How to travel from Plymouth to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Plymouth and Manchester is around 454km (282 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 40m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Plymouth 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 ManchesterPlymouth if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Newquay then fly from Newquay (NQY) to Manchester (MAN).

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £125($145)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

2
train
+
train
+

Train via Birmingham New Street

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • Duration4h 60m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    £160($190)

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and then to Manchester Coach Station Chorlton St.

  • Duration7h 50m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £19($22)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration4h 45m
  • Distance454km (282 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plymouth and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Plymouth to Manchester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £19 ($22) and will take around 7h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £125 ($145).

The distance between Plymouth and Manchester is around 454km (282 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 369km (229 miles)

It takes around 5h 20m to get from Plymouth and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Plymouth to Manchester is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 40m and will set you back approx £125 ($145).

The cheapest way to travel between Plymouth and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £19 ($22) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Plymouth and Manchester. It typically takes around 5h 20m and departs 5 times a week.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Plymouth and Manchester with no changeovers required. The train runs 5 times a week and takes 5h 20m.

CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway run train services between Plymouth and Manchester. Trains depart 5 times a week and will take around 5h 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 Plymouth and Manchester. It typically takes around 7h 50m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Plymouth to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 7h 50m.

National Express run regular bus services between Plymouth and Manchester. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 7h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plymouth to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to Newquay then fly from Newquay (NQY) to Manchester (MAN). instead which will take 3h 40m.

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 Plymouth and Manchester. The distance is around 454km (282 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plymouth to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 20m and will usually cost around £145 ($170).

How do I get from Plymouth to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Plymouth and Manchester

Transport options from Plymouth to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
3h 40m
£125($145)
twice daily489km (304 miles)
Train to London Paddington, Fly4h 55m
£230($275)
hourly644km (400 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street + 2 similar
4h 60m
£160($190)
every 2 hours479km (298 miles)
Train5h 20m
£145($170)
5 times a week479km (298 miles)
Train via Cardiff Central7hrs
£170($200)
every 4 hours538km (334 miles)
Bus
7h 50m
£19($22)
every 4 hours483km (300 miles)
Drive
4h 45m
£52($61)
on demand454km (282 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Plymouth 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