Manchester Airport has a ‘secret’ seating area overlooking the runway and a unique feature

With thousands of passengers travelling through Manchester Airport every day, it can get pretty busy, especially at peak times. There’s nothing worse than struggling to find a seat in the terminal while you wait for your flight, and sometimes you just want to relax rather than indulge in some duty-free shopping or a pre-holiday pint.

Sure, you can pre-book airport lounges, which make for a more stress-free travel experience, but if you’re on a budget, there’s another option. Inside Terminal 3, there’s a “secret” lounge area where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the main area.

Located upstairs, the ‘quiet zone’ is an oasis of calm with extra seating, charging points and views of the runway. A world away from the main terminal with its shops, restaurants and cafes, the quiet zone has just one food and drink kiosk – The Hangar – creating a more peaceful atmosphere.

READ MORE: We tried every restaurant and bar in Manchester Airport’s three terminals and what we found might surprise you

There are plenty of seats to choose from, with some rows facing the floor-to-ceiling windows so you can watch the planes fly by, and others further back if you prefer. The notable feature of the quiet zone is the fact that there are no flight announcements, something that is hard to ignore in the main terminal.

A sign reads: “No flight announcements are made in this area. Please monitor your flight status on the flight information screens.” As long as you keep an eye on the screen for your flight status, you can sit back and relax without constantly hearing calls from passengers about to miss their flights.

The beauty of the quiet zone is that it is somewhat of a secret. Many passengers don’t even know it is there, even though it is signposted.

It’s actually quite easy to find, you just need to climb a staircase located on the left, just after the set of steps before The Lion and the Antelope. Once you get to the top, you’ve made it.

So next time you’re flying out of Terminal 3, grab a drink and a snack, treat yourself to a magazine or a new holiday book, and venture into the secret, quiet zone. Then sit back and enjoy the view while you wait for your flight.

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