- Must visit
Science and Industry Museum
Major museum exploring Manchester’s role in science, technology and industry, with historic machinery and railway heritage on the oldest surviving passenger railway station site.
Cheapest price
$14
Average price
$22
Fastest journey
5 h 5 m
Average duration
5 h 13 m
Buses per day
2
Distance
263 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Stratford to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Stratford to Manchester will cost around $22 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $14.
Of the 2 buses that leave Stratford for Manchester on Sun, Jun 21, 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Jun 21 the direct buses cover the 263 km distance in an average of 5 h 13 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 5 m .
On Sun, Jun 21 the slowest buses will take 5 h 20 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.




Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Stratford to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $10. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 0m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $10, and a flight costs an average of $73.
Distance: 163 miles (263 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$14 Average price Cheapest | $88 Average price | $192 Average price | $102 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 46m Average total duration 5h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 51m Average total duration 3h 21m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 0m Average total duration Fastest 1h 0m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 59m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Stratford to Manchester:
A bus is $73 (€60) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Stratford to Manchester costing on average $88 (€72).
A bus is $178 (€146) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Stratford to Manchester costing on average $192 (€157).
Other travel options to Manchester take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 21m.
Bus takes on average 5h 16m.
Tickets start at around $14 (€12) compared to roughly $102 (€84) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $88 (€72). The journey takes 5h 16m versus 3h 59m 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, Megabus.
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 07:00AM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 4h35 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:40AM | Arrival Time 11:35AM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 01:05PM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:40AM | Arrival Time 12:50PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:10AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:10AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $15 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:30AM | Arrival Time 04:00PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 10:40AM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 03:45PM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $14 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:10AM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Tue, Fri | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 04:20PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:40AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $14 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:10PM | Arrival Time 04:20PM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 05:05PM | Duration 4h35 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 06:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:10PM | Arrival Time 05:05PM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:40PM | Arrival Time 07:00PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Sat | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:45PM | Arrival Time 08:10PM | Duration 4h25 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 09:00PM | Duration 4h20 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 10:50PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 06:10PM | Arrival Time 10:00PM | Duration 3h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $20 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:30PM | Arrival Time 11:10PM | Duration 3h40 | Departure days Mon, Fri | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 12:50AM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:40PM | Arrival Time 12:50AM | Duration 4h10 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:00PM | Arrival Time 02:00AM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:30PM | Arrival Time 02:00AM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:59PM | Arrival Time 05:50AM | Duration 5h51 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $24 |
The table below shows live departures for Stratford to Manchester buses for today, Saturday, June 20. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 9:10 AM Stratford | 5h50 | 3:00 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 10:40 AM Stratford | 4h40 | 3:20 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 2:00 PM Stratford | 5h10 | 7:10 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 3:40 PM Stratford | 4h20 | 8:00 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:40 PM Stratford | 4h20 | 9:00 PM Manchester | 0 transfersDirect |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight 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 Stratford to Manchester run on average 20 times per day, taking around 5h 16m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $10 (€9) if you book in advance.
There are 19 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 163 miles (263 km) distance in 3h 40m.
Distance 163 miles (263 km) |
Average bus duration 5h 16m |
Cheapest ticket price $10 (€9) |
Buses per day 20 |
Direct buses 19 |
Fastest bus 3h 40m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 14 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 exploring Manchester’s role in science, technology and industry, with historic machinery and railway heritage on the oldest surviving passenger railway station site.
University museum with acclaimed natural history, archaeology and cultural collections, recently refreshed and especially popular for its dinosaur and ancient Egypt displays.
Central city gallery with fine art, design and decorative arts collections, plus changing exhibitions in a landmark civic building.
Manchester’s best-known creative district, packed with street art, independent shops and photogenic corners that are highly popular online.
Canalside heritage area with Roman roots, warehouses, waterside walks and one of the city’s most atmospheric urban landscapes.
Historic civic square framed by major Victorian architecture and often used for events, making it a classic city-centre stop.
A classic Manchester dessert with shortcrust pastry, raspberry jam, custard, coconut, and a cherry. It is one of the city’s best-known traditional sweet dishes.
A flaky pastry filled with currants, sugar, and butter, originating from Eccles in Greater Manchester. It is a famous regional bake often eaten with tea.
A traditional blood sausage strongly associated with nearby Bury and widely eaten in Manchester, especially as part of a full breakfast.
A stylish and widely loved restaurant inspired by Bombay cafés, known for rich curries, grilled dishes, and a distinctive heritage interior.
A popular casual venue pairing Indian street food with craft beer. It is lively, well-known, and especially good for vegetarian diners.
A celebrated fine-dining restaurant in Manchester known for modern British cooking, polished service, and an elegant setting inside The Midland hotel.
Moderate by UK standards. Budget eats are easy to find, but central hotels and nightlife can be pricey.
Service is often included in restaurants. If not, tip 10-12.5% for good service. Round up in taxis. Tipping is not expected for counter service, but small tips are appreciated.
Official public transport app
Manchester Airport, Manchester -> Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Stratford 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.

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need