New images reveal the scale of the £500m Therme Manchester development, located less than an hour's drive from Liverpool, as construction work continues to shape the site. The project was originally scheduled for completion in late 2028, but this has now been pushed back to early 2029.
Massive scale and design
The development is roughly the size of 28 football pitches and is set to become one of the "largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world". It is being built next to the Trafford Centre and will feature multiple pools, saunas, waterslides and swim-up bars, with separate areas dedicated to different themes.
Therme, which operates a similar facility in Bucharest, Romania, will be constructed on the site of the former EventCity exhibition centre in Greater Manchester, following the completion of enabling groundworks at the end of 2024.
Construction jobs and features
According to those behind the project, Therme is expected to create around 2,500 construction jobs, with a peak onsite workforce of 1,200. It will also employ 650 staff to run the resort, describing the project as "one of the most significant building developments for the North in many years".
Although the building site is still in its early stages, the latest computer-generated images give an indication of what guests can expect. The resort will feature vast glass structures made up of thousands of glass panels, allowing natural light to flood the area. These will be supported by huge steel cruciforms, 25m high and 70m wide, designed to reduce the number of walls needed.
Inside, there will be around 1,500 palm trees, which are already being cared for in nurseries before their installation, and the interior will be kept at a constant 30C throughout the year.
Guest capacity and zones
The site will be able to hold up to 10,000 guests and will use the equivalent of five Olympic swimming pools of water. However, the size will mean that "people won't be bumping into each other", and bosses estimate it could be up to a kilometre to walk from the Play swimming pool to Relax.
The resort will be divided into three sections: Play, Restore and Relax. Play will be a family-friendly zone with waterslides and, on its own, will be the largest water park in the UK. Relax, aimed at over-16s, will feature pools lined with palm trees and swim-up bar areas, along with dozens of lounging areas. Restore will also be adults-only, offering saunas, wellbeing consultations and spa therapies.
Restore will form the central hub and house an internal garden. Therme Manchester will feature 23 restaurants, ranging from family-friendly options in Play to high-end dining in Restore. Bosses say the food will be designed to be "nutritious and tasty", and will not be limited to health foods, on the basis that "wellbeing means different things for different people", whether that's salad or a cocktail.
With the aim of delivering "wellbeing for all", there will be no membership system, and bosses say prices will be affordable and cheaper than most other spas. Prices for Therme are yet to be confirmed, but bosses say they will be similar to the costs of its sites in Romania and Germany.
