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Manchester to Cardiff coach

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Manchester - Cardiff Coach Timetable

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Journey Information

There are 19 intercity coaches per day from Manchester to Cardiff. Traveling by coach from Manchester to Cardiff usually takes around 9 hours, but the fastest Megabus coach can make the trip in 5 hours and 5 minutes.

Distance144 mi (231 km)
Shortest duration5h 5m
Cheapest price£6.77
Trips per day5
Most frequent serviceMegabus
Coach lines3

How much is a coach ticket from Manchester to Cardiff?

£22.22 is the average price of a bus ticket from Manchester to Cardiff. Taking a bus is an affordable way to make this trip. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.

Monthly average prices

£40£32£24£16£8MJJASONDJFMA
If you're on the hunt for the cheapest bus tickets from Manchester to Cardiff, mark your calendar for November. During this period, you can expect to find the lowest average ticket price of the year, just £23. However, taking the bus from Manchester to Cardiff during December is not so cheap. This time of year, ticket prices often reach an average of £36. The best way to find deals on a trip in December is to plan ahead and book your bus ticket as early as possible.

What coach companies travel from Manchester to Cardiff?

There are 3 bus lines from Manchester to Cardiff available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 9 daily trips, Megabus usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

CoachDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus412h 30m£33.54
Megabus96h 35m£19.98
National Express138h 39m£34.93
  • 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 4 trips from Manchester to Cardiff, and usually makes the trip in about 12 hours and 30 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.

  • Founded in 2003, Megabus UK was created to provide travelers with greener, more straightforward and smarter travel. The carrier has routes all across the United Kingdom in England, Scotland, and Wales. The Megabus UK fleet, easily distinguishable by its dark blue and yellow colors, has free Wi-Fi, outlets and charging ports, onboard restrooms, and 20 kg luggage allowances on each bus.

  • 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, travelers enjoy a good amount of legroom – roomier than airlines have in coach class – alongside WiFi, restrooms, and air conditioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

The coach takes an average of 9 hours to cover the 144 miles from Manchester to Cardiff. However, the fastest coach only takes 5 hours and 5 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual coach may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Saturday is usually the day when coaches are busiest, as many travelers take the coach to enjoy the weekend in Cardiff. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for coach travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.

The first coach leaves at 02:00 and the last coach leaves at 23:00. To see the times for all coaches from Manchester to Cardiff, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 19 scheduled coaches that travel from Manchester to Cardiff every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 5 direct coaches, where you can stay on the same coach without having to transfer to a connecting coach at any point during your trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Manchester to Cardiff; ticket prices start at £38.99.

City Information

Manchester

Manchester, UK - GBEIS-0

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Manchester, UK - GBEIS-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Manchester, UK - GBEIS-2

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.

Cardiff

Cardiff, UK - GBJCN-0

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Cardiff, UK - GBJCN-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Cardiff, UK - GBJCN-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Cardiff is the capital of Wales, as well as its largest city. Although the city was initially founded as a Roman fort, Cardiff has glided effortlessly into the 21st century, offering tourists a diverse mix of old and new.

Looking to explore the city's history? Cardiff Castle at the heart of the city makes for an exciting day out, where visitors can learn about the fascinating 2,000 years of history that the castle represents.

If the castle gets you in the mood to explore more history, the St Fagans National Museum of History will surely satisfy your historical appetite. As one of Europe's leading open-air museums, the museum offers historical attractions that detail history back to the Celtic era.

For those seeking a more modern experience, Cardiff boasts a fantastic selection of shops and cafes, with Cardiff Central Market as the top choice for retail therapy.

Cardiff has excellent transport links, making it an easy place to visit no matter where you're coming from. Cardiff Airport provides access for visitors traveling from off the island, while high-speed rail services make access to and from London simple. Cardiff Central Station also offers direct routes from Bristol, Bath, Manchester, Nottingham, as well as other main cities and towns.

Station Information

Where does the coach leave from in Manchester?

Main departure station: Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)

Coaches to Cardiff leave from 3 stations in Manchester.

All coach stations in Manchester:

  • Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)

  • Manchester Coach Station

  • Thomas Street - Stop Nn

Where does the coach arrive in Cardiff?

Main arrival station: Cardiff University

Coaches arrive in Cardiff at 5 stations, depending on which coach line you are traveling with.

Coach stations in Cardiff:

  • Cardiff University

  • Cardiff Royal Welsh College of Music

  • North Rd 330

  • North Road Bus Stop

  • 2 Sophia Cl

Get around town with Moovit

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Need a return trip from Cardiff to Manchester?

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