Is there a way to reach Manchester from Edinburgh without a car?

You have the option of traveling from one city to the other by either bus or train. The two options are convenient and eco-friendly ways to reach Manchester. Another option is using carpool services and riding with fellow travelers.

How long does it take to get to Manchester from Edinburgh by bus?

The travel time from Edinburgh to Manchester is about 7h 20m, but you can get there in as little as 5h 45m with the quickest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 175 miles (282 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between Edinburgh and Manchester?

About 175 miles (282 km) separate Edinburgh and Manchester.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Edinburgh to Manchester?

If you're headed to Manchester from Edinburgh, chances are that your bus will leave from Bus Station and arrive at Manchester Airport. These are the most popular departure and arrival locations on this route, there are other pick-up and drop-off locations that could make it easier for you to reach your destination.

What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Edinburgh to Manchester?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. With prices starting at $16, you won't find a more affordable way to get there.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Edinburgh to Manchester?

The average price of a one-way ticket from Edinburgh to Manchester is $36. In the past 30 days, prices have fluctuated between $16 and $112, so it's best to compare them to make sure you get the best deal.

What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Once in Manchester, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Manchester United Musuem and Tour Centre, Chester Zoo, National Football Museum, Ordsall Hall and East Lancashire Railway.

Edinburgh to Manchester Bus Tickets

TodayApr 27

from $33

TomorrowApr 28

from $28

TueApr 29

from $24

WedApr 30

from $24

ThuMay 1

from $27

FriMay 2

from $26

SatMay 3

from $25

SunMay 4

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: April 28 at 6:35am
Departure city: Edinburgh
Departure location: Bus Station
Arrival time: April 28 at 3:30pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 55m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: April 28 at 7:45pm
Departure city: Edinburgh
Departure location: Bus Station
Arrival time: April 29 at 1:30am
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Megabus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 45m
Departure time: April 28 at 8:45am
Departure city: Edinburgh
Departure location: Bus Station
Arrival time: April 28 at 4:40pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Coach Station
Operated by: National Express
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 55m
Departure time: April 28 at 9:00am
Departure city: Edinburgh
Departure location: Bus Station
Arrival time: April 28 at 4:55pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)
Operated by: Megabus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 7h 55m
Departure time: April 28 at 9:05am
Departure city: Edinburgh
Departure location: Bus Station
Arrival time: April 28 at 5:20pm
Destination city: Manchester
Destination location: Shudehill
Operated by: Flixbus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 8h 15m

Accepted payments

Compare 3 ways to go from Edinburgh to Manchester.

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$16 - $112	Average Duration7h 20m	CO₂ emissions 7kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	CheapestMost eco-friendly
Train	Average Price$32 - $360	Average Duration3h 11m	CO₂ emissions 7kg CO₂e5 out of 5 stars	Fastest
Carpool	Average Price$21 - $47	Average Duration4h 10m	CO₂ emissions 12kg CO₂e4 out of 5 stars

Busbud recommends taking the train from Edinburgh to Manchester

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Manchester. The journey takes about 3 hours 11 minutes and with fares starting at just $32, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

23train per day

3h 11mAverage Duration

$32Cheapest ticket

7kgCO₂ emissions

Bus Edinburgh to Manchester: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$36

Average bus trip duration7h 20m

Number of daily buses16

Earliest bus departure12:25am

Distance175 miles (282 km)

Latest bus departure11:45pm

Compare bus companies

National Express

4/529,150 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

According to 18 reviews, National Express received a 4.3-star rating for this journey. Travelers were especially satisfied with the staff and the timeliness, but some complained about the wifi. National Express ticket prices on this trip start at $21.00

National Express Edinburgh Manchester recent customer reviews

The trip from Edinburgh to Manchester was really good it’s been a long time since I’ve come to Manchester on the bus as I usually travel by train but I’ll definitely be traveling national express again

Eileen B.

December 11, 2017

All great

Carol M.

March 30, 2025

The bus was uncomfortable.

Freddie J.

October 20, 2024

FlixBus

3.5/58,413 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.6

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

FlixBus Edinburgh Manchester recent customer reviews

Comfortable, cheap, enjoyable, great value for money

David M.

September 15, 2024

Megabus UK

3.5/54,162 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.3

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

Based on 4162 reviews, the company was rated 3.6 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the wifi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at $35.00

Megabus Edinburgh Manchester recent customer reviews

I liked the seats. They are very spacious to accommodate legs. I did not really like the coach from Buchanan to Manchester because there was no charging point at all. There was no tissue paper in the toilet. The toilet was smelling of urine despite being flushed. No wi-fi.

Olukemi O.

April 26, 2025

Very comfortable

Daniel K.

March 4, 2023

Infobus

4/5463 reviews

Staff4.8

Timeliness4.7

Cleanliness4.8

Wifi3.8

GB bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, National Express, Sindbad, RegioJet, FlixTrain, KLR Bus

Edinburgh to Manchester Bus

Busbud helps you find a bus from Edinburgh to Manchester. Get the best fare and schedule, book a round trip ticket or find buses with WiFi and electrical outlets.

We make sure you can find a bus service from Edinburgh to Manchester from the most reliable bus companies operating this trip.

Discover how much the bus trip from Edinburgh to Manchester will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in Edinburgh and Manchester?

Stops in Edinburgh

A - Bus Station

B - Edinburgh Airport

C - Haymarket

D - 23 The Mound

E - Princes Street

F - St. Andrew Square

Stops in Manchester

A - Manchester Airport

B - Shudehill

C - Coach Station

D - 56 Great Bridgewater St

E - City of Manchester Stadium

F - Manchester Coach Station

Frequently asked questions for your trip Edinburgh - Manchester

Is there a way to reach Manchester from Edinburgh without a car?
How long does it take to get to Manchester from Edinburgh by bus?
What is the distance between Edinburgh and Manchester?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Edinburgh to Manchester?
What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Edinburgh to Manchester?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Edinburgh to Manchester?
What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

04/25

$39

04/26

$37

Today

$33

04/28

$28

04/29

$24

04/30

$24

05/01

$26

05/02

$26

The cheapest trip from Edinburgh to Manchester was searched and found on Apr 30, 2025 with a price of $24

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Edinburgh to Manchester, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $24 to $82 for a bus ticket from Edinburgh to Manchester based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $24 which is on 2025-04-30.

Usually National Express will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Make friends with the driver. They usually know a lot about your destination and may even recommend which side of the bus to sit on to get the best views on the road between Edinburgh and Manchester!

Start sightseeing the minute your bus leaves the station. If you're on the night bus from Edinburgh to Manchester, get comfy and count the stars.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from Edinburgh to Manchester will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Tune out to the fine sounds of your best music playlist on your bus trip from Edinburgh to Manchester while indulging in miles on end of beautiful scenic views.

Did you know?

Did you know there are on average 4,400 intercity bus departures every day in the US only? This number has been growing for 9 years in a row, yay!

The bus driver with the longest career in the world drove more than 2,000,000 miles and is a happy World Record holder.

One of the longest bus route in the world goes all the way from Ontario to Alberta in Canada (with the same bus). This trip is 3,435 km or 2,135 miles long and the price is a bit under $100.

What's the cheapest way to go from Edinburgh to Manchester?

The bus is the cheapest travel choice for this destination

Vehicle Type	Travel Time	Avg Price	Daily Departures
Vehicle TypeBus	Travel Time7h 20m	Avg Price$36	Daily Departures16
Vehicle TypeTrain	Travel Time3h 11m	Avg Price$77	Daily Departures23
Vehicle TypeCarpool	Travel Time4h 10m	Avg Price$39	Daily Departures1

Will you be returning to Edinburgh by bus?

Bus from Edinburgh to Manchester

You can also go to Manchester by train

Train from Edinburgh to Manchester

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Compare 3 ways to go from Edinburgh to Manchester.

Bus Edinburgh to Manchester: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Edinburgh to Manchester Bus

Where are the popular stops in Edinburgh and Manchester?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Edinburgh - Manchester

Is there a way to reach Manchester from Edinburgh without a car?

How long does it take to get to Manchester from Edinburgh by bus?

What is the distance between Edinburgh and Manchester?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Edinburgh to Manchester?

What is the most cost-effective way to travel from Edinburgh to Manchester?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from Edinburgh to Manchester?

What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

What's the cheapest way to go from Edinburgh to Manchester?

Will you be returning to Edinburgh by bus?

You can also go to Manchester by train

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

Popular Buses Connecting Edinburgh

Buses Leaving from Edinburgh

Buses Going to Edinburgh

Popular Buses Connecting Manchester

Buses Leaving from Manchester

Buses Going to Manchester

Popular routes in this country

Popular airport transfers

Popular international trips