In early 2025, we planned a long weekend getaway to England. We flew into Manchester with a packed itinerary with football in Bolton and rugby in Wigan on Saturday. Our plans for the Sunday where empty, but we discovered that Birmingham Ladies were playing a home match, and with several Northern Ireland internationals in their squad, we couldn’t miss it.
However, there was an issue! Liverpool were playing at Wembley the same day, and train prices from Liverpool to London were extremely expensive. That’s when we found the perfect solution: travel from Manchester to Birmingham by National Express.
Opting for National Express not only saved us money but also provided a comfortable and hassle-free journey. Here’s how our trip from Manchester to Birmingham by National Express turned out.
Booking Manchester to Birmingham by National Express Bus.
As regular users of The Trainline website, it only took a few quick clicks to secure our National Express tickets from Manchester to Birmingham, just £21 for two adults and one child, at a time that suited our schedule perfectly. This was a fraction of the price of what a train would have cost us and would have taken a similar time.
You can also book National Express tickets at the self-service machines in the station, but we didn’t see much benefit in doing it that way. There’s always the risk of turning up to a full bus, and prices tend to rise with demand, so booking online in advance, like we did for our Manchester to Birmingham trip, is definitely the smarter option.
Getting to the National Express Bus Station in Manchester.
We were coming from Bolton, and opted for an Uber to save time and a bit of money compared to going by train/bus. However, Manchester Coach Station, where the National Express buses depart, is really convenient. It’s located on Chorlton Street, just a short walk from many hotels in Manchester city centre and close to Piccadilly Gardens. If you’re connecting from Manchester Piccadilly train station, it’s also only a brief walk, making it an ideal starting point for your Manchester to Birmingham by National Express journey.
Facilities at Manchester Coach Station.
If you’re planning to take the National Express from Manchester to Birmingham, here’s a quick heads-up about the coach station. It’s quite small, with limited seating, so there’s no need to arrive too early. There is a small café inside, but it wasn’t open during our early morning departure, and I’m not sure of its regular opening hours. The toilets require a small fee to use, which seems to be standard across many stations in England. I didn’t have any cash on me, but a fellow traveller showed me how to gently push the turnstile back to slip through, not something I’d normally recommend, but sometimes needs must.
Since the café was closed, I’d suggest picking up snacks or drinks in advance from Lidl or one of the nearby convenience stores around Piccadilly. That way, you’re well prepared for the journey.
Our Journey from Manchester to Birmingham.
There were delays due to Liverpool bus station, and too many buses trying to get in and out at once for the football, this was causing confusion as it wasn’t being displayed properly on the boards. Thankfully, our Manchester to Birmingham National Express service wasn’t affected. In fact, we boarded a little earlier than expected.
There’s no allocated seating on the coach. It was around 90% full by the time we left, so to increase our chances of some space, we sat near the back by the toilet. That turned out to be a great move, people tend to avoid sitting too close to the toilets, so we ended up with free seats beside us. Plus, the toilet didn’t smell at all, so it was a win-win. Our seats were clean and had plenty of legroom.
The bus left on time, passing through Salford before joining the motorway towards Birmingham. I didn’t realise the route included a stop at Manchester Airport, this is good to know if you’re flying into Manchester and continuing your journey to Birmingham. Only one person boarded there, and no one got off, so we kept our extra space.
The journey itself was smooth, taking just under 2 hours and 30 minutes. Not much to see from the motorway thanks to endless hedgerows blocking views of the countryside. Things only got interesting near Birmingham, when Megan and I started spotting football stadiums, something we enjoy doing.
As someone with a weak bladder (and regularly teased for it by Megan), I have to say: the onboard toilet was impressively clean and well-maintained.
The coach advertised free WiFi, and while it worked at the start, it seemed to cut out halfway through. My guess is it’s limited by usage or signal strength along the route.
Arriving into Birmingham.
We arrived at Birmingham coach station slightly early, even with a short delay caused by congestion in the station yard.The station sits in Digbeth, just a short walk from Bullring shopping centre and nearby hotels. If you’re attending a Birmingham City match, St. Andrew’s Stadium is within walking distance from the coach station area.
The station itself was spotless. Even though it was busy, there were plenty of seats available, and there’s a café inside, which is great if you’re waiting for a connecting bus or just need a place to rest for a bit.
Would we recommend using National Express to get from Manchester to Birmingham?
The Manchester to Birmingham National Express journey lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes, slightly longer than the usual train ride. Trains typically take about 1 hour and 50 minutes, but they are often expensive across England, especially during peak times. In our case, saving money made the extra 30 minutes on the bus feel worthwhile and a better travel choice overall.
The bus was spotless, offered plenty of space, and felt very comfortable throughout the ride. The free WiFi dropped halfway through the journey, but it still gave the trip a nice bonus while it lasted.
Overall, the trip was affordable, hassle-free, and ran exactly on time. Based on our experience, we’d definitely recommend using National Express from Manchester to Birmingham as a reliable, family friendly and budget-friendly option.
Thanks for taking the time to read our review of the National Express journey from Manchester to Birmingham,we hope you found it helpful! If you have any questions or want to share your own experience, feel free to drop a comment below. Megan was delighted with the service as it meant she got to meet her Northern Ireland women’s football team heroes.
Thanks
The Lewis Family.
