If you’re looking for an exciting yet budget-friendly day out with your children, Barton Aerodrome should be at the top of your list. Located just a short drive from the Trafford centre – we actually tied this in with a morning at the Chill Factore soft play, Play Factore. This aerodrome offers a unique blend of aviation excitement and family-friendly amenities that made for an amazing low cost day out.
The aerodrome features an airport-themed park that is perfect for children under 10. My little girl had an absolute blast playing on the various aviation-themed equipment, she loved the swing, but her favourite was the lookout tower where she could get a great spot to look for planes! The park includes swings, slides, and climbing frames, all designed to look like different parts of an airport. My little girl made a few friends and they all loved pretending to be pilots and passengers, making up their own flight games. There are also swings which our baby loved!
The highlight of our visit was watching planes and helicopters take off and land. We spent hours sitting by the runway, mesmerized by the variety of aircraft coming and going. What’s great is because it’s a small airport, if you pick the right day (Friday- Sunday usually best) you can see so many planes take off and land regularly which means no big long waits like other huge commercial viewing places we have previously been.
My little girl was thrilled when a pilot stopped to chat with us after landing. She was over the moon to talk to him about his flight and see the plane up close. It’s these personal touches that make Barton Aerodrome such a special place to visit. If you’re lucky, you might even witness some military drills and helicopters, just like we did.
As a mum, toilets, baby changing and somewhere that sells fruit shoots, ice cream and good coffee are things that are suddenly high up on my list. The café here caters for them all and is reasonably priced. Whether you prefer to sit indoors and enjoy the cozy atmosphere or bask in the sunshine at the outdoor tables, you’ll find plenty of spots to relax. The outdoor seating offers fantastic views of the runway, so you can continue to watch the planes while you eat and rest (or run around after a toddler and a baby if you are anything like me).
One of the best aspects of Barton Aerodrome is that parking is completely free, which is a rare find these days and means that you could take a picnic to make this a completely free day out. The entrance to the aerodrome is also free, allowing you to enjoy watching the planes and helicopters take off without spending a penny on admission.
It’s a wonderful place to spend a few hours or even the entire day, without worrying about the cost. With free parking, free entry, and a reasonably priced café, it’s easy to enjoy a day out without breaking the bank.
