How to travel from Derby to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Derby and Manchester is around 109km (68 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 20m.

4 routes found

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Sheffield and then to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • Duration1h 20m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £31($37)
Operated by

East Midlands Railways

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Manchester Shudehill Interchange.

  • Duration2h 20m
  • Departs3 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £14($17)
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration1h 30m
  • Distance109km (68 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Derby and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Derby to Manchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($17) and will take around 2h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £31 ($37).

The distance between Derby and Manchester is around 109km (68 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 80km (50 miles)

It takes around 1h 20m to get from Derby and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Derby to Manchester is to take the train which takes around 1h 20m and will set you back approx £31 ($37).

The cheapest way to travel between Derby and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($17) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Derby and Manchester. It typically takes around 1h 20m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Derby to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Sheffield. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 1h 20m.

East Midlands Railways, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express Service, Northern Rail and Avanti West Coast run train services between Derby and Manchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 20m, 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 Derby and Manchester. It typically takes around 2h 20m and departs 3 times a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Derby and Manchester with no changeovers required. The bus runs 3 times a week and takes 2h 20m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Derby and Manchester. Buses run 3 times a week and take around 2h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Derby to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to Sheffield and then to Manchester Piccadilly. instead which will take 1h 20m.

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 Derby and Manchester. The distance is around 109km (68 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Derby to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 20m and will usually cost around £31 ($37).

How do I get from Derby to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Derby and Manchester

Transport options from Derby to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
1h 20m
£31($37)
hourly126km (78 miles)
Train via Stoke-on-Trent1h 25m
£36($43)
every 2 hours118km (73 miles)
Bus
2h 20m
£14($17)
3 times a week128km (80 miles)
Drive
1h 30m
£13($15)
on demand109km (68 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Derby 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