The Forth Bridge viewed from Whitehouse Bay Beach at sunset
Kenny Lam
Travel from Manchester to Scotland
Trains, bus and coach, driving, traffic updates, travel advice, park and ride and more.
By train
Manchester to Edinburgh
There are a variety of train routes and rail operators that travel multiple times a day from Manchester to Edinburgh. The journey takes an average of 3 hours 20 minutes and can go via the east or west coast of England.
- TransPennine Express: direct from Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh
- You can also check for possible routes with changes through ScotRail and Trainline
Manchester to Glasgow
Trains also run multiple times a day from Manchester to Glasgow. The journey takes around of 3 hours 30 minutes and travels via the west coast of England, stopping in Lockerbie and Motherwell.
- Transpennine Express: direct trains from Manchester to Glasgow
- You can also check for possible routes with changes through ScotRail and Trainline
Onward rail travel
Once you’ve arrived in Edinburgh or Glasgow, there are plenty of other rail connections that can take you all across Scotland. From Inverness and Thurso, to Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and more.
Find out more about rail travel in Scotland
Edinburgh Waverley Station with Edinburgh Castle in the background
By bus and coach
Travelling by coach might take longer, but its an ideal option if you want to sit back and take in the scenery as you head north.
Manchester to Edinburgh
Hop on board a bus or coach and journey north from Manchester to Edinburgh. The journey takes an average of 6 hours 15 minutes travelling directly.
Manchester to Glasgow
Similarly, you can travel from Manchester to Glasgow in an average of 4 hours by bus or coach.
Onward bus travel
There are bus and coach operators across Scotland that can take you to all the charming towns and villages and scenic spots that are on your bucket list.
By car
From Manchester to Glasgow by car, it takes roughly 4 hours. If you’re heading to Glasgow, travel via the M6 and A74 (M), heading towards Carlisle then passing the towns of Lockerbie and Moffat, before reaching East Kilbride and into Glasgow.
From Manchester to Edinburgh, it takes around 4 hours 15 minutes. If you’re travelling to Edinburgh, head via the M6, A74 (M) and A702, passing through Carlisle, Lockerbie and Moffat before heading east through West Linton and Carlops and into the south side of Edinburgh.
Onward car travel
Scotland’s road networks connect all of our beautiful towns, villages and cities together so you can explore until your heart’s content. There are a variety of car hire options available too, including electric cars with charging points dotted across Scotland.
Find out more about driving in Scotland
Travel information
If you’re travelling around Scotland, make sure to plan ahead. Booking tickets or car hire in advance is recommended - see below for route planning and live traffic updates.
Driving along the Solway Firth