Pop-up outdoor cinemas are nothing new. From screens under flyovers old railway stations and screens in the grounds of grand houses to others that hunker down for a night at canal-side car parks, the trend for one-off film screenings has been building year on year. Here’s our pick of the best outdoor cinema spots in the North – pack popcorn, a torch and someone to grab during the scary bits.
Occupying over 1,000 acres of land in Cheshire, the Tatton Park estate could more properly be called a pleasure garden. Much like the outdoor spaces used for entertainment that were popular in the 18th century, Tatton offers a range of diversions across its vast grounds – including a wide range of screenings over the summer.
Look out for frequent summer screenings at Dunham Massey come the summer months. Spend a magical evening under the stars with classic and contemporary films in a spectacular setting.
Lowther Castle in Cumbria is pure fairytale picturebook: 200 years old, standing in rolling pastoral landscape and at the head of the little known but idyllic Lowther Valley. It’s also one of Picnic Cinema’s main venues for their annual outdoor screenings.
A jewel in the National Trust’s crown, Lyme Park is also known to host its own outdoor film events. Look out for crowd-pleasing cult classics with blankets and a bar.
A historic – and supposedly haunted – castle in Cumbria, which also plays host to Picnic Cinema events annually.
Check out our top picks of shows previewing in the North West before heading to Edinburgh Fringe Festival later in the summer.
Take me there
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Make bread, throw axes, learn costume design and drink beer like you've never done before in this month's Tours and activities guide.
All-dayers make a strong showing in our latest music picks, from dance music marathons to vibrant showcases of South Asian artistry.
School year, complete! And as we say goodbye to what seems like a rather long summer term, we can look forward to the summer holidays, with lots of exciting activities...
This month we look at Indie Horror Summer, outdoor movies, and a brand new film festival in Sheffield.
Interactive circus, arts festivals and new writing, our guide features a show-stopping selection of theatre happening indoors and outside.
In between working out, then working through, your holiday reading pile this summer, find inspiration for your next bookish acquisitions from our selection of live events and exhibitions.
Virginia Woolf and lasers, environmental recovery through wildness and thoughts on motherhood - all this and more in our exhibition top picks!
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.
