Aviation Viewing Park

The Aviation Viewing Park is managed by the Bollin Valley Partnership for Manchester Airport. It opens every day (except Christmas Day) at 8.30 am and closes at dusk. Three and six month season passes available for regular visitors. Please ring 01625 374790 or 0161 904 9460 for current closing time and entry charges.

What's at the Aviation Viewing Park?

Viewing mounds (with ramp access)
Hot and cold refreshments and picnic areas
'Blue Badge' parking bays
Fully accessible toilets
Small visitor centre (with ramp access)
Small Aviation Shop (with ramp access), 0161 904 9935
Concorde (please ring 0161 489 3932 for details of tours or visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk/concorde)
Other exhibits including Avro RJX, BEA Trident 3B, Monarch DC-10 front section (restored and available for tours, ring Tour Centre 0161 489 3932)
Coach parking

Getting to the Aviation Viewing Park

By Bus

288 along A538 between Wilmslow and Altrincham; 200 (weekends only) Styal circular including Manchester Airport, Quarry Bank Mill and Wilmslow; 19, 19A, 19B, 19C Altrincham, Wythenshawe, Manchester Airport circular to World Freight Terminal (5 minutes walk). Full details: Traveline 0870 608 2 608, traveline@cheshire.gov.uk or 01625 534850 (Cheshire) 0161 228 7811 (Greater Manchester).

By Train

To Manchester Airport, Wilmslow or Altrincham (full details: 08457 48 49 50) and then bus (see above).

By Bike

To Manchester Airport Station and then follow the orbital cycle route (mostly off-road).

By Metrolink

To Altrincham from Manchester and then bus (see above).

By Car

(from M56) exit at junction 6 in the direction of Wilmslow and follow white on brown tourist signs.

Interesting Facts about Manchester Airport

The first flight from Ringway (as it then was) to Woodford was made by a Hornet Moth on 18 May 1937.
During WW2, No 1 Parachute Training School was based at Ringway. WAAF’s packed the ‘chutes in Hangar 6, surrounded by posters saying ‘Remember – a man’s life depends on every parachute you pack.’
Manchester Airport employs over 19,000 people.
On a summer day there are over 350 take-offs and 350 landings.
It is the UK’s largest airport outside the SE, recognised as a key international air service gateway. With over 100 airlines and 300 tour operators, it offers direct flights to over 200 destinations; more than Heathrow.
Manchester Airport welcomes a full range of aircraft from the smallest single piston engined types to the largest jet airliners currently in service. Preparations are under way on the airfield to accommodate the Super-jumbo Airbus A380 aircraft in years to come
The Station at Manchester Airport, which opened in May 1993, brings together rail, bus and cycle access under one roof. Contact the Cycle Centre on 0161 489 3487.

Runway 2 opened on 5th February 2001 with the departure of an Emirates Airbus A330-200 to Dubai. During development the Airport carried out £17 million-worth of environmental ‘mitigation’ work. This included planting trees (6 for every 1 removed), providing or improving ponds (2 for 1), planting or restoring 36 km of hedgerow and creating new wildflower grassland. It undertook special measures for the protected species found on site e.g. 3 bat barns were built. Two listed buildings were re-sited and the archaeology of a Bronze Age settlement surveyed.