Kids & Family

Lightopia Manchester slashes tickets by 25% ahead of Christmas

Last-minute gifts, sorted.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 21st December 2022

Lightopia Manchester is offering a big discount on tickets to say Merry Christmas to Mancs this year.

The huge lantern festival, which has turned Heaton Park into a glowing wonderland filled, is offering 25% off tickets.

Those who snap up Lightopia tickets this week will be able to see the 2km light trail for less – and tick off those last tricky Christmas gifts for loved ones.

This year’s festival has been a brand new trail called A Christmas Story, which includes giant presents, baubles, and a huge water show at the Heaton Park boating lake.

The trail follows the story of new beginnings and the circle of life.

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Beginning at the ‘Guardian Gate’, visitors are transported into a winter wonderland decorated by a blanket of shooting stars with the ‘Essence of Light’ display, before following the winding mystical path to the ‘Mythical Forrest’ – a Christmas realm that suitably celebrates the festive season.

The ‘Secret Flower Garden’ lights up the natural greenery of the park with a collection of glowing fauna wrapped around the branches above and the grass below, and then, in a display that festival organisers say is curated especially for younger guests called the ‘Book of Rebirth’, little Mancs can unlock their imagination with friendly animated animals.

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The kid’s zone will also feature interactive musical tiles for everyone to interact and play with.

The vibrant ‘Ying Yang’ display and ‘Tranquility Arch’ – which is home to colourful swans and butterflies – are some of the other displays to catch this year.

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And then there’s the main event – The Phoenix – a five-minute A/V show.

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There’s also festive dining under the heated canopy and Christmas Market-style stalls around the festival grounds, plus funfair rides.

Lightopia will run in Manchester until Monday 2 January, closing only on Christmas Day.

You can get 25% off tickets using the code LIGHT25 at the checkout – book your tickets here now.

Featured image: Lightopia

Kids & Family

Much-loved children’s show Gabby’s Dollhouse is bringing its live show to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gabby's Dollhouse live stage show Manchester arena tickets

Much-loved children’s TV sensation Gabby’s Dollhouse is bringing its now world-famous live stage show to Manchester city centre for the first time ever.

Set for its debut UK tour, the smash-hit Netflix series created by the brains behind the 90s and noughties kids classic, Blue’s Clues, has become a global favourite since it first began back in 2021.

After proving highly successful over in the States, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!’ is now going transatlantic to delight little ones across the pond.

The super family-friendly show lands at Manchester’s AO Arena in early 2026, and we can practically hear the toddlers screaming with joy already.

As the Arena posted on social media, “This a-MEOW-zing new show, inspired by the beloved DreamWorks Animation preschool series, features songs that will have audiences singing and dancing along, from beginning to end.”

For anyone unaware of the name or simply looking to introduce their youngsters to something new, Gabby’s Dollhouse is an interactive pre-school programme that blends both interactive live-action with educational and undeniably cute animation.

It follows a girl named Gabby and her cat friends as they go on adventures inside a magical dollhouse.

The American show has taken off not only domestically but has now become the most-watched kids’ show on Netflix, so yes, it’s rather popular.

As for this still relatively new stage production, it brings to life an exciting original Dollhouse story featuring unique puppets and dynamic staging, with hit new songs that will have audiences singing and dancing along from beginning to end.

You can see the trailer for the US tour down below.

Presented not only by DreamWorks but Universal’s Destinations and Experiences team, the 15-date tour will get underway next spring; you can see the full list of shows here:

‘Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!’ 2026 UK tour dates

We’ve even highlighted all of the Northern shows for you, just in case you can’t make the Manc date.

  • Fri        27/03/26            SEC Armadillo Theatre, Glasgow
  • Sun      29/03/26            P&J Live, Aberdeen
  • Tue       31/03/26            Eventim Apollo, London
  • Wed      1/04/26             Eventim Apollo, London
  • Sun      5/04/26             AO Arena Manchester
  • Tue       7/04/26             Utilita Arena Birmingham
  • Wed      8/04/26             Edinburgh Playhouse
  • Sat       11/04/26            Brighton Centre
  • Tue       14/04/26            First Direct Bank Arena Leeds
  • Thu       16/04/26            Bournemouth International Centre
  • Sun      19/04/26            Plymouth Pavilions
  • Tue       21/04/26            Swansea Building Society Arena
  • Sun      26/04/26            M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
  • Tue       28/04/26            Utilita Arena Sheffield 
  • Fri        1/05/26             Utilita Arena Newcastle 
  • Sun      3/05/26             Utilita Arena Cardiff 

General admission seats go live on Wednesday, 10 December, and if you’re looking to guarantee your family a spot at the AO Arena or any of the other venues, you can join the pre-sale waiting list.

You can get ready to grab your tickets HERE.

Shaun the Sheep Sculpture trail appears across Manchester
It’s to celebrate another live-action stage adaptation of a British kids’ TV favourite.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)

Kids & Family

Plans for more than 400 affordable homes available by ‘social renting’ coming to Wythenshawe

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Plans for a slate of more than 400 new affordable homes in Wythenshawe, which will also be made available for ‘social renting’, are now said to be moving forward following the official submission of three different applications this month.

Development group and so-called ‘placemakers’, Muse, have teamed up with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) to deliver not just one batch of new properties but a trio of new living locations in the town centre.

More importantly, all 422 of these prospective homes will be available via social rent, i.e. low-cost housing provided and leased by local authorities and/or housing associations, which are typically aimed at those on lower incomes and facing other adversities.

While Wythenshawe has plenty of council houses and social housing already, thanks to the WCHG, these latest proposals could see thousands more Greater Manchester natives given the opportunity to be part of the area’s next big overhaul.

As per a recent press release from the team behind the project: “The plans represent the first phase of housing within the wider masterplan, which will see up to 2,000 new homes created over the next 10 to 15 years, alongside new community facilities, green spaces and places to work and socialise.

It’s also worth noting that this undertaking, which will span over the next decade and a half or so, is part of the Greater Manchester region’s overarching goal to increase the level of high-quality domesticity throughout the 10 boroughs.

Besides various other projects in different up-and-coming areas like Stockport, Strangeways, Bolton, as well as here in the city centre, the area is also being hit with a major regeneration scheme.

Subject to planning approval, Wythenshawe will see the Brotherton House, Alpha House and C2 The Birtles buildings transformed into a modern residential complex, comprising a mix of apartments and townhouses aimed at local people with “differing requirements”.

This follows other ambitious plans, including the development of a brand-new cultural hub right in the heart of the town centre. Exciting times for Wythy.

You can see the map for where the developments are in relation to each other down below.

new social housing wythenshawe town centre
Credit: Supplied

Developers have promised that homes will be affordable, high-quality and energy-efficient, “with additional outdoor and communal spaces to promote interaction, health and wellbeing”.

Brotherton House – a now abandoned former office building – will be turned into 216 new homes, including an extra care apartment building with a further 109 rooms for people in later life and those living with dementia. Find out more HERE.

Moreover, if fully green-lit when the planning permission process is completed, the overview also includes 81 apartments and 25 two and four-bedroom townhouses, plus landscaped gardens and green spaces to encourage local wildlife and nearby residents to spend more time outdoors.

Already under demolition, neighbouring Alpha House will also be flattened and rebuilt to provide 125 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including 16 wheelchair accessible homes.

Meanwhile, the venue currently known as C2 The Birtles (next to the old market square), which holds existing retail and office spaces, will be replaced with around 81 one and two-beds, along with a new ground-floor retail space to complement the wider Civic offering.

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Local councillor and leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, said of the plans: “Delivering truly affordable homes – with a focus on social rent housing – was one of our key priorities when we set out the vision for the long-term transformation of Civic.

“The town centre is the beating heart of this community, and that means building homes that are affordable to as many people as possible, creating a long-term sustainable community of people who are proud of where they live.

“These planning applications represent an exciting milestone for Wythenshawe – and it’s great to be working alongside Wythenshawe Community Housing Group to realise these important developments.”

As for WCHG, their executive director, Andrea Lowman, added: “We’re delighted to see the first phase of new homes progressing, marking a major step forward in delivering the high-quality, affordable housing that local people have told us they need.

“This phase will bring forward homes that support residents at every stage of life, creating a strong foundation for a vibrant, sustainable town centre that meets the needs of our communities now and in the future.”

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Greater Manchester reveals £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Wythenshawe Community Housing Group/Muse (supplied)

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