:

  • English
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Nederlands
  • Français
Navigation generated at 2026-2-8 0:52:20
    • All Places to go

      Cities

      • All Cities
      • Aberdeen
      • Dundee
      • Dunfermline
      • Edinburgh
      • Glasgow
      • Inverness
      • Perth
      • Stirling

      Popular Places

      • Ben Nevis
      • Glencoe
      • Loch Lomond
      • Loch Ness

      Towns

      • All Towns
      • Aviemore
      • Dumfries
      • Fort William
      • Kirkwall
      • Lerwick
      • Oban
      • Peebles
      • Pitlochry
      • St Andrews

      Islands

      • All Islands
      • Isle of Arran
      • Isle of Islay
      • Jura
      • Lewis & Harris
      • Mull
      • Orkney
      • Outer Hebrides
      • Shetland
      • Skye

      Regions

      • Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
      • Argyll & The Isles
      • Ayrshire & Arran
      • Dumfries & Galloway
      • Dundee & Angus
      • Edinburgh & The Lothians
      • Fife
      • Glasgow & Clyde Valley
      • Loch Lomond, Trossachs, Stirling & Forth Valley
      • Highlands
      • Perthshire
      • Scottish Borders
    • All Things to do

      Attractions

      • All Attractions
      • 20 Top Attractions
      • Ancestry
      • Arts & Culture
      • Castles
      • Free Attractions
      • History & Heritage
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Rainy Days
      • TV & Film Locations

      Outdoor Activities

      • All Outdoor Activities
      • Cycling
      • Fishing
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding
      • Mountain Biking
      • Sailing
      • Ski & Snowsports
      • Walking & Hiking
      • Watersports

      Food & Drink

      • All Food & Drink
      • Beer & Breweries
      • Gin Tours & Tastings
      • Whisky & Distilleries

      Landscapes & Nature

      • All Landscapes & Nature
      • Beaches
      • Ben Nevis
      • Lochs
      • National Parks
      • Northern Lights
      • Standing Stones
      • Wildlife Watching

      Tours, Routes & Trails

      • All Tours, Routes & Trails
      • Islands & Island Hopping
      • Itineraries
      • Scotland's UNESCO Trail
      • Tours
      • Walking Trails

      Events

      • All Events
      • Edinburgh's Summer Festivals
      • Highland Games
      • Music Festivals
    • All Accommodation

      Hotels & Lodgings

      • B&Bs & Guesthouses
      • Budget Hotels
      • Hostels
      • Hotels
      • Luxury Hotels
      • Restaurants with Rooms & Inns

      Caravan & Camping

      • All Caravan & Camping
      • Campervan, Motorhome & Caravan Holidays
      • Glamping
      • Wild Camping

      Self Catering

      • All Self Catering
      • Cabins & Lodges
      • Cottages
      • Flats & Apartments
      • Hot Tubs
      • Large Groups

      Unique Places

      • All Unique Places
      • Boats, Barges & Boathouses
      • Brochs & Blackhouses
      • Castles
      • Churches

      Other Accommodation

      • Accessible Accommodation
      • Eco Accommodation
      • Exclusive Use Venues
      • Luxury Accommodation
      • Pet Friendly Accommodation
      • Romantic
      • Wedding Venues
    • All Travel & planning

      Travel to Scotland

      • From England & Wales
      • From Europe
      • From Ireland
      • From North America
      • From Other Continents

      Travel in Scotland

      • Air
      • Bus & Coach
      • Ferry
      • Train

      Driving in Scotland

      • All Driving in Scotland
      • Car Hire
      • Driving Routes
      • Electric Vehicles

      When to visit

      • All When to visit
      • Spring & Easter
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter, Christmas & New Year

      Practical Information

      • Eco-Travel
      • FAQs
      • Holiday Carbon Calculator
      • Passes & Offers
      • Passports & Visas
      • Weather

      Ideas & Advice

      • Outdoor Safety Information
      • Travel Blog
      • Travel Newsletter

      Holiday Types

      • Accessible Holidays
      • Beauty Spots
      • Budget-Friendly Holidays
      • Countryside Breaks
      • Family Holidays
      • Farm Stays
      • Off the Beaten Track Holidays
      • Solo Travel
      • Weekend Breaks
      • Wellness Retreats
  • Map of Scotland

BETA: The search and map are new features with further enhancements planned. VisitScotland is not responsible for the content of external links and accepts no liability for any reliance on these.

Your feedback will help improve the site
  1. Home
  2. Travel & planning
  3. From England & Wales
  4. From Manchester

Travel from Manchester to Scotland

Getting to Scotland is easier than you may think. From Manchester, you can hop on a train, enjoy a scenic bus or coach journey, or venture north by car and arrive across the border into Scotland in a matter of hours.

The Forth Bridge viewed from Whitehouse Bay Beach at sunset

© Kenny Lam

By train

Edinburgh Waverley Station with Edinburgh Castle in the background

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 coasts of England.

  • Trainline: Manchester to Edinburgh
  • TransPennine Express: Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh
  • ScotRail: Manchester to Edinburgh Waverley

Glasgow Central Station

Manchester to Glasgow 

Trains also run multiple times a day from Manchester to Glasgow.  The journey takes an average of 3 hours 25 minutes and travels via the west coast of England, passing Dumfries, Carluke and Motherwell.

  • Trainline: Manchester to Glasgow
  • ScotRail: Manchester to Glasgow
  • Northern Railway: Manchester Piccadilly to Glasgow Central

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

By bus and coach

Citylink bus on Princes Street with Edinburgh Castle in the background

© Citylink

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, but it means you can sit back, relax and take in the changing landscapes around you. 

  • National Express: Manchester to Edinburgh
  • Megabus: Manchester to Edinburgh
  • FlixBus: Manchester to Edinburgh

Citylink Bus in Glasgow

© Citylink

Manchester to Glasgow 

Similarly, you can travel from Manchester to Glasgow in an average of 3 hours 55 minutes by bus or coach. Travelling by bus or coach is often a more eco and budget-friendly way of travelling, and although it can take slightly longer, it’s a great way to slow down your travels and make the most of enjoying the scenery around you. 

  • Megabus: Manchester to Glasgow
  • National Express: Manchester to Glasgow
  • CheckMyBus: Manchester to Glasgow

Onward bus travel 

There are bus and coach operators across Scotland that can take you to all the nooks, crannies and scenic spots that are on your bucket list.

Find out more about bus and coach travel in Scotland

By car

Driving along the Solway Firth

© VisitScotland / Cutmedia

From Manchester to Glasgow by car, it takes roughly 4 hours, and to Edinburgh it takes roughly 4 hours 15 minutes. 

If you’re heading to Glasgow, travel via the M6 and A74 (M), heading towards Carlisle then passing the towns Lockerbie and Moffat, before reaching East Kilbride and into Glasgow. 

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

Useful information

Castlebay electric car charging point on the Isle of Barra

Travelling in Scotland

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. 

  • Traffic Scotland
  • Park and ride locations
  • Find a petrol station
  • Find an LPG Station
Find out more

Share on

Facebook
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Twitter
Email

Other things you might like

Category: Travel & planning

Travel from England & Wales to Scotland

Category: Travel & planning

When is the best time to visit Scotland?

Category: Travel & planning

Scotland FAQs

Category: Travel & planning

Travel from Europe to Scotland

Category: Travel & planning

Travel from North America to Scotland

Category: Travel & planning

Travel to Scotland from other continents

Category: Travel & planning

Travel from London to Scotland

Category: Travel & planning

Travel from Newcastle to Scotland

Join our Newsletter Clan

Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.

Get the Scotland newsletter

Get in touch

  • Contact us
  • Feedback & Complaints
  • Submit an event

Our other sites

  • Business Events
  • Business Support Hub
  • Travel Trade
  • Asset library
  • Corporate
  • Scotland is Now

Find us on

Find us on

  • About us
  • Accessibility
  • Acceptable use
  • Cookies
  • Environmental policy
  • Privacy
  • Social media
  • Terms of use
Brand Scotland

© 2026 VisitScotland. All rights reserved.