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You can meet Santa on a festive ferris wheel at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas

The big red guy is taking to the skies once again.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 7th November 2023

Santa is taking to the skies once again this Christmas, and families will get the chance to meet him in one of the most unique locations in the region.

With the festive season fast approaching, and now just 48 days to go until the big day is here, there’s arguably no better place in the North West to get cracking on your Christmas shopping than at Cheshire Oaks.

Just less than an hour’s drive from Manchester city centre, Cheshire Oaks is the largest Designer Outlet in the UK, and is home to over 400,000 square feet of retail space – with more than 150 boutiques, restaurants, and cafes to choose from.

But no festive visit to the shopping village is complete without meeting Santa, right?

You can meet Santa on a festive ferris wheel at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas / Credit: Cheshire Oaks

Although this year, Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto will look a little different to usual, as after what was the smash-hit success of the first ever ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience last year, the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again in 2023, and inviting you on a fantastical festive adventure on the outlet’s ‘Big Wheel’.

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Taking pride of place next to the iconic Cheshire Oaks Christmas tree – which stands at whopping a 90ft tall, and is in the heart of all the action – the Big Wheel offers shoppers breathtaking views of the Cheshire skyline all lit up brighter than ever before, so it’s not hard to see why Santa is pulling up a pew on there for another year.

The ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.

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The outlet’s Big Wheel offers shoppers breathtaking views of the Cheshire skyline / Credit: Cheshire Oaks

Open every weekend and on selected weekday dates throughout December, with 10-minutes flights taking place from 2pm-7:30pm on Fridays, and 9am-4pm on all other days, included in the ticket price is a place on the Big Wheel flight with Santa and his elves, as well as a complimentary hot chocolate, festive cookie, and a personalised lanyard.

Little ones will also get a free bag of reindeer food to take home with them too.

Also new for this year are ‘Sensory Sessions’ inside the iconic Christmas tree – which will be running for the first hour of every open day, and will accommodate anyone with sensory or access needs.

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While ‘Santa in the Sky’ and ‘Sensory Sessions’ are bound to be the stand-out events, that’s not all that’s on offer at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas, as the outlet’s much-loved Winter Village is also back for another year, so you can take a break from shopping and snuggle up to enjoy a festive drink and bite to eat in one of the bookable Christmas huts.

Cheshire Oaks’ much-loved Winter Village is also back for another year / Credit: Cheshire Oaks

Whether you’re in the mood for a bratwurst straight from the swing grill, a cup of hot mulled wine, or a delicious hot chocolate, the German Christmas market-inspired Alpine Lodge is the perfect place unwind and soak in the festive spirit after a long day of grabbing gifts.

Cheshire Oaks’ General Manger, Kenny Murray, says the outlet wants to give visitors an “unforgettable experience” this Christmas.

“By bringing back our much-loved Winter Village and the return of last year’s Santa in the Sky experience, we have made sure our guests will have an unforgettable experience visiting our centre this festive season,” he explained.

The Winter Village is the perfect place to take a break from shopping and grab festive food and drink / Credit: Cheshire Oaks

“We’re confident our unbeatable prices across a selection of our much-loved premium brands to explore will allow our guests to shop for the best festive gifts, whilst also enjoying the holiday cheer through the many activities scheduled this winter”.

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Tickets for ‘Santa in the Sky’ are going on sale next Monday (13 November) from 10am, and are likely to sell out, so you’ll need to be quick if you’re looking to secure your spot.

Read more:

You can find out more about what’s on at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas here.

Featured Image – Cheshire Oaks

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A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Walking theatre XR experience Trafford Palazzo

We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.

Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.

This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.

Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?

Credit: The Manc Group
Credit: Immersia XR (supplied)

Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.

Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”

A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.

It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.

Credit: Supplied

As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.

Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.

Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.

Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.

Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:

Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.

Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.

Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”

Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.

Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.

Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

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The best glamping spots near Greater Manchester you can get to by train

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The best glamping spots you can reach by train near Manchester

We all LOVE a little escape into the countryside, with so many beautiful spots around Greater Manchester to explore – and did you know there are loads of glamping spots you can get to by train?

Whether you’re wanting to ditch the car for a greener mode of transport, or you just don’t actually own your own car, this selection of gorgeous staycations are accessible by public transport within two hours. 

Dark sky reserves, wild swimming spots, heather-covered hills, and more are all on your doorstep, right across the North West. 

And even better, Canopy & Stars will give you a £75 voucher towards your next stay when you travel by rail to one of their beautiful accommodation options. 

So without further ado, here are some of the best glamping spots you can reach by train from Greater Manchester.  

Rufus’s Roost Treehouse, York

Rufus Roost
Rufus Roost
Rufus Roost
Rufus Roost
The best glamping spots you can reach by train near Manchester

I doubt you’ve ever laid eyes upon a home as fairytale and whimsical as this one…

You access Rufus’s Roost via a tree-lined boardwalk, leading to a gorgeous wooden lodge that looks like a magical turreted wooden castle. 

Inside you’ll find all sorts of quaint details, like banisters made from twisted branches, a secret tunnel leading to a cosy reading nook, a slide, a pretty mezzanine bedroom and loads more. 

Outside, there’s a hot tub, pizza oven, and a veranda where you can watch out for wildlife.

And on your doorstep you’ll have the beauty of the North York Moors and Dales, a GoApe at Dalby Forest, and a Pizza Shack within a 10 minute walk. 

Treehouse for six from £324 per night

Train: 1 hr, 40m from Manchester Victoria to Thirsk

Haedd, Shropshire

Haedd, Shropshire
Haedd, Shropshire
Haedd, Shropshire
Haedd, Shropshire

If your idea of a perfect weekend is being cosy, reading books, playing board games and drinking wine in front of a roaring fire, this retreat is the one for you. 

An old stable has been converted into a cosy hideaway on the edges of the Shropshire Hills, and inside it looks like something that’s been lifted from an interiors magazine.

There’s a hot tub beneath some of the UK’s starriest skies, an outdoor shower, a campfire with a Dutch oven, a hammock, and a kamado BBQ, plus plenty of more modern features like underfloor heating, luxury bed linen, robes, and fairy lights. 

When you stay at Haedd you’ll be able to go foraging for wild garlic in the surrounding woodland, grab local meat from the butcher a mile away, walk down to Leintwardine’s riverside pub for a refreshing pint (or an equally refreshing river swim). 

It’s just half a mile from the nearest train station, so you can walk or arrange a lift from your hosts. Bliss. 

Barn for two from £135 per night

Train: 2 hr, 7m from Manchester Piccadilly to Bucknell Station

Falling Water, Yorkshire

Falling Water
Falling Water
Falling Water
Falling Water

Now it’s time for a staycation you might have seen on screen – Falling Water at Ponden Mill had a star turn on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. 

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And what makes this woodland hideaway so amazing, you ask? How about the fact it’s built on top of a flowing stream?

The accommodation has floor-to-ceiling windows so that you feel completely immersed in your surroundings despite being tucked up in a giant double bed. And when the early morning light filters through Falling Water’s stained-glass door, it’s enough to take your breath away. 

You can spend your days exploring Bronte country and the Pennine Way before you cosy up with the sound of the stream running right past your pillow. 

The hosts of Falling Water will pick you up from Haworth station. 

Cabin for two from £170 per night

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Train: 1 hr, 40m from Manchester Victoria to Thirsk Train Station

Silva Treehouse, Cumbria

Silva Treehouse
Silva Treehouse
Silva Treehouse
Silva Treehouse

We’ve already shown you the magic of Silva Treehouse in Cumbria, but in case you missed it, let’s recap. 

This multi-level hideaway has three luxury bedrooms, a beautiful open-plan kitchen and living room with gigantic windows looking across the countryside, loads of outside space, including a veranda with a log-fired hot tub, and piles of board games to entertain you. 

Oh sorry, I forgot to mention the best bit – a slide, that will whisk you down beneath the house to a covered outdoor den, with a ping pong table, dartboard, pizza oven, fire pit, hammocks, and a bar. Pretty cool, right?

The Lake District is within a stone’s throw of Silva Treehouse, or you can take on a scenic riverside walk to the Featherstone Arms for hearty pub grub.

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Treehouse for six from £336 per night

Train: 1hr, 30m from Manchester Piccadilly to Penrith (North Lakes) or 1hr, 48m from Manchester Picadilly to Carlisle  

Poppy, Yorkshire

The best glamping spots you can reach by train near Manchester
The best glamping spots you can reach by train near Manchester
The best glamping spots you can reach by train near Manchester

The owners of Poppy, a Shepherd’s hut in the Yorkshire Dales, know a thing or two about creating a perfectly picturesque British escape – just look at it. 

From the adorable sleeping nook with a king-size bed and floral wallpaper, to the compact farmhouse kitchen, to the fairy-lit veranda, it’s as far removed from the busy city of Manchester as can be (while being less than two hours away on the train). 

This off-grid hut’s outside space really sets it apart, with access to a wood-fired sauna, twin outdoor bathtubs, and even a dog washroom for your four-legged family member. 

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Poppy is located on the edge of the Nidderdale National Landscape and Yorkshire Dales National Park, surrounded by a wildflower meadow, wild river swimming, and firepit feasts. 

Shepherd’s Hut for two from £149

Train: 1 hr, 40m from Manchester Piccadilly to Thirsk Train Station

Caban Cefncoed, North Wales

Imagine if Little House on the Prairie came to the UK but there were brunches on your private terrace, a swing to watch sunsets from, and a bunkbed with a rock wall you can scramble up to get in. Sounds pretty idyllic, right? 

This is Caban Cefncoed, a private little cabin where you’ll find unspoiled views, a roaring log burner and total peace and quiet (apart for the odd visit from the owner’s Labrador). 

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The owner also has a list of Strava routes you can use to explore the local area, with loads of activities including white water rafting and hiking in nearby areas like Llangollen, Chirk or Froncysyllte.

Cabin for two people – from £139 per night.

Train: 2hrs 30min from Manchester Piccadilly to Chrik Station (via Flint)

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Featured image: Canopy & Stars

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