How to take the rail journey from London to Manchester

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London to Manchester by train

How to buy tickets, what's on board the trains, how to use the stations, plus tips for making the most of the journey

Good news, the most frequent rail service between European cities over a distance of more than 200km has been restored, as once again three trains per hour are travelling on this route!

Routes you can take to go from London to Manchester

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Route Information

Travel Time (approx)

2hr 7min - 2hr 13min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

3 x trains per hour

Journey Summary:

Is the journey direct? = Yes


Is the journey scenic? = Not particularly


When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at the destination? = before 08:30 on Monday to Friday; around 08:45 on Saturday; before 11;00 on Sunday


When is the usual approximate latest departure? =after 22:00 on Monday to Friday; after 21:00 on Saturday; after 21:45 on Sunday


Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance? = Yes


How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale? = 12 weeks; see the Ticket Information


What are the child ticket terms? = aged 5 to 15 = 50%; aged 4 and under = free


Does the ticket include assigned seats? = Depends on the type of ticket booked, but reservations are included with Advance tickets; See the Ticket Information


Do rail pass users need to book reservations? = No, but they are available.


Is catering available on the train? = Yes - There is a bar/bistro car: And complimentary at seat catering in 1st class, which typically includes a full meal service.


What else is good to know?

See the general guide to travelling in Britain by train.

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