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Outbound fromManchester to London by train
It takes an average of 2h 37m to travel from Manchester to London by train, over a distance of around 163 miles (262 km). There are normally 100 trains per day travelling from Manchester to London and tickets for this journey start from £14 when you book in advance.
| First train | 04:02 | |
|---|---|---|
| Last train | 22:15 | |
| Departure station | Manchester | |
| Arrival station | London | |
| Journey time | From 1h 59m | |
| Distance | 163 miles (262 km) | |
| Frequency | 100 trains per day | |
| Changes | Direct trains available | |
| Price | From £14 | |
| Train operators |
Travelling from Manchester to London by train
Thinking about taking the train from Manchester to London? Look no further!
The train from Manchester to London takes around 2 hours and 35 minutes on average, but the fastest direct Avanti West Coast trains will get you to the British capital in 2 hours and 6 minutes. There are around 55 trains a day running this route.
Make your way to Manchester Piccadilly station and jump on an Avanti West Coast train. Find your seat and enjoy Avanti’s onboard amenities, including an onboard shop for drinks and snacks, power sockets and free Wifi. If you’re looking for a bit of extra comfort on your journey, why not upgrade to a Standard Premium ticket? You’ll get larger seats and a guaranteed table. Or if you fancy really treating yourself, upgrade to First Class and enjoy at-table service with complimentary food and drink, as well as exclusive access to the First Class lounges at Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston.
Once you arrive at London Euston station, you’re within minutes of some of the top landmarks. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to pay a visit to Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park. Or if you’re in town for some retail therapy, read our guide to some of the best places to go shopping in London.
Looking for cheap tickets? Try travelling Off-Peak – tickets are usually cheaper during quieter times on weekdays and weekends. Also, the earlier you book your tickets, the more you can save: book 8 weeks in advance and you could save over 40%. If you’d like to save even more, get a Railcard and save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys for a whole year.
Ready to book? Start a search with us today. Just enter the dates you’d like to travel and we’ll do the rest. If you want to know more about the journey to London from Manchester by train, keep reading for more information:
- Today’s train times
- Why you should travel by train from Manchester to London
- Avanti West Coast trains from Manchester to London
- Classes on board Avanti West Coast trains
- Services on board Avanti West Coast trains
- How to get to Manchester Piccadilly station
- Everything you need to know about Manchester Piccadilly station
- Arriving at London Euston station from Manchester
- Using public transport in London
- Discover London
- Where to travel next after London
*Calculations are based on CO2 / passenger km, comparing an average petrol car, using statistics and conversion factors published in the government’s greenhouse gas reporting conversion factors published 7 June 2023 and revised 28 June 2023. See here for more.
FAQs about the train journey from Manchester to London
Want to know more about your journey from Manchester to London? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.
Can you take a train directly from Manchester to London?
How close is Manchester to London by train?
Is it possible to get from Manchester to London without flying?
What is the best way to travel from Manchester to London?
What time does the first train from Manchester to London leave?
What time does the last train from Manchester to London leave?
How often are trains from Manchester to London?
Do you need to book the train from Manchester to London in advance?
Can you buy return train tickets from Manchester to London?
Cheap train tickets from Manchester to London
Book in advance
Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.
Consider a Season Ticket
If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for Manchester to London is right for you.
Use your Railcard
National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.
Split your tickets
Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.
For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.
Why should I travel by train from Manchester to London?
If you want to travel from Manchester to London, choose the sustainable option - choose train!
Go green
Taking the train instead of driving lowers your CO2 impact by a whopping 67%.* Keep it simple, keep it low-carbon.
Save time & money
What's faster or cheaper than flying from Manchester to London? Ah yes, that'd be the train. Cheaper even without a Railcard, too. Win for you. Win for the planet.
Bikes on board
In the UK, you can take your bike on the train, for free! Cool, huh? And, thanks to our bike reservation feature, travelling with your bike has never been easier.
Travel in style
Unlike flying or driving, going by train means no extra luggage charges or parking costs. Plus, you step off the train, right into the city-centre. Aaaand relax.
* Calculations are based on CO2 / passenger km, comparing an average petrol car, using statistics and conversion factors published in the government’s greenhouse gas reporting conversion factors published 7 June 2023 and revised 28 June 2023. See here for more.
Between Manchester and London, 87% of the journeys sold on Trainline between May 2022 and May 2023 were cheaper and faster by rail vs plane. (61% of the journeys sold on Trainline were cheaper and faster by rail vs car.)
Avanti West Coast trains from Manchester to London
What you need to know about Avanti West Coast trains serving the Manchester-London route:
Avanti West Coast has been a major rail operator on Britain’s West Coast Main Line since 2019. It operates high-speed intercity trains linking London to major British cities, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Avanti’s recently refurbished Pendolino trains serve the busy route between Manchester and London. These ‘tilting’ trains lean into curves on the tracks, allowing a higher top speed of 125mph.
Avanti West Coast train classes from Manchester to London
Take your choice of three classes, Standard, Standard Premium and First, when you travel from Manchester to London with Avanti West Coast.
Standard Class
In Standard Class on Avanti West Coast services from Manchester to London you’ll be able to make use of the following onboard services:
- Free onboard WiFi.
- Access to the onboard shop where you can purchase food and drink.
- Refurbished seats and tables.
- Power sockets at selected table and window seats.
Standard Premium Class
In Standard Premium Class, you’ll receive these additional amenities:
- Larger seats.
- A guaranteed table at your seat.
- Power sockets at every window seat.
First Class
In First Class, as well as all of the above, you’ll enjoy:
- At-seat service.
- Complimentary food and drink on board.
- Access to First Class lounges at Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston (up to two hours before departure and up to one hour after arrival). Complimentary snacks, soft drinks and coffee are available in the lounges.
Onboard services from Manchester to London
These are the services available on board Avanti West Coast trains from Manchester to London.
Luggage
Food and drink
WiFi
Bikes
Pets
Passenger Assist
How to get to Manchester Piccadilly station
Your train to London departs from Manchester Piccadilly station. Here’s how to get there.
Manchester Piccadilly station is just east of the city centre. Here are the different ways you can get there:
- Walk: From Albert Square, you can walk to Manchester Piccadilly in under 20 minutes. Head east and the station is only a block away once you cross the canal.
- Tram: Metrolink trams serve the whole of the centre of Manchester and four tram lines stop at Manchester Piccadilly station: the orange, light blue, purple and yellow lines.
- Bus: Both free routes 1 & 2 terminate at Manchester Piccadilly station. Other bus services from around Greater Manchester terminate in Piccadilly Gardens, a quick walk or tram ride from Manchester Piccadilly station.
Everything you need to know about Manchester Piccadilly station
Did you know: Manchester Piccadilly station has changed its name twice in its long history, being first called Store Street, then Manchester London Road before being renamed Manchester Piccadilly in 1960.
Manchester Piccadilly station was first opened in 1842 and is the busiest train station in the Greater Manchester area. Here are some of the amenities you’ll find in the station today:
- First Class lounge (for Avanti First Class customers only)
- Taxi rank (at Fairfield Street exit)
- Bike storage
- Public WiFi
- Level access to all platforms
- Toilets (with baby-changing facilities)
- Left luggage and lost property
- Shops and refreshments
- Waiting rooms
Arriving at London Euston station from Manchester
Make your way around London with ease after arriving at Euston station.
London Euston station is on the northern edge of Central London and is so well-connected by public transport that you can reach anywhere in the capital quickly:
- Walk: Popular tourist areas Kings Cross, Bloomsbury and Camden Town are within walking distance of Euston. You’ll also find top attractions like the British Museum are easily accessible by foot (20-minute walk).
- Underground: Euston Underground station—found downstairs from the main station concourse—is on the Northern and Victoria lines, for quick and easy access to Central London. Euston Square Underground station is a 5-minute walk away if you’re looking for the Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City or Circle lines.
- Bus: There is a bus station in front of the station, which serves 10 bus routes departing in all directions.
- Taxi: There is a taxi rank in front of the station facing onto Euston Road.
Using public transport in London
Public transport in London is managed by Transport for London (TfL). Here’s how to pay for your journeys in London:
Paying for your TfL journey
While you can buy single and return tickets and paper travelcards from ticket machines in stations, it is more convenient—and often cheaper—to pay for your journey using an Oyster card or using a contactless card.
- Oyster Cards can be bought from tube stations and in Oyster Ticket Stops (commonly found in newsagents or kiosks). They cost £7 each and can be topped up with credit at ticket machines at tube stations or Oyster Ticket Stops.
- You can use your contactless bank card or device to pay for journeys.
Touching in and out
On buses and trams in London you only need to touch in. For all other journey types (Tube, rail, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth Line etc.), you need to touch in at the beginning of your journey and out at the end. If you don’t touch in/out, you’ll be charged a maximum fare.
Discover London
Here are our guides to help you make the most of your time in London:
Where to travel next after London
London is just the beginning… See the top onward destinations from London by train:
Passenger reviews about this journey
Tips and tricks from our Trainline team
We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. Discover some travel stories written based on our employees' experiences.
First Class
Standard Class
