There are 5 ways to get from Cardiff Central Station to Manchester by train, bus, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadillytrain Cardiff Central - Manchester Piccadilly / ...
3h 18m£55–95Drive 170.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Cardiff Central Station to Manchestercar 170.9 mi
3h 52m£43–62Train, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain Cardiff Central - Nottingham / ...
- Take the bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Manchester Central Coach Stationbus 541 / ...
4h 54m£61–94Fly from Cardiff Airport
- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Manchester Airport (MAN)plane CWL - MAN
5h 13m£44–204Train to Bristol Airport, fly
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Manchester Airport (MAN)plane BRS - MAN
5h 37m£68–169
Cardiff Central Station to Manchester by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff Central Station to Manchester is to drive which costs £40 - £65 and takes 3h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff Central Station to Manchester is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £55 - £95.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Cardiff Central and arriving at Manchester Piccadilly. Services depart hourly, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 18m.
The distance between Cardiff Central Station and Manchester is 170 miles. The road distance is 171.9 miles.
The best way to get from Cardiff Central Station to Manchester without a car is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £55 - £95.
The train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly takes 3h 18m including transfers and departs hourly.
Cardiff Central Station to Manchester train services, operated by Transport for Wales, depart from Cardiff Central station.
The best way to get from Cardiff Central Station to Manchester is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs £55 - £95. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs £40 - £210 and takes 5h 13m.
Cardiff Central Station to Manchester train services, operated by Transport for Wales, arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cardiff Central Station to Manchester is 172 miles. It takes approximately 3h 52m to drive from Cardiff Central Station to Manchester.
What companies run services between Cardiff Central Station, Wales and Manchester, England?
Transport for Wales operates a train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly hourly. Tickets cost £55–95 and the journey takes 3h 18m. Alternatively, Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and KLM fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Manchester Airport (MAN) 4 times a day.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Manchester Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £35–190
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Manchester Airport via Alicante–Elche
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £75–250
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Thursday, Monday, Sunday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- £45–130
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Manchester Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £50–280
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £35–210
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 22m
- When
- Friday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £30–160
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £30–170
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Manchester Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £45–240
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Manchester Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- £45–230
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–170
- Website
- aurigny.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Manchester Airport via Guernsey
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £85–240
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–95
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- Phone
- +44 3447 369 123
- [email protected]
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–70
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £16–25
- Website
- Cross Country
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–29
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Phone
- +44 (0)3717 81 81 81
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Birmingham Coach Station to Manchester Central Coach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £13–24
- Website
- National Express
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Book your Cardiff Central Station to Manchester train tickets online with Omio.
There are 3605+ hotels available in Manchester.




















