There are 7 ways to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff 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 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Centraltrain Manchester Piccadilly - Cardiff Central / ...
4h 13m£45–110Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Birmingham Coach Stationbus 120 / ...
- Take the bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Sophia Gardensbus 111 / ...
6h 51m£19–63Drive 170.9 mi
- Drive from Greater Manchester to Cardiffcar 170.9 mi
3h 43m£41–59Fly to Cardiff Airport
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Cardiff Airport (CWL)plane MAN - CWL
6h 44m£63–172Train via Birmingham
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Streettrain Manchester Piccadilly - Banbury / ...
- Take the train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Centraltrain Nottingham - Cardiff Central / ...
5h 9m£30–152Fly to Bristol Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Bristol Airport (BRS)plane MAN - BRS
- Take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Centraltrain
6h 11m£54–161Fly to London Heathrow Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)plane MAN - LHR
- Take the train from London Paddington to Cardiff Centraltrain
5h 15m£99–335
Greater Manchester to Cardiff by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff is to bus which costs £19 - £65 and takes 6h 51m.
The fastest way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff is to drive which takes 3h 43m and costs £40 - £60.
No, there is no direct bus from Greater Manchester to Cardiff. However, there are services departing from Horton Road and arriving at Sophia Gardens via Manchester Central Coach Station and Birmingham Coach Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 51m.
The distance between Greater Manchester and Cardiff is 171 miles. The road distance is 171.9 miles.
The best way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff without a car is to train which takes 4h 13m and costs £45 - £110.
It takes approximately 4h 13m to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff, including transfers.
Greater Manchester to Cardiff bus services, operated by National Express, depart from Manchester Central Coach Station.
The best way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff is to train which takes 4h 13m and costs £45 - £110. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs £19 - £65 and takes 6h 51m, you could also fly, which costs £60 - £180 and takes 6h 44m.
Greater Manchester to Cardiff bus services, operated by National Express, arrive at Birmingham Coach Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Greater Manchester to Cardiff is 172 miles. It takes approximately 3h 43m to drive from Greater Manchester to Cardiff.
What companies run services between Greater Manchester, England and Cardiff, Wales?
Transport for Wales operates a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central hourly. Tickets cost £45–110 and the journey takes 3h 12m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Horton Road to Sophia Gardens via Charlotte Street, Manchester Central Coach Station, and Birmingham Coach Station in around 6h 51m.
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £30–150
Flights from Manchester Airport to London Heathrow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £50–160
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 33m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £50–160
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £50–160
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Cardiff Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £45–210
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £45–130
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Cardiff Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £50–220
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £30–150
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Cardiff Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £55–320
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–110
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £10–55
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £19–90
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £5–19
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
_(2).jpg "Train Exterior")
- Phone
- +44 345 528 0253
- Website
- avantiwestcoast.co.uk
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £50–65
- Website
- https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £18–24
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 52m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–110
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Birmingham Coach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £7–23
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Sophia Gardens
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–40
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
.jpg "Bus Exterior")
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