What is the distance between Reading and Manchester?

About 150 miles (242 km) separate Reading and Manchester.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Reading to Manchester?

If you're headed to Manchester from Reading, chances are that your bus will leave from Mereoak P&R and arrive at Shudehill. These are the main pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Once in Manchester, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Chill Factore, Manchester United Musuem and Tour Centre, Chester Zoo, Ordsall Hall and Play Factore.

Bus Reading to Manchester from $19 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Reading to Manchester on November 19
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	2:05pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	8h 5m	10:10pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	2:05pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	7h 45m	9:50pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	Fastest
Bus	8:50pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	8h 35m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	1:30am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	11h	12:30pm	Shudehill	No tags
Bus	4:45am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	8h 15m	1:00pm	Shudehill	No tags

Next departures for Reading to Manchester on November 21
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	9:25am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	8h 45m	6:10pm	Shudehill	Cheapest
Bus	2:05pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	7h 45m	9:50pm	Manchester (Moss Lane East)	Fastest
Bus	8:50pm	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	8h 35m	5:25am	Manchester Airport	No tags
Bus	1:30am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	11h	12:30pm	Shudehill	No tags
Bus	4:45am	Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Park & Ride	8h 15m	1:00pm	Shudehill	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 12:20 AM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to go from Reading to Manchester

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as the good way to reach Manchester. The journey takes about 3 hours 20 minutes and with fares starting at just $25, 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$21 - $72	Average Duration8h 35m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$31 - $433	Average Duration3h 14m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$25 - $41	Average Duration3h 20m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Compare bus companies

FlixBus

3.5/511,360 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

Megabus UK

3.5/54,273 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.4

Cleanliness4.4

Wifi2.6

Based on 4273 reviews, the company was rated 3.6 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the wifi. Megabus UK ticket prices on this trip start at $47

Megabus Reading Manchester recent customer reviews

The coach was on time , it was clean and safe to board . Driver made sure to drive safely and there was enough space to store my luggage

Buumba M.

September 1, 2024

Was on time but I couldn’t change my time on the app because I made an errror and I was asked to pay 10 pounds as extra luggage while I had no luggage before I was allowed to enter with the same ticket

Regina L.

June 14, 2024

Wasn’t even a mega bus coach and the coach that turned up an hour late was dirty, cramped and had no heating on one of the coldest days of the year.

Amanda S.

December 16, 2022

GB bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Where are the popular stops in Reading and Manchester?

Stops in Reading

A - Mereoak P&R

B - Bath Road

C - Reading

Stops in Manchester

A - Shudehill

B - Coach Station

C - Manchester Airport

D - 56 Great Bridgewater St

E - City of Manchester Stadium

F - Manchester Coach Station

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Reading to Manchester by bus

What is the distance between Reading and Manchester?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Reading to Manchester?
What are the best sights and things to do in Manchester?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

11/16

$41

11/17

$26

Today

$20

11/19

$31

11/20

$24

11/21

$37

11/22

$22

11/23

No data

The cheapest trip from Reading to Manchester was searched and found on Nov 18, 2025 with a price of $20

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

You can expect to pay from $20 to $68 for a bus ticket from Reading to Manchester based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $22 which is on 2025-11-22.