Lowest Prices
We partner with the top bus & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
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.
Trip Summary
6 trains operate daily from Manchester to Milton Keynes. The train trip from Manchester to Milton Keynes is usually about one hour and 56 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Avanti West Coast train can get you there in as little as one hour and 38 minutes.
| Distance | 117 mi (189 km) |
| Fastest train | 1h 38m |
| Lowest price | $101.04 |
| Trains per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Avanti West Coast |
| Train lines | 2 |
Which train should you take from Manchester to Milton Keynes?
2 train services operate from Manchester to Milton Keynes. Avanti West Coast usually has more trains scheduled, with 4 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avanti West Coast | 4 | 1h 56m | $101.04 |
| Transport For Wales | 2 | 1h 56m | $101.04 |
Avanti West Coast is one of the primary rail links between London and Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. On any given day, Avanti West Coast operates almost 300 routes and departs hourly from select destinations.
Transport for Wales is a trusted provider of passenger rail travel in Wales and the border region with England. Popular trips include Chester to Church Stretton, Caldicot to Cardiff Central station, and Manchester to London. Passengers onboard can enjoy complimentary WiFi and various options for onboard meals, from either a café car or at-seat trolley service for snacks, sodas, and hot drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thursday tends to be the busiest day of the week with travelers taking trains from Manchester to Milton Keynes. Ticket price also tend to be more expensive on Thursday than other days. If you are hoping to have more room on the train and even save some change check out travel options on Thursday instead, as less people travel then and deals are more likely to be found.
The earliest train departs Manchester at 2:00pm while the last train of the day leaves at 4:00pm. 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 6 scheduled trains on most days. 2 of these are direct connections to Milton Keynes. While direct trains may still make stops along the way, you will not need to switch trains at any point. If you're looking to get to your destination faster, a direct train is the convenient and time-efficient choice.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Milton Keynes to Manchester.
City Information
Manchester
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
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.
Milton Keynes
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Milton Keynes is one of England's most contemporary cities. Here you'll see modern urban engineering at work: a beautiful combination of green spaces, new structures, and sustainable travel. The city also offers first-hand access to history, culture, and sports, not to mention world-class shopping and entertainment.
If you're into arts and heritage, then the places that you'll most likely find them are The Silverstone Interactive Museum, MK Gallery, and National Film and Sci-Fi Museum. At Bletchley Park, learn how Alan Turing and other codebreakers deciphered German codes in this country estate during WWII.
Stadium MK is a hub of live entertainment, where football fans often fill its 30,530 seats. This stadium is also a favorite venue for musical shows. The Milton Keynes Theatre shows live theatre productions, and The Stables is a failsafe spot to enjoy a night of jazz, folk, blues, classical, and pop music.
The nearest airport is London Luton, about 20 miles away from Milton Keynes. Avanti West Coast trains offer seven scheduled trips to Milton Keynes daily, including routes from London, Southampton, and Cardiff. National Express provides bus service to Milton Keynes from other cities throughout the United Kingdom.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Manchester?
Main departure station: Manchester Piccadilly Station
There is one train station in Manchester.
All train stations in Manchester:
Manchester Piccadilly Station
Where is the train station in Milton Keynes?
Image credit: Amira Blossom
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Milton Keynes Central
Milton Keynes Central Railway Station is a modern, glass-fronted station at the western end of central Milton Keynes. It is one of the stops on the West Coast Main line and serves Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains, and Southern regional rail services. Located in the station are a shop and café, but there are several additional restaurants, shops, and hotels in the surrounding area. Many local and long-distance buses also stop at the entrance to Milton Keynes Central, which makes for easy transfers between travel modes.
Train stations in Milton Keynes:
Milton Keynes Central
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Milton Keynes to Manchester?
Search Train 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 and with no additional fees. 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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more