How to travel from Manchester to Reading

Sun, Jun 21
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Travel by train, bus, flight with
CrossCountry
Megabus
British Airways
Avanti West Coast
National Express
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CrossCountry
Megabus
British Airways
Avanti West Coast
National Express
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Manchester to Reading

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Reading among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $21. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 0m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $21, and a flight costs an average of $87.

Distance: 149 miles (241 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Flight
Driving

$92

Average price

$64

Average price

Cheapest

$166

Average price

$81

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

3h 37m

Average total duration

3h 7m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

6h 31m

Average total duration

6h 1m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 0m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 0m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

3h 43m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.2 - 0.6kg

CO2 emissions

0.7 - 1.4kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

CrossCountry

Most popular train company

Megabus

Most popular bus company

British Airways

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.

The cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Reading is a bus with an average price of $64 (€52).

This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Reading:

A bus is $28 (€23) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Reading costing on average $92 (€76).

A bus is $102 (€83) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Manchester to Reading costing on average $166 (€136).

The fastest way to travel from Manchester to Reading is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 0m.

Other travel options to Reading take longer:

Train takes on average 3h 7m.

Bus takes on average 6h 1m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Manchester and Reading including taking a train, bus, and flight.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Manchester to Reading among Omio's users.

Travel options
from Manchester to Reading

How to get from Manchester to Reading by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

train

The best way to travel from Manchester to Reading is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • CrossCountryG01007
    8:26 AM3h13
    Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    11:39 AMReading station (RDG)
    $311One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • CrossCountryG01007
    8:26 AM3h13
    Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    11:39 AMReading station (RDG)
    $311One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • LoganairLM0369
    7:55 PM0h50
    Manchester Airport
    8:45 PMSouthampton Airport
    $2161One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • CrossCountryG01011
    9:27 AM3h13
    Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    12:40 PMReading station (RDG)
    $311One-way
    0 transfers
  • CrossCountryG01029
    2:25 PM3h14
    Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    5:39 PMReading station (RDG)
    $311One-way
    0 transfers
  • Avanti West CoastW33287+TubeTube from London Euston to London Paddington+Great Western RailwayC50043
    1:35 PM3h33
    Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    5:08 PMReading station (RDG)
    $1161One-way
    2 transfers
  • National ExpressNX540 · NX025 · RRRA1
    1:25 PM8h16
    Manchester, Coach Station
    9:41 PMReading, Blagrave Street
    $791One-way
    2 transfers
  • National ExpressNX540 · NX032 · RRRA1
    1:25 PM8h16
    Manchester, Coach Station
    9:41 PMReading, Blagrave Street
    $791One-way
    2 transfers
  • National ExpressNX540 · NX035 · RRRA1
    3:50 PM8h25
    Manchester, Coach Station
    12:15 AMReading, Blagrave Street
    $791One-way
    2 transfers
  • British AirwaysBA1373
    8:00 PM1h00
    Manchester Airport
    9:00 PMLondon Heathrow Airport
    $1841One-way
    0 transfers
  • British AirwaysBA1379
    7:00 AM1h15
    Manchester Airport
    8:15 AMLondon Heathrow Airport
    $1841One-way
    0 transfers
  • British AirwaysBA1381
    7:45 AM1h15
    Manchester Airport
    9:00 AMLondon Heathrow Airport
    $1841One-way
    0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Manchester to Reading

Travel to Reading 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 Reading.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Manchester and Reading including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Reading is a bus with an average price of $64 (€52).

This is compared to other travel options from Manchester to Reading:

A bus is $28 (€23) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Manchester to Reading costing on average $92 (€76).

A bus is $102 (€83) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Manchester to Reading costing on average $166 (€136).

The fastest way to travel from Manchester to Reading is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 0m.

Other travel options to Reading take longer:

Train takes on average 3h 7m.

Bus takes on average 6h 1m.

The distance from Manchester to Reading is approximately 149 miles (241 km).
The average frequency per day from Manchester to Reading is:
  • Around 16 buses per day.
  • Around 12 flights per day.
  • Around 8 trains per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Manchester and Reading as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Manchester to Reading:
  • Flights mostly depart from Manchester Airport and arrive in London Heathrow Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) and arrive in Reading station (RDG).
  • Buses mostly depart from Manchester, Coach Station and arrive in Reading, Blagrave Street.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Manchester to Reading, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Megabus, National Express, FlixBus to go to Reading by bus.
  • Travel with CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, Cross Country to go to Reading by train.
  • Travel with British Airways to go to Reading by flight.
Yes, there are direct services available from Manchester to Reading with the following travel companies:
  • 3 direct trains per day with Cross Country.
  • 0 direct buses per day with Megabus.
Omio customers who travel from Manchester to Reading often also extend their vacation to go to London, London Paddington (PAD), Longford, Oxford, Birmingham. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Reading and these popular destinations at a great price.
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