Runway Visitor Park — Attraction in Manchester

You go here to watch planes take off and land at Manchester airport. After flying in only an our before, my 5 year old wanted to go as he hadn't had enough of planes. It was £10 for parking which I thought was a little steep. Theres a cafe with a fairly decent fast food menu; I was impressed by the fully loaded pizza chips. Plenty of outside space for a picnic if you preferred. You have chance to go on a Concord for £6 pp (sort tour) which is sadly sat in it's hanger forever since grounded. It's a very informative tour, but the lady taking the tour was really struggling with the heat as the aircon unit onboard really didn't help. Perhaps there's a better way to help here? There's a few other aircraft dotted around but nothing quite as special. You'll find a gift shop, and this one sells many aircraft models, but again steep prices (£15 for small plastic pull back plane toy) Outside in the summer they're ready to sting you with very highly inflated micro transactions for bouncy castle, trampoline, dodgems etc. It's also got it's own ice cream van and plenty of wasps to go with it....but if you don't want to pay, they have a great play area. With a few options for viewing the aircraft being the field with picnic benches or the raised platform (helping you see over security fence) it's about the only option to watch the planes without either being in the airport or parking illegally risking your car being towed elsewhere on the airport boundary. I think three cherry on top which makes it all very interesting is the expert aircraft enthusiasts say I'm the middle outside in a raised cabin with loud speaker telling you all about each plane that fly's in. They're quite funny sometimes, incredibly knowledgeable., a great addition to have and keep there at weekends. I do think you need to make their cabin a more permanent building though instead of the trailer thing they're in. One last thing, the WiFi is shocking and the mobile signal didn't work. Perhaps someone needs to look into the WiFi and how to boost it when overloaded...

Runway Visitor Park is an absolute gem for aviation enthusiasts and families alike! The park offers a fantastic view of the runway, where you can watch planes taking off and landing up close, making it a perfect spot for plane spotters and anyone fascinated by aviation. The facilities are well-maintained, and the entire place is well set up for families, with plenty of benches and some roof covers to shelter from rainy days, ensuring everyone can enjoy the day regardless of the weather.

A highlight of my visit was the Concorde Classic Tour. Stepping aboard this iconic aircraft was an unforgettable experience. The knowledgeable guide provided fascinating insights into the history and technology behind Concorde, including stories of its famous passengers. The Concorde was a favourite of the British Royal Family, and celebrities like the Beatles, Elton John, and many more regularly flew in style aboard this supersonic marvel.

One of the standout moments of the tour was seeing the incredible cockpit of the Concorde up close. The sheer complexity of the dials, switches, and controls was breathtaking – a real testament to the skill of the pilots who flew this pioneering aircraft. Booking the Concorde Classic Tour also gives you free parking, which is a nice bonus.

In addition, the park features a lovely coffee and sandwiches area, where you can sit inside or outside depending on the weather. It's perfect for a quick bite or a relaxing break while watching the planes. The aviation shop on-site is also well-stocked with a variety of aviation-related souvenirs, models, and memorabilia. While the prices are slightly higher than in other shops, the range of products is excellent, especially for aviation enthusiasts.

Overall, Runway Visitor Park offers an exciting and family-friendly day out, with something for everyone to enjoy. Highly...

Great place to watch planes taxiing, taking off and landing at MCR airport.

There are ample facilities here at Manchester Runway Visitor Park including a café, a shop (run by The Aviation Society), booking facilities and toilets.

Its a fantastic location for all the family to watch the operations of the airport. To really add to the experience, The Aviation Society provide commentary on Sat & Sun on the aircraft coming in and taking off from the airport (and every Friday in August I believe). All the staff there are fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable.

You do have to pay for parking and this has now been slightly increased to:

£6 for less than 2 hours

£12 from 2 hours up to 4 hours

£15 for all stays over 4 hours

There is ample parking (albeit slightly reduced capacity due to nearby construction).

As for exhibits and things to see, these also do not disappoint there are several planes on the outside areas of the park and other things including: Concorde (You can marvel at this from the exterior but for interior, lengthy tours cost £20, £30 for technical tours but shorter tours are £6, all must be booked) Nimrod (tours depend on daily availability - check before visit - and cost £20 for technical tours) Flight Simulator (cost of £14 per flight for up to 2 people) Funfair (rides costing approx £5 for 5 mins) Trident (as far as I'm aware no tours for this) (FREE) Avro RJX (maintained by The Aviation Society's volunteer engineers and can look inside) (FREE) Children's play area (FREE) Viewing platform to see planes clearly.

Its recommended to check on tours before you visit on the day.

Teas and coffees are reasonably priced, not extortionate but you're looking at £3-£4 for a coffee. Not the worst at all.

Important to note that dogs (aside from assistance dogs) arent...