- Must visit
Science and Industry Museum
Leading museum of science, industry, transport, and computing on a historic railway site. Essential for understanding Manchester's global impact.
Cheapest price on Oct 09
$9
Average ticket price on Oct 09
$10
Fastest journey on Oct 09
1 h 5 m
Average journey duration on Oct 09
1 h 12 m
Buses on Oct 09
15
Distance
53 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester will cost around $10 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $9.
On Fri, Oct 09, we found 15 buses from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester, including 15 direct services.
On Fri, Oct 09 the direct buses cover the 53 km distance in an average of 1 h 12 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h 5 m .
On Fri, Oct 09 the slowest buses will take 1 h 15 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus
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NX424
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FlixBus
FlixBusBuses from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester run on average 11 times per day, taking around 1h 20m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $8 but you can travel from only $4 by train.
There are 11 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 20m |
Cheapest ticket price $8 |
Buses per day 11 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 1h 5m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 14 days |
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:15AM | Arrival Time 03:30AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:15AM | Arrival Time 05:30AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:35AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:55AM | Arrival Time 06:05AM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $17 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 11:50AM | Duration 1h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 01:50PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:25PM | Arrival Time 01:40PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:35PM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:25PM | Arrival Time 06:40PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:50PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:05PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:05PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 1h25 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
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 $8 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:35PM | Arrival Time 11:40PM | Duration 1h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $8 |
The table below shows live departures for Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester buses for today, Thursday, October 8. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 8:05 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h25 | 9:30 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:45 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h35 | 10:20 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:45 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 10:00 PM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:35 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h05 | 11:40 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Friday, October 9 | |||||
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 | |
FlixBus | 10:15 AM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h35 | 11:50 AM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:20 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h30 | 1:50 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:25 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 1:40 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:35 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 3:50 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 5:25 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h15 | 6:40 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 6:00 PM Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station | 1h30 | 7:30 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Discover the best of Manchester — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Manchester trip today.
Leading museum of science, industry, transport, and computing on a historic railway site. Essential for understanding Manchester's global impact.
Major art museum with Pre-Raphaelite works, design, and changing exhibitions. A central cultural stop with broad appeal.
The University of Manchester museum spans dinosaurs, Egypt, nature, and anthropology. Recently renewed and excellent for varied interests.
Historic canal-side district with Roman remains, warehouses, and walkable towpaths. One of Manchester's most atmospheric urban areas.
Central square framed by grand civic buildings, museums, and monuments. A classic starting point for exploring the city centre.
Creative quarter of street art, music history, indie shops, and nightlife. It is one of Manchester's most characterful neighborhoods.
A flaky pastry pie filled with spiced potatoes, onion and often chickpeas. Created by Manchester’s South Asian community and now a city staple.
A comforting Northern pudding of suet pastry filled with beef and onion, traditionally steamed and served with gravy. Common in Greater Manchester pubs.
Manchester’s classic order of battered fish with chips, often served with mushy peas and curry sauce. A long-standing local takeaway favourite.
Iconic market bakery and café known for Manchester tarts, Eccles cakes and hearty lunches. Casual, busy and deeply rooted in local food culture.
Refined modern British fine dining in a restored townhouse. Known for tasting menus, polished service and one of Manchester’s top culinary reputations.
Lively Indian restaurant famous for bold curries, grills and chaat. A long-established Rusholme favourite with a casual, energetic atmosphere.
Moderate for the UK: hotels often cost less than London, while dining and transit are manageable for tourists with many mid-range options.
Service may be included. If not, 10-12.5% in restaurants is common for good service. Round up or add a little for taxis. Cafe tipping is optional.
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, Airport. 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.
Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station is 2 km from Stoke-on-Trent city centre. Public transport options include:
Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Fast food outlets are present inside the bus station.
Free WiFi available for passengers. ATMs are there is an ATM available within the station.
Ticket office support is available at Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station.
Available at Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Bus Station: The station is equipped with ramps for wheelchair access.
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, Airport is 2 km from Manchester city centre. Public transport options include:
Manchester, Airport has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Burger King (in the station), Giraffe (in the station).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located throughout the airport, offering multiple currency options.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Airport.
Available at Manchester, Airport: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Airport: Elevators, ramps, assistance.
Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East is 2 km from Manchester city centre. Public transport options include:
Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East. ATMs are available at Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East.
Ticket office support is available at Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East.
Available at Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East: Accessible for wheelchairs.
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