Runway Visitor Park
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Altrincham
What it’s like
Climb aboard a retired Concorde and a DC10 parked up outside Manchester Airport, with runway views thrown in free.
Entry itself is free, which is unusual for a place with a Concorde sitting on the tarmac. What you actually pay for are the tours: £14 gets one adult and one child into the DC10 family tour, where the kids can sit in the captain's chair, and Concorde tours run from £18 for the Classic up to £28 for the Technical, champagne toast and nose-droop demonstration included on the Concorde ones. That top price is a lot to add up across a family, so it's one to think about before you get to the till.
Outside the tours, there's plenty to wander round without paying extra: retired aircraft including the Nimrod, Avro RJX and Trident, an outdoor play area, and a treasure hunt to keep younger ones moving between the planes. At weekends there's live commentary on aircraft movements from the runway next door, which is the bit that'll actually stop a plane-mad kid in their tracks. Trampolines and a bouncy castle turn up in season, so don't bank on them if you're going in winter.
Concorde access is guided tour only and it doesn't run every day, so if that's the reason you're going, it's worth building the visit around when a tour's actually on rather than turning up and hoping. The café does hot food, cold drinks and grab-and-go, with an ice cream kiosk open at weekends and a weekend brunch offer if you fancy feeding everyone before you set off round the aircraft.
Parking isn't included in that free entry either. It's £6 for up to two hours, rising to £15 if you're there more than four, and the car park has limited space, so on a busy weekend there's a real chance of it filling up with nowhere for latecomers to wait. Opening hours shift with the seasons, stretching to 8pm in summer and shrinking back to 4pm over winter.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- £6 up to 2 hours, £12 from 2-4 hours, £15 over 4 hours
- Food
- RVP café with hot and cold drinks, meals and grab-and-go options
- The car park fills up on busy days with no room for waiting vehicles, so aim for an early arrival
- Hot food service hours are shorter than the park itself, running 8am to 3pm in the colder months
- The park is closed to general visitors on Tuesday 8 September 2026
- Picnic area is on site if you'd rather bring your own food than rely on the café
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Getting in is free. The tours are what you pay for: £14 for the DC10 family tour, £18 for the Concorde Classic tour per person, and £28 for the Concorde Technical tour.
Do we need to book the Concorde tour?
Concorde is guided tour only and it doesn't run every day, so it's worth timing your visit around when a tour is actually on rather than turning up on spec.
Is there parking?
Yes, £6 for up to two hours, £12 for two to four hours and £15 over four hours. Space is limited and once it's full they can't take waiting cars.
What can kids do without paying for a tour?
Wander among the retired aircraft, including the Nimrod, Avro RJX and Trident, tackle the treasure hunt, and use the outdoor play area. Weekends add live commentary on real aircraft movements from the runway.
Are the trampolines always open?
The trampolines and bouncy castle are seasonal, so don't count on them outside the warmer months.
What food is there?
The RVP café does hot and cold drinks, meals and grab-and-go food, plus a weekend brunch offer. There's an ice cream kiosk open at weekends too.
What are the opening hours?
They shift through the year: 8am to 4pm in January, February, November and December, stretching out to 8am to 8pm in June, July and August.
Can you sit in the cockpit?
On the DC10 family tour, children can sit in the captain's chair. The Concorde tours include a nose-droop demonstration and a champagne toast.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
There's blue badge parking, accessible toilets and the site is wheelchair accessible.
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