- Must visit
Science and Industry Museum
Major museum on the site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, covering Manchester’s industrial, scientific and computing heritage.
Cheapest price
$33
Average price
$88
Fastest journey
3 h 9 m
Average duration
3 h 10 m
Trains per day
58
Distance
282 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Edinburgh to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Edinburgh to Manchester will cost around $88 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $33.
Of the 58 trains that leave Edinburgh for Manchester on Wed, May 27, 8 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, May 27 the direct trains cover the 282 km distance in an average of 3 h 10 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 3 h 9 m .
On Wed, May 27 the slowest trains will take 3 h 10 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.
W34200+
G89834 · L89286+
W84244
W33861+
G38541
W33861+
L89382
W34268+
G38537
W34124+
G38529
W84877
W84901
W84896
W84918
W84912Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $26. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 30m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $26, and a flight costs an average of $205.
Distance: 175 miles (282 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$78 Average price | $44 Average price Cheapest | $368 Average price | $122 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 35m Average total duration 4h 5m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 44m Average total duration 5h 14m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 30m Average total duration Fastest 2h 30m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 4h 34m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | 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 Edinburgh to Manchester:
A bus is $34 (€27) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Manchester costing on average $78 (€63).
A bus is $324 (€261) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Edinburgh to Manchester costing on average $368 (€297).
Other travel options to Manchester take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 5m.
Bus takes on average 5h 14m.
The journey is about 29m faster (4h 5m by train vs 4h 34m by car) and roughly $44 (€35) cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($78 (€63) vs $122 (€98)). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with Transpennine Express, TransPennine Express.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Edinburgh to Manchester trains for today, Tuesday, May 26. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W34265+ L89253 | On time 6:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h41 | 10:33 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W34265+ G89836 | On time 6:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h47 | 10:39 AM Deansgate (DGT) | 1 transfer | |
W34265+ W84899 | On time 6:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h30 | 10:22 AM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 1 transfer | |
W34265+ G89116 | On time 6:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h27 | 10:19 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G08175+ G16071 | On time 7:00 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h09 | 11:09 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W29868+ G16071 | On time 7:03 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h06 | 11:09 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
C02002+ C24952 | On time 7:30 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 11:18 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84901 | On time 8:12 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h10 | 11:22 AM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
C02015+ C24954 | On time 8:30 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 12:18 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W33933+ L89259 | On time 8:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h41 | 12:33 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W33933+ W84903 | On time 8:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h30 | 12:22 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 1 transfer | |
W33933+ G89850 | On time 8:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h47 | 12:39 PM Deansgate (DGT) | 1 transfer | |
G08186+ G15812 | On time 9:00 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h09 | 1:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G01148+ G15812 | On time 9:05 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h04 | 1:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W85785 · G15907 | On time 9:08 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h10 | 1:18 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
C02006+ G15907 | On time 9:30 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 1:18 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84907 | On time 10:11 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h11 | 1:22 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W34060+ G89863 | On time 10:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h47 | 2:39 PM Deansgate (DGT) | 1 transfer | |
W34060+ G89124 | On time 10:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h26 | 2:18 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W34060+ L89265 | On time 10:52 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h41 | 2:33 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G80055+ G15833 | On time 11:00 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h09 | 3:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
C02029+ G15900 | On time 11:30 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h49 | 3:19 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84912 | On time 12:12 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h10 | 3:22 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W34124+ P28507 | 12:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h17 | 4:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G80067+ G88995+ W85292 | On time 1:00 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h10 | 5:10 PM Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 2 transfers | |
G01161+ G15813 | On time 1:05 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h04 | 5:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84922+ Bus from Glasgow Queen Street to Glasgow Central+ L87943 | On time 1:15 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 5h07 | 6:22 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 2 transfers | |
C02014+ C24969 | 1:30 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 5:18 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84918 | On time 2:12 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h10 | 5:22 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W00587+ P28511 | 2:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h17 | 6:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G80080+ G15817 | On time 3:00 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h09 | 7:09 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
C01988+ C24975 | 3:30 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 7:18 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W34195+ G38539+ Bus from Glasgow Queen Street to Glasgow Central+ L87983 | On time 3:45 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 6h05 | 9:50 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 3 transfers | |
W84923 | 4:11 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h11 | 7:22 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W34268+ L89286 | On time 4:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h41 | 8:33 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W34268+ G38537 | On time 4:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h58 | 8:50 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 1 transfer | |
W34268+ G89834 | On time 4:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h17 | 8:09 PM Deansgate (DGT) | 1 transfer | |
G80091+ G15808 | On time 5:00 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h08 | 9:08 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G01170+ G15808 | On time 5:04 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h04 | 9:08 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W34259+ Bus from Glasgow Queen Street to Glasgow Central+ L88012+ G89849 | Delayed 5:40 PM 5:15 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h54 | 10:09 PM Deansgate (DGT) | 3 transfers | |
W85799 · C24984 | On time 5:21 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h58 | 10:19 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
C01989+ C24980 | On time 5:30 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h51 | 9:21 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G80097+ C24984 | On time 6:00 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h19 | 10:19 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84928 | 6:12 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h11 | 9:23 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W33861+ G38541 | On time 6:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h59 | 10:51 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 1 transfer | |
W33861+ L89382 | 6:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h34 | 10:26 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W33861+ P24236 | On time 6:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 10:40 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 1 transfer | |
W33861+ G89849 | 6:52 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h17 | 10:09 PM Deansgate (DGT) | 1 transfer | |
C02033+ G15940 | On time 7:00 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h19 | 11:19 PM Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 transfer | |
W34026+ L88274+ P28821+ L87092 | Delayed 7:21 PM 7:00 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h48 | 11:48 PM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 4 transfers | |
W84877 | On time 8:12 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h09 | 11:21 PM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
C02056+ C24653 | On time 8:20 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h54 | 1:14 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
C01960+ G15880 | 9:00 PM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 6h32 | 3:32 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
| Wednesday, May 27 | |||||
G08170+ C24945 | 5:37 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h41 | 9:18 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
G15895 · G16013 | 5:43 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 4h35 | 10:18 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
W84896 | 6:12 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h10 | 9:22 AM Manchester Oxford Road (MCO) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W84896+ G89882 | 6:12 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h39 | 9:51 AM Deansgate (DGT) | 1 transfer | |
C02042+ G16013 | 6:30 AM Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 3h48 | 10:18 AM Manchester Victoria (MCV) | 1 transfer | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
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.

Trains from Edinburgh to Manchester run on average 9 times per day, taking around 4h 5m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $36 (€29) but you can travel from only $26 (€21) by bus.
There are 1 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:04, the last at 23:56. The fastest train covers the 175 miles (282 km) distance in 3h 9m.
Distance 175 miles (282 km) |
Average train duration 4h 5m |
Cheapest ticket price $36 (€29) |
Trains per day 9 |
Direct trains 1 |
Fastest train 3h 9m |
First train 12:04 AM |
Last train 11:56 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sat |
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 on the site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, covering Manchester’s industrial, scientific and computing heritage.
University museum with renowned collections in natural history, archaeology and world cultures, recently redeveloped and widely praised.
Popular museum telling the story of football through trophies, memorabilia and interactive displays in the city centre.
Manchester’s best-known creative district, packed with street art, independent shops and a strong music and nightlife identity.
Canal-side conservation area with Roman roots, converted warehouses, bridges and some of the city’s most atmospheric walks.
Famous street in the Gay Village, known for cultural significance, nightlife and role in modern Manchester identity.
A classic Manchester dessert with a shortcrust pastry shell, raspberry jam, custard, coconut, and a cherry on top. It is one of the city’s best-known traditional sweet treats.
A famous Greater Manchester pastry made with flaky pastry filled with currants, butter, and sugar. It is strongly associated with the Manchester area and widely loved across the North West.
A traditional Lancashire and Greater Manchester snack of slow-cooked black badger peas, often served with vinegar. It is a simple local street-food style dish with deep regional roots.
A highly regarded steak and British seafood restaurant set in a former courthouse. It is known for excellent ingredients, strong service, and a smart but relaxed atmosphere.
A popular casual spot for Indian street food and craft beer, known for flavorful vegetarian dishes and a lively atmosphere near the city centre.
A celebrated fine dining restaurant in central Manchester, known for refined modern British cooking and polished service in an elegant historic setting.
Generally cheaper than London. Hotels vary by match days and events, while food, transport, and pubs are mid-priced.
Service charge is uncommon outside upscale venues. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is appreciated for good service. Round up taxis. No tip is expected for pubs, takeaways, or counter service.
Official public transport app
Manchester Piccadilly -> Manchester Victoria
The train connection between Edinburgh and Manchester is well-served by several providers, ensuring a comfortable and efficient journey. Passengers can choose from Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, and London North Eastern Railway for their travel needs. With frequent services available throughout the day, travelers can easily explore the vibrant cultures of both cities while enjoying scenic views along the way.
The train connection between Edinburgh and Manchester has a duration of 3 hours and 8 minutes. There are 6 direct connections available per day, making it convenient for travelers. The departure stations include Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket, while the arrival stations in Manchester are Victoria, Piccadilly, Oxford Road, and Airport.
The first daily train journey from Edinburgh to Manchester departs at 06:12 AM, allowing early travelers to start their day. The last departure is scheduled for 09:00 PM, providing a convenient option for those wishing to arrive later in the evening.
The cheapest ticket price for a train journey between Edinburgh and Manchester is €7. The average ticket price typically hovers around €32, making it an affordable option for travelers looking to explore these vibrant cities in the UK.
Welcome to Manchester Town Hall, a stunning example of Victorian Gothic architecture completed in 1877. This iconic building not only serves as the city's administrative center but also stands as a testament to Manchester's industrial heritage and civic pride. As you explore its grand interiors adorned with intricate mosaics and impressive sculptures, you'll discover why it remains one of the most beloved landmarks in the city.
Next on our journey is The John Rylands Library, which opened its doors in 1900 and was designed by architect Basil Champneys. This magnificent library houses an extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts, including some dating back to ancient times; it's truly a haven for bibliophiles and history enthusiasts alike. Be sure to take note of its breathtaking neo-Gothic design that creates an atmosphere reminiscent of medieval Europe—it's like stepping into another world!
Finally, we arrive at Old Trafford Stadium, famously known as "The Theatre of Dreams," home to Manchester United Football Club since 1910. With a rich history filled with legendary matches and unforgettable moments, this stadium has become synonymous with football excellence around the globe. Whether you're catching a game or taking part in one of their guided tours showcasing trophies galore, Old Trafford offers fans an unparalleled experience steeped in passion for the beautiful game!
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Edinburgh to Manchester by train. 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 train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Manchester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

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