How to travel from Portsmouth to Manchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Portsmouth and Manchester is around 328km (204 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 5m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Portsmouth 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 ManchesterPortsmouth if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Eastleigh then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN).

  • Duration2h 5m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £225($265)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 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 Waterloo and then to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £115($140)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Manchester Shudehill Interchange.

  • Duration7h 35m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £24($28)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Manchester.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Distance385km (239 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Portsmouth and Manchester

There are several options for getting from Portsmouth to Manchester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £24 ($28) and will take around 7h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £225 ($265).

The distance between Portsmouth and Manchester is around 328km (204 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 308km (191 miles)

It takes around 3h 55m to get from Portsmouth and Manchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Portsmouth to Manchester is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 5m and will set you back approx £225 ($265).

The cheapest way to travel between Portsmouth and Manchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £24 ($28) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Portsmouth and Manchester. It typically takes around 3h 55m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Portsmouth to Manchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo and Euston station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 55m.

South Western Railway, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales run train services between Portsmouth and Manchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 55m, 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 Portsmouth and Manchester. It typically takes around 7h 35m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Portsmouth and Manchester with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 7h 35m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Portsmouth and Manchester. Buses run twice daily and take around 7h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Portsmouth to Manchester. We recommend that you take the train to Eastleigh then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN). instead which will take 2h 5m.

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 Portsmouth and Manchester. The distance is around 385km (239 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Portsmouth to Manchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 55m and will usually cost around £115 ($140).

How do I get from Portsmouth to Manchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Portsmouth and Manchester

Transport options from Portsmouth to Manchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
2h 5m
£225($265)
hourly328km (204 miles)
Train to Woking, Fly3hrs
£225($270)
hourly367km (228 miles)
Plane and Train4h 60m
£275($325)
hourly1,864km (1,158 miles)
Train + 2 similar
3h 55m
£115($140)
hourly415km (258 miles)
Train to Manchester Piccadilly4h 55m
£120($145)
every 4 hours404km (251 miles)
Train via Newport (S Wales)6h 15m
£135($160)
every 2 hours458km (285 miles)
Bus
7h 35m
£24($28)
twice daily411km (255 miles)
Drive
4h 10m
£67($79)
on demand385km (239 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Portsmouth and Manchester

Airlines

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