Manchester Airport - what is there before security?

[GrimTimes1]

My children and I are flying out from Manchester airport next week and are looking to get the train directly there.
train tickets are much cheaper if we travel earlier in the day and arrive a good chunk of time before our flight departs but we don't want to be stuck there with absolutely nothing to do for hours and hours.
Does anyone know what there is at Manchester Airport before security?
Our flight is from T3 but I believe the terminals are close enough to each other that you can get between them.
e.g. if there's more to do in T1, we could spend some time there before making our way to T3.

anyone with any knowledge would be greatly appreciated!

@GrimTimes1 Little flyers club in Terminal 1?

age dependent ofc

Terminal 3 is horrible, there’s bugger all before and after security! Also check you can bag drop so early before your flight if you’ve got hold bags. I’d be tempted to get off the train at Piccadilly and head to a museum or Mayfield Park if you can leave bags in left luggage.

I’ve just paid £150 for 15 days car parking. It worked out cheaper than taxis or rail for my family of four (older teens).

You will spend extra money on food and drinks at extortionate prices, unless you are super organised.

Worse case imagine you get a delay after spending hours in the dire terminal 3.

Yeah we always park at the airport. Allow loads of time though, once you pull off the motorway it can still take half an hour to park and get into the terminal. Still worth it to get off the plane and drive straight home!

It is definitely cheaper for us to get the train directly- I get really good discounts with the F&F railcard!

There’s not much before security to be honest, from memory just a coffee shop!

Could go over to the Radisson and get a drink?

You could go to the Runway Visitor Park, it’s quite an interesting centre with a Concorde which you can access it also has a lovely picnic area and park where you can sit and observe the planes taking off and landing

If you are travelling on Trans Pennine "Express" getting an much earlier train is very wise given the inevitable cancellations and delays. You should be OK as long as you aren't travelling at the weekend.

Terminal 3 is dire and there is only a Costa before you go through security. Once you are through there is an Italian, a pub type area and a KFC. Boots and WH Smith with your duty free and that’s it. Only Ryan air and few domestic flights go from there now and it’s due to be demolished once T1 is upgraded.

The scanners haven’t been upgraded so you have to mess about with liquids etc

If you have a good few hours go to runway visitor park.

Its brilliant, has a kids play ground and you watch the planes take off and land which is really fun before your holiday.
Can eat at the cafe too and there are real planes to look in etc