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Cheap bus tickets from Manchester to Leicester

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Manchester to Leicester Bus Schedule

Bus from Manchester to Leicester: Journey Information

There are 16 intercity buses per day from Manchester to Leicester. Traveling by bus from Manchester to Leicester usually takes around 5 hours and 9 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Distance74 mi (119 km)
Shortest duration3h 35m
Cheapest price$8.05
Trips per day1
Most frequent serviceNational Express
Bus lines2

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How much is a bus ticket from Manchester to Leicester?

Bus tickets for a trip from Manchester to Leicester cost $24.66 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this 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 Manchester to Leicester by month

$25$20$15$10$5DJFMAMJJASON
If you're on the hunt for the cheapest bus tickets from Manchester to Leicester, mark your calendar for March. During this period, you can expect to find the lowest average ticket price of the year, just $19. However, taking the bus from Manchester to Leicester during August is not so cheap. This time of year, ticket prices often reach an average of $25. The best way to find deals on a trip in August is to plan ahead and book your bus ticket as early as possible.

What bus companies travel from Manchester to Leicester?

There are two bus lines that have daily service from Manchester to Leicester that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, National Express usually offers more choice, with 13 scheduled trips per day.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus44h 40m$29.68
National Express135h 15m$31.13
  • 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 Leicester, and usually makes the trip in about 4 hours and 40 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.

  • Book National Express from Manchester to Leicester from $16. There are 13 trips per day offered by National Express from Manchester to Leicester and you can expect on average to pay for a National Express ticket to Leicester. In Manchester, National Express departs to Leicester from Manchester Coach Station and one other station. In Leicester, National Express arrives at Leicester St Margarets Bus Station .

    An average trip on National Express from Manchester to Leicester takes 5 hours and 15 minutes , while the fastest available National Express trip will get you to Leicester in 3 hours and 35 minutes .

    On weekends, National Express offers 12 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Leicester.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Manchester to Leicester

The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 9 minutes to cover the 74 miles from Manchester to Leicester. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 hours and 35 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road 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.

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Leicester 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, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.

The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Manchester to Leicester, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 16 scheduled buses that travel from Manchester to Leicester every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. However, only one of these is a direct bus. With direct service, you do not have to transfer onto a different bus at any point during your trip. Direct buses also tend to be significantly faster, which is worth bearing in mind as you compare the available options.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Manchester to Leicester; ticket prices start at $66.87.

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.

Leicester

Leicester - GBOUY-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Leicester - GBOUY-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Leicester - GBOUY-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Leicester, located in the county of Leicestershire in the East Midlands, is a city with much to explore. Leicester's cultural diversity and large student population mean the city is filled with a wide variety of experiences.

Leicester Cathedral and Belvoir Castle are a must-visit for those looking to discover the past. Leicester is also famous for being the final resting place of King Richard III, with a visitor center built around the location to tell the story of one of the most famous monarchs in English history. For a broader look at history, try the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery to learn about the Mesozoic era as well as Ancient Egypt.

If your interests lie more in futuristic endeavors, visit the National Space Centre to take a trip through time and space. Leicester is also home to many traditional English pubs and quaint cafes, making it a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment.

Leicester is easily accessible by train, with Leicester Rail Station serving East Midlands and Thameslink trains. St Margaret's Bus Station is located centrally and serves National Express buses. If you're traveling from further afield, East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport are both close to Leicester.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Manchester?

Manchester Coach Station  - GBEISGBNXP-0

Image credit: Mikey

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Manchester Coach Station

A short walk from the city center, Manchester Coach Station is located on Chorlton Street on the ground floor of a multistory parking garage. It has basic facilities including restrooms, food kiosks, and a small newsagent. The station's shops are open between 06:30 am and 7:00 pm each day. Neighboring 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

  • Shudehill Interchange (Stand G)

  • Miles Platting

Where does the bus arrive in Leicester?

Main arrival station: Leicester St Margarets Bus Station

These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Leicester.

All bus stations in Leicester:

  • Leicester St Margarets Bus Station

  • Asda Bus Stop

Get around town with Moovit

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