Manchester Barton Aerodrome is a historic airport in Eccles, Greater Manchester. It is a family friendly day out which has a free to visit viewing area with plenty of seating with fantastic views of the aircrafts taking off and landing at the airport. It has great facilities with a restaurant, children's play area and the option to bring a picnic. Its even got free parking.
Top Into
🚗 Free parking
💰 Free to visit
✈ Lots of small planes & Helicopters to watch
🛝 Children's playarea
🍔 The Departure Lounge restaurant open Tues-Sun
🥪 Picnic tables
🪑 Indoor & outdoor seating
✈ Flying School
🚁 Helicopter Flight Experiences
🌎 Barton Aerodrome, Liverpool Road, Eccles, Manchester. M30 7SA
The best part of visiting had to be the amount of aircrafts landing. The planes weren't those big Bowing 747s types but privately owned small aircrafts and with there only being a low down fence between you and the landing area you could get an amazing view. In the 2 hours we were here we must have seen at least 30 planes. My favourite was an army looking plane which almost put on a bit of a show for the people watching. Coming really close to the fence and turning around a few times.
There is even a Helicopter Flight Experience centre so you can watch people taking off and landing in them which was really cool and interesting to watch along side the aeroplanes.
Children's Play Area
There is a small play area suitable for 12 and under. It has an aeroplane theme with a wooden climbing frame with slide, swings for babies and toddlers, a climbing wall and aeroplane rocker. It os perfectly located right by the restaurant and the viewing area so children can play while you relax with a drink and watch the planes.
Food & Drink
"The Departure Lounge" is the onsite cafe/ restaurant. Serving up breakfasts, lunch, kids meals and afternoon teas. It serves coffees as well as a fully stocked bar with draft beers and ciders. Open Tuesday – Sunday with free wifi and private function rooms.
We had our lunch here while sat outside in the sunny weather. We ordered 2 toasties, fries and a children meal and found it really reasonably priced.
If you order a main menu burger you actually get a kids meal for free.
If you want to keep the costs low on your visit you can bring a picnic from home and you wont struggle to find a table or a spot of grass to sit and enjoy it. The restaurant also sells a range ice creams and lollies if you do want a little treat.
It is brilliant that entry and parking to Barton Aerodrome is completely free. Making it a totally free day out if you don't buy any food in the restaurant.
The Airport officially opened on 29th January 1930 with a large Hangar, which was designed to house the most advanced passenger aircraft of the day, the Imperial Airways Argosy. The airport became the first municipal airfield in the UK to be licensed by the Air Ministry and the iconic Control Tower was completed shortly after. Both the Control Tower and original Hangar are now Grade II listed buildings and remain in operation today.
Visit Aug 2024
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