How to travel from Barnstaple to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Barnstaple and Manchester is around 414km (257 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 4h 25m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Barnstaple to Manchester by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ManchesterBarnstaple if you're planning a return trip.

1
3 x train
+

Train via Exeter St Davids

Take the train to Exeter St Davids then Birmingham New Street and then to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £145($170)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
+
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Exeter St Davids and then to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN).

  • Duration4h 60m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £300($355)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Brunel Street and then to Manchester.

  • Duration7h 20m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £28($33)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Distance414km (257 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Barnstaple and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Barnstaple to Manchester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £28 ($33) and will take around 7h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 4h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £72 ($85).

The distance between Barnstaple and Manchester is around 414km (257 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 294km (183 miles)

It takes around 5h 25m to get from Barnstaple and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Barnstaple to Manchester is to drive which takes around 4h 25m and will set you back approx £72 ($85).

The cheapest way to travel between Barnstaple and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £28 ($33) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Barnstaple and Manchester. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs 5 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Barnstaple to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Exeter St Davids. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 5h 25m.

Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast run train services between Barnstaple and Manchester. Trains depart 5 times a week and will take around 5h 25m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Barnstaple and Manchester. It typically takes around 7h 20m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Barnstaple to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Brunel Street and Birmingham Summer Row- Great Charles Street. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 7h 20m.

Megabus UK and FlixBus run regular bus services between Barnstaple and Manchester. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 7h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Barnstaple to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to Exeter St Davids and then to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN). instead which will take 4h 60m.

The closest major airport to Manchester is Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) which is approximately 13km (8 miles) from Manchester. Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Barnstaple and Manchester. The distance is around 414km (257 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Barnstaple to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 25m and will usually cost around £125 ($150).

How do I get from Barnstaple to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Barnstaple and Manchester

Transport options from Barnstaple to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train via Exeter St Davids + 2 similar
4h 55m
£145($170)
every 2 hours458km (285 miles)
Train5h 25m
£125($150)
5 times a week458km (285 miles)
Train via Exeter St Davids6h 55m
£150($180)
every 3 hours517km (322 miles)
Train and Plane + 1 similar
4h 60m
£300($355)
hourly624km (388 miles)
Train to Exeter St Davids, plane5hrs
£290($345)
every 3 hours643km (400 miles)
Bus
7h 20m
£28($33)
6 times a week447km (277 miles)
Drive
4h 25m
£72($85)
on demand414km (257 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Barnstaple and Manchester

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Manchester

The following major airports near Manchester offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
13km (8 miles) from Manchester
LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
43km (27 miles) from Manchester
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
58km (36 miles) from Manchester