Travel & Tourism

18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price

Applications for the new pass are now open.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th September 2025

18-21 year olds can now apply to travel on Greater Manchester’s bus network for half price, it has been announced.

The Bee Network says it is ‘continuing to lead the way’ when it comes to cutting the cost of public transport, with applications for half price unlimited bus travel for 18-21 year olds now open and around 150,000 young people in Greater Manchester set to benefit.

The new pass will ‘better connect’ young people to work, training, or education opportunities.

With the Greater Manchester economy found to be experiencing faster growth compared to the UK as a whole, and with making travel ‘easier, more affordable, and inclusive’ a critical part of the Bee Network’s success, Mayor Andy Burnham announced the half-price bus travel this week, alongside a raft of other improvements across the region.

Some of the other improvements the Mayor announced include more frequent buses, cheaper travel, and new round-the-clock services.

18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price / Credit: TfGM

Young people can now buy a 28-day bus travelcard for just £40, which is half the price of adult fares and the equivalent of just £1.43 per day for unlimited travel on any Bee Network bus in Greater Manchester.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says the new half-price travel is aimed at helping the thousands of young people once their 16-18 ‘Our Pass’ expires, and will support them as they move into further education or the world of work.

“Young people in Greater Manchester have been calling out for an affordable transport option for when their Our Pass expires and this new pass will give them that,” commented Fran Wilkinson, who is the Director for Customer and Growth at TfGM.

“We know this is such an important time in a young person’s life as they look to go into further education or enter the world of work.

“Now as they explore the many opportunities available to them they will be able to use any Bee Network bus as much as they need to at half the price.”

Fatima Bangoura, who is the Youth Engagement Officer at Youth Leads, added: “The new 18-21 pass opens doors for those who may worry about losing that support once their Our Pass ends, making travel for training, apprenticeships, education and employment far more accessible.”

Read more:

Digital applications for the new 18-21 Pass are now open via the Bee Network app, and you can download the app here.

Featured Image – TfGM

Travel & Tourism

You can enjoy a glamping experience in a converted shipping container 50 minutes from Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

There’s a staycation 50 minutes from Manchester where you can enjoy an elevated glamping experience in a converted shipping container.

Here at The Manc, we’re obsessed with unusual and quirky stays.

Whether it’s kipping in an aircraft, an old school or a helicopter, even in a stationary train carriage at an old train station, it’s fair to say it’s one of our favourite little niches.

That being said, instead of tucking you into a lovely motor vehicle, this time we’re letting you nestle down in a converted and cosy shipping container just outside of Greater Manchester.

Titled Hous Viridis, which is simply Latin for ‘green house‘, this unique staycation is covered from floor to ceiling with sage green paint.

The living area and bathroom at Hous Viridis, where you can stay in a converted shipping container / Credit: Hous Viridis
The living area and bathroom at Hous Viridis, where you can stay in a converted shipping container / Credit: Hous Viridis
The living area and bathroom at ‘Hous Viridis’, where you can stay in a converted shipping container (Credit: Hous Viridis)

The green doesn’t stop there either, as there’s an array of potted plants and shrubbery throughout this 960 square foot property.

There are four distinct sections inside this quirky staycation property, including a kitchen, living and dining area, three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Whether you’re after a romantic getaway, a trip with friends or even a mini family gathering, you can have it all at Hous Viridis as it sleeps up to eight people.

This shipping container turned glamping pod has plenty of amenities to stop you from getting cabin fever, including a 50-inch TV, American-style fridge freezer, Nespresso coffee machine and, of course, the secret to turning almost anyone into a good cook: an air fryer.

The outdoor space at Hous Viridis, which is a converted shipping container less than an hour from Manchester / Credit: Hous Viridis
The outdoor space at Hous Viridis, which is a converted shipping container less than an hour from Manchester / Credit: Hous Viridis
The outdoor space at Hous Viridis, which is a converted shipping container less than an hour from Manchester (Credit: Hous Viridis)

It also has its own vintage cocktail cabinet with a selection of glasses and a handful of recipes; the only thing you need to bring is the alcohol.

If inside this shipping container ever gets a little bit too stuffy, there’s an outdoor area which boasts everything from a hot tub to a fire pit and a hot stone pizza oven.

‘The Hous’ even has a herd of adorable pygmy goats which they keep as pets, and if given enough notice, you can get access to the paddock if provided permission from your hosts.

You might also unintentionally bump into an animal or two, as this staycation spot is a wildlife haven home to rabbits, hares, birds of prey and more.

You may be wondering after hearing all this good news if there’s a catch, and the Hous Viridis website gives you one warning: the weather…

“Being in Yorkshire, we can experience all four seasons in one day, so pack for all weather eventualities”. To be honest, since we’re from Greater Manchester, if this is the only downside, you can count us in.

Whether you’re after winding down in the Yorkshire or want to experience sleeping over in a converted shipping container, you’re sure to have a memorable stay.

You can find out more information about Hous Viridis and enquire about bookings right HERE.

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Featured Images — Hous Virids

Travel & Tourism

Manchester Airport shares major update and new images of Terminal 3 upgrade plans

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A new sports bar is set to open at Manchester Airport Terminal 3

Plans to upgrade Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport have taken a big step forward.

The passenger hub’s reputation precedes it amongst Mancs (come on, who among us hasn’t gone ‘Oh god, not Terminal 3’ when you check your travel plans?) – it’s smaller, there are less bars and restaurants, and even the Boots is tiny.

Terminal 3 has become even less favoured since Manchester Airport undertook a £1.3bn investment in Terminal 2, which is now gorgeous and packed with interesting (and local) operators.

But now work has officially begun on a multi-million pound project to revamp Terminal 3 too.

The plans were unveiled back in May, promising extra seating, a new entrance, new shops and food and drink outlets, and ultra-modern security details.

New images are now giving passengers an idea of how the revamped departures area will look – and it includes a new sports bar.

Sporting Chance will be a 469-seat bar with airfield views. The CGIs of the sports bar show gigantic table football-style characters hanging overhead, as well as screens to show sporting events.

Manchester Airport has also confirmed that the Terminal 3 will be home to a new Italian-themed restaurant called Terracotta.

Terminal 3 will be made larger by merging partly with the existing Terminal 1 building, which is set to close once Terminal 2 is complete.

CGIs of Terminal 3's new sports bar at Manchester Airport
CGIs of Terminal 3’s new sports bar at Manchester Airport
An Italian restaurant will also open at Terminal 3
An Italian restaurant will also open at Terminal 3 as part of the upgrade

The first parts of the new-look terminal will open early next year.

Manchester Airport Managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world and we’re always looking at how we can improve the experience we provide to our passengers.

“Our 10 year, £1.3bn project to completely transform Terminal 2 is nearly finished and we know passengers who have already used it absolutely love it.

“And now we’re able to shift our focus to Terminal 3 where work has already begun. Our plan is to take advantage of the extra space that will be afforded by the closure of Terminal 1 to really improve the experience for passengers who fly from there.

“It’s great to see the work already underway and really exciting that passengers will start to see the benefits of it from early next year.”

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

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