There are 10 ways to get from Manchester to Ayr 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 Oxford Road to Prestontrain
- Take the train from Preston to Glasgow Centraltrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Central to Ayrtrain
4h 44m£64–144Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Shudehill Interchange to Buchanan Bus Stationbus Ukn30 / ...
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ayr Bus Stationbus X77 / ...
5h 17m£36–52Drive 208.6 mi
- Drive from Manchester to Ayrcar 208.6 mi
3h 50m£52–75Fly Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane MAN - GLA
- Take the train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayrtrain
5h 34m£72–204Train, line 42 bus
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Carlisletrain
- Take the train from Carlisle to Auchinlecktrain
- Take the bus from Well Road to Ayr Bus Stationbus 42 / ...
5h 22m£71–116Bus via Manchester Central Coach Station
- Take the bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Stationbus 590 / ...
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ayr Bus Stationbus X77 / ...
5h 47m£47–71Train to Liverpool, fly to Glasgow Airport, train
- Take the train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkwaytrain
- Fly from Liverpool (LPL) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane LPL - GLA
- Take the train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayrtrain
5h 54m£83–219Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Glasgow Airport, train
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham Internationaltrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane BHX - GLA
- Take the train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayrtrain
5h 29m£72–166Fly Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI)plane MAN - EDI
- Take the train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Central to Ayrtrain
7h 1m£85–221Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Edinburgh Airport, train
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham Internationaltrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI)plane BHX - EDI
- Take the train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Central to Ayrtrain
6h 47m£89–218
Manchester to Ayr by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Ayr is to bus which costs £35 - £55 and takes 5h 17m.
The fastest way to get from Manchester to Ayr is to drive which takes 3h 50m and costs £50 - £75.
No, there is no direct bus from Manchester to Ayr station. However, there are services departing from Shudehill Interchange and arriving at Ayr Bus Station via Buchanan Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 17m.
No, there is no direct train from Manchester to Ayr. However, there are services departing from Manchester Oxford Road and arriving at Ayr via Preston and Glasgow Central. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 44m.
The distance between Manchester and Ayr is 263 miles. The road distance is 209.8 miles.
The best way to get from Manchester to Ayr without a car is to train which takes 4h 44m and costs £60 - £150.
It takes approximately 4h 44m to get from Manchester to Ayr, including transfers.
Manchester to Ayr bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Shudehill Interchange station.
Manchester to Ayr train services, operated by Northern Trains Limited, depart from Manchester Oxford Road station.
The best way to get from Manchester to Ayr is to train which takes 4h 44m and costs £60 - £150. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs £35 - £55 and takes 5h 17m.
What companies run services between Manchester, England and Ayr, Scotland?
You can take a train from Manchester Oxford Road to Ayr via Preston and Glasgow Central in around 4h 44m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Shudehill Interchange to Ayr Bus Station via Buchanan Bus Station in around 5h 17m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 3m
- When
- Monday, Friday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £45–180
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £45–180
Flights from Liverpool to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £65–210
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £22–80
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Wednesday
- Estimated price
- £22–80
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 1m
- When
- Friday, Monday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- £65–200
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- £65–200
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Edinburgh Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £26–95
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £26–95
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- £35–190
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £35–200
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via London Heathrow
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £100–200
Flights from Liverpool to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £40–220
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £85–190
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £85–190
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Isle Of Man
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £100–350
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 48m
- When
- Sunday, Saturday, Monday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £50–130
Flights from Liverpool to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 33m
- When
- Saturday and Monday
- Estimated price
- £50–140
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 34m
- When
- Friday to Thursday
- Estimated price
- £45–140
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Cork
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- £45–140
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- £35–190
Flights from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £35–200
Flights from Liverpool to Glasgow Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £40–220
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £85–190
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £85–190
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Isle Of Man
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £100–350
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £10–19
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–17
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 33 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–15
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £55–90
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Carlisle
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–60
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–14
- Website
- TransPennine Express
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £60–100
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £30–50
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £30–50
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
- Phone
- +44 330 060 0500
- Website
- Caledonian Sleeper
Train from Preston to Glasgow Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £40–60
- Website
- Caledonian Sleeper
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Glasgow Central to Ayr
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £15–26
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayr
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £13–22
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Carlisle to Auchinleck
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £30–50
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayr
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £13–22
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayr
- Ave. Duration
- 43 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £13–22
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £17–29
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Glasgow Central to Ayr
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £15–26
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £17–29
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Glasgow Central to Ayr
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £15–26
- Website
- ScotRail
- Phone
- 03457 125 678
- Website
- East Midlands Railways
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–18
- Website
- East Midlands Railways
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 47m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–60
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 47m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–60
- Website
- Cross Country
- Phone
- 0345 528 0409
- customerexperience@lumo.co.uk
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £7–13
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Haymarket to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £7–13
- Website
- Lumo
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Shudehill Interchange to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £25–40
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ayr Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £11–15
- Website
- Stagecoach West Scotland
Bus from Well Road to Ayr Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £6–9
- Website
- Stagecoach West Scotland
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ayr Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £11–15
- Website
- Stagecoach West Scotland
- Phone
- +44 (0)3717 81 81 81
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £35–60
- Website
- National Express
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Manchester to Ayr bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Buchanan Bus Station.
Manchester to Ayr train services, operated by Northern Trains Limited, arrive at Preston station.
Yes, the driving distance between Manchester to Ayr is 210 miles. It takes approximately 3h 50m to drive from Manchester to Ayr.
Book your Manchester to Ayr train tickets online with Omio.
There are 557+ hotels available in Ayr.




















































