Later in the month I'm heading to Edinburgh; this will be my first visit to the UK. I'm meeting up with my girlfriend, who left on Monday and will be there for the month, performing at the Fringe Fest. After her shows end on 8/18, we'll spend a couple more days in Edinburgh, then we're off to Dumfries and Galloway, on the coast, where we'll be spending the rest of our time there.

On the way over, I'll have 6 hours to kill in Manchester (given my required airport doings, it'll probably be more like 4). I'd love to hear any recommendations on what I can do/see in that time. As well (although I think my time there wioll be pretty well packed), if anyone has any Edinburgh recommendations, please share those, too!
Thanks in advance!

see how many people you can headbutt!

Well, of course … but I do that whenever I go somewhere for the first time; it’s a great icebreaker.

One word: Planking

I'd recommend finding a quiet corner of the airport lounge to avoid being mugged, assaulted or glassed in the face by drug fuelled Mancs!

You can try playing 'spot the correctly spelt tattoo' or 'out-stare the chav scum', but this may result in a swift visit to Manchester Infirmaries Accident & Emergency Unit and you missing your connecting flight!

run around shouting " MAN U SUCKS! "

You make it sound like such a charming city, Andy!
Ha- so I guess it's not all children playing in fountains, as the photo atop this page would indicate?
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/northwest-england/manchester

Ah, well... quiet corner of the airport lounge wouldn't be so bad... I'm bringing reading materials...

The airport is outside of Manchester itself.You could catch the train in but with 4 hours to spare youd be cutting it fine.
http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manw ... etworkMaps

Lots of good record shops though:
http://www.recordshopcity.co.uk/

Edinburgh in August is great.There will be a ton of gigs on.I saw the Adult Muppets Improv and Jerry Springer the opera last time I was there.Good times.

Go see Shonen Knife
http://www.gigsinscotland.com/content/d ... gigid=2719

Andy pulled those shenanigans last year and it cost him Preview Night at the Con.

Thanks for the tips, oa!
Yeah, I'm psyched for Edinburgh; I just sent my girl an email about the SK show- that's her birthday! I'll miss it- I won't be in town until the afternoon of 8/18.

Be sure to hunt out the legendary Deep-Fried Mars Bar and/or Haggis!

Deep-fried sweets? Yes, please! One of the highlights (for me) of our annual multi-neighborhood fest up here last weekend was deep-fried Oreos!

Haggis?? Blood sausage and oatmeal... cooked in a stomach?? It's ON my menu, Sir!
I can't wait (much, much to the horror of my gf)!

Haggis sounds so horrible that it makes me think to myself "I'd be stupid to NOT try it."

Well Andy beat me too it.
Alternatively, you could spend those 6 hours cancelling your flight and grabbing the next train north.

I love Manchester but the airport is not in the centre so you might only have 4 hours to kill and personally I wouldn't bother, but loads to do with some nice books shops, one being Magma and the surrounding area has a few nice shops

I am in Edinburgh form the 11th till 14th for the fest as well so if your about give me a pm

That might work in Surrey but I doubt many people will bat an eyelid in Manchester if you said that

Unless you were wearing a LUFC shirt . . . in which case you'd be dead before 'U'!

bt, I hear you- I love trains and would rather take one than a plane, but I have a hip issue that causes me pain when I sit for long periods of time (the flight from Philly to Manchester will be a I FART A LOT for me, I suspect). Also, the plane will put me getting into Edinburgh in time for a (hopefully) long nap before I go to my girl’s final show that night…

c77, thanks, and I would get in touch, but I’ll be getting into town on the 18th, and leaving on the 20th or 21st. If anyone else will be in town during that time, let me know!

they do deep-fried pizza in scotland i hear!!!!

top it off with a deep-fried mars bar!!

ha! I was just going to mention the pizza
I went snowboarding years back, was buying some chips and there was a load of deep fried options on the menu behind the counter!!

Real men eat deep fried Cadbury's Creme Egg