One of Manchester’s most iconic heritage sites is bringing back a hugely-popular family event this summer.
The stunning Grade II-listed Victoria Baths, just outside of the city centre, is known for hosting all sorts of seasonal events throughout the year – with the most-recent being a wholesome SpringFest full of art, street food, live music, and all sorts of family-friendly activities, as well as its continually-running tours and ‘Welcome Wednesdays’ series.
But in a couple of months time, one of the legendary venue’s best-loved events is set to return by popular demand, and it’ll be just like the retro summers of years gone by.
Described as being an “annual highlight” in the Victoria Baths’ calendar and set to take over the empty Gala Pool at the heart of the historic building, families are invited bring their “tastiest treats, cosiest blankets, and snuggly cushions” and pop along for afternoon of fun.
The popular ‘Picnic in the Pool’ returns to Victoria Baths in a couple of months time / Credit: Victoria Baths
Picnic in the Pool will transform the hollowed-out swimming baths into a “weatherproof picnic paradise” when schools are out for summer on Wednesday 14 August.
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Kicking off from midday, the venue is promising a day full of “good food and great company”.
Come rain or shine – and we all know that here in Manchester, there’s a good chance it could be the former on the day – there’ll be plenty chance to “create cherished memories” as you picnic under the iconic building’s glorious glass roof, and tuck into your own picnic food or enjoy snacks and drinks bought from the on-site Tea Room.
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There’ll also be retro lawn games, a craft area, and a dedicated ‘Little Zone’ for kids full of toys and books / Credit: Victoria Baths
As well as the picnic itself, there’ll also be lots of retro lawn games on the day, as well as a craft area, a building trail, and even a dedicated ‘Little Zone’ area for smaller adventurers to play with toys, books, and more.
Tickets to this year’s Picnic in the Pool on Wednesday 14 August from 12-3pm are now on sale, and will set you back just £1 each.
Find out more and grab your tickets here, or just pay on the door on the day.
Featured Image – Victoria Baths
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‘Breathtaking’ new 360° immersive dinosaurs exhibition to open in Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
A ‘breathtaking’ new immersive dinosaurs exhibition is set to open in Manchester later this year.
Fresh off the back of announcing its programme of events for the upcoming autumn-winter season last week, Factory International has now revealed that another new Lightroom experience will be arriving later this year, and it’s one any budding paleontologist will want to keep an eye on.
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs blends iconic moments from Apple TV’s Emmy nominated Prehistoric Planet with never-before seen content.
It’s set to take audiences back in time to experience dinosaurs closer than ever before.
Narrated by critically acclaimed actor, Damian Lewis, the new 360° immersive experience is a celebration of our natural world told through captivating storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and groundbreaking technology, with visitors will be transported back in time, 66 million years ago, to experience dinosaurs up close.
Damian Lewis guides audiences through the fascinating role dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures have played in shaping our world – from Ammonites and Mosasaurs, to the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Lightroom’s state-of-the-art 360 projections will allow viewers to see these majestic animals at an awe-inspiring scale and travel alongside them through volcanoes, soaring skies and the deep sea.
As escapist as it is educational, audiences will not only experience some of the most beloved scenes from seasons one and two of Apple TV’s Prehistoric Planet, but they will also be immersed in exclusive extended CGI sequences and bespoke illustrations that bring the show to life in entirely new ways.
And to make it even better, the experience is set to an original score by multi-Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, alongside Anže Rozman, and Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music.
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs opens at Aviva Studios, and tickets go on public sale tomorrow (Friday 26 June).
Featured Image – Supplied
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Prestigious Edinburgh TV Festival to move to Manchester for first time in 50 years
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester will become the new host city for the TV Festival from 2027 onwards it was announced today.
For the first time in five decades, following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process – which was launched in 2025 – the prestigious festival is set to move from its home in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to our region from 2027 onwards, beating out other major northern cities like Newcastle in the process.
As part of a UK-wide strategic review into the event’s long-term future, the Festival’s board of directors say the review was undertaken in order to ‘examine how the TV Festival could continue to grow’ amid increasing challenges around accessibility, affordability, and sustainability across the television industry.
Greater Manchester‘s ‘successful and comprehensive’ bid included commitments around affordability, infrastructure, industry partnership, and long-term growth potential.
Plans include holding the Festival in locations in the newly developed St. John’s creative and cultural district.
“Greater Manchester presented a vision for the Festival that combined genuine creative ambition and future-facing energy with practical accessibility and affordability for delegates,” commented Campbell Glennie, who is the CEO of the TV Festival and The TV Foundation.
“This means we can radically reduce the costs associated with attending the Festival as well as the cost of passes.
“The city reflects the expanding ambition of the UK television industry, while still offering the scale, connectivity and unique cultural identity needed for an event of this significance – it gives us the strongest platform to grow the Festival’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said being chosen as TV Festival hosts is ‘brilliant news’ for Greater Manchester, adding: “It speaks to the growth, success and strength of our screen sector in the city region and the strong partnerships and talent we have here.”
The final Edinburgh edition of the TV Festival will take place this August, and dates and further details for the TV Festival in 2027 will be shared later this year.
Emily Sergeant -
12th June 2024 
