How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Reading?

The cheapest coach tickets from Manchester to Reading start from £19. The average price for this route is around £25. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus journey from Manchester to Reading?

The average bus journey time from Manchester to Reading is 9h, covering a distance of 152 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 4h 10m and is operated by Megabus UK .

Which bus companies service the Manchester to Reading route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 10 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus , Megabus UK .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Reading?

The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Reading at 00:20. And the latest bus departs at 23:59.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Manchester to Reading?

A bus journey from Manchester to Reading produces an estimated 6 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.

Which is the best bus company from Manchester to Reading?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Megabus UK , with an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars based on 4274 reviews.

Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Reading?

Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.

Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Manchester to Reading?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Manchester to Reading?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Megabus UK , with a cleanliness rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Bus Manchester to Reading from £17 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures from Manchester to Reading on 30 November
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	18:00	Shudehill	10h 40m	04:40	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	Cheapest
Bus	12:15	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	8h 5m	20:20	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	Fastest
Bus	12:00	Shudehill	8h 20m	20:20	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	No tags
Bus	17:00	Shudehill	8h 25m	01:25	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	No tags
Bus	23:59	Shudehill	9h 21m	09:20	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Last Friday at 18:51 GMT.

Compare 3 ways to travel from Manchester to Reading

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Reading. The journey takes about 3 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just £20, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

3h 20mAverage duration

150 milesDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average price£19 - £57	Average duration9h	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£24 - £166	Average duration3h 16m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average price£20 - £23	Average duration3h 20m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Manchester and Reading?

Stops in Manchester

A
Shudehill
Shudehill Interchange, Stand G, Manchester M60
Visit page
B
Coach Station
16 Chorlton St, Manchester M1 3HW, UK
Visit page
C
Manchester Airport
Visit page
D
56 Great Bridgewater St
56 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE, UK
E
City of Manchester Stadium
Citylink, Manchester M40 7EP, UK
F
Manchester Coach Station
Manchester Coach Station, Chorlton St., , Manchester M1 3JF, United Kingdom

Stops in Reading

A
Mereoak P&R
Mereoak Ln, Three Mile Cross, Reading RG7, UK
Visit page
B
Bath Road
Bath Rd, Reading RG31 7BS, UK
C
Reading
25 Cross Street, Reading, RG1 1ST, United Kingdom

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,476 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi2.7

Megabus UK

3.5/54,278 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.4

WiFi2.6

Based on 4278 reviews, the company was rated 3.6 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at £37

Megabus Manchester Reading recent customer reviews

Seat wasn’t comfortable and bus was very cold hope no heaters inside

Shameem B.

1 April 2024

Great experience, polite staff

Michelle L.

3 May 2023

Adequate and Expected

Dom R.

7 November 2022

GB Bus Companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, National Express

Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Manchester to Reading

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your journey.

How much is the bus ticket from Manchester to Reading?
The cheapest coach tickets from Manchester to Reading start from £19. The average price for this route is around £25. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Manchester to Reading?
The average bus journey time from Manchester to Reading is 9h, covering a distance of 152 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 4h 10m and is operated by Megabus UK.
Which bus companies service the Manchester to Reading route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 10 buses available per day, including services from FlixBus, Megabus UK.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Manchester to Reading?
The earliest bus departs from Manchester to Reading at 00:20. And the latest bus departs at 23:59.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Manchester to Reading?
A bus journey from Manchester to Reading produces an estimated 6 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
Which is the best bus company from Manchester to Reading?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Megabus UK, with an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars based on 4274 reviews.
Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Reading?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company FlixBus has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.7.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Manchester to Reading?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Manchester to Reading?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Megabus UK, with a cleanliness rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

28/11

£22

29/11

£33

Today

£35

01/12

£18

02/12

£19

03/12

£19

04/12

£21

05/12

£22

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Reading was searched and found on 1 Dec 2025 with a price of £18

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Manchester to Reading as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from £18 to £55 for a bus ticket from Manchester to Reading based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £18, which is on 2025-12-01.