There are 6 ways to get from 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 CentralManchester Piccadilly - Cardiff Central / ...
3h 12m£50–90Bus via Bristol
cheapest- Take the bus from Shudehill Interchange to Bus StationUk071
- Take the bus from Bus Station to Kingsway GDUk910 / ...
5h 18m£12–58Drive 171.2 mi
- Drive from Manchester to Cardiff171.2 mi
3h 50m£43–62Fly, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Bristol Airport (BRS)MAN - BRS
- Take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
5h 50m£70–183Train via Birmingham
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New StreetManchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth / ...
- Take the train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff CentralNottingham - Cardiff Central / ...
4h 15m£40–152Bus
- Take the bus from Shudehill Interchange to University REM19
5h 40m£17–24
Manchester to Cardiff by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Cardiff is to bus which costs £17 - £24 and takes 5h 40m.
The fastest way to get from Manchester to Cardiff is to train which takes 3h 12m and costs £50 - £90.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Shudehill Interchange and arriving at University RE. Services depart six times a week, and operate Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The journey takes approximately 5h 40m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Manchester Piccadilly and arriving at Cardiff Central. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 12m.
The distance between Manchester and Cardiff is 170 miles. The road distance is 172.2 miles.
The best way to get from Manchester to Cardiff without a car is to train which takes 3h 12m and costs £50 - £90.
The train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central takes 3h 12m including transfers and departs hourly.
Manchester to Cardiff bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Shudehill Interchange station.
Manchester to Cardiff train services, operated by Transport for Wales, depart from Manchester Piccadilly station.
The best way to get from Manchester to Cardiff is to train which takes 3h 12m and costs £50 - £90. Alternatively, you can bus via Bristol, which costs £11 - £60 and takes 5h 18m.
What companies run services between Manchester, England and Cardiff, Wales?
Transport for Wales operates a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central hourly. Tickets cost £50–90 and the journey takes 3h 12m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Shudehill Interchange to Kingsway GD via Bus Station in around 5h 18m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £55–150
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £55–150
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £60–130
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £60–290
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £50–90
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £18–26
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £8–20
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £14–55
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £26–90
- 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/
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- flixbus.fr
Bus from Shudehill Interchange to Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £7–40
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
Bus from Bus Station to Kingsway GD
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £4–10
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.co.uk
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Bus Station to Kingsway GD
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £16–23
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
.jpg "Bus Exterior")
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- enquiries@megabus.com
- Website
- uk.megabus.com
Bus from Shudehill Interchange to University RE
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £17–24
- Website
- https://uk.megabus.com
#mediaviewer/File:Megabus_50245_SV12_DVW_interior_2.jpg "Interior Seats")
#mediaviewer/File:Gloucester_..._the_megabus_leaves_for_some_exotic_destination._-_Flickr_-_BazzaDaRambler.jpg "Megabus UK from behind")
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More Questions & Answers
Manchester to Cardiff bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Bus Station.
Manchester to Cardiff train services, operated by Transport for Wales, arrive at Cardiff Central station.
Yes, the driving distance between Manchester to Cardiff is 172 miles. It takes approximately 3h 50m to drive from Manchester to Cardiff.
Book your Manchester to Cardiff train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Manchester to Cardiff bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
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