In an attempt to keep the festive spirit of the city alive, Manchester’s iconic Christmas celebrations have been re-created entirely out of lego.
Welcome to MINILAND.
After the cancellation of the city’s major festive events were sadly announced by Manchester City Council last month due to social distancing measures amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester has added “a little seasonal sparkle” to its miniature build of the city, introducing the much-loved Christmas markets, Santa Dash, ice-rink, and even a carol concert.
Built using 1.5 million LEGO bricks, MINILAND features Manchester’s most famous buildings, including the city’s town hall, Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Piccadilly train station, and of course the world-renowned Christmas markets.
And the festive fun doesn’t stop there either.
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Aiming to brighten the city’s spirits even further, the leading attraction is also inviting all those craving a little seasonal joy to join them in switching on Manchester MINILAND’S Christmas lights at 6.30pm this Thursday 19th November live on Facebook.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester
Fans will have the opportunity to join LEGO Santa in pressing the button and lighting up the city’s skilfully recreated landmarks with twinkling fairy lights.
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In a tribute to the NHS and support of the city’s virtual Christmas light switch on – which has been postponed until December – Manchester MINILAND even sees three members of the NHS stood in front of Manchester Town Hall, where the Christmas light switch on has historically been staged, ready to press the button.
A model remake of the annual Santa Dash also sees thirteen miniature figures – all wearing the famous red suit and modelled out of giant LEGO candy sticks – race towards the finishing line.
Christmas trees, model snowmen and LEGO decorations all adorn the mini cityscape too.
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LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester
MINILAND Manchester has been impressively created by Master Model Builder James Windle and the project took over 50 hours to create.
He is one of only 25 Master Model Builders in the world.
Speaking on the festive miniature build, Stuart Jarman – General Manager Merlin Entertainments Manchester Cluster – said: “The absence of the Christmas markets and all the annual festivities to which we have become accustomed, whilst entirely necessary, have been felt by all this year.
“We wanted to do our bit to help raise festive spirits and share a little joy.
“What better way than with an alternative Christmas light switch on in Manchester MINILAND where you can get a taste of all that Manchester does best?
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“We would like to invite anyone in need of some Christmas cheer to join us as we stream our alternative Christmas lights switch-on, as well as lighting up Manchester’s landmarks, we will also be unveiling some spectacular festive scenes at MINILAND, designed to celebrate some of the city’s best-loved Christmas traditions.”
You can tune into the MINILAND Christmas Lights Switch-On this Thursday at 6:30pm via the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester Facebook page here.
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Sir Ian McKellen pays emotional tribute to long-time friend and fellow northern actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Emily Sergeant
Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, following his death.
Sir Patrick Stewart – who was born and bred in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and is best-known for his theatre work alongside an illustrious 60-year screen career, taking on prominent roles in franchises such as Star Trek and X-Men – sadly passed away at the age of 86, with his death being announced publicly yesterday evening (29 October).
And now, his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Ian McKellen, has paid tribute.
Sir Patrick and Sir Ian shared the stage together countless times over their decades-long careers, but also famously starred alongside each other in the X-Men franchise, and subsequent Marvel movies, as Charles Xavier/Professor X and Magneto.
The tribute, shared across Sir Ian’s social media platforms, reads: “Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions.
“My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek’. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did, for not just his devoted Trekkies, but film and theatre audiences who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.
“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin.
“But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”
Sir Patrick Stewart’s farewell performance will be in Avengers: Doomsday, which is being released in UK cinemas on 18 December 2026
Featured Image – Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
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Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
Emily Sergeant -
18th November 2020 
