Runway Visitor Park in Manchester

Outstanding views and a great spotting area. I'm a bit of an AV geek and spent most my time on the viewing veranda, which gives great views of aircraft taking off from 23L and 23R + landing and the aircraft which have landed exit the runway and pass closely. The staff there will play announcements of what at the aipprt and what's flying above+facts, the staff also will tell you what yhe aircraft is and where it has arrived from or going to e.g. Geneva. The Concorde is also available for a visit and will cost £6 for a 20moj tour. Beware! the gift ship can be expensive, £4.50 for a pen. Overall, great day, gor geeks or a family.

As an aviation fan, this place is definitely a go-to for me. With this park being situated parallel to the taxiways, there are excellent opportunities to observe aircraft as they arrive or depart into Manchester. Up close views give you a chance to wave and pilots and passengers, and taking good photos too. There are excellent facilities there like the toilets, cheap cafe, shop, and playground. You can also get the chance to board famous aircraft of the past, including the Concorde. Entrance is no-cost for pedestrians, whereas if you're arriving by car you must pay a minimum of £5. Overall, and excellent provider of entertainment and maker of memories!

Decent place to go and watch aeroplanes land and take off. There is a cafe which serves food and drinks as well as small shop which sells aviation merch.

Great viewing area. Great shop. Friendly and helpful staff

Go to it all the time (well most) and it's great for snapping some great pictures and videos, and the concorde tour is amazing

It's very good place to look the planes taking off.

Brilliant place. Can get really close to the runway and the chaps in the tower do a really good job of explaining the planes and their flight journey. There is a play area for kids and some rides to which you can pay for. The cafe is decent and the shop is well stocked. The indoor Concorde attraction is a must for aviation enthusiasts.

Excellent tour very informative, was great to see this magnificent aircraft.

What a super place to watch the airplanes landing and taking off. Had no idea this place even existed. Really close to the runway so a great view. Parking very cheap. Nice cafe with brilliant views. Lots to see and do there. I was just wanting to watch my daughter’s airplane depart but had a fantastic time while I waited. Highly recommended

To live on 2024 with a lot of technology available and still unable to update your opening hours on Boxing Day.Drive over 70 miles to kiss some shut gates.Is people there stupid!?Or cannot make the difference between completely shut and opening and closing hours may be different.Several cars with people turn on to kiss your shut gates because you not able to provide some proper updates.Shameful.

Attended for a dear friend’s wedding, and was not disappointed in the slightest. Staff pulled out all of the stops for us, making it an amazing evening. Perfect location for the inner aviation geek in me (yes, I may have popped out to see a few planes once or twice!) and a perfect setting right underneath the famous Concorde airliner. Icing on the cake (not literally!) was the ability to actually go up, into the Concorde, and sit on the seats that people rode in, listening to the fascinating history of the marvel. Brilliant location and will be back.

Great vantage spot, good Cafe, good parking facilities (£5 for a couple of hours) and the home of the Concorde, some rides and ice cream stall are on offer for the kids, only down side the grass get a bit boggy so worth taking the wellies in bad weather.

A great place for all aircraft enthusiasts young and old! Our 3 year old was in awe of how up close you get to the busy runways The Concord Cafe well worth a visit with lovely staff and a delicious breakfast

A lovely place to visit with family and friends with some great views of the airplanes.

Great venue to have a Christmas party!

Worth a visit for every person who’s into aviation out there! the café was a bit dissapointing though, only fatty things to eat.

Lots of facilities, only been for selected events so yet to visit as it is :) staff super friendly ❤️

Nice place to stop off for a brew and see some aircraft

Nice view of runway with commentary

Nice for a day out if your interested in aircraft.

Great day out with kids. Pizza in cafe really good.

My favourite place to be, if interested in aircraft, the viewing points, the commentary given during busy periods, availability of hot drinks and food, toilets and a very well stocked aviation themed shop make for a relaxing place to spend a few hours. For children there is a well set out play area and numerous picnic tables to take a picnic. Too see Concorde up close is an amazing experience, makes you proud to be British.

Lovely place to visit and look around some older plane cockpits. Concord hanger is very impressive. Great place for a half day visit

Fun place to take the kids with a park and somewhere to eat there.

We visited the Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport as a family for our son’s birthday, and it was a fantastic choice—he absolutely loved it! With constant airplanes landing and taking off, it was a dream for any little plane enthusiast. The small fair was a nice touch, and we particularly enjoyed the train ride. Walking around Concorde was another highlight for our son, who couldn’t get enough of exploring the iconic aircraft. We had dinner there, which was decent, although possibly a little on the pricey side. Similarly, the £10 parking fee felt a bit steep, but overall it didn’t detract from the experience too much. All in all, it was a great day out, and most importantly, our son had an amazing time. If you’ve got a little one who loves planes, it’s definitely worth a visit!

good cafe with good service.good commentaey

Every time we seem to stumble on an A380 taking off or landing

Took my 5y old nephew here and we went on Concorde. Was really interesting and he enjoyed it too. You can watch a short historical infofilm before you go in. There’s a large cafe/restaurant and gift shop. There’s a large play area outside and picnic tables too. Take your own food to save costs. There’s clean toilets and great viewing area at the end of a runway. Can while away a few hours here happily. It’s currently costs £5 per 2hrs to park, bit steep but raises funds I suppose

Hadn't visited for 6 years. The facilities are much improved, and the announcements made the experience better.

Great place to go to see more go on @worldwideaviation on TikTok

What an amazing experience! Visit to see Concorde and tour was fabulous. Staff were so knowledgeable and passionate. We would certainly recommend a visit.

Never fails this is the perfect spot for some plan spotting from novice to expert the kids also love it loads to do food and drink available too as well as a picnic area you get good views of the aircraft.

Fantastic day. Had the technical tour of Concorde. The guys showing us around were knowledgeable and entertaining and the experience was quite special. As an added bonus we were there the day they operated the nose cone which was something very special indeed. Would thoroughly recommend.

Great place to watch runway 23R-05L with planes landing and taking off regularly. Has a cafe,gift shop and a Concorde experience in which u board their Concorde and have a talk giving in Concorde.

I had a wonderful time with Concorde G-BOAC. Big thanks to my tour guides Gereth and Tony, both amazing guys, there knowledge is impressive. Almost know as much as me ha ha. Well worth the £40. A glass of champagne or orange juice was wonderful finish to. I would 100% recommend. Thanks Again.

Great for people who want the experience of the airport without wanting to board a plane to Ibiza. Not a lot of variety for die hard avgeeks but still a great watch. Transport can be a little tricky for newbies as there are quite a few turns after exiting the motorway that are easy to miss. There's also a cafe which doubles as a hangar displaying the Concorde ( if you don't know, the Concorde is a very famous plane with a droop snoot.) There is also a gift shop, picnic area, and a guy who does commentary on weekends. I would advise downloading the flightradar24 app (not sponsored) to keep track of in and outbound flights. Great visit no matter how vast your plane knowledge. There are also older planes on display including the front of a dc-10 and you can go inside of a renovated Avro rjx.

We took our grandaughter, who is 7, and we all had a great time. There is plenty to do and see, but beware the fairground rides are very expensive at £3.50 and £4.00 for a ride. Parking is £5 for up to 2 hours.

Good for an hour or so entertainment

Absolutely fantastic, a visit on the iconic bird Concorde. What a great find this was, we had a brilliant time there. Pleasantly greeted on arrival, and advice was freely given. One day we will not forget in a hurry, added bonus of being right next to the runway. Here you get to see the ✈️🛫 and 🛬,then they taxi right in front of you. You even get a certificate to say that you have been 👍👍

Excellent Concord experience which included free parking, but the parking fees seem a bit steep otherwise: £4 up to 2 hours, then £10 for more than 2

Brilliant way to watch the planes both land and take off. There us a shop cafe and playarea.

Fantastic experience for all the family. A good sized picnic area and a lovely cafe too

Superb location and proximity to the runway. Well worth a visit!

Excellent venue to watch the planes. Cafe is a touch expensive and car park has puddles as big as lakes! Nice atmosphere.

Amazing facility, lots of friendly and enthusiastic staff. Plenty of parking. Well stocked shop. Lots of space and good viewing areas. Limited viewing areas with cover. Lots of seating and picnic benches when weather allows. Cafe was large with plenty of tables and reasonably priced.

If you're into plane watching this is a good day out, beware of the parking cost, I walk here during my lunch break.

I have two young children who loved seeing the planes so close up! Great play area and outdoor space… as well as seeing and exploring on the old planes too. The price of parking is pretty steep!

If you love aircraft your gonna love this place they have rides for children you can go on concorde and there is a cafe

The Nimrod is in excellent condition, which I toured with Derek - who was exceedingly knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Nimrods were a de Havilland Comet spin-off and after about two years of flight testing, entered service in 1969. (The Comet's prototype first flew in 1949!) The final Nimrod was retired in 2011. With such a long lifespan, the poky internal space is thus one of slightly haphazardly accrued features. I think this adds to its retro-charm and makes for a more interesting tour. P.S. don't forget to check out the "nuclear option!"

Love this place. Full of like minded plane enthusiasts plus always lots of families. Great value.

Nice place to spend half a day with a play area and cafe and concorde tours. Toilets were clean.

Concorde Platinum experience was great, lots of info given. Glad to be able to touch the real seat used by celebrities and the Royal family and real seats pilots used (seats were covered by a plastic film last time I was on a Concorde G-BOAD, Intrepid museum, New York, US). Even got the experience to see the nose droop twice, it moved faster than I expected! Great to see it preserved so well in those regard. Access to the location is poor, no public transport nearby, but I would not mind paying two taxi rides to see a real Concorde.

Absolutely brilliant day out Get close up to the aircraft Excellent amenities Would recommend to all

Great place to watch that planes taking off and landing

For plane enthusiasts it's a great way to see the planes take off. Plenty of space to move around. I use a mobility scooter but everywhere is lovely and flat and paved. The cafe is good aswell and doesn't take the mick with it's prices. Meal deal was £6 ...you got a nice sandwich...bag of crisps choc bar and a hot chocolate which is great value as far as I'm concerned

Amazing seeing planes land & take off from soo close

Literally on the runway getting to watch all the planes, great fun, little cafe for a nice warm coffee to warm your hands while you wait for the a380 to arrive!

Was raining but good in a way not too packed. Good cafe. Good way to spend the day

Went as a family of 7, ate in the Concorde Cafe came to £58 which i appreciate it sounds alot as that was just the food but you got plenty for your money and it was lovely. Staff lovely and polite and very apologetic for the delay, we waited 30-40 minutes but didn't mind as we had a great advantage point of the runway. Youngest loved the playpark, plenty of choices for her to choose from. The runway park itself was clean and tidy. Spent a good three hours here. Would recommend

Great Views, most staff are not happy to talk to customers.

This is a great place for aviation enthusiasts! There's plenty of good spots for viewing and now additional commentary which is informative especially with eta updates if popular aircraft, such as the A380, are running late. I've visited many times over the years, starting when Concorde was parked outside. Sadly now, it's tucked away inside a building and, on my last visit, hidden behind curtains due to a wedding. It's a shame such an iconic aircraft isn't more visible. The Avro, however, is free to visit and you get a great view of the flight deck and many of its 'innards' Yes, £12 to park your car is expensive if you're travelling alone in the vehicle, as I was, however, it's a very fair price for 5 hours, especially if you've a the family in the car. The cafe too is quite expensive, about £2.70 for a bottle of pop, but you can bring your own picnic to keep costs down. Plenty of things in the playground to keep the kids amused.

Quick raxi ride from the airport, lovely and clean, plenty of areas to sit or stand, undercover area to picnic, great cafe and shop was well stocked for souvenirs, shame concorde wasn't open as there was a private function only downer as we had travelled up from Surrey just have to come up again all in all a lovely relaxing time.

Great place to watch airplane landings

Had a great time here,lots of families enjoying watching take off and landings. Staff in the tower at the side were doing the commentary on the aircrafts

Its great when they are giving the information about the flights arriving and departing from the control box which is broadcast on the loudspeakers.

Enjoyable day at the visitor park with a running commentary about the planes.

Definitely improved over the years. Would recommend. Toilets need improvement / investment.

No customer service. Website booked the wrong date for our Concorde tour. I asked for the 6th of October but it booked the 19th for some reason. Lady at reception said this was not the first time it had happened yet we were not entitled to a refund. Poor form from a greedy setup with no interest in good customer service.

Great afternoon out for the kids, cafe and parking. £5charge to park

Absolutely amazing , can view planes after every 4 mins some are local airlines , the park is so good and the cafe is huge , the best time to spend with kids along with all facilities. Worth a visit once .

Great for a few hours, but bring your own food if possible a little pricey.

AMaZiNg.. bae flagship Concorde inside. Brilliant, had brief tour need to go back for full tour.

Manchester Airport's Runway Visitor Park is a fantastic spot for plane enthusiasts! The views are incredible, with great vantage points to watch aircraft take off and land up close. The facilities are well-maintained, with ample parking, a café, and even a Concorde on display! Whether you're a casual visitor or a die-hard aviation fan, this place is a must-visit. Make sure to check out our latest vlog on YouTube, where we capture the excitement of plane spotting at Manchester Airport. Watch it now for some amazing footage and tips for your next visit!

As well as the topics I have covered, there are rides (for payment, not open on our visit), a cafe, shop, and a conference centre which includes an undercover retired Concorde .

Guided tour, Brilliant, the guys taking the tour certainly know their stuff and were very entertaining. You get short videos , tons of info on the history of Concorde then a tour of Concorde. You take any seat and the guide explains all about what you see. During this very informative talk you are taken in turn to sit in the cockpit in the pilots seat and are shown how to fly this amazing craft. At the finish of the tour we had a couple of glasses of Champagne and given time to take photos. Highly recommend this visit.

Excellent few hours Great place to chill out cafe a bit on the pricey side

Such a great day out for adults and children, I find aviation fascinating as a User Experience Designer but I don’t love flying 😂 I haven’t been for a while but I am pretty sure it is still free. It’s great to see the Concorde, too!

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the positive experience my son, who has autism, had during our recent visit. His fear of aeroplane sounds has been a significant challenge for us. However, our visits to your park have been instrumental in helping him overcome this anxiety. The exposure to planes and their sounds in a controlled and welcoming environment has been incredibly beneficial. Thanks to your park, I now feel confident that my son will be able to fly with me without fear. 💖

Great place Family friendly There are plenty of picnic benches Children's rides & play area Cafe Tours available

We had the most fantastic afternoon at Runway Visitor Park. We did the Concorde tour and would highly recommend it! Very informative and interesting, our guides were very well informed and had a pleasant style. If you like aeroplanes this is a great place to go, Manchester Airport was busy including seeing the A380 come in and take-off while we were there.

Brilliant place to visit would have been nicer if ot wasn't raining but there you go can't be helped and having lunch in the hanger made it very worth while

Brilliant place to visit up close to major domestic airlines.

Absolutely fantastic. Such a great concept and so well executed. There really is something for everyone. The cafe was great too and not overpriced. Couldn't fault this place. If you have an aviation fan in your family, they will absolutely adore this for a day out. Great selection of food in the cafe, it was really clean too. Toilets were spotless and there were loads. Playground is great for little ones. The shop was an absolute haven for aeroplane gifts. So impressed and we will definitely return.

Very few of the attractions were open on a Monday. The receptionist in the visitor centre was very unclear on how the tours for aircraft worked and couldn't advise. There are certain tours on certain days which I don't think is very clear if you're planning in advance. Also, the parking attendant was quite rude and barely looked at us when servicing us. It's great to watch the planes, the cafe is alright but expensive, customer service could do with looking at. On the plus side, the kids play park was good and well maintained and there are plenty of picnic areas.

Excellent place to see a few planes. Whilst we were there nothing particularly exciting took off or landed. Price to park the car for a couple of hours is very reasonable (£5) and car park staff were very friendly and helpful. Once inside prices are a little on the exorbitant side - suggest you take your own food for example. The "gift shop" I found very unimpressive but that is a personal observation. The day we went they were celebrating USAF at Ringway Airport during WWII which was very entertaining with all the old vehicles, many people dressed in '40s finery both uniform and non-uniform. Also a band dressed and playing music from that timeframe.

Parking can seem a tad expensive but there is lots to see and do keeping the kids entertained . On our last visit , there was someone over the sound system giving you plane and flight info , so if you don’t have flightradar24 , you are still informed of what you are seeing . There are a few planes for you to see and the spectacular aviation queen that is Concorde is in the hangar . There’s a cafe , a playground , a shop and covered areas for the great Manchester rainy days .

Went to Runway visitor park yesterday and did the classic Concorde tour with my grandsons, son in law and his farther. The tour was absolutely fabulous, well organised and well worth the cost. Would recommend a visit if you are interested in aircraft.

This is a super nice place to observe flights taking off and landing. If you're lucky, you'll even have some captains waving at you.

As part of my husband’s 50th birthday present, we made a surprise visit to the Runway Visitor Park this morning. It’s been a horrible, rainy Sunday in September but it was literally the best family morning out! From the moment we arrived on site, we were greeted by a wonderful gentleman at the parking kiosk who we chatted with for some time about his incredible experience with Concorde. Then again in the main reception, the lady made such a fuss of the birthday boy and printed him a wonderful certificate for his office wall. Being a plane geek, we booked him on the Classic Concorde tour with my son and they had a great experience whilst my daughters and I sat watching planes take off and land from the Runway cafe. The food was delicious and we stayed so long we had both breakfast and lunch! It was a relaxed atmosphere with great viewing. This really is a wonderful place to visit for several hours. Thank you to the staff who were so friendly and welcoming. We will be back - on a sunny day next time!! ✈️

A great place for kids who love airplanes. There is lots of space to sit and watch and play. It has a play area, a cafe, various exhibits and loos. If you just want to plane watch, you only pay for parking £5 for two hours.

The park has been transformed over the last couple of years. A huge amount of benches have been added with the addition of outside covered areas. Also there is a playground for a great day out. No dogs allowed unfortunately and it's £5 for 2 hours

If you like planes it's a great place to go... Commentary on the arrivals and departures on the runway and where they're going or been... Great day out .

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 recommended!

Took My kids here as they are fascinated with planes. Had a really good time, got to see the concord too! Seating is difficult as it gets busy but you will eventually get one. Cafe is nice too!

Spot on place for watching the planes.

Expensive shop and cafe, but it is an airport and you can take your own food. Parking is reasonable at £5 for 2 hours, you could potentially have a family day out here with a packed lunch for £5 and the cost of fuel. Good for a day when you're at a loose end on where to take the family. Not dog friendly, obviously.

Amazing views of the planes with a nice cafe and a british Airways concorde that you can tour, Would recommend 😊

Was a great place to take the kids, didn't get to see concorde due to a private function hopefully next time

Great place to watch planes, there's a good amount of seating and a small amount of that is under shelter too.. There's also a restaurant and a hangar where you can see Concorde, and some small rides on the outside for the kids.

Great place to take the kids 👍👍👍