Therme Manchester, the massive waterpark being built next to the Trafford Centre, will be twice the size of the original site in Bucharest, which features 10 pools, 17 slides, 10 saunas and three restaurants. The Manchester site is expected to open in early 2029, with construction underway on a 28-acre plot, and recent CGI images show glass-domed structures, hundreds of palm trees and turquoise pools.
To give an idea of what visitors can expect, the M.E.N.'s Tourism Writer Liv Clarke visited Therme in Bucharest, a complex around a 30-minute drive from the city centre. She described being blown away by the experience, which includes vast glass ceilings, towering palm trees and a constant 30C temperature that creates a tropical atmosphere.
Three Distinct Areas: Galaxy, The Palm and Elysium
Therme Bucharest is divided into three areas: Galaxy, The Palm and Elysium. The Palm is the most iconic, with a vast turquoise pool that extends outside through a turnstile door, flanked by tropical plants. The glass roof floods the area with natural light and can be retracted on clear days. The pool features hidden coves with jacuzzi jets and swim-up bars, surrounded by hundreds of sunbeds and cabana-style lounges tucked among palm trees, each with its own irrigation system.
Elysium, located on the upper level, is home to the saunas and spa treatments. These include a Himalayan salt sauna, a Bavaria sauna reaching 90C, and a Hollywood Sauna with a projection screen. During the annual Sauna Fest in October, guests experience Aufguss, where performers wave towels to waft hot air. Galaxy is the only area where children are allowed, featuring 17 slides and a wave pool, plus a separate section called Galaxy Relax with hydro-massage beds, a swim-up bar, a splash zone and a salt library.
Food, Drink and Pricing at Therme
Dining options in Bucharest range from snack bars to fine dining, with guests staying in swimwear and robes throughout. The Humboldt restaurant in The Palm offers salads, pasta and burgers, while The Mango Tree in Elysium serves Thai-inspired dishes. A Pad Thai costs approximately £12, and a burger around £9.50. Cocktails at the swim-up bars are about £6.
Prices for Manchester Therme are yet to be confirmed, but bosses have said it will be affordable. At the Bucharest site, a three-hour visit to Galaxy costs about £11 for adults on weekdays and £12.65 on weekends, with kids' prices at £8.60 and £10 respectively. A one-day pass for Galaxy is £22 on weekdays and £23.60 on weekends. The Palm starts at £16 for three hours on weekdays, with a one-day pass at £26.85. Elysium three-hour visits are £20 on weekdays, and a one-day pass is £31.50. Upgrades, such as from The Palm to Elysium, cost an extra £5, with other prices for seniors and students.
What to Expect in Manchester
Despite a capacity of 10,000 people, the Bucharest site avoids feeling crowded due to its size. Guests receive wristbands for payments and locker access, and there are thousands of lockers plus private changing cubicles. The facilities were described as clean and tidy. After dark, the complex transforms with colourful lights and illuminated palm trees, and visitors can enjoy cocktails in the outdoor pool under the night sky.
Construction on the Manchester site is underway, and the opening is expected in early 2029, with the facility set to be twice the size of the Bucharest original.
