Some new images have been released showing the inside of the historic Heaton Hall as it prepares to reopen to the public after its extensive restoration.
The impressive Grade I-listed property – also known as the jewel of Heaton Park – has been closed to visitors since summer 2025 for ongoing refurbishment to protect it from further deterioration, improve safety, and safeguard the building for future generations.
On top of that, the Orangery building – which is also set to reopen – has been closed since 2012.
The heritage-led programme, undertaken by MC Construction Limited, has followed best practice guidance from Heritage England.
Heaton Hall is undergoing a ‘glittering’ restoration programme / Credit: Manchester City Council
To respect the heritage interior, all rewiring, cabling, and other electrical services like improved Wi-Fi and data infrastructure – all of which forms a significant part of the restoration process to ‘future proof’ the building – have been discreetly routed through existing voids and behind skirtings to avoid visible surface wiring, wherever possible.
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The chandeliers have also been returned to their glittering best following intensive works to ‘refurbish and refresh’ the ornate features as part of the major rewiring programme.
As part of the long-term investment into the estate, Manchester City Council also announced ‘significant’ works to the Orangery, with a vision is to bring the building back into use as a high-quality events and dining venue after being vacant for more than a decade.
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The Grade I-listed Heaton Hall is the jewel of Heaton Park / Credit: Supplied
“Heaton Hall is the jewel in the crown of Manchester’s heritage buildings,” commented Cllr Basat Sheikh, who is Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods.
“The Council take its role as custodians of the property seriously and for some years a long-term programme of investment has been underway to protect the building and make sure it is safeguarded and future proofed so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.
“We know how important this building is to many of our residents and we can’t wait to welcome people back inside.”
Following the rewiring works, Heaton Hall will be prepared to welcome back visitors later this year with tours organised by the Friends of Heaton Hall.
The expert volunteers will take small groups through the property, providing visitors with fascinating historical insights about the hall and the various collections within the property.
More information about the tours will be made available in the coming months.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Art & Culture
‘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
Art & Culture
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 -
26th June 2026 
