How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Bolton?

The cheapest coach tickets from Manchester to Bolton start from £7. The average price for this route is around £11. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Manchester to Bolton?

The average bus journey time from Manchester to Bolton is 1h 15m, covering a distance of 18 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 50m and is operated by National Express .

Which bus companies service the Manchester to Bolton route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day.

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Bolton?

The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Bolton at 05:45. And the latest bus departs at 18:05.

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

A bus journey from Manchester to Bolton produces an estimated 1 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

Bus from Manchester to Bolton from £6 | Compare & Save up to 54%

Next bus departures

Next departures from Manchester to Bolton on 2 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	05:45	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	50m	06:35	Bolton Central Bus Station	CheapestFastest
Bus	05:45	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	50m	06:35	Bolton Central Bus Station	No tags
Bus	17:35	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	1h 15m	18:50	Bolton Central Bus Station	No tags
Bus	17:35	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	1h 15m	18:50	Bolton Central Bus Station	No tags
Bus	17:35	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	1h 25m	19:00	Astley Bridge Bus Stop (o/s Monks World Travel)	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Bolton on 6 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	05:45	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	50m	06:35	Bolton Central Bus Station	CheapestFastest
Bus	05:45	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	50m	06:35	Bolton Central Bus Station	No tags
Bus	17:35	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	1h 15m	18:50	Bolton Central Bus Station	No tags
Bus	17:35	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	1h 15m	18:50	Bolton Central Bus Station	No tags
Bus	17:35	Manchester Airport Bus Station (MAN)	1h 25m	19:00	Astley Bridge Bus Stop (o/s Monks World Travel)	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 04:30 GMT.

Compare 2 ways to travel from Manchester to Bolton

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as a good way to reach Bolton. The journey takes about 27 minutes and with fares starting at just £4, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

39train per day

27mAverage duration

10 milesDistance

0kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average price£7 - £12	Average duration1h 15m	CO₂ emissions 1kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£4 - £11	Average duration27m	CO₂ emissions 0kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Bolton?

Stops in Manchester

A
Manchester Airport
Visit page
B
Shudehill
Shudehill Interchange, Stand G, Manchester M60
Visit page
C
Coach Station
16 Chorlton St, Manchester M1 3HW, UK
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

Stops in Bolton

A
Astley Bridge Bus Stop (o/s Monks World Travel)
588 Blackburn Road, Bolton BL1
Visit page
B
Bolton - Central Bus Station
Central Bus Station A6172, Bolton BL1 1, UK
C
Astley Bridge Bus Stop
501 Blackburn Rd, Bolton BL1 8NW, UK

Compare bus companies

National Express

4/529,742 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

WiFi3.4

Based on 29742 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 Wi-Fi. National Express ticket prices on this trip start at £7

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

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Manchester to Bolton

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

How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Bolton?
The cheapest coach tickets from Manchester to Bolton start from £7. The average price for this route is around £11. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Manchester to Bolton?
The average bus journey time from Manchester to Bolton is 1h 15m, covering a distance of 18 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 50m and is operated by National Express.
Which bus companies service the Manchester to Bolton route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Bolton?
The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Bolton at 05:45. And the latest bus departs at 18:05.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Manchester to Bolton?
A bus journey from Manchester to Bolton produces an estimated 1 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

30/11

£6

01/12

£6

Today

£6

03/12

£6

04/12

£6

05/12

£6

06/12

£6

07/12

£6

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Bolton was searched and found on 4 Dec 2025 with a price of £6

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

You can expect to pay from £6 to £12 for a bus ticket from Manchester to Bolton based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £6, which is on 2025-12-04.