How to travel from Birmingham to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Birmingham and Manchester is around 131km (81 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 25m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Birmingham to Manchester by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • Duration1h 25m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £51($60)
Operated byCrossCountry+ 2 others

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Manchester.

  • Duration2hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £9($11)
Operated byFlixBus+ 2 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration1h 35m
  • Distance141km (88 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Birmingham and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Birmingham to Manchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £9 ($11) and will take around 2hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £51 ($60).

The distance between Birmingham and Manchester is around 131km (81 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 114km (71 miles)

It takes around 1h 25m to get from Birmingham and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Birmingham to Manchester is to take the train which takes around 1h 25m and will set you back approx £51 ($60).

The cheapest way to travel between Birmingham and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £9 ($11) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Birmingham and Manchester. It typically takes around 1h 25m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Birmingham and Manchester with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 1h 25m.

CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, London Midland and Northern Rail run train services between Birmingham and Manchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 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 Birmingham and Manchester. It typically takes around 2hrs and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Birmingham and Manchester with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 2hrs.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Birmingham and Manchester. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 2hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Birmingham to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Piccadilly. instead which will take 1h 25m.

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 Birmingham and Manchester. The distance is around 141km (88 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Birmingham to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 25m and will usually cost around £51 ($60).

How do I get from Birmingham to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Birmingham and Manchester

Transport options from Birmingham to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
1h 25m
£51($60)
hourly131km (81 miles)
Train via Kidsgrove2h 10m
£20($24)
hourly135km (84 miles)
Bus
2hrs
£9($11)
hourly140km (87 miles)
Drive
1h 35m
£25($29)
on demand141km (88 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Birmingham and Manchester

Train operators

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