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Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains are back again this Christmas

September basically starts the countdown to Christmas... right?

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 9th September 2025

Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.

Sure, it’s literally only the second week of September, and we’ve technically still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of Halloween and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.

The heritage railway has announced that its popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam train rides are back once again from late November.

The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.

You can already grab tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides this Christmas / Credit: ELR

And in recent years, the much-loved event has been even bigger and better than ever before.

ELR’s ‘Santa Specials‘ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.

The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station.

You’ll first get to meet some old favourites and new characters, including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess, all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears. 

The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves, with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.

And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.

The famous East Lancashire Railway ‘Santa Special’ steam train / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)

After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipple, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.

East Lancashire Railway’s famous Santa Specials are running on weekends and selected weekdays from Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 24 December.

Tickets now on sale starting from £22.50 for kids and £23 for adults.

Read more:

You can book your seats here before it’s too late.

Featured Image – ELR

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Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Halloween is soon set to return to the city, and dozens of huge inflatable monsters will be invading Manchester next month.

Yes, it’s that time of year yet again… the monsters are back.

After several years of looming over Manchester‘s most-notable rooftops and lurking around famous city centre sites, it’s been revealed that the iconic MCR Monsters will be returning for another year of spooky celebrations next month, along with loads of other terrifying tricks and treats – with something for the whole family to get involved with.

Organisers Manchester BID are set to turn the city centre into a ‘monstrous playground’ once the free two-day festival of frightful fun returns.

Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more / Credit: Manchester BID | CityCo

This year’s annual Halloween in the City celebrations will feature a week-long colourful invasion of the MCR Monsters, following the two-day family festival across the city’s popular shopping destinations.

For the first time ever, the epic MCR Monsters – which are created by talented local artists, Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas – will invade the city’s rooftops and buildings on the opening day of the Halloween in the City festival.

They’ll be taking over leading locations including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, The Royal Exchange, KAMPUS, and AO Arena – with more terrifying takeovers yet to be announced.

A slimy creature will also be on the loose across the city centre, as ‘The Leech’ – a wriggling eight metre-long monster, created and produced by Walk the Plank – makes its anticipated return.

As for other spine-chilling activities over the weekend-long festival, you can expect family games, storytelling, and the bone-rattling Monster Party Procession, complete with giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers, and a live band.

Then as night falls, the city will glow ‘eerie green’ as iconic buildings light up in spooky style.

To finish things off, thousands of pumpkin lanterns will, once again, line the city’s shopping streets to add a ‘flicker of fun’ to the festival celebrations. 

Read more:

Halloween in the City festival will take over Manchester city centre on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, and MCR Monsters will be in town from Saturday 25 – Friday 31 October.

The pumpkins may potentially appear even earlier, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Find out more here.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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The Manchester public are being invited to consult on ‘landmark’ development plans for Red Bank

Danny Jones Danny Jones Red Bank CGI plans redevelopment

Members of the Greater Manchester public are being invited to take part in the official consultation period ahead of the proposed plans for a big new development in Red Bank.

The central district, located right near Cheetham Hill and now considered a key part of the Northern Gateway regeneration area, is on the verge of a significant transformation in the shape of two huge new ‘landmark’ towers.

Set to clock in at 18 and 43 storeys, respectively, they are just the latest addition to Manchester’s ever-growing skyline.

With more skyscrapers steadily popping up all over the city centre and neighbouring parts of Salford (at an increasingly quick rate, we’d hasten to add), local residents are rightly being encouraged to come and share their thoughts and feedback on the impending project.

new developments manchester city centre red bank
red bank towers mcr
CGIs of the two new towers from near and afar. (Credit: Supplied)

Pencilled in by LWP Redbank Limited, the public consultation is not just specifically related to 50–54 Red Bank, but the surrounding area too.

With two separate planning permission applications submitted to Manchester City Council – one regarding the apartment blocks themselves and another to the ‘public realm’, which includes the immediate vicinity and, most notably, potential “future access to the historic viaduct.”

The headline of the major update to the Red Bank neighbourhood is, of course, the two apartment buildings, which would create a total of 509 new homes and employment opportunities.

Made up of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats said to be suitable for both single occupants and families, the developers are also slated to create several shared amenities, landscaped outdoor areas, and sweeping city views.

Equally important is how it will integrate into the existing area at ground level, with new commercial units set to complement the thriving businesses under the recognisable Red Bank arches; more than 2,000 square metres of open space will link the towers to the viaduct.

Sustainability is said to be at the heart of the proposals too, with the scheme expected to be largely car-free, as well as improving travel links to public transport networks, cycle parking, energy-efficient features, “including air source heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies.”

At present, those for the construction argue that limited use is being made of the space.

Locals hoping for a positive dialogue during the consultation period will be pleased to hear that “native planting, trees, and rain gardens will create green and welcoming spaces, with active frontages and open sightlines improving safety and vibrancy” have all been promised.

Issuing a statement on behalf of the project team, a spokesperson said in a recent press release: “Red Bank is fast becoming a creative and vibrant part of Manchester, and our vision is to build on this character to create a distinctive new neighbourhood.

“These proposals bring forward much-needed homes, alongside new public space, and active ground-floor uses that will add to the life of the area. We look forward to hearing what local people think during our consultation, which is being held until Friday, 3 October.”

A consultation drop-in event will take place at GRUB MCR, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill (M4 4HF) from 3-7pm on Wednesday, 17 September. Further feedback is also welcome either HERE, over the email at [email protected], or by freephone: 0800 689 1095 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm).

If all goes ahead as planned, you can expect work to start on this particular part of the ‘Victoria North Masterplan’ early next year, if not even sooner.

New £350m sustainable neighbourhood in Stockport given the green light
More big buildings are going up all across Greater Manchester.

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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)

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