Travel & Tourism

Jet2 launches new ‘once in a lifetime’ winter package holidays to Iceland from Manchester

One to tick off your bucket list.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st July 2024

Jet2 has just unveiled details of its new “once in a lifetime” trips to Iceland direct from Manchester next winter. 

It’s no secret that Iceland is a country which commonly features on bucket list, and now, with holidaymakers already flocking in their thousands to book flights to this stunning Nordic destination for next winter, the UK’s largest operator of city breaks to Europe has just launched its biggest-ever Iceland programme.

Jet2 says this new Winter 2025/26 programme offers customers and independent travel agents an “unrivalled choice of departure points”, as it covers all 12 of its UK airport bases – including Manchester Airport.

More than 170 outbound flights will run across the UK between October 2025 and April 2026, and there’ll be whopping 34,000 tickets to grab.

Jet2 has launched new ‘once in a lifetime’ winter package holidays to Iceland direct from Manchester / Credit: Nicolas J Leclrercq | Tom Podmore (via Unsplash)

The programme’s run dates means trips are available at several key periods during winter 2025 and 2026, including over the October and February half terms, the Easter holidays, and even in the exciting countdown to Christmas too.

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Scheduled Monday and Thursday services operating from Manchester Airport throughout the season will run from 2 October to 8 December 2025, and 29 January to 27 April 2026.

As well as providing customers with “plenty of flexibility” when it comes to which month or period they want to travel, Jet2 says the flights are also “perfectly timed” for those are keen to get a chance at witnessing the spectacular Northern Lights in all their glory.

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More than 170 outbound flights will run across the UK between October 2025 and April 2026 / Credit: Suhyeon Choi (via Unsplash)

Customers can pick from flight-only or package holiday options within Jet2’s newly-launched Winter 2025/26 programme.

Package options with Jet2CityBreaks direct from Manchester to Keflavík International Airport, near Reykjavik, include a guided Northern Lights Tour, flights with Jet2.com, 22kg hold luggage, transfers to and from the airport, and a choice of 3 and 4-star hotels in central Reykjavik, all for a deposit as little as £60 per person.

On top of this, you can also add a choice of excursions to the South Shore, Golden Circle, and Blue Lagoon to your package.

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Read more:

Find out more and book on the Jet2 website here.

Featured Image – Jet2

Travel & Tourism

The Peak District walk with a giant cave and a mysterious ‘disappearing river’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson thors cave. Credit: instagram christani14

Thor’s Cave is one of the Peak District’s most impressive structures – and the river that flows nearby has its own stories too.

When people think of caves in the Peak District, their minds will turn to the world-famous tourist hotspots Blue John Cavern and its neighbours in Castleton.

But there’s a mighty cave, down on the Staffordshire side of the Peak District, that’s often overlooked.

This is Thor’s Cave, a huge natural cavern located in a steep limestone crag.

Its structure dominates the horizon, but it’s the view from inside the cave itself that makes this well worth the drive.

Once you scramble into Thor’s Cave – and the rocks can be icerink-slippy, so take care – its limestone walls create a picture frame looking over the Manifold Valley.

Thor’s Cave from above. Credit: Instagram, @aurimaskan
The cave in autumn. Credit: Instagram @jennieclaydon
The cave in autumn. Credit: Instagram @jennieclaydon

Thor’s Cave is in the Staffordshire side of the Peaks, a little further afield than some parts of this beloved national park.

It’s around an hour and a half’s drive from Manchester itself to the village of Wetton, or less if you live on the south side of the region.

But it’s well worth the trip.

It’s believed that this ancient structure was occupied by early humans in the Palaeolithic period, after remains, tools, pottery and bronze items were found here by archaeologists.

If you’re thinking the cave looks familiar too, you might recognise it as the cover image of The Verve’s debut album, A Storm in Heaven, and from their music video for Blue.

Thor's Cave. Credit: Instagram @fastpacker
Thor’s Cave. Credit: Instagram @fastpacker

A 7.5km circular walk from Wetton village will take you all along the course of the River Manifold and pass by Thor’s Cave, and other caves in the valley.

The river itself has been nicknamed the ‘disappearing river’, for good reason.

Unless there’s been particularly wet weather, the river vanishes around Wetton Mill and doesn’t reappear until Ilam Hall, about six kilometres away.

It’s all down to the limestone riverbed, which is pockmarked with sinkholes and underground channels and caves.

In dry weather you can walk along the empty riverbed, knowing that the River Manifold is still flowing way beneath your feet.

And when you’re all walked out, you can settle down for a pint and a pie at the traditional country pub, the Royal Oak.

There’s a detailed route plan you can follow on peakdistrictwalks.net.

Read more: The incredible winter walk near Greater Manchester with a cosy pub at the end

Featured image: Instagram, @christani14

Travel & Tourism

Co-op Live and TfGM extends FREE tram travel scheme for event ticket-holders

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A groundbreaking scheme offering free tram travel to all Co-op Live event ticket-holders has now been extended.

The Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) initiative – which was announced back in March ahead of the massive new arena’s long-awaited opening, and is the first of its kind in the UK – has already seen thousands of ticket holders get to make the most of integrated travel across a Manchester‘s Metrolink tram network over the last couple of months.

When announced, the popular scheme initially applied to anyone who had tickets to events at Co-op Live between 20 April and 30 June.

But now, TfGM has announced that the scheme will continue until the end of this month (July 2024). 

Co-op Live and TfGM has extended its free tram travel scheme for event ticket-holders / Credit: Bee Network / TfGM

As part of Co-op Live’s “ongoing commitment to sustainable travel” – which is funded by the venue – the continuation of the initiative means that fans with a valid arena event ticket can use the Metrolink from four hours before, and up to four hours after (depending on the timing of each show), to allow people to travel at a time that’s most convenient to them.

The initiative will remain active across all four Metrolink zones.

The two organisations say the scheme has been been extended because integrated tram travel with all event tickets offers a sustainable alternative to driving, and ensures that fans can make a quick and easy getaway at the end of the night, whether they’re heading back home or into the city centre.

“We’re over the moon to see the positive results of our collaborative sustainable travel initiative with TfGM, and very pleased to be able to extend the offer of integrated tram travel until the end of July,” commented Rebecca Kane Burton, who is Co-op Live’s Interim General Manager, on the scheme extension announcement.

“Alongside recent partnership announcements, it further cements our dedication to give back to the planet, to our local community, and to our fans.”

Read more:

Fans will be able to access relevant event travel information for their event on the dedicated page on TfGM’s website here.

Featured Image – Bee Network / TfGM

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