Several attractions in and around Greater Manchester have closed or are limiting their opening hours due to the scorching heatwave gripping the UK this week. According to the latest forecasts from the Met Office, the region is expected to experience highs of 31C today with temperatures not dropping below 20C overnight. It’s set to be even hotter on Thursday with the mercury expected to rise to 33C, while Friday could see highs of 34C.
Greater Manchester is also covered by an amber extreme heat warning which is in place for most of England and Wales until midnight on Thursday, with a second warning issued until midnight on Friday covering large parts of England, including Greater Manchester.
East Lancashire Railway Cancels Services
Among the closures is Bury’s East Lancashire Railway, which is cancelling its services on Wednesday and Thursday, June 24 and 25, including the afternoon tea and mid-week luncheon dining experiences. In a statement issued to customers, the attraction said: "The welfare of both staff and customers is paramount to the ELR, and we believe that the risk in the extreme heat that has been forecast is too severe to allow for the running of our ordinary services."
As things stand, the current plan is to have services resume with the evening dining train on Friday 26th June. This will be subject to review, and further updates will be issued later in the week. Visitors who have already pre-booked will be contacted via email and will have their options explained to them. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Knowsley Safari and Chester Zoo Affected
Further afield, Knowsley Safari has announced that its rides will not be running the next couple of days. In an update published on its website, the venue said: "Due to high temperatures forecast, the rides will be closed on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Thank you for your understanding." The rest of the park is open as usual.
Chester Zoo has also announced that it is closing early on Thursday June 25 at 2pm. In a post shared on its Facebook page, the attraction said: "Due to the extreme heat forecast for the afternoon of Thursday June 25, we’ll be closing early at 2pm for the safety of our visitors and colleagues."
If you have pre-booked tickets for the zoo, please check your emails. You’ll find all of the details on what to do. We’ll be open as normal on Wednesday and Friday, and at all times, our team of dedicated keepers will, of course, make sure all the animals and plants are safely cared for. We do apologise for any disruption to your plans but we really, really hope you understand.
