Milton Keynes to Manchester Trains From £14.50*

Getting from Milton Keynes to Manchester takes around one hour and forty minutes with Avanti West Coast.

On your journey north, you’ll pass through many scenic and splendid English counties, including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Cheshire, before finally arriving in Greater Manchester. You’ll notice the scenery change from the rolling English countryside to the industrial and urban landscape of northern England’s largest city, Manchester.

Avanti West Coast mainly runs services along the West Coast Mainline, offering dependable links between key cities in England, Scotland, and Wales, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Liverpool.

Departing from Milton Keynes Central

The train from Milton Keynes to Manchester departs from Milton Keynes Central Station, which is located on Elder Gate in the city centre, just off Grafton Street.

Local buses serve this station, and taxis can drop you off at the front of the station. It’s also possible to walk to the station from the city centre if you prefer.

Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Railway, and Northwestern Railway all use Milton Keynes Central, serving destinations like Birmingham, Manchester, Northampton, and London.

Main stops

There are only four stops from Milton Keynes Central to Manchester. They are: Rugby, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, and Stockport.

These stops may vary due to scheduling changes, engineering work, train faults, or poor weather. So, it’s best to check before you travel to avoid disappointment.

Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly

Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly is easy because of the station’s excellent public transport links that can whisk you anywhere you need to be in Manchester.

From Piccadilly, you can catch the Manchester Express to Manchester Airport, which takes only fifteen minutes. You can also get to other mainline train stations around Manchester, like Oxford and Victoria. Outside the station, the city’s tram network, local buses, and taxis take you across the city.

The station is only a few minutes’ walk to Piccadilly Gardens, the very heart of the city centre. From there, it’s a short walk to notable Manchester attractions like the Arndale Centre, the Northern Quarter, Manchester Art Gallery and the AO Arena. If you need to get to Salford, the Trafford Centre, or football grounds like the Etihad Stadium or Old Trafford, look for a bus or tram.

Manchester Piccadilly is the fourth busiest station in the UK outside of London, with approximately thirty million passengers passing through annually. Accordingly, many UK rail operators run services through this station, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express, Northern, and East Midlands Railway, all servicing routes to destinations like London Euston, Liverpool, York, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.

Avanti West Coast train classes

• Standard Class: Avanti West Coast Standard Class offers walk-through carriages, air-conditioning, and charging plugs for your devices.
• First Class: A Milton Keynes to Manchester First Class ticket with Avanti West Coast gives you access to more legroom, reclining seats, free Wi-Fi, complimentary food and drink, and First Class lounge access.

Avanti West Coast train travel advice

• Luggage: Maximum of three items of luggage. This goes up to two larger items and one smaller bag.
• Pets: Dogs, cats, and other small animals can travel for free. Dogs must be on a lead. Other animals must travel in carriers. There is a maximum of two pets per passenger.
• Bicycles: Bikes can be stored free of charge, but space is limited. You must book a space for your bike before you travel.
• Children: Under 5’s can travel for free. Children aged 5 to 15 can benefit from discounted tickets. The Family & Friends Railcard offers up to 1/3 off family ticket costs.
• Passenger Assist: Assist with boarding and alighting trains, book wheelchair space and seating, offer comprehensive rail information, and help with animals or pets.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.