Cheap bus tickets from Liverpool to Manchester

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

Bus from Liverpool to Manchester: Journey Information

There are 106 intercity buses per day from Liverpool to Manchester. Travelling by bus from Liverpool to Manchester usually takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes, but the fastest National Express bus can make the trip in 35 minutes.

Distance: 31 mi (50 km)
Shortest duration: 35m
Cheapest price: $4.66
Trips per day: 106
Most frequent service: National Express
Bus lines: 2

Millions of travellers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travellers are saying about Wanderu:

Download our free app!

Find, compare & book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

Liverpool to Manchester Bus Schedule

There are several bus options that can take you from Liverpool to Manchester:

See more details

How much is a bus ticket from Liverpool to Manchester?

Bus tickets for a trip from Liverpool to Manchester cost about $12 when you book at the cheapest time, 26 days ahead. This is an excellent value for the trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Average bus ticket prices from Liverpool to Manchester by travel date

If you're planning to travel by bus from Liverpool to Manchester in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $11 to $13. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on November 23, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Manchester this week, bus tickets are available starting at $13.

Average bus ticket prices from Liverpool to Manchester by month

Travelling from Liverpool to Manchester by bus will cost you about the same throughout the year. In general, bus ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $14 whenever you decide to travel.

Prices as travel date approaches

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 26 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $2.64 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from Liverpool to Manchester?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from Liverpool to Manchester that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, National Express usually offers more choice, with 98 scheduled trips per day.

Bus	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
FlixBus	8	1h 28m	$8.12
National Express	98	1h 24m	$13.00

First launched in Germany in 2013, FlixBus has become one of the largest intercity bus companies in Europe. Its fleet travels through nearly every country in Europe, including the U.K. FlixBus operates an average of 8 trips from Liverpool to Manchester, and usually makes the trip in about 1 hour and 28 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as washrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.
National Express is probably the UK's best-known bus company, offering intercity services to London, Manchester, Southampton, and Edinburgh. Onboard the single and double-decker vehicles, travellers enjoy a good amount of legroom – roomier than airlines have in coach class – alongside WiFi, washrooms, and air conditioning.

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Liverpool to Manchester

There are 106 scheduled buses that travel from Liverpool to Manchester every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Liverpool to Manchester without transferring.

Trips per day

106

Direct trips

106

The bus takes an average of 1 hour and 25 minutes to cover the 50 kilometres from Liverpool to Manchester. However, the fastest bus only takes 35 minutes. You'll have just enough time for a small nap on this relatively short bus trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Distance (mi)

Distance (km)

The first bus leaves at 1:45 a.m. and the last bus leaves at 10:00 p.m. To see the times for all buses from Liverpool to Manchester, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

Earliest bus

1:45am

Latest bus

10:00pm

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Manchester at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out. On the other hand, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.

Most crowded

Sunday

Least crowded

Tuesday

City Information

Liverpool

Although Liverpool is only England's 10th largest city, its fame ballooned as the birthplace of the world's biggest rock band: The Beatles. Visiting Liverpool would not be complete without a trip to the iconic Beatles Statue, located near the port, followed by a visit to The Beatles Story museum, where visitors can immerse themselves in the band's rise to fame.

To explore some of Liverpool's older history, the Merseyside Maritime Museum provides fascinating exhibits on the city's great port-town past, including exhibitions on the Titanic as well as the Battle of the Atlantic. Football fanatics should check out the world-famous Anfield Stadium, where regular tours help visitors revel in the history and glory of this iconic football club.

Travelling to Liverpool is easy thanks to several rail providers, which facilitate travel around the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Liverpool also has two significant bus terminals for access via coach and an international airport for those travelling from further afield.

Manchester

Most recognizable for its world-famous football team, Manchester is a modern, vibrant city with a diverse range of attractions that will appeal to explorers of all kinds. Often referred to as “The Capital of the North,” Manchester is also known for being the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Visitors can relive this booming era by taking a trip to the Science and Industry Museum to see how this previously small town changed the world's ideas of industry and manufacturing forever. These days, Manchester is famous for its music and art scene, with it being the birthplace of bands like The Smiths and Oasis.

Art and music-lovers may want to visit Afflecks, a vast and eclectic emporium of all things indie and grunge, to purchase records, artwork, and memorabilia, among many other things. Manchester is also home to 15 parks and gardens, with Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens among the most popular. This park provides a beautiful setting for picnics and scenic walks, perfect for when you need an escape from the bustling city.

And if you really are only here for the football, both Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium are stops on our itinerary to visit every premier league stadium in England.

With three large train stations—Piccadilly, Oxford Road, and Victoria—Manchester is easily accessible via rail. National Express and Megabus coaches also allow access from all over the country. In addition, Manchester Airport houses three large terminals, which provide global entry to the city.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Liverpool?

Main departure station: ONE Coach Station

Buses to Manchester leave from 6 stations in Liverpool.

All bus stations in Liverpool:

ONE Coach Station
Edge Lane Drive Bus Stop
University of Liverpool
Liverpool Botanic Park
Kwik Fit
Wavertree Shopping Centre

Where does the bus arrive in Manchester?

Main arrival station: Manchester Coach Station

A short walk from the city centre, Manchester Coach Station is located on Chorlton Street on the ground floor of a multistory parking garage. It has basic facilities including washrooms, food kiosks, and a small newsagent. The station's shops are open between 06:30 am and 7:00 pm each day. Neighbouring streets offer several bars and other food options. As a major hub for National Express, this station is the departing point for trips to Birmingham, London, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. Local buses depart from streetside shelters outside the station.

All bus stations in Manchester:

Manchester Coach Station
Miles Platting
Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)

Need a return trip from Manchester to Liverpool?

Search Bus Tickets

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.