There are 5 ways to get from Manchester to Reading 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 Readingtrain Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth / ...
3h 18m£21–140Bus
- Take the bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Birmingham Coach Stationbus 120 / ...
- Take the bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Heathrow Central Bus Stationbus 210 / ...
- Take the bus from Heathrow Terminal 2 to Reading RailAirbus Ra1
6h 26m£42–93Drive 177.7 mi
- Drive from Manchester to Readingcar 177.7 mi
3h 29m£44–63Fly to London Heathrow Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)plane MAN - LHR
- Take the train from Hayes And Harlington Station to Readingtrain
3h 17m£74–240Fly to Southampton Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Southampton Airport (SOU)plane MAN - SOU
- Take the train from Southampton Airport Parkway to Readingtrain
3h 29m£75–174
Manchester to Reading by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Reading is to drive which costs £40 - £65 and takes 3h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Manchester to Reading is to fly and train which takes 3h 17m and costs £70 - £240.
No, there is no direct bus from Manchester station to Reading. However, there are services departing from Manchester Central Coach Station and arriving at Reading RailAir via Birmingham Coach Station and Heathrow Terminal 2. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 6h 26m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Manchester Piccadilly and arriving at Reading. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 18m.
The distance between Manchester and Reading is 180 miles. The road distance is 178.7 miles.
The best way to get from Manchester to Reading without a car is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £21 - £140.
The train from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading takes 3h 18m including transfers and departs hourly.
Manchester to Reading bus services, operated by National Express, depart from Manchester Central Coach Station.
Manchester to Reading train services, operated by Cross Country, depart from Manchester Piccadilly station.
The best way to get from Manchester to Reading is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £21 - £140. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs £40 - £95 and takes 6h 26m.
What companies run services between Manchester, England and Reading, England?
Cross Country operates a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading hourly. Tickets cost £21–140 and the journey takes 3h 18m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Manchester Central Coach Station to Reading RailAir via Birmingham Coach Station, Heathrow Central Bus Station, and Heathrow Terminal 2 in around 6h 26m.
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to London Heathrow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £50–170
Flights from Manchester Airport to Southampton Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £65–140
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Manchester Airport to Southampton Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £65–140
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £21–140
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Southampton Airport Parkway to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–28
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- 0343 222 1234
- Website
- tfl.gov.uk
Train from Hayes And Harlington Station to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £14–23
- Website
- https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/elizabeth-line/
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Hayes And Harlington Station to Reading
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- £21–35
- 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
- £7–24
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Heathrow Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £8–35
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
- Phone
- +44 345 646 0707
- Website
- railair.com
Bus from Heathrow Terminal 2 to Reading RailAir
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- £27–35
- Website
- https://www.railair.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
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More Questions & Answers
Manchester to Reading bus services, operated by National Express, arrive at Birmingham Coach Station.
Manchester to Reading train services, operated by Cross Country, arrive at Reading station.
Yes, the driving distance between Manchester to Reading is 179 miles. It takes approximately 3h 29m to drive from Manchester to Reading.
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