Bus from Manchester City Centre to Preston City Centre
3 direct routes · 50–65 min · first bus 06:10, last bus 16:10 (weekdays); night service 181 runs at 01:35.
Next buses to Preston City Centre as of 13:57
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 424 | National Express | ~60 min | 2 | Sat 2 · Sun 2 | 06:10 | 06:10 | Manchester Central Coach Station | Bus Station (Stand A) | Bolton |
| 181 | National Express | ~50 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 01:35 | 01:35 | Manchester Central Coach Station | Bus Station (Stand A) | — |
| UK030 | FlixBus | ~65 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 16:10 | 16:10 | Shudehill Interchange (Stand G) | Bus Station (Stand A) | — |
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 424 bus or 181 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Manchester City Centre to Preston City Centre?
3 routes run directly from Manchester City Centre to Preston City Centre: the 424 (National Express), the 181 (National Express), the UK030 (FlixBus). The most frequent is the 424, twice each weekday — board at Manchester Central Coach Station and get off at Bus Station (Stand A), about 60 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Manchester City Centre to Preston City Centre?
Between 50 minutes on the 181 and 65 on the UK030, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Bolton on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Manchester City Centre to Preston City Centre?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 06:10 and the last around 16:10 — and night service 181 runs at 01:35. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Manchester City Centre to Preston City Centre?
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.