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MORECAMBE VINTAGE BUS RUNNING DAY 2027SUNDAY, 23 MAY 2027 – MORECAMBE
STEP BACK IN TIME ON A VINTAGE BUS!
The Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust is delighted to announce the return of its hugely popular Morecambe Vintage Bus Running Day on Sunday, 23 May 2027, at Morecambe Football Club and the Halo Aerospace Stadium (formally Mazuma Stadium).
Following the success of previous running days, RVPT will once again bring the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere of a bygone era to Morecambe, with a spectacular collection of preserved buses and coaches taking to the roads.
From much-loved Ribble buses to vehicles representing other operators from across the North West, this is a fantastic opportunity to experience public transport as it once was.
AND THE BEST PART? TRAVEL ON THE VINTAGE BUSES IS FREE!
Whether you remember travelling on these buses yourself, want to relive childhood memories, or have never experienced a traditional conductor-operated bus, there is something for everyone.
Chirpy conductors, traditional ticket machines, ringing bells, distinctive engines and the unmistakable character of a vintage bus all combine to create a truly memorable day out.
A VINTAGE BUS ADVENTURE AWAITS
Vintage buses will operate services linking Morecambe, Bare, Happy Mount Park, Heysham Village and Carnforth Railway Station, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the area while travelling on vehicles from a different era.
With services operating throughout the day, visitors can make their own vintage bus adventure.
Why not:
• Arrive by train at Carnforth Railway Station and travel into Morecambe on a vintage bus.
• Visit Happy Mount Park for a family day out.
• Explore Morecambe Promenade and enjoy the spectacular views across Morecambe Bay.
• Visit Heysham Village and discover more of the area's fascinating history.
• Take a ride on a vintage open-top bus.
• Hunt for a bargain among the memorabilia stalls.
• Enjoy food and refreshments at Morecambe Football Club.
• Take a vintage coach on one of our mystery excursions.
• Simply sit back, listen to the engine and enjoy the experience of travelling by bus as previous generations did.
And, of course, don't forget your camera!
Why not recreate one of the most famous railway scenes in British cinema by taking a photograph beneath the famous clock at Carnforth Station, before boarding a vintage bus for a trip towards Morecambe Bay?
MAKE A DAY OF IT IN MORECAMBE & HEYSHAM
There is far more to discover during your visit, so why not make a full day of it and explore Morecambe and Heysham between your vintage bus journeys?
MORECAMBE – MORE THAN JUST THE BUSES!
Take a stroll along the famous Morecambe Promenade and enjoy the spectacular views across Morecambe Bay towards the Lakeland fells.
Pay a visit to the Eric Morecambe Statue, celebrating one of Morecambe's most famous sons, before continuing along the seafront and enjoying the many cafés, ice cream shops, restaurants and traditional seaside attractions.
The magnificent Midland Hotel, one of the country's finest surviving examples of 1930s Art Deco architecture, sits proudly on the seafront. Why not enjoy a drink or afternoon tea while taking in the panoramic views across the Bay?
Families can head to Happy Mount Park, one of Morecambe's most popular attractions, with its extensive parkland, play areas and family activities.
For those who enjoy history and heritage, Morecambe has plenty to discover, from its Victorian and Edwardian seaside architecture to the stories of the people and industries that helped shape the town.
And, of course, there is nothing quite like enjoying an ice cream while watching the vintage buses pass by!
DISCOVER HISTORIC HEYSHAM
Our vintage buses will also take you to Heysham Village, where visitors can step away from the modern world and explore one of the area's oldest settlements.
Heysham has a fascinating history stretching back many centuries. Take time to wander through the historic village streets and discover St Peter's Church, with its remarkable Viking and medieval heritage.
Nearby, the ancient Heysham Head offers spectacular views across Morecambe Bay and towards the Lake District. The area is rich in history and archaeology, making it a fascinating place to explore on foot.
The historic harbour and village also provide a very different atmosphere from the busy Morecambe seafront, giving visitors another side of this beautiful part of Lancashire to discover.
So why not ride a vintage bus to Heysham, explore the village and coastline, and then catch another historic bus back towards Morecambe?
ONE VINTAGE BUS DAY – PLENTY TO SEE!
With free vintage bus services linking the event with Morecambe, Happy Mount Park, Heysham and Carnforth, visitors can build their own itinerary.
Ride a vintage bus. Explore the promenade. Visit Heysham. Enjoy lunch. Have an ice cream. Take in the views. Discover the history. Then catch another vintage bus and do it all again!
There is something for everyone — and plenty of reasons to make Sunday 23 May 2027 a full day out in Morecambe Bay.
MORE THAN JUST A BUS RUNNING DAY
The vintage buses are only part of the attraction.
At Morecambe Football Club, visitors will be able to see a fascinating display of preserved buses and coaches, including vehicles associated with the former Ribble Motor Services and other operators from across the region.
There will also be:
• Vintage buses and coaches on display
• Vintage and open-top bus rides
• Mystery coach excursions
• Memorabilia and transport stalls
• Food and refreshments
• Activities and attractions for all ages
• Much, much more!
The event is designed to be enjoyed by the whole family.
For older visitors, it can be a chance to remember school journeys, trips into town, holidays and family days out.
For younger visitors, it is an opportunity to discover what travelling by bus was really like before modern technology, contactless payments and smartphones.
You might even get the chance to see an old-fashioned ticket machine in action!
GETTING HERE IS PART OF THE ADVENTURE
Morecambe is easily accessible by road and public transport.
Visitors can make their journey part of the experience by arriving by train at Morecambe, Bare Lane or Carnforth Railway Stations, or by bus from surrounding areas.
For those travelling by car, Morecambe is easily accessible from the M6 via the Bay Gateway.
Once you arrive, our vintage bus services will help you get around and make the most of the day.
With Morecambe Promenade, Happy Mount Park, Morecambe's attractions, Heysham Village and Carnforth all within easy reach, there is plenty to see and do.
So come for the buses — and make a full day of it!
THE RIBBLE VEHICLE PRESERVATION TRUST
The Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust (RVPT) is a registered charity dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of bus and coach travel.
Established 50 years ago, the Trust has built a collection of more than 30 historic vehicles, spanning the years 1931 to 2004.
Around a two dozen vehicles are restored and maintained for active service, allowing the public to experience these remarkable machines not simply as static exhibits, but doing what they were built to do — carrying passengers.
RVPT owns its own premises and collection in West Lancashire, but it is not a static museum open to the public.
Instead, our philosophy is simple:
WE BRING THE MUSEUM TO YOU.
Throughout the year, RVPT takes its vehicles to events across the region, allowing people of all ages to experience historic buses where they belong — out on the road.
Every journey helps keep this heritage alive.
Your support helps us maintain, restore and operate these historic vehicles for future generations.
WHO WAS RIBBLE?
For generations, Ribble Motor Services was the bus company of the North West.
Established in 1919, Ribble expanded rapidly throughout the 1920s and 1930s and became one of the largest bus companies in Britain.
Working for Ribble was regarded as a sought-after job, with generations of local people earning their living as drivers, conductors, engineers and other employees.
At its height, Ribble operated more than 1,300 buses and, in 1956, was reported to have carried an astonishing 216,648,878 passengers in a single year.
Its network stretched across a huge area, from Carlisle in the north to Liverpool and Manchester in the south, and from Blackpool in the west to Skipton in the east.
Morecambe and Lancaster were important parts of the Ribble network, with depots at Skerton and South Road serving local communities.
For many people across the region, Ribble buses were part of everyday life — taking people to school, work, shopping, holidays and family outings.
The company eventually became part of the major changes that transformed Britain's bus industry during the 1980s, with Ribble ultimately being broken up as part of the move towards deregulation and privatisation.
Today, the vehicles preserved by RVPT help tell that story.
COME AND EXPERIENCE THE PAST
The Morecambe Vintage Bus Running Day is much more than a gathering of old vehicles.
It is a chance to step aboard history.
Hear the engine start.
Listen for the bell.
Watch the conductor issue a traditional ticket.
Feel the bus move away from the stop.
Look out across Morecambe Bay.
And for a few moments, experience the world of bus travel as it once was.
Whether you are a lifelong bus enthusiast, a Ribble enthusiast, a family looking for a great day out, or simply curious about how people travelled in the past, Morecambe Vintage Bus Running Day 2027 promises to be a day to remember.
SUNDAY 23 MAY 2027
MORECAMBE FOOTBALL CLUB & HALO AEROSPACE STADIUM (FORMALLY MAZUMA STADIUM).
VINTAGE BUSES • FREE RIDES • HERITAGE • FAMILY FUN • MEMORIES
Come along, climb aboard and experience the past!
All vintage bus services are free. Visitors are encouraged to purchase an event programme, with proceeds helping support the running of the event.
Any donations made to RVPT are gratefully received and will help with the ongoing preservation, restoration and maintenance of the Trust's historic vehicles.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further details, event updates and information about the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust:
[email protected]
www.rvpt.co.uk
www.facebook.com/RVPT.events
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Event venue
Halo Aerospace Stadium, Morecambe Football Club Mazuma Stadium, Christie Way, Morecambe, LA4 4TB, United Kingdom
Tickets
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