Bus from Manchester to London
10 direct routes · 275–430 min · first bus 05:15, last bus 23:40 (weekdays); night services 424, 422 and 3 more run 23:40–02:45.
Next buses to London as of 06:03
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Manchester, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 540 | National Express | ~290 min | 7 | Sat 13 · Sun 13 | 05:15 | 19:30 | Manchester Central Coach Station | London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals (westbound) | Milton Keynes |
| 541 | National Express | ~355 min | 6 | Sat 7 · Sun 7 | 07:25 | 15:40 | Manchester Central Coach Station | London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals (westbound) | Birmingham & Milton Keynes |
| UK980 | FlixBus | ~275 min | 6 | Sat 6 · Sun 6 | 05:25 | 23:40 | Manchester Airport The Station (Stand A) | Heathrow Central Bus Station (Stops 7 - 17) | Stoke-on-Trent & Coventry |
7 occasional services — once or twice a day · 424, 802, 422, UKN23, 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 Manchester 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 540 bus, 541 bus, 424 bus, 802 bus, 422 bus, 829 bus, 421 bus or 590 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Manchester to London?
10 routes run directly from Manchester to London: the 540 (National Express), the 541 (National Express), the UK980 (FlixBus), the 424 (National Express), the 802 (National Express), the 422 (National Express), the UKN23 (FlixBus), the 829 (National Express), the 421 (National Express), the 590 (National Express). The most frequent is the 540, 7 times each weekday — board at Manchester Central Coach Station and get off at London Victoria Coach Station Arrivals (westbound), about 290 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Manchester to London?
Between 275 minutes on the UK980 and 430 on the 422, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Milton Keynes on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Manchester to London?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 05:15 and the last around 23:40 — and night services 424, 422 and 3 more run 23:40–02:45. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Manchester to London?
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.