There are 5 ways to get from Cardiff to Manchester by train, bus, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Manchester PiccadillyCardiff Central - Manchester Piccadilly / ...
3h 18m£50–85Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Kingsway GD to Bus StationUk940 / ...
- Take the bus from Bus Station to Shudehill InterchangeUk071
5h 32m£13–47Bus via Birmingham
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Birmingham Coach Station111 / ...
- Take the bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Manchester Central Coach Station120 / ...
5h 28m£20–60Drive 170.9 mi
- Drive from Cardiff to Manchester170.9 mi
3h 51m£43–62Train, fly
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Manchester Airport (MAN)BRS - MAN
5h 28m£82–195
Cardiff to Manchester by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Manchester is to bus which costs £12 - £50 and takes 5h 32m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Manchester is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £50 - £85.
No, there is no direct bus from Cardiff to Manchester station. However, there are services departing from Sophia Gardens and arriving at Manchester Central Coach Station via Birmingham Coach Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 28m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Cardiff Central and arriving at Manchester Piccadilly. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 18m.
The distance between Cardiff and Manchester is 170 miles. The road distance is 171.9 miles.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Manchester without a car is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £50 - £85.
The train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly takes 3h 18m including transfers and departs hourly.
Cardiff to Manchester bus services, operated by National Express, depart from Sophia Gardens station.
Cardiff to Manchester train services, operated by Transport for Wales, depart from Cardiff Central station.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Manchester is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £50 - £85. Alternatively, you can bus via Birmingham, which costs £19 - £60 and takes 5h 28m.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Manchester, England?
Transport for Wales operates a train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly hourly. Tickets cost £50–85 and the journey takes 3h 18m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Sophia Gardens to Manchester Central Coach Station via Birmingham Coach Station in around 5h 28m.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 23m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- £55–140
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £55–150
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £60–290
- Website
- aurigny.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Guernsey
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- £100–280
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £50–85
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £15–24
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £10–30
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Sophia Gardens to Birmingham Coach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–40
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Manchester Central Coach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £7–23
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Kingsway GD to Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- £4–13
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Bus Station to Shudehill Interchange
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–35
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
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More Questions & Answers
Cardiff to Manchester bus services, operated by National Express, arrive at Birmingham Coach Station.
Cardiff to Manchester train services, operated by Transport for Wales, arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cardiff to Manchester is 172 miles. It takes approximately 3h 51m to drive from Cardiff to Manchester.
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