cheap train tickets to Manchester. These tickets typically go on sale 12 weeks in advance, but you can sign up for our handy Ticket Alerts and let us do the work for you. As soon as tickets go on sale for your route, we’ll email you. Remember to combine your Railcard with your Advance ticket for a killer money-saving combo!
Want to learn more? Visit our Advance train tickets page for a complete guide.
3. Travel during Off-Peak times
When purchasing your Advance ticket, try to book an Off-Peak time. Make sure to check all the tickets in the drop-down menu when using our Journey Planner, as we’ll highlight the cheapest Off-Peak tickets available. Once again, add your Railcard discount if applicable, and you’ll be laughing!
For more info, head over to our Off-Peak train tickets page.
Before you buy your ticket, make sure to check that the price of your Return ticket is, in fact, lower than that of two single train tickets. Sometimes, one method may be cheaper than the other. The same goes for selecting your arrival station. Try checking the differences in price when selecting ‘’Manchester, Any’’ versus a specific station.
4. Travelling as a group? Use GroupSave
Are you travelling to Manchester in a group of three to nine people? Then you may also be able to get a discount of 34% on Off-Peak services thanks to GroupSave. This is a useful discount that doesn’t require you to purchase a physical Railcard (but which does appear in the Railcard dropdown when making a booking). Please bear in mind that GroupSave is not applicable for all journeys by the different train companies and will automatically be applied if valid for your journey and selected in the Railcard dropdown. All tickets must be purchased in a single booking, and all passengers must travel together on the day of departure.
If you need a few more hints on getting the cheapest train tickets to Manchester, check out our cheap train tickets page.
5. Split your train tickets
Did you know it's sometimes cheaper to break your journey down into parts and buy separate train tickets for each leg of the journey? Our latest money-saving feature – SplitSave – finds clever combinations of tickets to save you money on most routes across the UK and automatically ‘splits’ your trip into multiple legs, without any need for you to change trains unnecessarily. Just look for the SplitSave icon when searching in our app.
*Conditions and peak travel time exclusions may apply on some Railcard types.
*Calculations are based on CO2 / passenger km, comparing an average petrol car, using statistics and conversion factors published in the government’s greenhouse gas reporting conversion factors published 7 June 2023 and revised 28 June 2023. See here for more.
London to Manchester on the West Coast Main Line
Trains from London to Manchester are operated by Avanti West Coast. Services to Manchester run along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) – one of the primary railway lines in the UK, connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
The fastest trains from London to Manchester take just 2h 05m to reach Manchester Piccadilly – Manchester’s central station. Departing from London Euston Station, you'll travel on a Class 390 Pendolino train. Standard Class is quiet and comfortable, while First Class is extra spacious. There are plug sockets for every seat in First Class and free WiFi for all passengers on board.
How to find cheap tickets from London to Manchester
The cheapest way to travel to Manchester is with an Off-Peak Advance Single ticket. Prices vary from ticket to ticket, but the most heavily discounted fares are generally available between 12:00 and 15:00. Prices tend to go up during commuter hours – so if you can spare the time to travel in the middle of the day, you’ll save a few pennies.
Railcards can also save you a third on trains to Manchester from London. You can buy a digital Railcard online with us and store them in our app – so you can do away with those easily forgettable paper Railcards.
Popular train journeys to Manchester
It's easy to travel to Manchester by train from all over the UK, including direct routes from some of the biggest cities like London, Birmingham and Edinburgh. We've highlighted some of the most popular routes below, or you can start your search from any UK destination in our Journey Planner at the top of the page.
| Route | Fastest journey | Train operator |
|---|---|---|
| London to Manchester | 2h 3m | Avanti West Coast |
| Liverpool to Manchester | 34m | TransPennine Express, East Midlands Railway |
| Leeds to Manchester | 47m | TransPennine Express |
| Edinburgh to Manchester | 3h 2m | TransPennine Express |
| Sheffield to Manchester | 48m | TransPennine Express, East Midlands Railway |
| Birmingham to Manchester | 1h 27m | Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales |
| Rochdale to Manchester | 14m | Northern |
Things to do in Manchester
Head to the Northern Quarter – just 10 minutes’ walk from Manchester Piccadilly – for a taste of what makes Manchester so special. Visit the Night & Day café-bar, a hub for local music and arts for decades, and discover a thriving food and craft beer scene.
If you’re coming to Manchester to shop, you’re in good company. Few places do city-centre shopping better, and eager browsers travel here from across the region. You’ll find major high-street brands in the Arndale Centre, and designer stores from Armani to Burberry clustered around King Street, St Anne’s Square and Spinningfields. Looking for something more offbeat? Visit the legendary Affleck’s Palace, a former department store now filled with vintage stalls and independent boutiques.
Just off the bustling Deansgate, take a trip into Manchester’s past at The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), a smart, hands-on museum in an early 19th-century railway station. It’s packed with interactive exhibits, from working cotton machinery to a walk-through Victorian sewer.
And what would a visit to Manchester be without football? Whether you’re a United fan, a City fan or a neutral, you can tour Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium and check out a treasure-trove of facts and memorabilia at the National Football Museum.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main train station in Manchester?
The main train station in Manchester is Piccadilly station, located south-east of the city centre. Depending on where you’re travelling from, you’re likely to arrive into Piccadilly station or Victoria, Oxford Road or Deansgate – the other stations in the city.
Which train companies run trains to Manchester?
There are a number of trains companies in the UK that operate trains to Manchester, including Avanti West Coast, Northern, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales.
How can I get cheap train tickets to Manchester?
It’s easy to grab yourself cheap train tickets to Manchester. We’d recommend using a Railcard, buying your ticket in advance or travelling during Off-Peak hours if you can. Read our cheap train tickets guide to find out more.
Are trains running to Manchester?
Trains run frequently almost every day to Manchester, although there may be fewer services during the weekends and bank holidays. Check our live train times for up-to-date information on trains to Manchester.
Can I use my Railcard to save up to 1/3 on my trip to Manchester?
Yes, there are several types of Railcards you can use to save up to 1/3 on your trip to Manchester, these include:
- Two-Together Railcard (Great for couples and friends who always travel together)
- 16-17 Saver (You can save up to 50% with this one)
- 16-25 Railcard (Ideal for students)
- 26-30 Railcard (Also known as the Millennial Railcard)
- Senior Railcard (For those aged 60 and over)
- Friends & Family Railcard (Great for families of up to 4 adults with up to 4 kids)
- Disabled Railcard (If travelling with another adult they can save too)
Having a Railcard means you can use it whenever you want outside of Peak times for a whole year too.