- Must visit
The Harris
Preston's leading museum and gallery, known for fine art, history, and architecture. A cornerstone cultural attraction in the city centre.
Cheapest price
$8
Average price
$15
Fastest journey
56 m
Average duration
1 h 3 m
Trains per day
6
Distance
53 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Manchester Airport to Preston is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Manchester Airport to Preston will cost around $15 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $8.
Of the 6 trains that leave Manchester Airport for Preston on Fri, Aug 14, 6 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Fri, Aug 14 the direct trains cover the 53 km distance in an average of 1 h 3 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 56 m .
On Fri, Aug 14 the slowest trains will take 1 h 9 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.
G89564
G89569
G89560
G89062
W85170
W85170
W85168
G89062
G89569
G89560Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Manchester Airport to Preston among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $6. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 1h 2m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $6, and a bus costs an average of $10.
Distance: 32 miles (53 km)
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$14 Average price Cheapest | $18 Average price | $16 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 32m Average total duration Fastest 1h 2m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 18m Average total duration 1h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 56m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Manchester Airport to Preston:
A train is $4 (€3) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Manchester Airport to Preston costing on average $18 (€14).
Other travel options to Preston take longer:
Bus takes on average 1h 48m.
Tickets start at around $14 (€11) compared to roughly $16 (€13) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $2 (€2). The journey takes 1h 2m versus 56m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Direct services run with Northern Rail, Transpennine Express, TransPennine Express, Northern Trains Limited.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Manchester Airport to Preston trains for today, Thursday, August 13. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W85168 | On time 8:04 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h58 | 9:02 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89560 | 8:17 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 9:26 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89062 | On time 8:29 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h05 | 9:34 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89564 | 8:48 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 9:57 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85170 | On time 9:04 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h56 | 10:00 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89569 | 9:17 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 10:26 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89045 | 9:29 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 10:32 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89573 | On time 9:48 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 10:56 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85177 | On time 10:04 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h53 | 10:57 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89577 | On time 10:17 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 11:25 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89047 | 10:29 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 11:32 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89581 | On time 10:48 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 11:57 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85179 | On time 11:04 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h55 | 11:59 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89585 | On time 11:17 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 12:25 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89071 | On time 11:29 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h16 | 12:45 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89589 | On time 11:48 AM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 12:57 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85182 | 12:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h54 | 12:58 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89593 | On time 12:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 1:25 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89072 | On time 12:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h16 | 1:45 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89597 | On time 12:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 1:57 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85188 | 1:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h56 | 2:00 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89602 | 1:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 2:25 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89051 | On time 1:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 2:32 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89607 | 1:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h10 | 2:58 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85191 | On time 2:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h55 | 2:59 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89614 | On time 2:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 3:25 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89067 | On time 2:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 3:32 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89617 | On time 2:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h10 | 3:58 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85196 | On time 3:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h58 | 4:02 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89541 | On time 3:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 4:25 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89053 | On time 3:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 4:32 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89543 | On time 3:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h10 | 4:58 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85201 | On time 4:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h57 | 5:01 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89546 | On time 4:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h11 | 5:28 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89055 | On time 4:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 5:32 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89550 | On time 4:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h10 | 5:58 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85206 | On time 5:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h55 | 5:59 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89554 | On time 5:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h11 | 6:28 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89069 | On time 5:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h06 | 6:35 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89558 | On time 5:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 6:57 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85208 | On time 6:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h58 | 7:02 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89562 | 6:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h11 | 7:28 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89057 | On time 6:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 7:32 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89566 | 6:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h10 | 7:58 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
C24372 | On time 7:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h01 | 8:05 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89571 | On time 7:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h08 | 8:25 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89059 | On time 7:29 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 8:32 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89575 | On time 7:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h09 | 8:57 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W85210 | On time 8:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 0h58 | 9:02 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89579 | On time 8:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h11 | 9:28 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89583 | On time 8:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h04 | 9:52 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
W84750 | On time 9:04 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h03 | 10:07 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89587 | On time 9:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h11 | 10:28 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89591 | On time 9:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h02 | 10:50 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89060 | On time 9:59 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h05 | 11:04 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89595 | On time 10:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h12 | 11:29 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89599 | On time 10:48 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h05 | 11:53 PM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89604 | 11:17 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h07 | 12:24 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
G89609 | On time 11:46 PM Manchester Airport (MIA) | 1h10 | 12:56 AM Preston station (PRE) | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train 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.
Trains from Manchester Airport to Preston run on average 11 times per day, taking around 1h 2m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $6 (€5) if you book in advance.
There are 10 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:29, the last at 22:48. The fastest train covers the 32 miles (53 km) distance in 1h 3m.
Distance 32 miles (53 km) |
Average train duration 1h 2m |
Cheapest ticket price $6 (€5) |
Trains per day 11 |
Direct trains 10 |
Fastest train 1h 3m |
First train 5:29 AM |
Last train 10:48 PM |
Cheapest Month Nov |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Discover the best of Preston — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Preston trip today.
Preston's leading museum and gallery, known for fine art, history, and architecture. A cornerstone cultural attraction in the city centre.
Museum of Lancashire history with social, military, and industrial displays. A strong introduction to the county's people and stories.
Modern university gallery presenting changing contemporary art exhibitions. Worth visiting for fresh work by regional and national artists.
Main civic square framed by major buildings and regular events. A central meeting point and one of Preston's most recognisable public spaces.
Canal-side walking and cycling route with locks, boats, and long views. Ideal for a relaxed local ramble away from the busiest streets.
Extensive riverside and wetland area popular for walking, birdlife, and broad open views. A lesser-known escape close to the city.
Lancashire hotpot is a slow-cooked lamb and onion stew topped with sliced potatoes, long linked with Lancashire home cooking and nearby mill towns.
Butter pie is Preston's best-known savoury pie, filled with potato, onion and butter. It became a Friday staple for local Catholics avoiding meat.
Parkin is a dark oat, treacle and ginger cake popular across Lancashire, especially in colder months and around Bonfire Night.
Elegant fine dining by chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, known for refined modern British tasting menus and polished service in a country house setting.
Long-established city centre restaurant serving classic Italian dishes in a smart yet relaxed setting. Popular for pasta, seafood and pre-theatre meals.
Traditional Lancashire pub atmosphere with cask ales and hearty British plates. A good place to try regional comfort food in central Preston.
Moderate for the UK. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than London, while local buses and casual meals stay fairly affordable for visitors.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common for good service if not already added. Round up for taxis. Cafes usually do not require tips.
Official public transport app
Preston Railway Station -> Preston Bus Station
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Manchester Airport to Preston 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 Preston, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Manchester Airport to Preston trains use the Manchester Airport to Preston station pair. Use this guide to compare Manchester Airport and Preston train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Preston is 1 km from Preston city centre. Public transport options include:
Preston has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Rise, The Olive Tree Brasserie, Turtle Bay
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Preston. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Preston. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Preston: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Preston: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Preston: Elevators, ramps.
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn Express Preston - South, Delta Hotels Preston, Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need