Between a train to Edinburg would like to sightsee Manchester is there a city tour, etc., which picks up and drops off? Staying at or near the Airport.

A search on Google suggests you might have to do a bit of your own transport arrangements, but there are walking tours in the city centre:

www.manchester.gov.uk/visitorcentre/

http://campaigns.visitbritain.com/ci....asp?cityID=18

www.manchester.com/bluebadge/misc.html

The reason Patrick can't find a tour is because there really isn't anything to see, apart from the Coronation Street set and the Lowry museum. Stay in your hotel room and read a good history of the Industrial Revolution or the Manchester school of economics, then hit Manchester's clubs at night. That's Manchester done. Oh, there is a football team, but Manchester City's not playing too well right now.

Alternatively, get the train from the airport to Liverpool. Best collection of Victorian buildings almost anywhere, biggest collection of public art in the UK after London, all the Beatles stuff and an extraordinary character. And a quick Google will give you loads of tours.

Liverpool is geared to tourists: Manchester just doesn't work that way.

Ignore the poster on Manchester not being worth a visit. True, Liverpool does cater for the visitor, but if you are interested in seeing a city on the up, go to Manchester. Go to Urbis, the new museum of urban life, check out the very recently revamped art gallery, eat at Yang Sing restaurant in the (admittedly compact) Chinatown, have a pint at Duke's 92 or one of the other new bars in the Castleford canal area, or shop in the chi-chi St Ann's square/Shambles area. True, you won't see world-famous sights like you might in London or E'burgh, but at least it will be 'real'. A walking tour would be a good idea. Manchester is full on history, especially about the Industrial Revolution and its links with the rest of the British Empire because of the cotton trade.

BTW, if you are breaking a train journey on teh way up from somewhere, ie. up from London to Manchester on the way to Edinburgh, that is not allowed. You would have to get individual tickets, ie. London - Manc - Edinburgh - London. Virgin.com/trains will help. Look for the super value fares.

PS No real need to stay at the airport. It is a very short train ride away from the centre. Try www.malmaison.com or www.aliashotels.com for the new Rosetti. There are other chains too.

And the real Manchester football team, as in United, does have a wonderful stadium tour.