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Cambridge to Manchester train

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Cambridge - Manchester Train Schedule

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Trip Summary

You can pick from 16 daily train trips between Cambridge and Manchester. The average train journey from Cambridge to Manchester takes 4 hours and 33 minutes, but some CrossCountry + Connections train trips are as short as 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Distance132 mi (213 km)
Fastest train3h 53m
Lowest price$80.86
Most frequent serviceCrossCountry + Connections
Train lines4

Which train should you take from Cambridge to Manchester?

There are 4 train lines with service from Cambridge to Manchester. CrossCountry + Connections is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 8 trains each day.

TrainDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
CrossCountry + Connections84h 33m$148.30
Great Northern + Connections24h 56m$158.29
Greater Anglia + Connections34h 11m$124.04
Thameslink + Connections34h 42m$154.07
  • CrossCountry + Connections train tickets from Cambridge to Manchester start from $93, and on average cost . Daily there are 8 CrossCountry + Connections schedules to Manchester. CrossCountry + Connections in Cambridge leaves from Station Road . And in Manchester trains arrive at Manchester Airport and 2 other train stations.

    From Cambridge to Manchester train travel on CrossCountry + Connections takes 4 hours and 33 minutes. If you are looking to get to Manchester faster, CrossCountry + Connections offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 3 hours and 53 minutes.

  • Great Northern is a UK-based rail company that serves commuter towns north of London. The company is owned by Thameslink and offers a contemporary train fleet with complimentary WiFi. The company primarily serves towns such as Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, and Hitchin While standard-class seats can be hard to secure due to high demand at peak hours, first-class compartments offer a quieter, more peaceful journey.

  • Greater Anglia + Connections train tickets from Cambridge to Manchester start from $81, and on average cost . Daily there are 3 Greater Anglia + Connections schedules to Manchester. Greater Anglia + Connections in Cambridge leaves from Station Road . And in Manchester trains arrive at Manchester Victoria and one other train station.

    From Cambridge to Manchester train travel on Greater Anglia + Connections takes 4 hours and 11 minutes. If you are looking to get to Manchester faster, Greater Anglia + Connections offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 3 hours and 53 minutes.

  • Thameslink + Connections train tickets from Cambridge to Manchester start from $146, and on average cost . Daily there are 3 Thameslink + Connections schedules to Manchester. Thameslink + Connections in Cambridge leaves from Station Road . And in Manchester trains arrive at Manchester Piccadilly and 2 other train stations.

    From Cambridge to Manchester train travel on Thameslink + Connections takes 4 hours and 42 minutes. If you are looking to get to Manchester faster, Thameslink + Connections offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

The distance between Cambridge and Manchester is approximately 132 miles, or 213 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 4 hours and 33 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Trains from Cambridge to Manchester are the most crowded on Saturday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Saturday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

The earliest train departs Cambridge at 6:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 9:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

There are 16 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Manchester to Cambridge.

City Information

Manchester

Manchester, UK - GBEIS-0

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Manchester, UK - GBEIS-1

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Manchester, UK - GBEIS-2

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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 Man U, 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 is the train station in Cambridge?

Main departure station: Station Road

There is one train station in Cambridge.

All train stations in Cambridge:

  • Station Road

Where is the train station in Manchester?

Main arrival station: Manchester Victoria

There are more train stations and stops in Manchester than most cities. Most trains from Cambridge will stop at one (or more) of the 3 following stations in Manchester:

Train stations in Manchester:

  • Manchester Victoria

  • Manchester Airport

  • Manchester Piccadilly

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