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Best Viewing Areas At Manchester Airport

Shamrocka330 From Ireland, joined Sep 2005, 283 posts, RR: 0
Posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 5311 times:

I'm planning a day trip to Manchester Airport next month for some plane spotting and photography. Can anybody point me to the best spot around the airport for viewing plane movements?

The photos below seem to be from various different spots around the airport perimeter. Can anybody tell me if these spots are any good and how I can get there from the main terminal?

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Photo © Steven Grace

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Photo © Sam Chui

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Photo © Jid Webb

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Photo © John Farrington - FlightLineImages

Any help is appreciated!

aka thebigjd (member since Sept 2001)

22 replies: All unread, jump to last

BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3
Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 5301 times:

They are all taken from the viewing area by the looks of it. There is a bus service from the airport railway station to the viewing area.

Boysteve From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 872 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 5294 times:

Hello, Well there are 2 official viewing areas. The first is on top of the Multi-Storey car park attached to terminal 1 (Level 13 to be precise) there is a small shop full of aviation magazines etc and a small snack bar. It gives a good overview of the main T1 and T2 area but you cannot see T3 nor actual touchdowns on 24R/take-offs on 06L as they are obscured.
The second area is the official aviation viewing park which offers unrestricted views of both runways. You can also see part of T1 and T3 but not too much. There are a couple of static displays including Concorde, a bigger shop selling magazines/models/timetables and radios etc and also a bigger snack bar.
I do like the main aviation viewing park as I prefer to see take-offs and landings as opposed to taxiing around a terminal. Also for me the car parking is much cheaper than at the actual terminal. However I expect you'll need public transport!
http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/w...tent/ViewingParkVisitorInformation

This link gives details of the bus link from the airport Station to the viewing park.

Enjoy your day

RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5287 times:

Quoting BigOrange (Reply 1):
They are all taken from the viewing area by the looks of it. There is a bus service from the airport railway station to the viewing area.

The top one is definitely from the southside mound, which is pretty easy to get to and perfect for shots like that.

Shamrocka330 From Ireland, joined Sep 2005, 283 posts, RR: 0
Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5282 times:

Thanks a million for the information Boysteve, looks like its going to be the viewing park!

aka thebigjd (member since Sept 2001)

Dan330 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2001, 439 posts, RR: 1
Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5277 times:

The bottom 3 are all from the southside, further down the runway to where the first one was taken.

Its a bit tricky to get to and you'll definately need a car. Can try to explain the way if anyone wants it?

Airways45 From United Kingdom, joined May 2000, 299 posts, RR: 0
Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5266 times:

Manchester Airport rocks -they are one of the most pro-spotter airports in the world.

Well done Manchester! You suceeded where others failed, or couldn't be bothered... (BAA take note!)

Airways45

BMED From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2004, 853 posts, RR: 7
Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5263 times:

I got to the viewing park by bus but there is a 10-20 min walk from the stop to the park but its worth it by far

Living the jetset life! No better way to be

Boysteve From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 872 posts, RR: 0
Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5255 times:

Quoting BMED (Reply 7):
I got to the viewing park by bus but there is a 10-20 min walk from the stop to the park but its worth it by far

Right well one bus actually comes to the viewing park. The bus turns around and stops right outside the entrance way where the payment booth is

Shamrocka330 From Ireland, joined Sep 2005, 283 posts, RR: 0
Reply 9, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5246 times:

Quoting Boysteve (Reply 8):
Right well one bus actually comes to the viewing park. The bus turns around and stops right outside the entrance way where the payment booth is

Does this bus stop by the airport terminal on the way?!

aka thebigjd (member since Sept 2001)

ABfemme From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 5242 times:

Quoting Dan330 (Reply 5):
Its a bit tricky to get to and you'll definitely need a car. Can try to explain the way if anyone wants it?

Hi Dan

Is this opposite the viewing park - on the other side of the runways? I have seen spotters across from the viewing park and often wondered how to get there.......Yes please I would like to know how to get there !!

Claire Smile

Bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6352 posts, RR: 1
Reply 11, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5226 times:

You can also take pictures from the restaurant.

NG737PSR From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 305 posts, RR: 0
Reply 12, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5226 times:

What number bus takes you directly to/from viewing park at MAN?

Thanks

Boysteve From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 872 posts, RR: 0
Reply 13, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5213 times:

http://nw.aimwebsites.co.uk/TimetableDetails.jsp

The direct bus appears to only run every hour. It is service number 200 according to the GMPTE website

Bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6352 posts, RR: 1
Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5207 times:

I thought that it was the 19.

Myt332 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 9112 posts, RR: 74
Reply 15, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5205 times:

There is a bus that runs to the cargo centre everyday and that involves a 10 minute walk to the viewing park. That's the number 19.

The bus that runs to the viewing park direct only runs at the weekend and is the 200/201.

All busses run from The Station located between T1 and T2.

If I recall correctly!

One Life, Live it.

EGNR From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 503 posts, RR: 0
Reply 16, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 5173 times:

Lots of info on spotting at Manchester can be found here

The guide for the Aviation Viewing Park can be found here

7late7, A3latey, Sukhoi Superlate... what's going on?

Boysteve From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 872 posts, RR: 0
Reply 17, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 5170 times:

Quoting Bennett123 (Reply 14):
I thought that it was the 19

The 19 bus only goes to Wilmslow Road and the fright terminal. Basically you have to walk from there. However on Weekedns the 200 goes directly as Myt332 states

Shamrocka330 From Ireland, joined Sep 2005, 283 posts, RR: 0
Reply 18, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5100 times:

Are people free to walk around Concorde (on the outside I mean) in the viewing park or is there no access - you can only look from a distance? Also I'm planning a return to the viewing park during a weekend in October for a technical tour of Concorde. Are these tours booked out well in advance? Please say no!

aka thebigjd (member since Sept 2001)

RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 19, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5091 times:

Quoting Shamrocka330 (Reply 18):
Are people free to walk around Concorde (on the outside I mean) in the viewing park or is there no access - you can only look from a distance?

It is cordoned off, but only basically around the general footprint so you can get pretty close. If you want a better one to get close to, try the preproduction one at Yeovilton, no limits on access there.

Quoting Shamrocka330 (Reply 18):
Also I'm planning a return to the viewing park during a weekend in October for a technical tour of Concorde. Are these tours booked out well in advance? Please say no!

The tours dont run every weekend and are booked out quickly, so book early and pick the weekend around the booking.

Shamrocka330 From Ireland, joined Sep 2005, 283 posts, RR: 0
Reply 20, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 5088 times:

Thanks for your help Richard thumbsup

aka thebigjd (member since Sept 2001)

GOCAPS16 From Japan, joined Jan 2000, 4298 posts, RR: 23
Reply 21, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 5053 times:

Hi Shamrock,
What day are you planning to be at Manchester? I'll also be in MAN next month also.

Kevin

Boysteve From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 872 posts, RR: 0
Reply 22, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5010 times:

Shamrocka330,
Have you an actual day in mind to visit MAN?
If its a day trip then please note that the FR morning flight from DUB gets fully booked early if Manchester United are at home that day. Personally I support Liverpool!

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