What's On
The UK’s most famous male strip show is coming to Manchester
The Manc -
28th January 2020
The Manc -
28th January 2020 What's On
Little Mancs can become pilots as Manchester Airport’s Flight Academy returns over half term
Emily Sergeant
Little Mancs can try their hand at becoming a pilot this half term, as the popular Flight Academy returns to Manchester Airport.
After proving to be massively popular with families during plenty of school holidays in recent years, the Flight Academy programme is back at Runway Visitor Park next week, just in time for February half term across Greater Manchester.
During 90-minute sessions, curious kids will get the chance to learn all about the different job roles that help keep Manchester‘s airport in action throughout the year.
The first part of the session takes place aboard a retired DC10 airliner, so kids can sit in the cockpit and find out about everything from the cabin crew’s role, to what the the ground operators get up to, and so much more.
They’ll even get to dress the part, and “take control” of the flight deck too by sitting up front in the captain’s coveted seat.
ADVERTISEMENT
And if all of that wan’t fun enough as it is, they’ll then get to head outside to have a look at Manchester Airport‘s runways, watch the planes taking off and landing, and get to see some of the various jobs they’ve just learnt about in action.
After the session, families will then be free to make the most of all the rest of the impressive facilities on offer at Runway Visitor Park.
ADVERTISEMENT
With stunning views over the nearby airfield, some of the unique activities on offer at the popular Greater Manchester-based tourist attraction include watching aircraft, such as the giant A380, coming and going at close quarters, taking in a tour of the Park’s retired airliners – including the iconic Concorde – and stopping off at the giant play area and on-site café.
Flight Academy at Runway Visitor Park will be running on selected weekday and weekend dates from Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 February, with sessions split into two age groups – one for children aged four-seven years, and another for those aged eight-12.
Read more:
- MediaCity’s new £2.5m indoor activity park confirms opening date just in time for half term
- Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 FREE tickets to children
- New family festival full of FREE activities is happing in Manchester this weekend
Tickets cost just £14 for one child with an accompanying adult, and you can find out more and book your place here.
Featured Image – Manchester Airport
What's On
Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 FREE tickets to children
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is giving away thousands of tickets to local schools to help inspire a new generation of young conservationists.
The UK’s largest charity zoo is on a mission to help nature to “survive and thrive”.
And so, in a bid to do just that, has announced that it will once again be handing out tens of thousands of tickets to schoolchildren for completely free of charge, so that they can explore the zoo up close and learn all about the inspiring work the conservation charity does.
Chester Zoo‘s free ticket scheme has been running since 2017, and has already seen more than 175,000 children get to experience all the wonders the zoo has to offer.
We’re giving away 32,750 FREE tickets to the zoo! 🚨
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) February 10, 2025
Schools, nurseries, and colleges across the UK – this is your chance to inspire future conservationists and ignite a passion for helping wildlife thrive! 🌍💚
Click to apply! 👉 https://t.co/MW5Q8iXL7M pic.twitter.com/921xwI3j7T
With the hopes of empowering as many youngsters as possible, and sparking their passion for saving species once again, the zoo has now opened the scheme back up for the 2025/26 season – with a whopping 33,000 tickets available for schools, nurseries, and colleges to claim.
Those who secure tickets will have the opportunity to visit the zoo between this November and February 2026.
Applications are open to any school in the UK that hasn’t already benefitted from the scheme within the last four academic years, while home educators are also eligible to apply as a group through a Home Educators’ Network.
“We’re offering thousands of children the opportunity to experience the wonders of the natural world firsthand at the zoo,” commented Charlotte Smith, who is the Director of Conservation Education and Engagement at Chester Zoo.
“Young people are more concerned than ever about nature decline and climate change, and by working closely with schools across the UK, we can provide them with the skills, knowledge and inspiration to make a real positive difference.”
She added that “every child has the potential to be a future conservationist”.
Read more:
- Chester Zoo awarded more than £300k to help improve nature recovery and local wildlife conservation
- A new family festival full of FREE activities is happening in Manchester
- New images released of Chester Zoo’s luxury overnight safari-style lodges
Places are limited each day to ensure everyone can enjoy their zoo visit – with priority given to schools who have not benefitted from the scheme before.
You can find out more and apply for free tickets here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
More What's On
Audio
Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute
Eats