Day 1: Morning departure from North Wales and travel to Manchester, enjoy some time at leisure in the city centre before we continue to our hotel in Salford Quays for a 4-night stay.
Day 2: Full day to explore Salford Quays, a wonderfully revitalised area of Manchester and a unique waterfront destination, which is home to the Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry, which are exiting examples of contemporary architecture, as well as Quayside MediaCityUK, Manchester’s only designer outlet shopping mall; the BBC and Media City, where tours can be enjoyed. The Imperial War Museum North (free admission) is purpose-built and tells the stories of over a century of war in an award-winning, immersive experience, accompanied by voices of people whose lives were torn apart by the various conflicts. The Lowry (also free admission) is a shrine to all things art, with galleries, theatres, cafes and shops, and displays the famous LS Lowry Collection, which includes his iconic matchstick figures. We include a 50-minute cruise around the Quays and Manchester Ship Canal, which will give you an insight into the history of the area and a unique view of Manchester including Media City, Old Trafford and the disused dry docks.
Day 3: Enjoy a visit to the wonderful RHS Garden Bridgewater, which only opened in 2021. The former site of Worsley New Hall, in Salford, it is a heritage landscape that has been transformed into an iconic RHS Garden, an unbelievable ‘oasis of calm’ so close to the hustle and bustle of Manchester. A landscape architect, the Bridgewater team and award-winning garden designers, have brought ‘gardens within a garden’ to life by blending history with world-class horticulture. Explore its wonders within the Worsley Welcome Garden, Weston Walled Garden, Kitchen Garden, Paradise Garden and the Chinese Streamside Garden, alongside other areas of this wonderfully peaceful and historic site.
Day 4: A supersonic visit to Concorde at the Runway Visitor Park, Manchester Airport. Enjoy a unique experience on a 90 minute fully guided tour of one of the most iconic aircraft in history, with time under the wings, time on-board, including the flight deck, and a personalised commemorative certificate. The Runway Visitor Park is also home to a number of other retired planes, which offer a glimpse of what flying was like in the 1960’s and 1970’s, along with a coffee shop and The Aviation Shop. We return to Salford Quays during the afternoon where there will be free time.
Day 5: After breakfast we depart Salford Quays and make the return journey home, stopping in Chester en-route, where there will be time at leisure.