- Must visit
Science and Industry Museum
Major museum on Manchester’s industrial heritage, science, engineering, and transport, set on the historic Liverpool Road site.






Cheapest price
$15
Average price
$19
Fastest journey
38m
Average duration
49m
Trains per day
6
Distance
52 km
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $8. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 44m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.0kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $8, and a train costs an average of $4.
Distance: 32 miles (53 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$10 Average price Cheapest | $14 Average price | $14 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 2m Average total duration 1h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 14m Average total duration Fastest 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 9m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.0kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester:
A bus is $5 (€4) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester costing on average $14 (€12).
Other travel options to Manchester take longer:
Bus takes on average 1h 32m.
Tickets start at around $10 (€8) compared to roughly $14 (€12) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $5 (€4). The journey takes 1h 32m versus 1h 9m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus, National Express.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:15AM | Arrival Time 03:30AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:15AM | Arrival Time 04:30AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Thu | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 03:55AM | Arrival Time 05:05AM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Fri | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:15AM | Arrival Time 05:30AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:35AM | Arrival Time 05:50AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:55AM | Arrival Time 06:05AM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:15AM | Arrival Time 10:50AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 11:50AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:25PM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:35PM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:25PM | Arrival Time 06:40PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:50PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:05PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:45PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:05PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Tue, Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:45PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:35PM | Arrival Time 10:40PM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:35PM | Arrival Time 11:40PM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
The table below shows live departures for Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester buses for today, Friday, July 10. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 5:50 PM Stoke-on-Trent | 1h30 | 7:20 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:45 PM Stoke-on-Trent | 1h35 | 9:20 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 8:45 PM Stoke-on-Trent | 1h35 | 10:20 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Saturday, July 11 | |||||
FlixBus | 2:15 AM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 3:30 AM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:15 AM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 5:30 AM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:35 AM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h35 | 6:10 AM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:35 AM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 5:50 AM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX424 | 4:55 AM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h10 | 6:05 AM Manchester, Coach Station | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester run on average 7 times per day, taking around 1h 32m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $8 (€6) but you can travel from only $4 (€4) by train.
There are 6 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 32 miles (53 km) distance in 1h 5m.
Distance 32 miles (53 km) |
Average bus duration 1h 32m |
Cheapest ticket price $8 (€6) |
Buses per day 7 |
Direct buses 6 |
Fastest bus 1h 5m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 84 days |
Discover the best of Manchester — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Manchester trip today.
Major museum on Manchester’s industrial heritage, science, engineering, and transport, set on the historic Liverpool Road site.
Large university museum with noted natural history, archaeology, and cultural collections; recently renewed and very popular.
Football museum with trophies, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits; one of the city’s best-known paid attractions.
Creative district known for street art, independent shops, music culture, and photogenic corners popular with younger visitors.
Historic canalside area with Roman origins, warehouses, waterside walks, and one of the city’s most scenic urban settings.
Important civic square framed by major buildings and transport links, often used as a central point for exploring the city.
A classic local dessert made with shortcrust pastry, raspberry jam, custard, coconut, and a cherry. It is one of Manchester’s best-known traditional sweets.
A famous pastry from Eccles in Greater Manchester, filled with currants, sugar, and spice. It is a long-established regional bake closely associated with the area.
A traditional blood sausage strongly linked with nearby Bury and widely eaten in Manchester, often served at breakfast. It is a staple of the region’s food culture.
A well-known casual spot celebrated for high-quality Neapolitan pizza, relaxed service, and consistently strong local reputation.
A popular casual venue for Indian street food and craft beer, known for lively atmosphere and strong vegetarian selection.
An established fine-dining restaurant in The Midland, known for polished modern British cooking and elegant historic surroundings.
Moderate by UK standards. Budget food is easy to find, but hotels and central dining cost more.
Service charge may be added in restaurants. If not, tip 10-12.5% for good service. Round up taxis. Tipping is not expected for pubs or counter service.
Official public transport app
Manchester Airport, Manchester -> Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester
Buses from the Potteries town of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire to the city of Manchester run at most times of the day, catering to morning, afternoon and evening travellers and usually accomplishing the 40-mile journey in 90 minutes or less. However, as services are often spread thinly with several hours between departures, it's a good idea to check ahead to avoid a long wait.
National Express covers the route between these cities, as well as connecting many other towns in the north of England.
The quickest buses from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester take around 75 minutes, while the slowest generally add another 35 minutes or so to the travel time. Most journeys, though, take an hour and a half or less. All services are direct, with no switching of buses needed.
Buses from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester leave eight times a day, distributed unevenly from just after rush hour to slightly before midnight. Departure times are irregular, with the main clusters in the morning and early evening and a long gap in services around lunchtime. A similar pattern continues throughout the week, including Saturday and Sunday.
Departure bus station: buses to Manchester leave from Stoke-on-Trent's city-centre bus station, which is less than 10 years old and cost over £15 million, so it can be counted upon to have up to date amenities. It's part of a development that includes a wide range of shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities. First Bus services run every five minutes or so to and from Fenton, Burslem, Longton and other destinations, plus there's a shuttle to the Bet365 football stadium on match days.
Arrival bus station: Manchester bus station is on Chorlton Street, just minutes on foot from Piccadilly railroad station. In the immediate vicinity, there's a choice of tram stops connecting the station to the airport, the university and the Manchester suburbs. The Palace and Royal Exchange Theatres, the Bridgewater Hall concert venue, Albert Square with its Gothic architecture and lots of restaurants, bars, hotels and other key tourist attractions are all within an easy stroll.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Manchester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester buses use the Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station to Manchester, Shudehill Interchange station pair, with some services arriving at Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East. Use this guide to compare Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Manchester, Shudehill Interchange has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange.
Available at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange: Elevators, ramps.
Manchester, Coach Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Café at the Station (in the station), Fast Food Express (in the station).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located within the station for cash withdrawals.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Coach Station.
Available at Manchester, Coach Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Coach Station: Ramps, assistance.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need