How to travel from Manchester to Canterbury, United Kingdom

The distance between Manchester and Canterbury is around 401km (249 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 55m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Manchester to Canterbury 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 CanterburyManchester if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Canterbury West.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £180($210)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 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 Euston and then to Canterbury West.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £120($140)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Canterbury.

  • Duration7h 25m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £17($20)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Canterbury.

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Distance426km (265 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Manchester and Canterbury

There are several options for getting from Manchester to Canterbury by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 7h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £180 ($210).

The distance between Manchester and Canterbury is around 401km (249 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 333km (207 miles)

It takes around 3h 15m to get from Manchester and Canterbury by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Manchester to Canterbury is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £180 ($210).

The cheapest way to travel between Manchester and Canterbury, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £17 ($20) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

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

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

Avanti West Coast and South Eastern Trains Service run train services between Manchester and Canterbury. 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 Manchester and Canterbury. It typically takes around 7h 25m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Manchester to Canterbury. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 7h 25m.

National Express run regular bus services between Manchester and Canterbury. Buses run every 3 hours and take around 7h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Manchester to Canterbury. We recommend that you fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Canterbury West. instead which will take 2h 55m.

The closest major airport to Canterbury is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 76km (47 miles) from Canterbury. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) 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 Manchester and Canterbury. The distance is around 426km (265 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Manchester to Canterbury is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 15m and will usually cost around £120 ($140).

How do I get from Manchester to Canterbury

Compare travel optionsbetween Manchester and Canterbury

Transport options from Manchester to Canterbury
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 3 similar
2h 55m
£180($210)
hourly401km (249 miles)
Fly to London Gatwick (LGW), train3h 15m
£185($220)
hourly460km (286 miles)
Fly to Southampton (SOU), train4hrs
£295($350)
hourly529km (329 miles)
Plane, Bus and Train4h 15m
£100($120)
hourly904km (562 miles)
Train
3h 15m
£120($140)
hourly408km (253 miles)
Bus
7h 25m
£17($20)
every 3 hours432km (268 miles)
Drive
4h 25m
£49($58)
on demand426km (265 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Manchester and Canterbury

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Canterbury

The following major airports near Canterbury offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
76km (47 miles) from Canterbury
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
88km (55 miles) from Canterbury
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
89km (55 miles) from Canterbury