What is the travel distance from Manchester to Reading?

Manchester and Reading are 150 miles (242 km) apart.

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

The majority of buses traveling from Manchester to Reading start their journey at Shudehill and wind up at Mereoak P&R. These are the most popular pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, there are other pick-up and drop-off locations that could make it easier for you to reach your destination.

Bus Manchester to Reading from $20 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Manchester to Reading on November 15
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	6:00pm	Shudehill	10h 40m	4:40am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	Cheapest
Bus	12:15pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	8h 5m	8:20pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	Fastest
Bus	6:00am	Shudehill	9h 25m	3:25pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	No tags
Bus	12:00pm	Shudehill	8h 20m	8:20pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	No tags
Bus	5:00pm	Shudehill	8h 25m	1:25am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Last Sunday at 2:47 AM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to go from Manchester to Reading

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Reading. The journey takes about 3 hours 10 minutes and with fares starting at just $28, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

3h 10mAverage Duration

150 milesDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$25 - $80	Average Duration9h	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$31 - $219	Average Duration3h 16m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$28 - $30	Average Duration3h 10m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,314 reviews

Staff4.1

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.

Megabus UK

3.5/54,270 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi2.6

Based on 4270 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 $47

Megabus Manchester Reading recent customer reviews

Seat wasn’t comfortable and bus was very cold hope no heaters inside

Shameem B.

April 1, 2024

Great experience, polite staff

Michelle L.

May 3, 2023

Adequate and Expected

Dom R.

November 7, 2022

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

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Reading?

Stops in Manchester

A - Shudehill

B - Coach Station

C - Manchester Airport

D - 56 Great Bridgewater St

E - City of Manchester Stadium

F - Manchester Coach Station

Stops in Reading

A - Mereoak P&R

B - Bath Road

C - Reading

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Manchester to Reading by bus

What is the travel distance from Manchester to Reading?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Manchester to Reading?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11/12

$40

11/13

$23

Today

$30

11/15

$30

11/16

No data

11/17

$23

11/18

$20

11/19

$22

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Reading was searched and found on Nov 18, 2025 with a price of $20

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

You can expect to pay from $20 to $68 for a bus ticket from Manchester to Reading based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $20 which is on 2025-11-18.