How to travel from Manchester to Saint Albans, United Kingdom

The distance between Manchester and Saint Albans is around 286km (178 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Manchester to Saint Albans 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 Saint AlbansManchester if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to London Euston.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £87($105)

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 London Finchley Road Station.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £16($19)
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to St Albans.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Distance286km (178 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Manchester and Saint Albans

There are several options for getting from Manchester to Saint Albans by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £16 ($19) and will take around 5h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £87 ($105).

The distance between Manchester and Saint Albans is around 286km (178 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 231km (144 miles)

It takes around 2h 40m to get from Manchester and Saint Albans by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Manchester to Saint Albans is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £87 ($105).

The cheapest way to travel between Manchester and Saint Albans, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £16 ($19) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Manchester and Saint Albans. It typically takes around 2h 40m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Manchester to Saint Albans. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Euston and London St Pancras International LL. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 40m.

Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railways run train services between Manchester and Saint Albans. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 40m, 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 Saint Albans. It typically takes around 5h 15m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Manchester to Saint Albans. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Finchley Road Station and Bricket Wood Black Boy PH. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 5h 15m.

National Express run regular bus services between Manchester and Saint Albans. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 5h 15m 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 Saint Albans. We recommend that you take the train to London Euston. instead which will take 2h 40m.

The closest major airport to Saint Albans is London Luton Airport (LTN) (LTN) which is approximately 15km (9 miles) from Saint Albans. Heathrow Airport (LHR) (LHR) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) 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 Saint Albans. The distance is around 286km (178 miles) by road and it will take around 3hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Manchester to Saint Albans is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around £87 ($105).

How do I get from Manchester to Saint Albans

Compare travel optionsbetween Manchester and Saint Albans

Transport options from Manchester to Saint Albans
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 40m
£87($105)
hourly327km (203 miles)
Train via Nottingham3h 35m
£79($95)
hourly303km (188 miles)
Bus
5h 15m
£16($19)
every 4 hours348km (216 miles)
Drive
3hrs
£50($59)
on demand286km (178 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Manchester and Saint Albans

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Saint Albans

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

LTN
London Luton Airport (LTN)
International Airport
Distance
15km (9 miles) from Saint Albans
LHR
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
International Airport
Distance
32km (20 miles) from Saint Albans
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
38km (24 miles) from Saint Albans