Leicester to Manchester Piccadilly Trains From £5.38*

Travel from Leicester to Manchester Piccadilly with trains operated by CrossCountry, and get there in about 2 hr 29 min. This approximately 120 km (74 mile) journey requires a change along the way, but with hourly departures, you have plenty of choice for your trip to Manchester.

Enjoy rural landscapes as you depart Leicester before arriving for your change in Birmingham, where you can admire the architecture of New Street station. From here, you will be accompanied by views of the rolling hills of the Pennines before arriving at your Manchester destination.

While on board, you can enjoy the service provided by CrossCountry, an operator providing long-distance inter-city routes across Great Britain. Their extensive network offers plenty of destinations, including Glasgow, York and Edinburgh.

Departing from Leicester

Leicester station is the sole train station serving Leicester, located in the southeast of the city centre. You can get to the station via one of the many bus lines, stopping at the nearby Prebend St, Station St or Charles St – all within a three-minute walk – by taxi, or on foot; the station is just around a 12-minute walk from Gallowtree Gate.

The station is a central stop on the Midlands Main Line operated by East Midlands Railway between London and Sheffield, with connections to these two destinations as well as stops like Derby, Chesterfield and Nottingham. CrossCountry operates from Leicester station on their Birmingham–Leicester and Birmingham–Stansted Airport routes, with further connections to stops like Nuneaton and Melton Mowbray.

Main stops 

The main stops on the Leicester to Manchester Piccadilly train with CrossCountry are Nuneaton, Coleshill Parkway, Birmingham New Street – where you will change trains – Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield and Stockport. Stops may vary according to your route, departing time and operator.

Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly

Manchester Piccadilly is one of four train stations in the city, and it's the busiest. It is located in the southeast of Manchester city, and its location makes it a great jumping-off point for a trip here.

Getting around from Manchester Piccadilly is a breeze, with its interconnected Metrolink tram service and its extensive National Rail network, you can reach destinations like London, Birmingham, Glasgow and various locations across Wales and Northern England.

With many of Manchester’s most iconic spots located only a stone’s throw away, you won’t be stuck for things to do. Piccadilly Gardens offers the perfect opportunity for an easy stroll combined with some people-watching, while the Northern Quarter is ideal for some retail therapy in its many independent shops. And if you’re looking for nightlife, Manchester’s Gay Village is located on Canal Street for some lively LGBTQ+ atmosphere.

CrossCountry train classes

CrossCountry offers two service classes for you to choose from for your Leicester to Manchester train journey.

• Standard Class: Standard tickets offer comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and a catering service.
• First Class: Travel First Class from Leicester to Manchester Piccadilly and enjoy larger reclining seats, more table space and complimentary refreshments on some services.

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CrossCountry train travel advice

Take the guesswork out of train travel with our breakdown of everything you need to know about getting from Leicester to Manchester Piccadilly by train with CrossCountry.

• Luggage: One large suitcase per passenger, to be stored in the luggage racks by carriage doors. Smaller bags can be stored under the seat or in the overhead racks. 
• Bicycles: Pre-booking your bike space may be necessary depending on your specific route. All trains have at least two bike spaces, with extra space on Voyager trains. Without a booking, space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Pets: Two pets per passenger travel free. Dogs must be on a lead or in a pet carrier. Other pets must be transported in a carrier, taking care not to occupy passenger space. 
• Children: Prams must be folded and stowed in designated areas. Under 5s travel free, with discounts available for children up to 15. Railcards such as the 16–25 Railcard can reduce fares for older children.
• Passenger Assist: Support is available for elderly passengers or passengers with reduced mobility on CrossCountry trains, from planning the journey to disembarking the train, and can be requested on the day or booked in advance.

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