Nottingham to Manchester Piccadilly Trains From £14.30*

On average, traveling directly between Nottingham and Manchester Piccadilly takes just under two hours. With up to 36 trains running per day, Manchester City Centre is just a stone’s throw away.

On your journey, you’ll pass everything from historic market towns to bustling cities and skirt around the edges of the stunning Peak District before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly.

East Midlands Railway connects the Midlands with the rest of the UK and beyond. It joins towns and cities in the Midlands with other major UK destinations such as London and Manchester. Plus, it even connects the UK to the rest of Europe, running a direct route between Nottingham and London St Pancras International.

Departing from Nottingham

Nottingham train station is located between Queen’s Road and Arkwright Street, right in the city centre, and is managed and operated by East Midlands Railway. Due to its central location, it’s easy to get to and from Nottingham train station by bus, taxi, and several other transport services.

Main stops

The great news is that there are usually only five stops between Nottingham and Manchester Piccadilly. These are at Ilkeston, Alfreton, Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Stockport before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly, which then goes onto Manchester Oxford Road station afterwards.

It’s always worth considering that this might be subject to change depending on circumstances like the weather or engineering works.

Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly

The Nottingham to Manchester Piccadilly train first stops at one of the UK’s most prominent and well-connected train stations, Manchester Piccadilly. Located in the city’s southeast, it’s highly accessible, with buses, coaches, taxis, and Metrolink trams nearby. Additionally, purchasing a discounted ‘Plusbus’ ticket along with your train ticket allows for unlimited travel throughout the city.

After Manchester Piccadilly, the train takes you to Oxford Road station in 5 minutes, which offers excellent connections to the rest of the city as it is located in the city center near Hulme. If you’re planning to travel further north to destinations such as York or Newcastle, Manchester Victoria train station is just a 25-minute walk away.

There’s lots to do around Manchester Piccadilly. It’s just a five-minute walk from the station into the city centre, which houses a great assortment of things to see, eat, and do. Including the Arndale Centre and its surrounding shops, more independent options in the nearby Northern Quarter, or visiting the Football Museum near the entertainment-focused Printworks.

East Midlands Railway train classes

• Standard Class: Standard Class is the most popular and budget-friendly choice, and it offers comfortable seating. Passengers also benefit from complimentary Wi-Fi and convenient plug sockets for all devices.
• First Class: East Midlands Railway does not offer a Nottingham to Manchester First Class ticket. As they are only available on services between Nottingham and London St Pancras International.

If you ever want to upgrade your train fare, it’s best to buy cheap train tickets in advance through services like TrainPal.

East Midlands Railway 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: Reservations are highly recommended, as each train has only two cycle spaces. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to book early.
• Children: Under 5’s can travel for free. Children aged 5 to 15 can save 50% on their tickets. Booking in advance using TrainPal helps ensure families can sit together. The Family & Friends Railcard offers up to 1/3 off family ticket costs.
• Passenger Assist: Assist with journey planning, ticket selection, fare reductions, and train seat bookings. We provide help with boarding, alighting, luggage handling, and transferring between trains.

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