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4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus, train, and flight for Manchester to Edinburgh
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Edinburgh among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $40 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 4h 3m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $40, while a flight costs an average of $309.
Distance: 175 miles (282 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$83 Average price | $40 Average price Cheapest | $309 Average price | $118 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 3m Average total duration Fastest 3h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 36m Average total duration 6h 6m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 35m Average total duration 2h 35m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 4h 21m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.7kg CO2 emissions | 0.8 - 1.7kg 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 Manchester to Edinburgh:
A bus is $42 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Edinburgh costing on average $83.
A bus is $269 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Manchester to Edinburgh costing on average $309.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 35m.
Bus takes on average 6h 36m.
The journey is about 48m faster (3h 33m by train vs 4h 21m by car) and roughly $35 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls ($83 vs $118). 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.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Manchester to Edinburgh
How to get from Manchester to Edinburgh by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Manchester to Edinburgh is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- FlixBus · FlixBus2:10 AM6h12Manchester, Shudehill Interchange8:22 AMEdinburgh, Drum Brae South$581One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus2:10 AM6h12Manchester, Shudehill Interchange8:22 AMEdinburgh, Drum Brae South$581One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- W8517610:24 AM3h09Manchester Oxford Road (MCO)1:33 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$991One-way0 transfers
Other options
- G15936 · TP211500+
G801924:32 AM5h08Manchester Victoria (MCV)9:40 AMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$711One-way2 transfers - W84709+
W337946:11 PM4h11Manchester Oxford Road (MCO)10:22 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$721One-way1 transfer 
G89049+W3379912:56 PM3h22Deansgate (DGT)4:18 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$811One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus4:10 PM6h53Manchester, Shudehill Interchange11:03 PMEdinburgh, Drum Brae South$581One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus1:00 PM7h50Manchester, Shudehill Interchange8:50 PMEdinburgh, Bus Station$581One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus2:10 AM6h21Manchester, Shudehill Interchange8:31 AMEdinburgh, Haymarket Station (Stop HB)$581One-way1 transfer
- BA1369 · BA14644:45 PM5h05Manchester Airport9:50 PMEdinburgh Airport$2281One-way1 transfer
- BA1369 · BA14664:45 PM6h20Manchester Airport11:05 PMEdinburgh Airport$2281One-way1 transfer
BA8901 · BA88748:40 AM4h55Manchester Airport1:35 PMEdinburgh Airport$4311One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Compare bus, train, 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.
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General Information about the journey from Manchester to Edinburgh
Flying is the fastest method of travel between the two cities at just over an hour. Traveling by bus takes the longest amount of time at upwards of 5.5 hours. There are usually between one and three departure and arrival points.
Buses from Manchester to Edinburgh
National Express operate services between the cities, departing from Manchester Coach Station and arriving at Edinburgh Bus Station on Elder Street. There are usually five departures per day, one at around1:00 a.m., three between 8:00 a.m and 10:30 a.m. and one in the early afternoon. The journey takes between 5.5 hours and 8.5 hours, there are direct buses and those requiring one change available.
Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh
Trains leave from three stations in Manchester, Oxford Road, Deansgate and Piccadilly and all arrive at Waverley Station in Edinburgh. All trains are either direct routes or have a change at one station. Trains are run by Transpennine Express, Virgin Trains and Cross Country Trains. There are around 10 trains per day, they depart at least once every hour from approximately 9:00 a.m. until early afternoon. The journey takes between three and four hours.
Flights from Manchester to Edinburgh
How to Travel from Manchester to Edinburgh
Flying is the fastest method of travel between the two cities at just over an hour. Traveling by bus takes the longest amount of time at upwards of 5.5 hours. There are usually between one and three departure and arrival points.
What is the best way to travel from Manchester to Edinburgh?
Cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Edinburgh
The cheapest way from Manchester to Edinburgh is by bus. National Express operate services between the cities, departing from Manchester Coach Station and arriving at Edinburgh Bus Station on Elder Street. There are usually five departures per day, one at around 1:00 a.m., three between 8:00 a.m and 10:30 a.m. and one in the early afternoon. The journey takes between 5.5 hours and 8.5 hours, there are direct buses and those requiring one change available.
Fastest way to travel from Manchester to Edinburgh
Flights are the quickest way from Manchester to Edinburgh. Direct flights between the main airports in each city are available from Flybe. The flight takes just over an hour. During the week there are three flights, one each in the morning, afternoon and evening. At the weekend there are one or two flights in operation.
Trains are the most popular way to get from Manchester to Edinburgh. Services leave from three stations in Manchester, Oxford Road, Deansgate and Piccadilly and all arrive at Waverley Station in Edinburgh. All trains are either direct routes or have a change at one station. Trains are run by Transpennine Express, Virgin Trains and Cross Country Trains. There are around 10 trains per day, they depart at least once every hour from approximately 9:00 a.m. until early afternoon. The journey takes between three and four hours.
Direct flight between the main airports in each city are available from Flybe. The flight takes just over an hour. During the week there are three flights, one each in the morning, afternoon and evening. At the weekend there are one or two flights in operation.
How to get from Manchester to Edinburgh
The Best Way According to our Users
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FAQs: Travel from Manchester to Edinburgh
Travel to Edinburgh easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Manchester to Edinburgh.
This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Edinburgh:
A bus is $42 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Edinburgh costing on average $83.
A bus is $269 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Manchester to Edinburgh costing on average $309.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Flight takes on average 4h 35m.
Bus takes on average 6h 36m.
- Around 15 flights per day.
- Around 15 buses per day.
- Around 7 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Manchester and Edinburgh as scheduled services by bus, train, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Manchester Airport and arrive in Edinburgh Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) and arrive in Edinburgh Waverley (EDB).
- Buses mostly depart from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange and arrive in Edinburgh, Bus Station.
- Travel with FlixBus, National Express, Megabus to go to Edinburgh by bus.
- Travel with British Airways, Loganair, BA Cityflyer to go to Edinburgh by flight.
- Travel with Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway, CrossCountry, Northern Rail, Lumo to go to Edinburgh by train.
- 1 direct trains per day with Transpennine Express.
Travelling from Manchester to Edinburgh: related information
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