Bus from London to Manchester
10 direct routes · 280–435 min · first bus 06:40, last bus 00:45 (weekdays); night services 422, 424 and 3 more run 23:00–02:00.
Next buses to Manchester as of 07:13
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in London, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 541 | National Express | ~345 min | 8 | Sat 9 · Sun 9 | 10:30 | 20:30 | Victoria Coach Station (north-east bound) | Manchester Central Coach Station | Milton Keynes & Birmingham |
| 540 | National Express | ~300 min | 7 | Sat 13 · Sun 13 | 07:30 | 20:00 | Victoria Coach Station (north-east bound) | Manchester Central Coach Station | Milton Keynes |
| UK980 | FlixBus | ~280 min | 6 | Sat 6 · Sun 6 | 06:40 | 00:45 | Heathrow Central Bus Station (Stops 7 - 17) | Manchester Airport The Station (Stand A) | Coventry & Stoke-on-Trent |
7 occasional services — once or twice a day · 422, 424, UKN23, 802, 829, 421, 590
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
Times are for the first boarding point in London on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every 541 bus, 540 bus, 422 bus, 424 bus, 802 bus, 829 bus, 421 bus or 590 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from London to Manchester?
10 routes run directly from London to Manchester: the 541 (National Express), the 540 (National Express), the UK980 (FlixBus), the 422 (National Express), the 424 (National Express), the UKN23 (FlixBus), the 802 (National Express), the 829 (National Express), the 421 (National Express), the 590 (National Express). The most frequent is the 541, 8 times each weekday — board at Victoria Coach Station (north-east bound) and get off at Manchester Central Coach Station, about 345 minutes.
How long does the bus take from London to Manchester?
Between 280 minutes on the UK980 and 435 on the 422, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Milton Keynes, Birmingham on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from London to Manchester?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 06:40 and the last around 00:45 — and night services 422, 424 and 3 more run 23:00–02:00. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from London to Manchester?
This is a long-distance coach service, so the England £3 bus fare cap does not apply — nor do local bus tickets or passes. Coach operators set their own fares and price by demand, so booking further ahead is usually much cheaper than buying on the day.