If you’re in need of a sunny escape but are looking to keep things within your budget as much as possible, the current summer sale on flights at Manchester Airport should get your attention.
Best of all, not only can you make the most of this opportunity right now and whisk yourself away pronto, but the deals for a complete return trip.
And when we say this is an offer you can’t refuse, you really will have a tough time resisting the urge on this occasion, because some of the flights in question will set you back less than £80.
We reckon it’s time you book in some annual leave, don’t you?…
Flight deals from Manchester Airport – Summer 2025
So, you’re obviously wondering, ‘Where can I fly to? And for how much?’ Well, let’s not waste any more time. Here’s what is on offer.
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1. Majorca – Balearic Islands
Monika Guzikowska via Unsplash (supplied)
First up is Majorca, where you can fly via Ryanair on Wednesday, 9 July and return a week later on 16 July from just £28pp return. With more than 90,000 making the trip to the regular Spanish destination last month alone, its reputation speaks for itself.
Whether you want to be at the heart of the party scene in Magaluf, popular parts like Palma or Cala Millor, or more family-friendly areas like Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia, there’s something for everyone.
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2. Naples – Italy
How about visiting the home of the now four-time Italian football champions and the land where pizza itself was invented? Napoli is on many people’s travel bucket lists, and now you fly there with Ryanair on Saturday, 12 July and return on 25 July from just £49pp return.
Tom Podmore via Unsplash (supplied)
It’s the gateway to the Amalfi Coast and the isle of Capri, where fresh gelato, ice cream and Aperol flow like the Sarno River, not to mention it has some of the best street food in the world. With Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii also looming over the city, the place needs little advertisement.
3. Brindisi – Italy
Sticking with Italy, why not consider a trip to the Puglia region, which you can fly to (once again with Ryanair) from just £49pp return.
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This particular part promises some of the country’s best sandy beaches and a balmy Mediterranean climate, as well as plenty of wine, olive oil and fresh-baked focaccia. It was even the home of Ernest Hemingway for a time, with the city even naming a beach after him.
How about visiting a French region that’s not only known for centuries of fine wine, a stunning coast with top-notch seafood and popular resorts like Valras and Cap d’Agde, but is also twinned with… Stockport?
That’s right, located in the southwest of the country, this underrated destination already has connections to Greater Manchester, not to mention famous water parks, white beaches and an archaeological site named Ensérune, located just outside the city. Return flights start from £56pp.
Pixabay (supplied)
5. Jerez – Spain
Jet2.com are up next are they’re offering you return travel to Jerez from just £77pp,departing on 12 July and returning on 26 July.
Southern Spain is usually as pretty busy in the summer, but Jerez’s position on the country’s Atlantic coast – between southern Portugal and the Strait of Gibraltar, rather than on the Med – means it’s not too crowded, plus it’s well worth a visit to nearby Cadiz.
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Jordi Vich Navarro via Unsplash (supplied)
6. Pula – Croatia
Over to Croatia now, and you get to one of the best value-for-money parts of the country compared to tourist traps like Dubrovnik or the Dalmatian coast, starting from as little as £59 per person, flying with Jet2 on Thursday, 10 July and coming back on 24 July.
Two weeks on the Istrian peninsula may not be as well-trodden as its counterparts, but the view across the Adriatic and some of the world’s best preserved Roman arenas should at least be considered.
Pixabay (supplied)
7. Rhodes – Greece
From ancient Greece to ancient Rome, Rhodes is known as one of the greatest cities that ever was, and besides the heaps of history to be soaked up, there are also 300 days of sunshine, plus plenty of shopping in the Old Town, stunning classical architecture, not mention the famous ‘Butterly Valley‘.
Once again with Jet2, return flights are going for £58pp and upwards.
Pixabay (supplied)
8. Paphos – Cyprus
Last but not least, we’ve got more gorgeous Grecian territory for you in the form of Paphos in neighbouring Cyprus, which still remains one of the most affordable holiday destinations going – and that’s even before the summer sale on flights from Manchester Airport.
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You’ve got beach resorts and some of the best Mediterranean cuisine at your fingertips. Fly with Jet2.com this July and return from just £58 per person too.
We all need a break sometimes, and with prices like these and the weather across Europe looking great this season, no one could begrudge you getting away from it all for a bit.
Meanwhile, these aren’t the only destinations that might tickle your fancy this summer, especially if you’re prone to those lazy lounging on a beach type holidays.
Featured Images — Supplied/Alex Liivet (via Flickr)
Travel & Tourism
The Oldham Man and The Sea: the documentary about the Latics owner’s record-breaking Atlantic voyage
Danny Jones
It doesn’t matter if you’re not an Athletic fan or native to the borough; we think everyone should go along to watch the much-anticipated documentary about football club owner Frank Rothwell and his record-breaking journey across the Atlantic Ocean: The Oldham Man And The Sea.
One of the simplest and most satisfying names for a film we’ve heard in a long time.
For anyone who doesn’t know about the Oldham Athletic FC chairman turned OBE’s incredible story, Frank Rothwell has set multiple records with his impressive sea-faring feats in recent times.
This new doc, which just premiered at this year’s Manchester Film Festival, charts his latest trip across one of the biggest bodies of water on the planet in March 2024.
As you can see from the recent trailer, it’s almost as arduous a tale as the original Hemingway story.
This movie – produced by Journeyman Pictures and Chief Productions – made its full debut at the Odeon in Great Northern Warehouse for MFF 2026, and is set to have a number of other screenings in and around Greater Manchester in the coming weeks and months.
One of those is happening rather soon, in fact, over at Saddleworth’s Millgate Arts Centre on Saturday, 28 March, which is ideal for those local to the region; grab your tickets now.
ln fact, there’s also one happening even closer to his hometown the following month, with Oldham’s very own Queen Elizabeth Hall also hosting a special screening of Rothwell’s incredible achievement.
You can reserve your seats for that one right HERE.
Having not only become the eldest (70) Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge finisher back in 2021, but now holding the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to ever complete the crossing while rowing solo at 73 years old, he’s become nothing short of a local hero – and that’s just his stewardship of the Latics…
The film does, obviously, touch on his time at the helm of the League Two side, who finally returned to the EFL last June, but the heart and soul of this inspiring watch is the sail itself.
More importantly, it also documents not just the gruelling nature of the 64-day, seven-hour and 53-minute trek, but also how Frank has now helped raise more than £1.4 million on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
What an absolute icon.
Hopefully, this should be just about all the reason you need to watch The Oldham Man And The Sea the very next opportunity you get to do so – and, of course, all proceeds from ticket sales will also be going to charity, because just the kind of bloke he is.
And here’s hoping we get a streaming version sometime soon.
Four Manchester museums and galleries shortlisted for the ‘Oscars of the museum world’
Danny Jones
It’s official: four museums and galleries in Manchester have been shortlisted for what this particular scene dubs as the ‘Oscar’ equivalent of annual awards.
All located right here in the city centre, the quartet of cultural institutions are all famous not only in their own specific fields here in the North West, but nationwide and, indeed, all over Europe and beyond.
That being said, having this fantastic four-piece all nominated for the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards together in the same year is a testament to just how blessed the Greater Manchester region is in this department.
Sponsored by Altair Media Ltd, the places in question are the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, as well as the National Football and Manchester Museum. Congratulations!
Credit: Publicity picture/Lee McLean/PA Media Assignments (supplied)
While the National Football Museum and Manchester Art Gallery have been nominated for group-wide accolades – the Visitor Welcome and Team of the Year awards, respectively – the other two have been selected for a pair of specific projects.
In the case of Science and Industry (SIM), they’ve been spotlighted for the highly anticipated opening of the new and improved ‘Power Hall’, finally relaunched this past October, along with the accompanying Andrew Law Gallery, which could win both Permanent Exhibition and/or Sustainable Project of the Year.
What a haul that would be.
As for Manchester Museum, their memorable world premiere of The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years has been shortlisted for ‘Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year’.
Debuting back in July 2025, it wrapped up last September and has since moved over to the likes of the Wakefield Exchange in Yorkshire, where it’s still on display until Sunday, 12 April.
If you fancy a day trip to see a big, glowing and very cute cat, it’s well worth booking a day out to go and see it for yourself.
Shazia Butt, Manchester City Council‘s Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Property, Crime and Policing, said: “We’re very lucky in Manchester to have so many incredible, creative and world-class museums and galleries right here on our doorstep, providing inspiration, learning, energy and fun, as well as spaces to rest and reflect, free of charge every day of the week.
“We know that visiting museums and heritage sites is the most popular cultural pastime for our residents, with over 73% of people saying they loved to visit in a recent survey – and with the calibre of these amazing spaces and what they offer in the city, it’s not hard to understand why.
“It’s fantastic to see this backbone of our cultural offer in Manchester being recognised in this way up there amongst the very best of museums and galleries nationally and internationally.”
Once again, well done to all those involved in making these venues so amazing and well worthy of the already award-winning status, as this particular nomination is just the latest in a lasting lineage of recognition that all of these wonderful spaces have earned over decades. Long may it continue.
The awards ceremony itself will take place on Wednesday, 13 May at the Park Lane Hilton down in London; best of luck to those flying the Manc flag for us – not that they need it.
Danny Jones -
4th July 2025 
