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Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Manchester to Exeter
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Exeter among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €15. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 4h 55m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €15, and a train costs an average of €40.
Distance: 319 km
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train |
|---|---|
€35 Average price Cheapest | €91 Average price |
7h 26m Average total duration 6h 56m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 25m Average total duration Fastest 4h 55m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular train company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Manchester to Exeter
How to get from Manchester to Exeter by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Manchester to Exeter is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
Cheapest
Fastest
Other options
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How to travel from Manchester to Exeter?
It's possible to travel from Manchester to Exeter by train, bus, and plane. It is a busy train route, with dozens of services each day, but there are fewer buses and planes. The journey by train takes around 4.5 hours, and by bus, it takes around 11 hours. Plane travel times can vary but the fastest flight takes approximately 5 hours. There are train, bus, and plane services every day of the week, including Sunday.
What is the cheapest way to get from Manchester to Exeter?
The cheapest way to travel from Manchester to Exeter is by bus. There are generally four services each day, with the first departing from Manchester Coach Station in the early hours of the morning and the last leaving late at night, before arriving at Sidwell Street Bus Station. Services run on every day of the week at the same time. All of the coaches are provided by National Express, and most have one change, in London, while others may have two changes in Birmingham and Bristol. Journey times vary from 8-11 hours.
What is the fastest way to travel from Manchester to Exeter?
The fastest way to travel from Manchester to Exeter is by train. All of the fastest trains are provided by Cross Country, and while some services run directly, most have one change in Birmingham. Cross Country usually operate one train from Manchester to Exeter every hour throughout the day, departing from Manchester Picadilly Station and arriving at Exeter St David's Station. The shortest train takes around 4 hours to reach Exeter, while the longest takes 11 hours.
Find and book with Omio the best tickets from Manchester to Exeter
If you need to travel from Manchester to Exeter, Omio is on hand to help travellers compare and book trains, buses, flights, and ferries, so that you can choose the best option for your journey.
Travel from Manchester to Exeter by train
There are dozens of trains from Manchester to Exeter each day, and most of them are provided by Cross Country. They run directly and indirectly, on weekdays and weekends, and have a journey time of between 4-11 hours. Avanti West Coast also offers one early morning service, which takes around 5 hours and has one change, at Euston Station in London. Trains to Exeter depart from Manchester Picadilly Station and arrive at Exeter St David's station which is north of Exeter city centre. The centre can be reached by train in around 7 minutes, with services to St Thomas Station, or by bus in around 10 minutes. It's also reachable on foot, approximately 10 minutes' walk away.
Travel from Manchester to Exeter by bus
National Express generally run four buses from Manchester to Exeter every day, including Sundays. The fastest bus leaves in the afternoon and takes around 8 hours and 15 minutes, while the longest is an overnight service that can take over 14 hours. Buses depart from Manchester Coach Station and arrive at Exeter's Sidwell Street Bus Station. Sidwell Street Bus Station is in the city centre, and the nearby Exeter Central Station and St James Park Station can both be reached on foot in under 5 minutes. The south-western part of Exeter, including St Thomas Station, is around a 10-minute bus ride away.
Travel from Manchester to Exeter by plane
Flights from Manchester to Exeter are provided by Encompass Aviation, Aurigny Air Services, KLM, and Sun Air of Scandinavia. Services differ depending on the day of the week, with more flights at weekends. On weekdays there are usually around four flights per day. Encompass Aviation offers the most flights between the two cities, with the fastest service lasting just over 5 hours including one change in Edinburgh. Other services have at least two changes, in various cities, and can take up to 21 hours. On Sundays, there may be up to six flights per day, all of which have at least one change. The fastest flight on a Sunday is provided by KLM and Encompass Aviation and lasts around 7 hours with two changes. All flights to Exeter depart from Manchester Airport and arrive at Exeter International Airport. Exeter International Airport is 7 miles outside the city centre, which can be reached by train in around 25 minutes, and by bus in around 40 minutes.
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FAQs: Travel from Manchester to Exeter
Travel to Exeter easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Manchester to Exeter.
There are 2 options to travel from Manchester to Exeter including taking a train or coach.
The cheapest way to go to Exeter from Manchester is by taking a coach, which costs on average €19.
This is compared to other ways of getting from Manchester to Exeter:
A coach is €25 less than a train with an average ticket price of €45 from Manchester to Exeter.
The fastest way from Manchester to Exeter is by train with an average journey time of 4 h 3 min.
There are alternative travel options to Exeter that take longer:
Coach takes on average 6 h 32 min.
The distance between Manchester and Exeter is around 318 km.
The average frequency per day from Manchester to Exeter is:
- 19 coaches a day.
- 15 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your trip between Manchester and Exeter as scheduled services by train or coach can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points for travellers from Manchester to Exeter:
- Trains mostly depart from Manchester Piccadilly and arrive in Exeter St Davids.
Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Manchester to Exeter:
- You can go to Exeter from Manchester by coach with National Express or Megabus. You'll see cheap coach tickets for €21 with National Express from Manchester to Exeter on Omio.
- You can travel between Manchester and Exeter by train with CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Great Western Rail, Cross Country or Avanti West Coast. You can find cheap tickets on Omio for €45 with CrossCountry from Manchester to Exeter.
Yes, there are direct routes from Manchester to Exeter with the following travel companies:
- You can take a direct coach with.
- You'll find direct trains with Cross Country.
Direct services to Exeter tend to save you time and add more convenience as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking tickets for your route.
Travelling from Manchester to Exeter: related information
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