How much is the bus ticket from Cardiff to Manchester?

The cheapest bus tickets from Cardiff to Manchester start from $24. The average price for this route is around $47. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from Cardiff to Manchester?

The average bus travel time from Cardiff to Manchester is 7h 40m, covering a distance of 229 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 5h and is operated by National Express .

Which bus companies service the Cardiff to Manchester route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 13 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus , National Express , Megabus UK .

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from Cardiff to Manchester?

The earliest bus departs from Cardiff to Manchester at 2:35am. And the latest bus departs at 10:15pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester?

A bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester generates an estimated 6 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Cardiff to Manchester?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is National Express , with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 29741 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Cardiff to Manchester?

Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company National Express has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.

Which bus company has the best on-time performance from Cardiff to Manchester?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is National Express , with a punctuality rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Cardiff to Manchester?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is National Express , with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Bus Cardiff to Manchester from $23 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 1
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	5:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	12h 10m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	Cheapest
Bus	8:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 35m	3:20pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	Fastest
Bus	5:05am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 25m	12:30pm	Shudehill	No tags
Bus	2:35am	Sophia Gardens	8h 5m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	8:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 55m	3:40pm	Shudehill	No tags

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 2
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	5:05am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 25m	12:30pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	8:20am	Sophia Gardens	5h 25m	1:45pm	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	Fastest
Bus	12:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	8h 10m	8:25pm	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	2:35am	Sophia Gardens	8h 5m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	10:40am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 10m	5:50pm	Shudehill	No tags

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 3
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	4:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 45m	12:30pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	8:20am	Sophia Gardens	5h 25m	1:45pm	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	Fastest
Bus	5:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	12h 10m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	2:35am	Sophia Gardens	8h 5m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	10:40am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 10m	5:50pm	Shudehill	No tags

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 4
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	5:05am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 25m	12:30pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	8:20am	Sophia Gardens	5h 25m	1:45pm	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	Fastest
Bus	6:10am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	9h 50m	4:00pm	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	2:35am	Sophia Gardens	8h 5m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	12:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	8h 10m	8:25pm	Manchester Airport	No tags

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 5
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	5:05am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 25m	12:30pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	8:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 35m	3:20pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	Fastest
Bus	5:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	12h 10m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	2:35am	Sophia Gardens	8h 5m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	8:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 55m	3:40pm	Shudehill	No tags

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 6
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	10:40am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	7h 10m	5:50pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	6:10am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h	12:10pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	Fastest
Bus	5:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	12h 10m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	2:45am	Sophia Gardens	7h 55m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	6:10am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 20m	12:30pm	Shudehill	No tags

Next departures for Cardiff to Manchester on December 7
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	6:10am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 20m	12:30pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	6:10am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h	12:10pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	Fastest
Bus	5:15pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	12h 10m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	2:45am	Sophia Gardens	7h 55m	10:40am	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	No tags
Bus	9:15am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 25m	3:40pm	Shudehill	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 9:12 PM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to go from Cardiff to Manchester

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Manchester. The journey takes about 3 hours 50 minutes, and with fares starting at just $31, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

3h 50mAverage Duration

232 kmDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$24 - $121	Average Duration7h 40m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$76 - $309	Average Duration3h 34m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$31 - $62	Average Duration3h 50m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Cardiff and Manchester?

Stops in Cardiff

A
Sophia Gardens
2 Sophia Cl, Cardiff CF11, UK
Visit page
B
Cardiff University (o/s Cathays Rail Stn)
50 Park Place (Bus Stop, o/s Cathays Rail Stn), Cardiff CF10
C
Cardiff Coach Station - Sophia Gardens
22 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9LJ, UK
Visit page
D
Cardiff - Castle Street Bus Stop
21A Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BT, UK
E
National Museum
Gorsedd Gardens Rd, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK
F
Cardiff Bus Stop - Westgate
206 Westgate St, Cardiff CF10, UK

Stops in Manchester

A
Coach Station
16 Chorlton St, Manchester M1 3HW, UK
Visit page
B
Shudehill
Shudehill Interchange, Stand G, Manchester M60
Visit page
C
Manchester Airport
Visit page
D
56 Great Bridgewater St
56 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE, UK
E
City of Manchester Stadium
Citylink, Manchester M40 7EP, UK
F
Manchester Coach Station
Manchester Coach Station, Chorlton St., , Manchester M1 3JF, United Kingdom

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,483 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

National Express

4/529,741 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Based on 29741 reviews, the company was rated 4.2 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the WiFi. National Express ticket prices on this trip start at $41

National Express Cardiff Manchester recent customer reviews

Very efficient. Driver was friendly and helpful.lovely trip thank you

Glyn N.

June 18, 2018

National express runs a top class service thankyou

Mark R.

April 11, 2018

Megabus UK

3.5/54,278 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.6

According to 11 reviews, Megabus UK received a 3.7-star rating for this journey. Travellers were especially satisfied with the departure location and the cleanliness, but some complained about the WiFi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at $43

Megabus Cardiff Manchester recent customer reviews

Drive was best and on time

Jessica Y.

October 29, 2024

I forgot my luggage in the bus and I don’t know how to go about it

Yetunde R.

August 14, 2024

Drivers were very nice, polite and welcoming

Gareth J.

October 13, 2023

GB Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, National Express

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Cardiff to Manchester by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from Cardiff to Manchester?
The cheapest bus tickets from Cardiff to Manchester start from $24. The average price for this route is around $47. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from Cardiff to Manchester?
The average bus travel time from Cardiff to Manchester is 7h 40m, covering a distance of 229 km. The quickest bus can get you there in 5h and is operated by National Express.
Which bus companies service the Cardiff to Manchester route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 13 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus, National Express, Megabus UK.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the bus from Cardiff to Manchester?
The earliest bus departs from Cardiff to Manchester at 2:35am. And the latest bus departs at 10:15pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester?
A bus trip from Cardiff to Manchester generates an estimated 6 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Cardiff to Manchester?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is National Express, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 29741 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Cardiff to Manchester?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company National Express has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.
Which bus company has the best on-time performance from Cardiff to Manchester?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is National Express, with a punctuality rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Cardiff to Manchester?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is National Express, with a cleanliness rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11-28

$50

11-29

$68

Today

$92

12-01

$27

12-02

$24

12-03

$25

12-04

$23

12-05

$43

The cheapest trip from Cardiff to Manchester was searched and found on Dec 4, 2025 with a price of $23

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

You can expect to pay from $23 to $92 for a bus ticket from Cardiff to Manchester based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $23 which is on 2025-12-04.