Runway Visitor Park in Manchester

Great day out watching the planes. Cafe on site and playground for the kids.

I come here once per month to watch and film planes. It's a great place to come and you can get great close ups of planes taxiing and turning from the runway, but the actual runway itself isn't so close to the viewing area. However, otherwise 10/10 from me!!

Went here to planespot at manchester airport and was brilliant the site was great and the concorde is there if you go you must see it and lots of stalls selling plane models will definitely go again

My 10 year old sons birthday party - Absolutely amazing! The Runway team were fantastic and his whole birthday party, food and the attention the team gave to my son s party was perfect. Seriously - Do you want a kids party that no one else would think of? ... try this! Amazing!

Great experience for anyone well worth the visit 😊

Great day out for all the family!

What a great day out. It was a chilly February day when we went. It must be lush in the summer.

Don't forget close at 4:00pm and look for your transportation

Stopped to kill some time in between dropping off and pick up clients. Grabbed a lovely sausage sandwich and a cup of coffee. With the sun belting down, it's a great way to view the constant aircraft traffic.

Brilliant place to visit for a family activity or as a plane spotter.

Great place to watch the planes landing and taking off. Can also see Concorde in one of the hangers.

Had an early morning visit here,we arrived just after 10am,but for a car/mini meet. The carpark was almost full,inside the cafe definitely was,or very busy. It was a little bit chilly outside on the viewing but we managed to get a decent spot,,seeing the A380 come in. Good place to bring the kids,now with the addition of the tower,letting you know what's coming & going...plus a little funfai,concorde,shop & everything else,parking costs are a little steep,just don't go in school holidays, as then it's a struggle to get on site.✈️✈️✈️

A really enjoyable day out! It's nice being able to watch the Manchester airport planes take off and land with commentary. There are plenty of picnic tables available, a cafe, shop, dining under Concord, and a child's playground and rides. There are opportunities to have tours of some of the planes

Fantastic experience, even better second time and will go back again!

Been a few times over the years.

Great seeing concorde kids loved it. Fair ground very expensive. Parking very slow 45min to get parked nearly misses alloted booking time luckily we arrive at destination early.

Great view of the planes landing and taking off. Perfect venue for any aircraft enthusiasts. Nice cafe (lovely hot chocolate) and has a great shop. Awesome to go in and see concorde in person. Great little flight simulator (although do not attempt if you get travel sick!), plenty of toilets. Very out of the way if you don't drive. The aviation memorabilia fair is a great visit but it is incredibly busy to get into the car park when it is on, we're talking 30 minute waits in traffic on the road approach to get in.

Car park is minimum £5.....it's a park with some benches they are giving it more credit than it's worth. For a single visitor £5 is ridiculous.

We arrived at 3:10 and the place was closing at 4pm,they said still winter working times,I belive those times are extended from april or May no idea,but will phone them up next before we make our way to there. I qould recommend,as the planes are aprroaching really close and flying of little farther. Yess deffo recommended.

Quick visit, £5 parking for the first 2 hours Two young boys viewing a few planes taking off and taxing back. Worth a flying visit 😏 Did not use the outside playground as it was wet and did not go in the cafe but looked nice.

Updated review from todays experience: Really busy with the management clearly not keeping on top of things. People standing on seats and fencing to see aircraft which spoils the view for the rest of the people watching. No staff made an effort to tell people not to stand on the fencing to allow others to take photos/watch aircraft. The viewing area should really be marshalled. Good views but the platform is a little too low for people who are shorter to get photos without getting barbed wire or fencing in the shot. Parking is steep but there is a cafe, toilets and a shop so guess that sort of justifies the steep price.

Amazing experience! My kids love the place ! They are very happy to see airplanes. Playground, cafe, swings, rides, sitting tables for picnic

Fab place to watch planes taking off and landing close up. Awesome to see the concord in the hanger too. Play area for kids. Cafe is a tad pricey but the food was good. No entrance fee just parking to pay. Can get very busy when the weather is not too grotty!

Took my two grandchildren aged 8 & 5 to the Visitor Centre. We did the children's tour of the DC10. This was brilliant and I can't speak highly enough of the lady that led the tour. She was really warm and inclusive and made sure every child had the opportunity to try on uniforms, sit in on the flight deck and learn about the different jobs at the airport. Decent value at £14 (which also reduces the cost of parking) My grandson loved the viewing area and really got into which airline was landing and taking off. We were also able to go underneath Concorde (as part of the DC10 tour) and learn about the aircraft which impressed him. We had lunch in the cafe which was rammed (half-term). The staff were doing their best to clear tables and make sure everyone got a seat and generally it worked, but the food offering was very disappointing - over-priced, high fat and poor choice. My advice is take your own food. Overall the park has grown in a haphazard way and could do with some investment to bring some things up to date. We haven't had much rain in the past two weeks but the car park was a lake and the grassed areas very muddy. The main toilet blocks are portacabins and although clean and tidy feel temporary and a bit 'low rent'. There was an outdoor seating area under cover and an outdoor children's play area that unfortunately was very muddy. Most of the planes were not open during our visit. I'm sure this is a money spinner for the airport so come on put some money into it and you will have a first rate attraction. The number of children and adults who were there this week on a cold and wet winter day suggests that there is certainly demand.

We visited hoping to see Concorde but having parked up the display was closed for a private function so we left again but it cost £5 to park

Excellent view of taxiway and runway. Good size cafe. Concord tour was fantastic.

Absolutely brilliant place, a good view of aircraft taxiing, taking off and landing. Good place to snap some photos and buy some models. The display aircraft there are kept in tip top condition and the concorde tour is amazing. Great fun for aviation enthusiasts like myself. Highly recommend

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 is fairly averagely priced . A coffee costs £3, but you can bring your own picnic to keep costs down. Plenty of things in the playground to keep the kids amused. Watch out if a trade fair is taking place, it gets very busy! Some good stalls though located beneath Concorde in the hanger.

Greeted with a rude gentleman on the barrier/security, swearing and shouting at members of the public as the carpark was full. Not exactly great customer service. Disappointed

Lovely evening here with a fab visit on concorde..

Watched some planes taking off and landing from the viewing platform which was ok. Shame that they have built a building almost right in the way of where you want to see the planes taxiing. Nice staff in the Cafe and had a lovely coffee. Nice staff in the hut when paying to leave. Overall a nice day out.

Aviation fans or those picking up or waving off friends/relatives will love this place. You are so close to the runway and can smell the aviation fuel. The cafe is good and not too expensive, they sell sandwiches, hot drinks and cakes in the main. Parking is quite expensive if you stay for longer than 2 hours at £10. All day parking is £12, no charge to walk in. A decent playground for children, an aviation memorabilia/gift shop and Concorde. Very popular in summer. Dogs not allowed.

Nice place to visit if like planes

We did the Concorde Platinum Tour on Friday 31st January 2025. The unbelievable but wonderful thing was just the two of us on the whole two hour tour! The tour went by with a blink of an eye, it felt more like five minutes than two hours! Gareth and Tony our tour guides did an amazing job and deserve a special mention. Gareth’s knowledge is second to none. I got the honour of sitting in seat 1A which would have been Queen Elizabeth II seat onboard Concorde and my partner in seat 1B. We really did enjoy the tour and say if you are thinking about doing it, then do it! We loved visiting the flight deck and getting to sit in the Captains seat. And thanks to Tony for the photos of us both. We also enjoyed the Champagne and walking beneath G-BOAC and getting lots of photographs while sipping Champagne, and again Gareth’s knowledge was above and beyond, he certainly knows G-BOAC inside and out literally. There is only one tour to do on G-BOAC and that is definitely the Platinum Concorde Tour, you will want to do it again just like we do and that is a 100% guarantee.

Great day out plane spotting. Cafe does a great meal deal too!

Spectacular backdrop on both sides. Warm room within the concorde hanger made for a very comfortable evening. Great cake!

It’s the perfect spot for aviation enthusiasts and families alike. Watching planes take off and land up close was a thrilling experience, and the Concorde tour was a real highlight—so fascinating to see such an iconic aircraft up close. The facilities are excellent, with a well-maintained playground for kids and a café serving great food and drinks. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the experience. Overall, a brilliant day out with plenty to see and do. Highly recommend for anyone who loves planes or just wants a unique and fun outing

A great venue for being able to watch the planes and all airport activity. A large cafe for a drink and food. Well worth a trip out.

Great place for a different day out and good cafe.

Went here with my son. The viewing platform was really good along with the small tower telling us what planes were taking off and landing, also where they were going to and coming back from. The café was good , also the shop and you could take a tour on the concord that was in the building where the café is.. We had a great couple of hours there.

Great facilities and viewing platforms. Everything you'd except from a airport viewing experience

Awesome place to have a drink, something to it and a bit of plane spotting. Loads to do for the kids. Prices are OK.

If you go on a weekend it can be busy but there is usually commentary to accompany the planes. We spent 1.5 hours here and the car park was £5. You can get a year pass if you go regularly. There is lots to do there with the shop, cafe, playground, Concorde. In the school holidays there are rides and other things to entertain children. You can usually go on the grounded aircraft and tours are available (pre book)

My favourite place to go, love watching the planes here and have a good shop. Really fun for aviation lovers ✈️

Great experience seeing a string quartet here. Friendly staff, great space, hope to visit again.

Always come here when visiting Manchester Airport on a spotting trip! Its easy to get to, has a nice café and various historic aircraft you can enjoy. Plus you can book tours of the Concorde (G-BOAC) and there's a nice Aviation Hobby Shop you can get souvenirs in!

Excellent view of the runway 👍🏻

Fantastic place, £5 for 2 hour parking, great viewing ramp and places to sit outside or an on site cafe and shop, free toilets also! Great place please keep parking costs low for all fans!

What a gem. Truly amazing, even on a winters day!

Expensive parking, expensive cafe but friendly staff and good facilities.

The picture looks nice and but by the time I have arrived it was just to close but I will go next time and take some photos

I first went here years ago and it was great but now they have built a building in front of it and the views are restricted from the car park. The cafe is pricey a bit like being in the terminal. I will take my family elsewhere to watch the planes in future

Amazing place to watch some planes. Stunning views

One of the best places to view planes in the Uk!

Amazing area to view planes and loads of parking

Cold wet misty day. Great to visit to see Concorde.

A great place to visit. Loved the concorde tour. Gareth and sandy are brilliant tour guides. Loved seeing the nose droop. Great place to see planes landing and taking off. Very hard to reach through public transport and i feel its the visitor park's responsabillity to keep keep in touch with Manchester airport regarding construction which could block footpaths and to warn guests or publish a detailed walking guide.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 👍👍

Good for an hour or so entertainment

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

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

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

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.