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Travel Information
Compare train, bus, and flight for Manchester to Exeter
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Exeter among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $18. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 4h 36m. 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 $18, and a train costs an average of $32.
Distance: 198 miles (319 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train |
|---|---|
$37 Average price Cheapest | $99 Average price |
6h 56m Average total duration 6h 26m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 6m Average total duration Fastest 4h 36m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular train company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Manchester to Exeter
How to get from Manchester to Exeter by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Manchester to Exeter is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus · FlixBusCheapest
NX120 · NX101Fastest
LM0371Other options
L64720+
P22986L64722+P22987L64720+P22801+C75082FlixBus · FlixBusNX120 · NX104FlixBus · FlixBusFind all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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How to travel from Manchester to Exeter?
It's possible to travel from Manchester to Exeter by train, bus, and plane. It is a busy train route, with dozens of services each day, but there are fewer buses and planes. The journey by train takes around 4.5 hours, and by bus, it takes around 11 hours. Plane travel times can vary but the fastest flight takes approximately 5 hours. There are train, bus, and plane services every day of the week, including Sunday.
What is the cheapest way to get from Manchester to Exeter?
The cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Exeter is by bus. There are generally four services each day, with the first departing from Manchester Bus Station in the early hours of the morning and the last leaving late at night, before arriving at Sidwell Street Bus Station. Services run on every day of the week at the same time. All of the coaches are provided by National Express, and most have one change, in London, while others may have two changes in Birmingham and Bristol. Journey times vary from 8-11 hours.
What is the fastest way to travel from Manchester to Exeter?
The fastest way to travel from Manchester to Exeter is by train. All of the fastest trains are provided by Cross Country, and while some services run directly, most have one change in Birmingham. Cross Country usually operate one train from Manchester to Exeter every hour throughout the day, departing from Manchester Picadilly Station and arriving at Exeter St David's Station. The shortest train takes around 4 hours to reach Exeter, while the longest takes 11 hours.
Find and book with Omio the best tickets from Manchester to Exeter
If you need to travel from Manchester to Exeter, Omio is on hand to help travelers compare and book trains, buses, flights, and ferries, so that you can choose the best option for your journey.
Travel from Manchester to Exeter by train
There are dozens of trains from Manchester to Exeter each day, and most of them are provided by Cross Country. They run directly and indirectly, on weekdays and weekends, and have a journey time of between 4-11 hours. Avanti West Coast also offers one early morning service, which takes around 5 hours and has one change, at Euston Station in London. Trains to Exeter depart from Manchester Picadilly Station and arrive at Exeter St David's station which is north of Exeter city center. The center can be reached by train in around 7 minutes, with services to St Thomas Station, or by bus in around 10 minutes. It's also reachable on foot, approximately 10 minutes' walk away.
Travel from Manchester to Exeter by bus
National Express generally run four buses from Manchester to Exeter every day, including Sundays. The fastest bus leaves in the afternoon and takes around 8 hours and 15 minutes, while the longest is an overnight service that can take over 14 hours. Buses depart from Manchester Bus Station and arrive at Exeter's Sidwell Street Bus Station. Sidwell Street Bus Station is in the city center, and the nearby Exeter Central Station and St James Park Station can both be reached on foot in under 5 minutes. The south-western part of Exeter, including St Thomas Station, is around a 10-minute bus ride away.
Travel from Manchester to Exeter by plane
Flights from Manchester to Exeter are provided by Encompass Aviation, Aurigny Air Services, KLM, and Sun Air of Scandinavia. Services differ depending on the day of the week, with more flights at weekends. On weekdays there are usually around four flights per day. Encompass Aviation offers the most flights between the two cities, with the fastest service lasting just over 5 hours including one change in Edinburgh. Other services have at least two changes, in various cities, and can take up to 21 hours. On Sundays, there may be up to six flights per day, all of which have at least one change. The fastest flight on a Sunday is provided by KLM and Encompass Aviation and lasts around 7 hours with two changes. All flights to Exeter depart from Manchester Airport and arrive at Exeter International Airport. Exeter International Airport is 7 miles outside the city center, which can be reached by train in around 25 minutes, and by bus in around 40 minutes.
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FAQs: Travel from Manchester to Exeter
Travel to Exeter 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 Exeter.
This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Exeter:
A bus is $14 (€12) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Exeter costing on average $32 (€26).
A bus is $74 (€59) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Manchester to Exeter costing on average $92 (€73).
Other travel options to Exeter take longer:
Train takes on average 4h 21m.
Bus takes on average 7h 0m.
- Around 17 trains per day.
- Around 12 buses per day.
- Around 1 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Manchester and Exeter as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) and arrive in Exeter St Davids (EXD).
- Buses mostly depart from Manchester, Coach Station and arrive in Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court.
- Travel with National Express, Megabus, FlixBus to go to Exeter by bus.
- Travel with CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Cross Country, Avanti West Coast to go to Exeter by train.
- 1 direct trains per day with Cross Country.
Travelling from Manchester to Exeter: related information
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