The LEGO City Stunt Show going on tour for the first-time ever, and it’s stopping off in Manchester to bring “epic fun for families” this weekend.
This is one to keep your calendars free for this half term.
The LEGO Group has announced that LEGO lovers in Manchester will have the chance to see a live-action stunt show right on their doorsteps on both Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October, and also find out a little bit more about LEGO City’s new range ‘LEGO CITY Stuntz’ in a “truly epic” way.
The action-packed event is aiming to bring families unmissable fun for all ages to enjoy.
The LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will take place the heart of the city centre at Manchester Exchange, and is free for all to attend.
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Find out a little bit more about LEGO City’s new range ‘LEGO CITY Stuntz’ in a “truly epic” way / Credit: LEGO®
So, what exactly can you expect if you head on down to the tour this weekend then? Well, the event is set to “unleash the creativity” in all ages with a range of interactive experiences across the two days.
These include:
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Watch the four Bold Dog riders show off their epic stunts and jumps on the ramps.
Ask the riders about their dare devil tricks through Q&As.
Interact with the riders and see mini shows throughout the day.
Meet and take photos with the riders.
On top of that, you’ll also get to see with LEGO City’s new range of Stuntz toys.
The LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will take place the heart of the city centre at Manchester Exchange / Credit: LEGO®
It may be stopping off in Manchester first, but the LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will also visit Liverpool and Hull this October and November, and after experiencing all the amazing jumps and tricks of the stunt performers with your own eyes, families can then recreate the shows with the new LEGO City Stuntz range at home.
LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will be in Manchester Exchange on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October.
Featured Image – LEGO®
City Centre
Great Manchester Run guide 2025 – everything you need to know
Danny Jones
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run returns this month, and with more spectators and people taking part than ever, we thought it’d be handy to put together another little event guide for you.
Whether you’re running it or cheering your friends, family and complete strangers from the sidelines, it’s set to be a massive day that involves a lot of planning and logistics, so we’ll help however we can.
You only have to see the months of time and effort that went into making this year’s Manchester Marathon the incredible success that it was, and the Great Run Company are no different.
So, without further ado, here’s all the important information you need to know ahead of the 2025 Great Manchester Run.
2025 Great Manchester Run guide – all the key info
What is the Great Manchester Run route this year?
Where else better to start than with this year’s Great Manchester Run? Anyone who’s coming back for more will be glad to hear that it remains pretty much unchanged from the 2024 edition and years prior.
Starting once again along the busy Portland Street strip before the half-marathon runners head towards Mancunian Way, participants will pass along Chester Road and on towards Manchester United’s legendary stadium, Old Trafford, before heading back into the city for a grandstand finish on Deansgate.
The 10k route essentially takes out the section heading towards East Manchester and the loop in front of Man City’s equally iconic Etihad Stadium, but still capitalises on all the best and biggest spots for atmosphere. Here you can see the maps in more detail HERE.
The 2025 AJ Bell Great Manchester Run half-marathon route (Credit: Supplied)
Great Manchester Run waves and start times
In terms of when the action will be getting underway, as ever, the hordes of runners will be broken up into various coloured waves depending on their estimated finish time; these colours are clearly visible on your race bib.
You can see a full breakdown below:
8:10am – 10k Elite Wheelchair start
8:15am – Half Marathon Orange Wave start
8:40am – Half Marathon Green Wave start
11:30am – 10k Elite Women start
11:45am – 10k Elite Men start
11:45am – 10k Fast Paced and Orange Wave start
12:05am – 10k Green Wave start
12:50pm – 10k Purple Wave start
13:10pm – 10k Pink Wave start
Runners should have received said bibs in their race packs via the post by now, but if you need to pick up in person or source a replacement for whatever reason, they can be collected during race week.
You can find out where to do so, including other common FAQs, right HERE.
Great MCR Run travel info and road closures
Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 30,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.
Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day and various other arms of the Bee Network helping people get around the event.
If you do end up driving into the region for the action, we would recommend you use one of Greater Manchester’s many park and ride sites and then use one of our many Metrolink services to travel into the city centre itself.
Meanwhile, the Bee Network also have an interactive traffic map for the event:
Cheer zones and support hubs: best spots to watch the Great Manchester Run
For those of you set to line the streets and provide your much-needed support on race day, there are some key sections where the atmosphere from the crowd will be injected into the runners.
As well as a Heart Radio pop-up station, drummers, local choirs and plenty more surprises to keep your energy pumping throughout, there’ll be some big corners to look out for your loved ones.
You can find some of the main supporter hotspots and where they are along the route down below, but we’d personally recommend the roundabout coming heading towards Chester Road, the small grassy mounts and central reservation either side of Cornbrook, and the corner of Deansgate-Castlefield.
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5-mile marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 10/11-mile marker
Cornbrook – 12-mile marker
Deansgate-Castlefield exchange – for the finish line
10k
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St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Cornbrook – 2km marker
Old Trafford – 4km marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6km marker
Cornbrook – 9km marker
Deansgate-Castlefield corner – for the finish line
Wherever you decide to watch, just make sure you bring the same kind of wholesome energy that these queens did…
Following the success of a new bag drop system at the Manchester Marathon, similar baggage buses will be available at Deansgate from 7am for half marathon runners and around Hardman Street and Jackson’s Row from 10am for those doing the 10k.
Once your tear-off label is fastened to your stuff, you will be able be collect after crossing the finish line.
As for toilets, there will be plenty of facilities to use before the starting run, as well as six locations throughout both distances. You’ll find multiple stations along both too.
One final message
Now, we’re not going to waste too much time reminding you to wash your race kit, stock up on safety pins and get all your other gear ready, but what we will do is remind you to go out there and have fun.
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Make sure you fuel right in the morning and enjoy plenty of carbs and water in the week leading up; also, be sure to keep an eye out on the weather – we want you to be safe out there.
Whatever/whoever you’re doing the 2025 Great Manchester Run for, just know that we’re unbelievably proud of you all and no matter how the day goes, we want you to soak up every single cheer, bell and scream. We’ll see you at the finish line.
Now go put the great in Greater Manchester, we know you’re going to smash it!
Featured Images — Phlip Oldham/Press Shots (supplied)
City Centre
Manchester’s mega-hit comedy festival makes 2025 return – with Frankie Boyle, Rosie Jones, and more on lineup
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s most popular comedy festival is back later this year, and there’s some massive names on the lineup set to bring the laughs.
After what was a smash-hit success in its inaugural year back in 2022, and several other successful runs in each of the years following, Laughterama is back in Manchester for more in a couple of months time, and will once again be taking over the iconic Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre for five days of fun.
Thousands of comedy lovers attend Laughterama each year to enjoy countless sell-out stand-up sets, and this year will be no different, as festivalgoers are in for an ‘explosive series of shows‘ from some of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Multi award-winning comedians Frankie Boyle, Ed Gamble, Rosie Jones, and Phil Wang are just some of the famous names on this year’s jam-packed lineup.
They’ll be joined by other household names like Russell Kane, Fern Brady, Rob Delaney, Lou Sanders, and Tim Key when they all take to the Castlefield Bowl stage over the five-day festival from Wednesday 3 – Sunday 7 September.
Some of the other names you can expect are Taskmaster treasures Sam Campbell and Bridget Christie, BAFTA nominee Lucy Beaumont, stand-up phenomenon Sarah Keyworth, King Gary star Tom Davis, Viceland’s Jamali Maddix, and viral sensation Jen Brister.
Manchester’s very own comedy heroes Rachel Fairburn and Stephen Bailey are also on the lineup.
Manchester’s mega-hit comedy festival Laughterama is making a 2025 return later this year / Credit: Supplied
It wouldn’t be Laughterama without some newcomers either, and some of the breakthrough stars not-to-be-missed this year include Edinburgh Fringe Award nominee Jin Hao Li, fast-rising talents Sharon Wanjohi and Dane Buckley, the razor-sharp Lara Ricote, and so many more to discover.
And aside from the comedy, as always, you can expect the very-best eats from Manchester’s street food scene will also be on site to tuck into, as well as an exciting selection of bars serving signature beers, cocktails, and more.
Emily Sergeant -
20th October 2021 
