Advice on viewing locations

[Jet Morgan]

What are the good places to view the major commercial airports from? I'm thinking mainly Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham or Manchester. There's an actual outdoor viewing area at Manchester called "Runway" with preserved aircraft along with food, shops etc - has anyone been there?

Alex, JM

[Xplumberlives]

Don't like the sound of PRESERVED food unless it's jam or pickles!

[Jet Morgan]

Don't like the sound of PRESERVED food unless it's jam or pickles!

Had already spotted that one and edited accordingly...

[Hihonyr8811]

I went to the Manchester a couple of weeks ago, never been before so didn't really know what to expect.
It's not cheap, £12 all day we paid.
And even with the mounds you still get the fence in shots, unless you're stupidly tall



There are other (free) places to view, but I've never been
And Concorde was't open the day I went as the space was being used for a seminar.


BUT, I really enjoyed going

[Jet Morgan]

Thanks Helen

That's a nice photo btw, the 'liner taking off in the background takes your attention away from the fence in the foreground. And your camera was well behaved and worked when you wanted it to!!

[Cluny]

As Helen has said , Manchester Aviation Viewing Park is expensive plus for most of the day your shooting into the sun .

Gatwick I've been told they don't like spotters anywhere near the Airport , haven't actually been there so I can say for certain .

Luton , no Its built on top of a hill with no views available of the Airport itself , just distant high shots of aircraft on approach and departure available .

At Birmingham there's a park on the NW side of the airport where you can get good shots but only if runway 15 is in use . http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=52.467671,-1.76293&spn=0.00383,0.006899&t=h&z=17

But I know more about Heathrow than the others

[Jet Morgan]

But I know more about Heathrow than the others

Tell on...

[Jigsaw]

But I know more about Heathrow than the others

Tell on...

His Vids speak for themselves mate

[Jet Morgan]

But I know more about Heathrow than the others

Tell on...

His Vids speak for themselves mate

Maybe so, but I've never been to Heathrow in my life and wouldn't know one location from the next without advice.

[Jigsaw]

But I know more about Heathrow than the others

Tell on...

His Vids speak for themselves mate

Maybe so, but I've never been to Heathrow in my life and wouldn't know one location from the next without advice.

Trust me, I wasn't trying to detract from the info you need. I have been to Heathrow once to pick someone up and I got proper lost (bad english but true). I was trying to say that Cluny is the best person to give you advice

[Cluny]

Ok then , forget the northern runway [09L - 27R] as the fence is of the non see through type and is a good 15 feet tall .
Southern runway you have 3 good locations , the Esso garage on the Southern Perimeter road at the 09R end is good for shots of westbound takeoffs from 27L [ Heavies would be lifting off just before they get opposite you , smaller stuff will be quite high though ] and eastbound landings but parking is very limited due to the local minicabs using it as a base of ops for T5 .
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.461247,-0.481419&spn=0.001959,0.003449&t=h&z=18
A typical shot .

My last vid from the Esso Garage


Next 2 locations are very close to each other and are my prefered locations , A30 and the park at the infamous Myrtle Avenue .
Both are good for landings on 27L but aircraft are a bit high here for takeoffs on 09R , ample parking at Hatton Cross tube station across the A30 [also good for approach shots but a little cluttered , charges are £9 a day on weekdays and £4 a day at weekends and bank holidays] as the residents of Myrtle Avenue don't like their street being blocked by spotters cars .
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.465023,-0.422587&spn=0.007834,0.013797&t=h&z=16
A30 [taken with my phone] .

My vid from last sunday , mostly from the A30 but the last few are from Myrtle Avenue .

A rare takeoff vid from Myrtle Avenue .


Edit to add some example pics and vids

[Jet Morgan]

Many thanks Cluny

If I have anymore questions on the subject I know who to ask!

[Nickolas]

Stansted is crap apart form a small bit of Belmer Road on the North side of the runway. Reasonable view from the bank. Protected from the weather by trees and NO issues with parking. No facilities, but the Ashes pub about a mile away.

[Dan4th]

Stansted is crap apart form a small bit of Belmer Road on the North side of the runway. Reasonable view from the bank. Protected from the weather by trees and NO issues with parking. No facilities, but the Ashes pub about a mile away.

Leave it to St. Nick to get his priorities straight

Danf.

[Lucas1860]

The opposite side of the runway, Park in the Holiday Inn on the A538, I have done a route overlay on this map. The last time I was there the carpark was free. You also have a good elevated view of the aircraft.



Jim.

[Mayfly]

Yes I would say that view is certainly elevated!!

[Lucas1860]

Yes I would say that view is certainly elevated!!

And the prize goes to Pam's corners

[Nickolas]

Yellow line if sober, Green line if drunk??

[Gully]

Luton is tricky, but a trip to Chiltern Hall and Dane St Farm area to the south of the airport perimeter can yield some photo opportunities - both locations are accessed from the Lower Luton Road which runs from Luton to Harpenden. Streetmap link below:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=512500&y=220500&z=120&sv=luton&st=3&tl=Map+of+Luton+International+Airport,+Luton+&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf

Gully

[Jet Morgan]

The opposite side of the runway, Park in the Holiday Inn on the A538, I have done a route overlay on this map. The last time I was there the carpark was free. You also have a good elevated view of the aircraft.



Jim.

Hi Jim,

Is all of that route accessable to the public or is permission from land owners needed?

Alex