Lowest Prices
We partner with the top coach & 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.
Journey Information
There are 6 intercity coaches per day from Reading to Manchester. Traveling by coach from Reading to Manchester usually takes around 5 hours and 41 minutes, but the fastest Megabus coach can make the trip in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
Distance | 150 mi (241 km) |
Shortest duration | 4h 15m |
Cheapest price | £6.72 |
Trips per day | 4 |
Most frequent service | Megabus |
Coach lines | 2 |
How much is a coach ticket from Reading to Manchester?
£10.99 is the average price of a bus ticket from Reading to Manchester. This is currently one of the best deals in bus travel. 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
What coach companies travel from Reading to Manchester?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Reading to Manchester that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Megabus usually offers more choice, with 5 scheduled trips per day.
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 1 trips from Reading to Manchester, and usually makes the trip in about 9 hours and 45 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The coach takes an average of 5 hours and 41 minutes to cover the 150 miles from Reading to Manchester. However, the fastest coach only takes 4 hours and 15 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.
Because many passengers travel from Reading to Manchester at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for coaches. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, 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 00:00 and the last coach leaves at 11:00. To see the times for all coaches from Reading to Manchester, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 6 scheduled coaches that travel from Reading to Manchester every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 4 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 Reading to Manchester; ticket prices start at £88.07.
City Information
Reading
Image credit: Reading Tom
Link to image attributionImage credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Reading Tom
Link to image attributionLocated only 20 minutes west of London, Reading is a large university and market town in the English county of Berkshire. Reading has an intriguing mix of the past and the present, with a vibrant student scene thriving among the city's medieval and Victorian architecture.
Reading sits on the River Thames, at the end-point of the Kennet and Avon Canal, so there are a number of pretty riverside walks to take in the scenery. Explore the gardens and meet the animals at Beadle Wildlife Park, a vast park crisscrossed with nature trails.
To discover the town's past, visit the Reading Museum, where you can take a trip through time from early Saxon settlements to the Industrial Revolution through 21st-century life.
Since Reading is home to a large university, you are always guaranteed exciting nightlife. Filled with many restaurants, pubs, bars, and clubs, Reading is the perfect place for a night on the town. Try The Nag's Head, The Lyndhurst, or The Purple Turtle to start your night right.
Because Reading is only a short way from London, getting to Reading is simple. Fly to one of London's large international airports for access from around the world. Reading Train Station is also one of Britain's main railway interchanges, making it easy to reach from all over the country by train. National Express coaches also operate through the city from many destinations around the United Kingdom.
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.
Station Information
Where does the coach leave from in Reading?
Main departure station: North Interchange
Coaches to Manchester leave from 3 stations in Reading.
All coach stations in Reading:
North Interchange
Trooper Potts Way
University - Christchurch Green
Where does the coach arrive in Manchester?
Main arrival station: Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)
These are the two stations where coaches may stop when they arrive in Manchester.
Coach stations in Manchester:
Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)
Thomas Street - Stop Nn
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Manchester to Reading?
Search Coach TicketsPlan your next adventure
More coaches from Reading
Continue by coach from Manchester
- Coach from Manchester to Birmingham
£7+
- Manchester to Brighton
£29+
- Coach from Manchester to Blackpool
£7+
- Coach from Manchester to Windermere
£13+
- Coach from Manchester to Derby
£18+
- Manchester to Edinburgh Coach
£22+
- Manchester to York Coach
£11+
- Coach from Manchester to Glasgow
£15+
- Coach from Manchester to Huddersfield
£13+
- Coach from Manchester to Leeds
£4+
- Coach from Manchester to Liverpool
£4+
- Manchester to London Coach
£16+
- Coach from Manchester to Norwich
£23+
- Manchester to Newport Coach
£19+
- Coach from Manchester to Scarborough
£12+
- Manchester to Oxford Coach
£22+
- Manchester to Southampton
£25+
- Coach from Manchester to Wolverhampton
£12+
Check out these popular routes
Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach 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 coach and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.
Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more
- Coach Tickets
- United Kingdom
- Manchester
- Reading to Manchester