How to travel from Colchester to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Colchester and Manchester is around 350km (217 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 45m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Colchester 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 ManchesterColchester if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to London Liverpool Street then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN).

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £250($295)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £100($115)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Stansted Airport London then London Finchley Road Station and then to Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St.

  • Duration6h 50m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £19($23)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration3h 60m
  • Distance356km (221 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Colchester and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Colchester to Manchester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($23) and will take around 6h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £250 ($295).

The distance between Colchester and Manchester is around 350km (217 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 276km (171 miles)

It takes around 3h 15m to get from Colchester and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Colchester to Manchester is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 45m and will set you back approx £250 ($295).

The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($23) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Colchester and Manchester. It typically takes around 3h 15m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Liverpool Street, Moorgate station and Euston station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 15m.

Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railways run train services between Colchester and Manchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 15m, 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 Colchester and Manchester. It typically takes around 6h 50m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Colchester to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Stansted Airport London and London Finchley Road Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 6h 50m.

National Express run regular bus services between Colchester and Manchester. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 6h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Colchester to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to London Liverpool Street then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN). instead which will take 2h 45m.

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 Colchester and Manchester. The distance is around 356km (221 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 15m and will usually cost around £100 ($115).

How do I get from Colchester to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Colchester and Manchester

Transport options from Colchester to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 4 similar
2h 45m
£250($295)
every 30 mins374km (232 miles)
Train to Ipswich, plane3h 30m
£185($215)
hourly350km (217 miles)
Bus and Plane3h 30m
£170($200)
once daily895km (556 miles)
Train to Stratford (London), plane3h 40m
£265($315)
hourly502km (312 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train4h 15m
£320($375)
once daily1,046km (650 miles)
Train + 1 similar
3h 15m
£100($115)
hourly382km (237 miles)
Train via Peterborough5h 5m
£84($100)
once daily373km (232 miles)
Bus
6h 50m
£19($23)
every 20 mins433km (269 miles)
Drive
3h 60m
£62($73)
on demand356km (221 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Colchester and Manchester

Airlines

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