Manchester to London

There is a frequent train from Manchester Airport to London Euston with one or two train changes. It takes about 2:40 to 3 hours. From London you can go by Eurostar train to Paris - about 3 hours. It's a good idea to book trains ahead. It is substantially cheaper.

Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk and put in for MIA to EUS (Manchester International Airport to London Euston). Fares will be cheaper for pre-booking a specific train in Advance - do this for say 10 or 11 weeks ahead & you could do the trip for around £23. (A walk on fare is more like £85). Click DETAILS and it will tell you where to change trains (either Crewe or Manchester Piccadilly - which is the downtown station).

The main part of your journey will be on Virgin trains so pre- book with them = www.virgintrains.co.uk

If you are staying in Manchester, just pay on the day for MIA > MAN but pre book the MAN > EUS trip.

Unless you are travelling to France, when the Eurostar would be the best option from London, take a flight from Manchester or London to the continent. Flights are already available and prices only head one way, so book as soon as you have confirmed your itinerary. Skyscanner will help with flights and rome2rio.com with route planning.

If you're spending time in Manchester before London, there are other train stations in the city, you don't have to go back out to the airport to catch a train to London. Manchester Picadilly is the main train station in the city centre.

Please be more specific than just saying you want to go to the "Continent." That would be like me saying I want to go to Mexico.

You also don't say if you are planning to spend anytime in Manchester. If not, why not just transfer to a flight from Manchester to London since you are already at the airport.

Cannot be more specific yet because we are in early planning stages.

I appreciate everyone's reply. Thank you very much!

I'm guessing you intend to fly with Thomas Cook, because it has a Cancun-Manchester non-stop at low (although widely varying) prices. It also flies to London and some continental cities. The ideal would be fly to England and home from a continental city such as Paris, connecting across the English channel by train (ex-London) or budget air (ex-Manchester). On traditional airlines this is a multi-destination ticket but I couldn't find a multi-city function on Cook's website. The airline has grown out of the charter market where there has been less flexibility. Buying two single fares might do it but seems to raise the total price. It still might be worth it if both flights were non-stop or even direct. I suggest getting in touch with the airline to find out.
Otherwise, here are basic tools for research: www.seat61.com which connects to everything about rail travel; www.skyscanner.com for European short-haul flights.

Thanks everyone