Travel & Tourism

You can now catch a direct flight from Manchester to Italy’s ‘best kept secret’ for only £15

Get me on that plane.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 9th May 2024

Looking for your next holiday destination? Well now you can catch a direct flight from Manchester to Italy’s ‘best kept secret’.

Temperatures have finally been hotting up, and the rain has mostly cleared off across Greater Manchester over this last week or so, but as the sun hasn’t always shown its face, this means many of us will likely be thinking about hopping on a plane to another country where the warmer weather is more of a regular occurrence.

Coincidentally, Manchester Airport has just become the first UK airport to form a direct flight link to the stunning southern Italian region of Calabria.

You can now catch a direct flight from Manchester to Italy’s ‘best kept secret’ / Credit: Unsplash | Wikimedia Commons

If you’re unfamiliar with Calabria, not only is it one of Italy’s most affordable regions to visit, but it also home to some outstanding white sandy beaches, picturesque scenery, culture and architecture, and a truly authentic food scene.

The region is often dubbed one of Italy’s “best kept secrets” by travel writers and tourists.

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Having officially taken to the skies at the end of last month (28 April), flights from Manchester Airport to Reggio Calabria are now running exclusively with Ryanair on Wednesdays and Sundays, and you can book your trip now from as little as £14.99 per person one-way.

Calabria is found at ‘toe’ of Italy’s ‘boot’, and the city of Reggio Calabria faces the island of Sicily across Strait of Messina to provide visitors with an ideal base to explore the wider region.

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As mentioned, the Calabria region is one of the most affordable parts of Italy to visit, and while it has long been popular with Italian tourists, international visitors are only just beginning to discover this hidden gem.

Manchester Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer, Stephen Turner, says the airport is “proud” to connect people in the North with an “outstanding range of destinations”, with over 200 routes served by more than 50 airlines, but he admitted that Ryanair’s new service to Reggio Calabria is “an exciting one”.

Flights are now open to book from as little as £14.99 per person one-way / Credit: Suhyeon Choi (via Unsplash)

“It’s a brand-new destination for us,” Mr Turner explained.

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“And it isn’t currently served by any other UK airport either, so it gives our passengers even more choice.

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“Visitors travelling to Calabria will love the blend of culture, cuisine and spectacular beaches that it provides, so we’re confident that this new route will be popular with our passengers.”

Featured Image – Nemanja Peric (via Unsplash)

Travel & Tourism

A giant inflatable obstacle course water park is opening in Blackpool

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Wild Shore Blackpool is a new aqua park that's opening this month. Credit: Wild Shore

A giant floating playground is set to open in Blackpool next week, with an inflatable obstacle course, paddle boarding, and loads more.

Wild Shore already has sites in Delamere and Dundee and is now branching out again.

Taking over the old Blackpool Wake Park site, the huge ‘water-based adventure hub’ will take the plunge and open on Wednesday 29 May.

As well as the inflatable aqua park, where visitors can slide, bounce, and clamber over a bouncy obstacle course, there’ll be loads more water-based activities.

The adrenaline-charged activities also include wakeboarding using an overhead cable which pulls you over the surface of the lake.

They even guarantee that if you can’t stand up on your first session, with the help of instructors, you’ll get your money back.

There are stand up paddleboards you can rent to explore the water, or there are fully-guided sessions which will take you on a tour of the lake.

Wild Shore Blackpool is a new water park that’s opening this month. Credit: Wild Shore

And then if you’ve always fancied trying wild open-water swimming, Wild Shore Blackpool offers a safe and secure environment for a dip, with safety instructors on SUP boards and rest pontoons half way around each course.

The Aqua Park itself has a number of Ninja Warrior-style features including Tire Run, Ninja-Jump and Eagles Nest to test your balance, agility, and bravery.

The new Wild Shore Blackpool water park is located at Ream Hills Holiday Park.

It’s set to open on 29 May – you can find out more and book a ticket here.

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Featured image: Wild Shore Blackpool

Travel & Tourism

The Station Agent’s House – Inside one of Manchester’s oldest houses before it opens as a holiday home

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Station Agent's House in Manchester is about to reopen as a holiday home. Credit: Landmark Trust

One of the most historic houses in Manchester is ready to welcome overnight guests for the first time, as The Station Agent’s House enters its staycation era.

The beautiful Grade I-listed building on Liverpool Road is part of the Science and Industry Museum’s site, and dates all the way back to 1808.

Officially one of the oldest homes in the city, the charming property has now been sensitively adapted by building conservation charity The Landmark Trust and will open as a residence for the first time in 100 years.

Capable of sleeping up to eight guests, the house is just a 10 minute walk from Deansgate and just next door from the new Aviva Studios.

Upstairs, there are views sweeping across many eras of railway infrastructure and the heritage buildings that make up the Science and Industry Museum.

Its restoration has included plenty of work to the bones of the building – re-roofing and repointing, replacing the sash windows, and swapping out chipboard floors for parquet.

There’s now step-free access and a lift to the first floor living area, with fully accessible bedrooms and bathrooms.

And at the heart of the house is a specially-made oval skylight to enhance the original staircase.

Views from upstairs in The Station Agent's House in Manchester is about to reopen as a holiday home. Credit: Landmark Trust
Views from upstairs
The restored kitchen in Views from upstairs in The Station Agent's House in Manchester is about to reopen as a holiday home. Credit: Landmark Trust
The restored kitchen

Breaks at the self-catering holiday home will start from just £24.38 per person per night.

Casting back to the building’s beginnings, The Station Agent’s House was built in 1808 for Castlefield dyemaster John Rothwell.

It was later acquired by the Liverpool Manchester Railway directors for the Manchester terminus of the world’s first purpose-built passenger line at Liverpool Road Station (now the site of the museum), and it became the home to the Station Agents working there.

In the 20th century, the house was converted into a shop selling sausages and later car parts; after the railway line was closed in 1975, it was altered again into office use for the museum.

Dr Anna Keay OBE, director of the Landmark Trust says: “The Landmark Trust is proud to be able to give a new future to this grade-1 listed building, part of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station. 

Details of the restored The Station Agent's House in Manchester. Credit: Landmark Trust
Details of the restored The Station Agent's House in Manchester. Credit: Landmark Trust
Details of the restored The Station Agent’s House in Manchester. Credit: Landmark Trust

“Its extensive repair and renovation has been a labour of love, made possible by many generous donations. It is our first building in Manchester and will make a wonderful base from which to explore this peerless industrial city.”

Sally McDonald, Director of the Science and Industry Museum, adds: “The Landmark Trust has brought expertise in sensitively restoring this incredible heritage building, meaning Station Agent’s House can now be experienced in a new way by the public.

“It’s a spectacular transformation that has breathed new life into the building while complimenting its historically significant status.

“It’s an exciting time at the Science and Industry Museum as we undergo a multi-million-pound repair and improvement project with the aim of bringing into use every part of our historic site. This includes the reopening of Power Hall next spring, as well as new galleries, the re-opening of the 1830 Station and outdoor experiences in the coming years.

The bathroom in the restored The Station Agent's House in Manchester. Credit: Landmark Trust
The bathroom in the restored The Station Agent’s House in Manchester. Credit: Landmark Trust

“We are so pleased that Station Agent’s House has become the latest regenerated space thanks to The Landmark Trust, who are supporting our vision to create a more sustainable museum and reveal new spaces and perspectives for everyone to enjoy.”

The Landmark Trust will open the Station Agent’s House for free public open days each year, including from 10am till 4pm on Sunday 19 May. An additional bookable lates event from 5pm on Thursday 23 May welcomes The Poetry Takeaway for an interactive evening experience.

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester says: “Manchester’s rich history is woven into the fabric of the Station Agent’s House. We are thrilled to see the Landmark Trust’s restoration of this unique building, in partnership with the Science and Industry Museum, which makes it the first in the city for the building conservation charity.

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The living room

“As we approach the bicentenary of the 1830 Liverpool and Manchester railway opening, the preservation of this historical house adds immense value to our heritage and identity. 

“Joining local venues such as the Science and Industry Museum, Castlefield Viaduct and Aviva Studios in the growing Castlefield neighbourhood, the Station Agent’s House will undoubtedly add to the city’s vibrant cultural landscape as it opens to the public for the first time, and will also provide a welcoming and distinctive experience to the growing accommodation offer in the city-region.”

Calum McGowan, Chair, Castlefield Forum says: “We are absolutely thrilled at this restoration, and what great news to see more of the Museum’s estate come to life.

“Part of our mission at the Forum is to ensure that we celebrate and cherish the heritage assets in our neighbourhood so this is another great contribution towards that. The building looks set to be a wonderful place to stay, on iconic site, in an iconic neighbourhood!”

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Featured image: Landmark Trust

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