✈ Plan Your Visit
The Runway Visitor Park is open daily from 8am to 4pm with free entry — you only pay for parking. Concorde tours and experiences should be booked in advance. Check the official Runway Visitor Park website for the latest opening information and tour availability before you visit.
Manchester Airport's Runway Visitor Park — often called the Viewing Park — is one of the North West's most popular free attractions. Located adjacent to the airport's runways on Sunbank Lane, the park offers over 9,000 square metres of space where visitors can watch aircraft take off and land from raised viewing platforms just metres from the runway. Whether you are a dedicated aviation enthusiast, a family looking for a fun day out, or a traveller with a few hours to spare, the Runway Visitor Park has something for everyone.
The park is home to a collection of retired aircraft, including the iconic Concorde G-BOAC — British Airways' flagship supersonic airliner, housed in a purpose-built hangar. There is also a children's play area, an on-site café, The Aviation Shop, a Fly 360 flight simulator, and live runway commentary at weekends. Entry to the park is free, with charges only for car parking and optional guided tours.
What to See and Do at the Viewing Park
The Runway Visitor Park is far more than a simple plane spotting location. It offers a range of attractions and experiences that cater to all ages and levels of aviation interest.
✈ Plane Spotting & Viewing Platforms
Raised viewing mounds and platforms give you unobstructed views of both runways. Watch everything from narrow-body jets to widebody aircraft like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner at close quarters.
Live commentary at weekends from 11am • Covered seating areas • Free with park entry
🛩 Concorde G-BOAC
The park's centrepiece is Concorde G-BOAC, housed in a dedicated hangar since 2009. You can view the aircraft for free from the hangar walkthrough, or book a guided tour to go on board, sit in the cockpit, and watch the famous nose droop.
Tours from £6pp (Supersonic) to £42pp (Platinum) • Book online
🛫 Retired Aircraft Collection
Explore several other retired aircraft on the park grounds, including an RAF Nimrod MR2 spy plane, a DC-10, an Avro RJX (the last aircraft fully built in the UK), and a Hawker Siddeley Trident 3B from the 1960s.
Avro open daily • Nimrod tours available (check availability) • Trident open to board
🎮 Fly 360 Flight Simulator
A two-person, fully interactive flight simulator that performs 360-degree motion over both vertical and horizontal axes. Take control of a P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft for an immersive flying experience.
Price: From £6pp • Book at reception or online • All ages welcome
Concorde Tours — Prices and Options
Access to the Concorde hangar walkthrough is free, but to go on board the aircraft you need to book a guided tour. Several tour options are available, each offering a different level of access and duration. Tours run on both weekdays and weekends, but availability varies — booking in advance online is strongly recommended, especially during school holidays and weekends.
| Tour | Duration | What's Included | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supersonic Short Tour | ~20 mins | Brief cabin visit, ideal for families with young children | From £6pp |
| Classic Tour | 1 hour | 30-minute cabin tour, flight deck visit, free parking | £18pp |
| Technical Tour | ~1.5 hours | Extended flight deck tour, walk beneath the aircraft, in-depth engineering detail | £28pp |
| Platinum Tour | ~2 hours | Full cabin & flight deck, walk under wings, champagne, nose droop demonstration, boarding certificate | £42pp |
All Concorde tours include free car parking for the duration of your visit. Tours do not run every day, so check availability on the official booking page before planning your trip. The park only accepts card and contactless payments — no cash is accepted on site.
Family Facilities and Activities
The Runway Visitor Park is an excellent choice for a family day out. Children are captivated by the sight and sound of aircraft movements, and there is plenty to keep younger visitors entertained between watching planes.
- Children's play area — a dedicated outdoor play area with swings and climbing equipment, located within the park grounds.
- Small fairground rides — coin-operated rides and small attractions for younger children (additional cost).
- Flight Academy — an interactive programme for children aged 4–12, running during school holidays. Includes a cockpit visit, role-play activities, and outdoor runway observation. From £14 per child with an accompanying adult.
- Picnic area — a large grassed area with benches overlooking the runway where you can bring your own food and drinks.
- RVP Café — on-site coffee house serving hot and cold food, snacks, and drinks with views of the airfield.
- The Aviation Shop — a specialist shop stocking aircraft models, books, souvenirs, and gifts for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.
💡 Weekend Tip: Live Runway Commentary
Every weekend from 11am, the park's commentary system goes live, providing information about the aircraft you can see on the runway — which airlines they belong to, where they are flying to, and interesting facts about the aircraft types. This is a fantastic feature for both children and adults, and it turns a casual visit into an educational experience. Follow the Runway Visitor Park Facebook page for advance notice of special aircraft movements, including widebody arrivals and unusual visitors.
Opening Times and Prices
The Runway Visitor Park is open every day of the year, although it may occasionally close at short notice for operational reasons. Always check the official website or social media channels before visiting.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Park opening hours | Daily, 8am – 4pm |
| Reception & Aviation Shop | 9am – 4pm |
| Entry fee | Free (charges for car parking and tours only) |
| Car parking | From £6 for 2 hours (free if you book a Concorde tour, or arrive by public transport, bicycle, or on foot) |
| Payment methods | Card and contactless only (including Apple Pay and Google Pay). No cash accepted. |
| Dogs | Guide and assistance dogs only. Other dogs are not permitted. |
💡 Tips for Your Visit
- The park is an outdoor space — dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes, as the ground can be uneven and muddy in wet conditions.
- The car park can fill up quickly on sunny weekends and during school holidays. Arrive early if possible, as the park cannot accommodate waiting vehicles once full.
- Bring your own food to save money — the picnic area has benches with excellent runway views.
- Book Concorde tours online in advance. Walk-up availability is very limited, especially at weekends.
- For the best plane spotting, check the wind direction before your visit — runway usage depends on wind conditions, and some viewing platforms have better sightlines depending on which runway is active.
How to Get to the Runway Visitor Park
The Runway Visitor Park is located on Sunbank Lane, off the old Wilmslow Road, near the village of Styal. Its postal address is Sunbank Lane, Altrincham, WA15 8XQ. The park is approximately 3 miles from Manchester Airport's main terminals and train station.
By Car
The easiest approach is from Junction 6 of the M56 motorway. Follow signs for the Freight Terminal, turn right at the traffic lights, and continue for a few hundred metres. Look for the sign marked "Concorde & Viewing Park" near the Romper pub — turn left and follow the road for about half a mile to the park entrance. From Wilmslow, take the A538 towards Altrincham, pass under the runway tunnels, and take the next right turning opposite DHL towards the Romper pub.
By Taxi
A taxi from the airport terminals takes around 10 minutes. There is no direct shuttle or bus service from the airport to the Viewing Park. If you arrive by taxi, reception staff can help arrange a return taxi when you are ready to leave.
By Public Transport
There is no direct public transport link to the Runway Visitor Park. The nearest railway station is Manchester Airport (approximately 3 miles away), and the nearest Metrolink tram stop is Shadowmoss, roughly 1.5 miles from the park. If you arrive by public transport, on foot, or by bicycle, entry and parking are completely free.
📍 Address & Contact
- Address: Runway Visitor Park, Sunbank Lane, Altrincham, WA15 8XQ
- Phone: 0161 489 3932
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: runwayvisitorpark.co.uk
Accessibility
The Runway Visitor Park is largely an outdoor attraction on open ground. The main viewing platforms include ramped access for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility. The Concorde hangar, café, and Aviation Shop are accessible. However, some areas of the park — particularly in wet weather — can have uneven ground, so visitors with mobility difficulties should take care. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome throughout the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Runway Visitor Park free to enter?
Yes, entry to the park is completely free. You only pay for car parking. Visitors arriving by public transport, on foot, or by bicycle also receive free parking. Concorde tours, the Fly 360 simulator, and certain other experiences are charged separately.
What are the opening times?
The park is open daily from 8am to 4pm. Reception and the Aviation Shop close at 4pm. The park may occasionally close for operational reasons, so check the official website or their social media channels before visiting.
How do I book a Concorde tour?
Concorde tours are booked online via the Runway Visitor Park website. Tours range from short Supersonic visits (from £6pp) to the full Platinum experience (£42pp). Tours do not run every day, so check availability before planning your visit. Booking in advance is strongly recommended.
How do I get there from Manchester Airport?
The park is about 3 miles from the airport terminals. There is no direct bus or shuttle service, so a taxi (approximately 10 minutes) is the easiest option. By car, take Junction 6 of the M56 and follow signs for the Freight Terminal, then look for the "Concorde & Viewing Park" sign.
What aircraft can I see?
The park houses Concorde G-BOAC, an RAF Nimrod MR2, a DC-10, an Avro RJX, and a Hawker Siddeley Trident 3B. From the viewing platforms, you can watch live runway operations including widebody aircraft like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Is the Viewing Park suitable for children?
Absolutely. There is a play area, small fairground rides, a picnic area, and the excitement of watching real aircraft from the viewing platforms. The Flight Academy holiday programme is designed specifically for children aged 4–12. The Fly 360 simulator is popular with older children and adults alike.