The Trafford Centre's summer fair has returned for 2026 with a cheaper entry price than last year, and we headed along during the ongoing heatwave to see what you get for your £2.50 wristband and how much we actually spent.
Entry and What's Included
Entry costs £2.50 if you buy your wristband online in advance, plus a 20p admin fee. That includes access to the two big free elements: the large sandy beach and splash pool. Once inside, you can stay as long as you like, up to 8pm every night.
For the rides and stalls, you need tokens, with one token costing £1 and rides priced between 3-5 tokens per person per ride. This year, you can buy token bundles online, which cuts down on costs if you plan to go on many rides.
Our Day at the Fair
We arrived when the fair opened at noon on Wednesday, but the queue was huge, so we went into the Trafford Centre and returned at 12.50pm when there was no queue. The splash pool was the busiest we've ever seen, as it was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures hitting 35 degrees.
The kids spent around half an hour in the cold splash pool, which was a godsend in the heat. The beach was good for sandcastles, and there are picnic tables dotted around, including a covered area, though these were full.
Rides and Costs
Our kids (aged 10 and 6) loved the Inflatable Circus, which costs 4 tokens for five minutes, and they went on it twice. They also enjoyed the Water Balls (5 tokens each), but we regretted the Penalty Shootout (3 tokens for three kicks), which was over in seconds without a winner. The Hook-a-duck cost 6 tokens (£6), but because we'd bought the ticket bundle online, we had to pay 7 tokens for it.
In total, we spent £78.75 for three of us, which was £6 cheaper than last year's visit, thanks to pre-planning and buying the ride bundles. The only other cost was ice cream for three at £10.50.
Practical Tips
There are no toilets inside the fairground, and the nearest ones are in The Great Hall, which means heading out of the funfair. The fair is open daily from 12 noon to 8pm until August 31. Pre-booking online costs £2.50 plus 20p booking fee, while the gate price is £3.50. Entry is in dated timeslots on the hour, but once inside you can stay as long as you like.
We'd advise avoiding the first slot of the day (12 noon) as everyone queues to get in at that time. Overall, it's a fun afternoon out, but if you're on a budget, check the ride prices before you go to avoid costs spiralling.
