Bus from Manchester City Centre to Bolton (Greater Manchester)
5 direct routes · 57–77 min · first bus 03:59, last bus 01:00 (weekdays).
Next buses to Bolton (Greater Manchester) as of 10:13
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Manchester City Centre, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bee Network | ~57 min | 77 | Sat 69 · Sun 41 | 05:19 | 00:03 | Manchester Crown Court (Stop WW) | Bolton Interchange (Stand A) | Salford & Farnworth |
| 36 | Bee Network | ~77 min | 76 | Sat 62 · Sun 42 | 03:59 | 01:00 | Manchester Crown Court (Stop WW) | Bolton Interchange (Stand A) | Salford, Swinton, Salford, Swinton, Walkden, Salford & 4 more |
| 37 | Bee Network | ~68 min | 74 | Sat 53 · Sun 38 | 05:47 | 00:15 | Manchester Crown Court (Stop WW) | Bolton Interchange (Stand A) | Salford, Swinton, Salford, Swinton, Walkden, Salford & 2 more |
2 occasional services — once or twice a day · 424, 540
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 424 | National Express | ~25 min | 2 | Sat 2 · Sun 2 | 06:10 | 06:10 | Manchester Central Coach Station | Bolton Interchange (Stand G) | — |
| 540 | National Express | ~30 min | 1 | Sat 2 · Sun 2 | 19:40 | 19:40 | Manchester Central Coach Station | Bolton Interchange (Stand G) | — |
Times are for the first boarding point in Manchester City Centre 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 8 bus, 36 bus, 37 bus, 424 bus or 540 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Manchester City Centre to Bolton?
5 routes run directly from Manchester City Centre to Bolton: the 8 (Bee Network), the 36 (Bee Network), the 37 (Bee Network), the 424 (National Express), the 540 (National Express). The most frequent is the 8, 77 times each weekday — board at Manchester Crown Court (Stop WW) and get off at Bolton Interchange (Stand A), about 57 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Manchester City Centre to Bolton?
Between 57 minutes on the 8 and 77 on the 36, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Salford, Farnworth on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Manchester City Centre to Bolton?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 03:59 and the last around 01:00. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Manchester City Centre to Bolton?
Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026, then £2 from 1 January 2027.