How to travel from Ipswich to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Ipswich and Manchester is around 322km (200 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 55m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Ipswich 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 ManchesterIpswich 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 55m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £260($310)
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 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £110($135)
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.

  • Duration7h 45m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £22($26)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Distance349km (217 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ipswich and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Ipswich to Manchester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £22 ($26) and will take around 7h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £260 ($310).

The distance between Ipswich and Manchester is around 322km (200 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 278km (173 miles)

It takes around 3h 35m to get from Ipswich and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Ipswich to Manchester is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £260 ($310).

The cheapest way to travel between Ipswich and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £22 ($26) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Ipswich and Manchester. It typically takes around 3h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Ipswich 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 35m.

Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railways run train services between Ipswich and Manchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 35m, 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 Ipswich and Manchester. It typically takes around 7h 45m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Ipswich 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 7h 45m.

National Express run regular bus services between Ipswich and Manchester. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 7h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ipswich 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 55m.

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 Ipswich and Manchester. The distance is around 349km (217 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ipswich to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 35m and will usually cost around £110 ($135).

How do I get from Ipswich to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Ipswich and Manchester

Transport options from Ipswich to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 4 similar
2h 55m
£260($310)
hourly401km (249 miles)
Train to Cambridge, Fly3hrs
£180($215)
hourly322km (200 miles)
Train to Norwich, Fly3h 10m
£450($535)
hourly824km (512 miles)
Train to Stratford (London), plane3h 50m
£285($340)
hourly529km (329 miles)
Train to London Liverpool Street, Fly4h 20m
£130($150)
hourly919km (571 miles)
Train + 1 similar
3h 35m
£110($135)
hourly409km (254 miles)
Train via Peterborough4h 50m
£84($100)
every 4 hours346km (215 miles)
Bus
7h 45m
£22($26)
every 20 mins461km (286 miles)
Drive
3h 55m
£61($72)
on demand349km (217 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Ipswich 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