How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Cardiff?

The cheapest bus tickets from Manchester to Cardiff start from $17. The average price for this route is around $28. 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 Manchester to Cardiff?

The average bus trip duration from Manchester to Cardiff is 7h 45m, covering a distance of 136 miles (219 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 5h 40m and is operated by National Express .

Which bus companies service the Manchester to Cardiff route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 12 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus , National Express , Megabus UK .

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

The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Cardiff at 12:45am. And the latest bus departs at 11:59pm.

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

A bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff generates an estimated 5 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from Manchester to Cardiff?

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 29733 reviews.

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

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

Which bus company has the most timely service from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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 Manchester to Cardiff?

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 Manchester to Cardiff from $15 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Manchester to Cardiff on December 2
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	12:10pm	Shudehill	8h 15m	8:25pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	9:10am	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 20m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	10:50am	Manchester Airport	9h 35m	8:25pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	4:10am	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05pm	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	8:50am	Shudehill	6h 40m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures for Manchester to Cardiff on December 3
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	12:10pm	Shudehill	8h 15m	8:25pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	9:10am	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 20m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	12:45am	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	4:10am	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05pm	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	10:50am	Manchester Airport	9h 35m	8:25pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures for Manchester to Cardiff on December 4
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	8:50am	Shudehill	6h 40m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	6:20pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h	12:20am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	12:45am	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	4:10am	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05pm	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	11:40am	Shudehill	6h 55m	6:35pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures for Manchester to Cardiff on December 5
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	8:50am	Shudehill	6h 40m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	9:10am	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 20m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	12:45am	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	4:10am	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05pm	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	11:40am	Shudehill	8h 5m	7:45pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures for Manchester to Cardiff on December 6
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	12:00pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h 35m	6:35pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	6:20pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h	12:20am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	12:45am	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	4:10am	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05pm	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	8:50am	Shudehill	6h 40m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Next departures for Manchester to Cardiff on December 7
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	6:00pm	Shudehill	6h 20m	12:20am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Cheapest
Bus	6:20pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	6h	12:20am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	Fastest
Bus	12:45am	Manchester Airport	11h 45m	12:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags
Bus	4:10am	Coach Station	7h 55m	12:05pm	Sophia Gardens	No tags
Bus	8:50am	Shudehill	6h 40m	3:30pm	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 10:53 PM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to go from Manchester to Cardiff

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Cardiff. The journey takes about 2 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just $24, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

2h 50mAverage Duration

144 milesDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$17 - $137	Average Duration7h 45m	CO₂ emissions 5kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$44 - $216	Average Duration3h 30m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$24 - $25	Average Duration2h 50m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Cardiff?

Stops in Manchester

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

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,492 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

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 Manchester Cardiff recent customer reviews

The flixbus is really good

Hardayal K.

October 11, 2025

National Express

4/529,742 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Megabus UK

3.5/54,279 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.6

Based on 4279 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 $32

Megabus Manchester Cardiff recent customer reviews

Bus came 1hr late. Stopped o. The way 50mns waiting for change of driver. I couldn't get home yesterday 😩 because we arrived 2hrs late no train to go home

Jessica Y.

October 30, 2024

I was unable to make the date of booking, I did try to exchange my bus ticket to another date however the process made it to hard to do so

Gareth J.

November 14, 2023

It was late one hour.

Wehazit S.

December 5, 2024

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

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Manchester to Cardiff 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 Manchester to Cardiff?
The cheapest bus tickets from Manchester to Cardiff start from $17. The average price for this route is around $28. 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 Manchester to Cardiff?
The average bus trip duration from Manchester to Cardiff is 7h 45m, covering a distance of 136 miles (219 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 5h 40m and is operated by National Express.
Which bus companies service the Manchester to Cardiff route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 12 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus, National Express, Megabus UK.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Cardiff?
The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Cardiff at 12:45am. And the latest bus departs at 11:59pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff?
A bus trip from Manchester to Cardiff generates an estimated 5 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from Manchester to Cardiff?
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 29733 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Cardiff?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company National Express has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.4.
Which bus company has the most timely service from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely 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 Manchester to Cardiff?
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

11/30

$40

12/01

$46

Today

$16

12/03

$15

12/04

$21

12/05

$28

12/06

$27

12/07

$29

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Cardiff was searched and found on Dec 3, 2025 with a price of $15

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

You can expect to pay from $15 to $49 for a bus ticket from Manchester to Cardiff based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $15 which is on 2025-12-03.