The much-loved East Lancashire Railway has finally reopened, and there’s something for everyone in the calendar packed full of events.
Families looking for something different to keep the kids entertained during the February half term can now book on one of the heritage railway’s popular children’s adventure days – including Harry Potter-themed, and pirate-themed adventures – while love birds can enjoy a Valentine’s dinner aboard one of the iconic Pullman-style carriages.
One of the standouts on the events lineup has to be the chance to go on a “roarsome adventure” through the Greater Manchester countryside.
East Lancashire Railway is inviting dino fans to “get your teeth into some Jurassic Lark” and go on a prehistoric expedition on “a time-travelling steam train” to meet with a herd of adorable baby dinosaurs.
You can get up close with the cute cretaceous critters, and maybe even give the T-Rex a tickle under the chin.
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The much-loved East Lancashire Railway is reopening for 2022 this month / Credit: East Lancashire Railway
Once you hop aboard, you’ll be transported back to the Jurassic period on a steam train ride through the picturesque Irwell Valley.
During this two-hour interactive return trip from Bury to Rawtenstall hauled by a genuine dino-proofed steam train, visitors, both young and old, will get to enjoy a range of performances from colourful characters – provided by performance company Funcast – all before boarding to take part in a host of entertaining activities to complete the story.
There’ll be so much Jurassic-themed fun and plenty of photo opportunities along the way, as well as food and drink available from the café on Platform 3/4 at Bury Bolton Street Station, and from the Rawtenstall Buffet too.
The Dino Adventure is a two-hour round trip journey through the Irwell Valley / Credit: East Lancashire Railway
The Dino Adventure for February half term will take place on Wednesday 16 February, and then the magical event returns for a selection of dates later on in the year – 6 April, 13 April, and 1 June 2022.
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Tickets are priced at £13.50 for children, and £18 for adults, and you can grab yours here.
‘Breathtaking’ new 360° immersive dinosaurs exhibition to open in Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
A ‘breathtaking’ new immersive dinosaurs exhibition is set to open in Manchester later this year.
Fresh off the back of announcing its programme of events for the upcoming autumn-winter season last week, Factory International has now revealed that another new Lightroom experience will be arriving later this year, and it’s one any budding paleontologist will want to keep an eye on.
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs blends iconic moments from Apple TV’s Emmy nominated Prehistoric Planet with never-before seen content.
It’s set to take audiences back in time to experience dinosaurs closer than ever before.
Narrated by critically acclaimed actor, Damian Lewis, the new 360° immersive experience is a celebration of our natural world told through captivating storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and groundbreaking technology, with visitors will be transported back in time, 66 million years ago, to experience dinosaurs up close.
Damian Lewis guides audiences through the fascinating role dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures have played in shaping our world – from Ammonites and Mosasaurs, to the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Lightroom’s state-of-the-art 360 projections will allow viewers to see these majestic animals at an awe-inspiring scale and travel alongside them through volcanoes, soaring skies and the deep sea.
As escapist as it is educational, audiences will not only experience some of the most beloved scenes from seasons one and two of Apple TV’s Prehistoric Planet, but they will also be immersed in exclusive extended CGI sequences and bespoke illustrations that bring the show to life in entirely new ways.
And to make it even better, the experience is set to an original score by multi-Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, alongside Anže Rozman, and Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music.
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs opens at Aviva Studios, and tickets go on public sale tomorrow (Friday 26 June).
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
Prestigious Edinburgh TV Festival to move to Manchester for first time in 50 years
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester will become the new host city for the TV Festival from 2027 onwards it was announced today.
For the first time in five decades, following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process – which was launched in 2025 – the prestigious festival is set to move from its home in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to our region from 2027 onwards, beating out other major northern cities like Newcastle in the process.
As part of a UK-wide strategic review into the event’s long-term future, the Festival’s board of directors say the review was undertaken in order to ‘examine how the TV Festival could continue to grow’ amid increasing challenges around accessibility, affordability, and sustainability across the television industry.
Greater Manchester‘s ‘successful and comprehensive’ bid included commitments around affordability, infrastructure, industry partnership, and long-term growth potential.
Plans include holding the Festival in locations in the newly developed St. John’s creative and cultural district.
“Greater Manchester presented a vision for the Festival that combined genuine creative ambition and future-facing energy with practical accessibility and affordability for delegates,” commented Campbell Glennie, who is the CEO of the TV Festival and The TV Foundation.
“This means we can radically reduce the costs associated with attending the Festival as well as the cost of passes.
“The city reflects the expanding ambition of the UK television industry, while still offering the scale, connectivity and unique cultural identity needed for an event of this significance – it gives us the strongest platform to grow the Festival’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said being chosen as TV Festival hosts is ‘brilliant news’ for Greater Manchester, adding: “It speaks to the growth, success and strength of our screen sector in the city region and the strong partnerships and talent we have here.”
The final Edinburgh edition of the TV Festival will take place this August, and dates and further details for the TV Festival in 2027 will be shared later this year.
Emily Sergeant -
10th February 2022 
