How to travel from Carlisle to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Carlisle and Manchester is around 193km (120 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 50m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Carlisle 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 ManchesterCarlisle if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Manchester Oxford Road.

  • Duration1h 50m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £19($22)

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 Coach Station Chorlton St.

  • Duration3h 10m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £8($9)
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration2hrs
  • Distance196km (122 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Carlisle and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Carlisle to Manchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £8 ($9) and will take around 3h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £19 ($22).

The distance between Carlisle and Manchester is around 193km (120 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 164km (102 miles)

It takes around 1h 50m to get from Carlisle and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Carlisle to Manchester is to take the train which takes around 1h 50m and will set you back approx £19 ($22).

The cheapest way to travel between Carlisle and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £8 ($9) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Carlisle and Manchester. It typically takes around 1h 50m and departs every 2 hours.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Carlisle and Manchester with no changeovers required. The train runs every 2 hours and takes 1h 50m.

TransPennine Express Service, Avanti West Coast, West Coast Railways and Transport for Wales run train services between Carlisle and Manchester. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 1h 50m, 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 Carlisle and Manchester. It typically takes around 3h 10m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Carlisle and Manchester with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 3h 10m.

National Express run regular bus services between Carlisle and Manchester. Buses run once daily and take around 3h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Carlisle to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Oxford Road. instead which will take 1h 50m.

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 Carlisle and Manchester. The distance is around 196km (122 miles) by road and it will take around 2hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Carlisle to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 50m and will usually cost around £19 ($22).

How do I get from Carlisle to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Carlisle and Manchester

Transport options from Carlisle to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
1h 50m
£19($22)
hourly193km (120 miles)
Train via Warrington Bank Quay2h 5m
£66($78)
hourly222km (138 miles)
Bus
3h 10m
£8($9)
twice daily197km (122 miles)
Drive
2hrs
£34($40)
on demand196km (122 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Carlisle and Manchester

Train operators

Bus companies

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