There are 7 ways to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff 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 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Centraltrain Manchester Piccadilly - Cardiff Central / ...
4h 21m£57–92Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Manchester to Bristol Bus Stationbus Uk071
- Take the bus from Bristol Bus Station to Cardiff North Roadbus Uk940 / ...
5h 33m£25–37Drive 170.9 mi
- Drive from Greater Manchester to Cardiffcar 170.9 mi
3h 44m£43–61Fly to Cardiff Airport
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Cardiff Airport (CWL)plane MAN - CWL
6h 33m£50–237Train via Birmingham
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Streettrain Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth / ...
- Take the train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Centraltrain Nottingham - Cardiff Central / ...
5h 12m£74–127Fly to Bristol Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Bristol Airport (BRS)plane MAN - BRS
- Take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Centraltrain
6h 25m£69–171Fly to London Heathrow Airport, train
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)plane MAN - LHR
- Take the train from London Paddington to Cardiff Centraltrain
5h 34m£131–394
Greater Manchester to Cardiff by bus, foot, and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff is to bus which costs £24 - £40 and takes 5h 33m.
The fastest way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff is to drive which takes 3h 44m and costs £40 - £65.
No, there is no direct bus from Greater Manchester to Cardiff. However, there are services departing from Manchester and arriving at Cardiff North Road via Bristol Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 33m.
No, there is no direct train from Greater Manchester to Cardiff. However, there are services departing from Manchester Piccadilly and arriving at Cardiff Central via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 21m.
The distance between Greater Manchester and Cardiff is 172 miles. The road distance is 171.9 miles.
The best way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff without a car is to train which takes 4h 21m and costs £55 - £95.
It takes approximately 4h 21m to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff, including transfers.
Greater Manchester to Cardiff bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Manchester station.
Greater Manchester to Cardiff train services, operated by Transport for Wales, depart from Manchester Piccadilly station.
The best way to get from Greater Manchester to Cardiff is to train which takes 4h 21m and costs £55 - £95. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs £24 - £40 and takes 5h 33m, you could also fly, which costs £45 - £240 and takes 6h 33m.
What companies run services between Greater Manchester, England and Cardiff, Wales?
Transport for Wales operates a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central hourly. Tickets cost £55–90 and the journey takes 3h 12m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Manchester to Cardiff North Road via Bristol Bus Station in around 5h 33m.
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £35–180
Flights from Manchester Airport to London Heathrow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £50–210
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Cardiff Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- £40–220
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 27m
- When
- Monday and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- £45–130
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Knock
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £45–130
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Sunday, Saturday, Monday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- £30–170
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Belfast City
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Thursday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- £30–170
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Cardiff Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £60–330
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Manchester Airport to Bristol Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £35–180
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–90
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 51 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 Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–55
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–70
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £16–25
- Website
- Cross Country
_(2).jpg "Train Exterior")
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £27–45
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £15–29
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 54m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £60–110
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Manchester to Bristol Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £19–29
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Bristol Bus Station to Cardiff North Road
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £5–8
- Website
- Flixbus
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Booking & Getting There
Greater Manchester to Cardiff bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Bristol Bus Station.
Greater Manchester to Cardiff train services, operated by Transport for Wales, arrive at Cardiff Central station.
Yes, the driving distance between Greater Manchester to Cardiff is 172 miles. It takes approximately 3h 44m to drive from Greater Manchester to Cardiff.
Book your Greater Manchester to Cardiff bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 1771+ hotels available in Cardiff.