Bus Guide

Manchester — Stagecoach + Bee Network buses

Manchester Airport (MAN) to Manchester — Updated 2026

£2 (cap)
Bee Network single
45-60 min
To Piccadilly via bus
£5-£6 / 20 min
Train alternative
£15-£25 / 4h
Coach to London

Manchester Airport has multiple bus options. **Local buses** (Bee Network) — routes 105 + 199 + 43 — run to Manchester city centre via Wythenshawe + Northenden + Didsbury, £2 single (cap), 45-60 minutes. Cheaper than the train but slower. **National Express + Megabus coaches** serve other UK cities — Liverpool £8, Birmingham £15, London £15-£25 (4 hours). **Northern Hopper** to North West towns. For most central Manchester travellers the **train** (£5-£6, 20 minutes to Piccadilly) beats bus on speed-vs-cost, but bus wins for cheap intra-Manchester or onward to non-rail destinations like Wythenshawe + Didsbury directly.

Stagecoach + Bee Network buses stops

Station / StopTimeNotes
Manchester Airport Bus Station0 minBetween T1 + T2 + T3, signed from arrivals
Wythenshawe Hospital~12 min105 / 199 routes
Northenden~18 min105 / 43
Didsbury Village~25 min43 — popular south Manchester suburb
Manchester city centre (Piccadilly)45-60 min105 / 199 terminus

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Stagecoach + Bee Network buses vs alternatives

OptionCostTimeBest For
Bee Network 105/199/43£245-60 minCheapest. Multiple stops in south Manchester.
Train (Northern Rail)£5-£620 minFastest to Piccadilly. Best for tourists.
National Express coach (London)£15-£254hDirect to Victoria.
Megabus (UK cities)£8-£202-5hCheaper coach for Liverpool / Birmingham / Sheffield.
Taxi (Hackney)£25-£3520-40 minTo city centre. M56 traffic at peak.
Uber£18-£2820-40 minCheaper than taxi.

FAQ

Bus or train from Manchester Airport?+

Train (Northern Rail) is faster + only marginally more expensive — £5-£6 vs £2 for 20 vs 60 minutes. For central Manchester: train. For south Manchester suburbs (Wythenshawe, Didsbury, Northenden) or budget-only: bus 105 / 199 / 43. Bee Network £2 single is capped, so even longer journeys stay at £2.

Where is Manchester Airport bus station?+

Between Terminals 1, 2, and 3 — accessible from any terminal by free Skylink shuttle (every 5-10 min) or short walk via covered walkways. The bus station also serves long-distance coaches (National Express + Megabus).

Coach from Manchester Airport to London?+

National Express runs hourly: £15-£25, 4-5 hours. Megabus is cheaper but less frequent. The train (Avanti West Coast from Piccadilly + 2 hours total time including airport-Piccadilly) is faster + more comfortable but more expensive (£40-£90). Choose based on price-vs-time priority.

Late-night Manchester Airport buses?+

Bee Network 43 + 199 run roughly 04:00 to 01:00. National Express coaches more limited overnight. For overnight Manchester Airport arrivals: taxi or Uber (£18-£35, 20-40 min). The train also runs late — last Northern Rail service ~00:00, first ~05:00.

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