--- title: "Trains from London to Manchester | EveryRail" description: "Direct Avanti West Coast trains take about 2h15 to 2h45 from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, with several trains an hour." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/london-to-manchester/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[United Kingdom]()London to Manchester by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[United Kingdom]()London to Manchester by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About London to Manchester by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Manchester]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated October 2026 # London to Manchester by train Direct Avanti West Coast trains take about 2h15 to 2h45 from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, with several trains an hour. ![Cityscape of Manchester, United Kingdom]() Origin [London]() Destination [Manchester]() Country [United Kingdom]() [London]() to [Manchester]() is a direct train journey of about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. You leave from London Euston and arrive at Manchester Piccadilly. Avanti West Coast is the only company running direct trains between the two. Trains run several times an hour through the day, so you rarely need to plan around a single departure. ## Leave from London Euston Every direct train starts at London Euston, on the north side of central London. Do not confuse it with King's Cross or St Pancras International, which are about 800 metres east along Euston Road and serve other parts of the country. If your ticket says Euston, follow the signs to the main concourse and watch the departure board for Manchester Piccadilly. Euston has its own Underground station on the Northern and Victoria lines, and Euston Square, a short walk away, is on the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. Allow a little extra time for the platform to be announced, as it usually appears on the board only shortly before departure. ## Trains run several times an hour Avanti West Coast runs several trains an hour from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. Some go via Stoke-on-Trent and others via Crewe. The times differ, which is why the journey ranges from about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. Look at the arrival time when you choose, not only the departure. Train times vary by day, and Sundays and public holidays have a different timetable. Check your date before you fix a meeting or a hotel check-in. ## Choose the right ticket to save money Advance tickets are the cheapest. They are for one named train and you buy them ahead. Off-Peak tickets let you travel outside the busiest times, and they cost more than Advance. Anytime tickets work on any train on the day and cost the most. For a visitor with a fixed plan, book an Advance ticket on your chosen train as early as you can. If your plans are loose, an Off-Peak ticket avoids paying for a train you may miss. A Railcard cuts many fares by about a third, so check whether you qualify before you buy. Fares change by train and by how far ahead you buy, so there is no fixed price. ## Seat reservations are free A seat reservation is free with Avanti. It comes with every Advance ticket, and with Anytime and Off-Peak tickets you can choose to add one. Without one you can sit in any free seat. A reservation is a good idea if you travel with luggage or a group. ## Interrail and Eurail passes work on Avanti Interrail Global Passes (for people who live in Europe) and Eurail Global Passes (for people who live outside Europe) are valid on National Rail trains in Great Britain, so this trip on Avanti West Coast is covered. A pass holder can board without a seat reservation. If you live in the UK, a Global Pass covers only one outbound and one inbound journey in your own country, so you cannot use it for an ordinary trip inside Britain. The Interrail Great Britain Pass is sold to residents of other European countries, not to UK residents. ## Weekend works in October 2026 Buses replace trains between Rugby and Stafford on 10 and 11 October and on 17 and 18 October 2026, and Avanti trains between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly are affected. If you travel on those weekends, check your train before you go. ## Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly Manchester Piccadilly is on the south-east edge of the city centre. The Metrolink tram station is under the main building, with frequent trams, and there are buses and taxis outside. The central shopping streets and Piccadilly Gardens are a short walk or tram ride from the station. If your hotel is near Deansgate or the Northern Quarter, a taxi or tram is easiest with luggage. ## Where to book ### Train tickets - Omio Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning. [Check times & prices]() ### Train service - [Avanti West Coast]() Avanti West Coast runs London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime fares. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in Manchester [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Manchester**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### How long is the train from London to Manchester? Most trains take about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. Look at the arrival time when you choose a train. ### Is there a direct train from London to Manchester? Yes. Avanti West Coast runs direct trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, several an hour. No other company runs direct trains between the two. ### Which London station do I use for Manchester? London Euston. It is not King's Cross or St Pancras, which are about 800 metres east and serve other routes. ### How much is a train ticket from London to Manchester? It depends on the train and when you buy. Advance tickets bought early are the cheapest, and Anytime tickets cost the most. ### Do I need to reserve a seat on the train to Manchester? You do not need one to travel on Anytime or Off-Peak tickets, as you can sit in any free seat. A reservation is free with Avanti and comes with Advance tickets. It is worth adding on busy days. ### Does my Interrail or Eurail pass work from London to Manchester? Yes. Interrail and Eurail Global Passes are valid on Avanti West Coast, and you can board without a seat reservation. If you live in the UK, a Global Pass cannot be used for an ordinary trip inside Britain. ## More routes [![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Amsterdam to London by trainDirect Eurostar trains take about 4 hours 10 minutes from Amsterdam to London, with around 3 daily departures and fares from about €57 / £52.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Barcelona to London by trainNo direct train. TGV INOUI Barcelona Sants to Paris Gare de Lyon (about 6h46), RER D to Gare du Nord, then Eurostar (2h17) to London St Pancras.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Birmingham to London by trainDirect trains from Birmingham New Street to London Euston take about 1h30, fastest 1h17. Chiltern Railways from Moor Street to Marylebone takes about 2 hours.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Brighton to London by trainDirect trains take about 1 hour from Brighton to London, to Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express. No reservations.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Brussels to London by trainDirect Eurostar trains link Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid and London St Pancras in about two hours; fares start at £39 on selected departures.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Budapest to London by trainBudapest to London by train is not direct: connect via Paris or Brussels, then take Eurostar to London St Pancras. Fastest trips take around 17 hours.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Coventry to London by trainDirect trains from Coventry to London Euston take about 1 hour on Avanti West Coast and about 1h20 to 1h30 on London Northwestern Railway. Fares from £9.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()Crewe to London by trainDirect trains from Crewe to London Euston take 1h37 on the fastest Avanti West Coast services and around 2h10 on slower ones. 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