Best way to travel from London to Manchester

Travelling from London to Manchester

Famed for its musical, industrial and sporting heritage, Manchester is one of the UK’s most diverse cities and the perfect location for a short break. Teeming with excellent restaurants, bars, shops, museums and galleries, Manchester is bursting with unique character.

If you’re planning a trip from London to Manchester, there are lots of ways to choose from, such as train, plane, coach and car. With so many modes of transport to consider, it can be difficult to know which is the best option for you. There’s no need to worry – we're here to give you all the information you need!

During the journey from London to Manchester, you’ll travel through 163 miles of English countryside. There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing your mode of transport, including price, journey time and CO₂ emissions to name just a few.

Ready to find out more? Continue reading for a comprehensive guide on the best way to travel from London to Manchester.

What's in this guide?

• Comparing travel from London to Manchester
• Modes of transport
  • Train
  • Plane
  • Coach
  • Car
• What is the best way to get from London to Manchester?
• Things to do in Manchester
• Frequently asked questions
• Other relevant information

If you want to travel from London to Manchester quickly, cheaply and conveniently, why not take the train? Train travel is significantly better for the environment than other modes of transport, such as plane and car. In fact, a single train journey from London to Manchester emits 67% less CO₂ than by car and 86% less than by plane.  

On the fastest high-speed services, the journey from London to Manchester takes just over 2 hours. On this route, there are around 97 direct trains running each day. So, you can make yourself comfortable, as you don’t need to worry about making any changes during your journey.  

When travelling on this route, you’ll board a train operated by Avanti West Coast at London Euston station. As soon as you’ve found your seat, you can begin to look forward to the journey ahead. Once you’ve made yourself comfortable, you can begin to take advantage of all the benefits of train travel. Charge your devices using the power sockets, order some refreshments from the comfort of your seat and catch up on some work or your favourite TV show using the free WiFi. Alternatively, if you’d like to relax, you can read a book, or simply enjoy the picturesque views of the English countryside.  

Travelling from London to Manchester by train allows you to sit back and enjoy the scenery, unlike flying by plane. On this route, your train will sweep you through the outskirts of London, through the heart of England and into Manchester city centre. If you opt to travel by train, make sure you book a window seat, so you can take advantage of the best views.  

Fancy treating yourself? Upgrade to Avanti West Coast’s Standard Premium Class or First Class and you’ll enjoy all the onboard amenities of Standard Class, as well as some additional benefits. With Standard Premium Class, you’ll enjoy wider more comfortable seating, extra legroom, and a guaranteed table. With First Class, you’ll take advantage of everything in Standard Premium Class, as well as complimentary food and drink. Not only that, but prior to your journey you’ll be able to relax in the Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge. Here you’ll find comfortable designer seats, complimentary refreshments and newspapers, as well as free WiFi and desk space.  

No matter which class you decide to travel in, your train will arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station, in the bustling heart of the city. Once you’ve exited the station, you’re perfectly positioned to start exploring Manchester’s most iconic landmarks! 

 

Travelling from London to Manchester by coach is a fuss-free, cost-efficient option. Although coach travel technically emits the least amount of CO₂, it’s worth remembering the journey takes twice as long as the train.

Usually, it takes around 5 hours and 25 minutes to travel from London to Manchester by coach. However, the fastest services will take you there in 4 hours and 59 minutes, although it’s worth noting that journey times vary depending on traffic conditions.

When travelling on this route, you’ll board a National Express route at London Victoria Coach Station. Once you’ve found your seat, you can sit back and make yourself comfortable as you don’t need to make any changes along the way. In just under 5 hours, your coach will arrive at Manchester Central Coach Station, in the city centre. During your journey, your coach will make at least one stop along the journey, usually at Birmingham Coach Station. On all National Express coaches, you will enjoy onboard amenities such as WiFi, air conditioning, power sockets, luggage storage and toilets.

 

Having studied each mode of transport from London to Manchester, there’s no doubt about it – train is the way to go!

Travelling from London to Manchester by train emits significantly less CO₂ than other modes of transport, like plane and car. Research shows that travelling by train to Manchester emits around 10.5kg in CO₂, whereas the car emits 34.5kg and the plane emits a massive 72.9g in CO₂. Although coach emits less CO₂ than train, the journey is twice as long.

If you want to travel from London to Manchester and want to choose a sustainable option, choose train!

Fact: By choosing to travel from London to Manchester by train instead of car or plane, you save a whopping 67% and 86% of CO₂ respectively. We think that's pretty amazing!