Whether you regularly attend classical concerts or this will be your very first, we want you to feel welcome. Here you can find everything you need to choose a concert, plan your journey and know what to expect when you arrive.
Click on your venue to see all the details.
King’s School Macclesfield
Alderley Rd, Prestbury, Macclesfield SK10 4SP
Plan your route on Google Maps
The venue opens at 6.45pm, giving you plenty of time to pick up a free programme, order interval drinks and enjoy a drink before the concert begins at 7.30pm. The auditorium doors usually open at 7.15pm.
This venue has reserved seating. We advise you to book your tickets online to secure your preferred seat. When booking online you will receive a ticket by email. You do not need to print your ticket; simply show it on your phone or another device at the auditorium entrance. Lost your ticket? Don’t worry. Speak to us at the box office and we can give you your seat number.
If you prefer to speak to us, or have an enquiry about access, please call 0161 706 1990. We can take your payment by phone as well, so make sure you have your card details at hand. The office is staffed part-time, so if you can’t reach us, please leave us a message and we will get back to you.
Tickets are available online until 12 noon on the day of the concert. The remaining tickets are available on the door from 6.45. We accept cash and card payments.
The bar is open before the concert and during the interval. We serve tea, coffee, red and white wine and fruit juice.
You can avoid the interval queue by ordering your drinks before the concert. Payment is available by cash or card.
The Friends of the NCO host post-concert drinks for their members.
The concert usually lasts approximately two hours, including a 20-minute interval, and is expected to finish at around 9.30pm.
There is level access (no steps) from the car park to the auditorium. There are two accessible toilets in the building and the auditorium has a hearing loop.
The front two rows (AA and BB) of the auditorium do not have steps up to them. Rows further back have steps, and there is no handrail.
Wheelchair spaces are available, and all have a carer seat next to them. For any customers requiring support from a Personal Assistant, the Assistant’s ticket is free. Please call the office 0161 706 1990 to book.
Please use the Senior Car Park (marked 3 on map below). The distance from bottom of the Senior Car Park to the main entrance doors is 200m, over a small bridge which will be lit at night. Customers with access needs, plus those arriving in taxis and coaches, can be dropped off at the Boulevard (marked 5 on the map below), directly opposite the main entrance doors, 150m away on a slight slope down. Please note that anyone being dropped off by a personal car will need to ensure the car is then parked in the Senior car park before the concert.
Please use the Main Entrance (marked 4 on the map below) for entrance to the building.
The King’s School is not served by public transport on Saturday evenings. Visitors who are not travelling by car may therefore wish to arrange a taxi from Macclesfield town centre or Macclesfield railway station.
St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield
Market Place, Macclesfield, SK10 1DY
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Doors will open at 4.15pm, giving you time to have a drink before the concert starts.
Seating at St Michael’s Church is unreserved, so you are free to choose your seat when you arrive.
We recommend booking online before the concert to make sure you have a place and to make your arrival as smooth as possible. Your ticket will be emailed to you, and there is no need to print it. Simply show it on your phone or another device.
Lost your ticket? Don’t worry. Speak to us at the box office and we can confirm your booking.
If you would prefer to speak to us, or have a question about access, please call us on 0161 706 1990. We can also take payment by telephone, so please have your card details ready. Our office is staffed part-time, but if we cannot answer, leave us a message and we will get back to you.
Online booking closes at 11.00am on the day of the concert. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door from 4.15pm. We accept cash and card payments.
The bar is open before the concert. We serve tea, coffee, red and white wine and fruit juice.
The Friends of the NCO host post-concert drinks for their members.
Concerts at St Michael’s Church last approximately 75 minutes and are expected to finish at around 6.15pm. They do not include an interval.
There is wheelchair access to the church and flat access inside. Wheelchair spaces are available, and all have a carer seat next to them. For any customers requiring support from a Personal Assistant, the Assistant’s ticket is free. Please call the office 0161 706 1990 to book and to be added to our Access Register which will enable you to book this provision online in future.
St Michael’s Church has a hearing loop.
The church has one accessible toilet, and the others are unisex.
The nearest car park to the venue is Town Hall Car Park. Please note that it is short-stay with a maximum of two hours. As the concert lasts around one hour, this should be suitable. This car park also has free blue badge parking. Cash payments are not accepted.
Other nearby options include Waters Green (long stay, no cash payment) and Gas Road (long stay, payment details unavailable). Please be aware that both involve an uphill walk to the venue.
If you plan to enjoy a meal after the concert, you may wish to use Duke Street (long stay, free after 3pm). It is approximately half a mile from the venue.
There is limited parking available on the left hand side of the church as you’re looking at the front entrance. If someone with a mobility impairment would like to reserve one of these spaces, they should call the church office in advance, directly on 01625 421984.
By Train: The nearest train station is Macclesfield; this is approximately a 5 minute walk with a brief uphill portion (0.2 miles).
By Bus: The nearest bus station is Macclesfield; this is approximately a 5 minute walk with a brief uphill portion (0.2 miles).
Tatton Park, Knutsford
Tatton Park Knutsford
WA16 6QN (Sat Nav WA16 6SG)
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Matinee: Doors open 2.30pm, Concert starts at 3.00pm
Evening: Mansion Doors open at 5.30pm. Arrivals later than 6.30pm will not be permitted access to the Mansion Tour. Concert starts at 7.00pm
This venue has reserved seating. We advise you to book your tickets online to secure your preferred seat. Please note that the evening concert usually sells out! When booking online you will receive a ticket by email. You do not need to print your ticket; simply show it on your phone or another device.
Lost your ticket? Don’t worry. Speak to us at the box office and we can give you your seat number.
If you prefer to speak to us, or have an enquiry about access, please call 0161 706 1990. We can take your payment by phone as well, so make sure you have your card details at hand. The office is staffed part-time, so if you can’t reach us, please leave us a message and we will get back to you.
Tickets are available online until 10.00am on the day of the concert. The remaining tickets are available on the door from 2.30pm
Tatton Park will provide refreshments before the concert and during the interval. You can avoid the interval queue by ordering your drinks before the concert. Payment is available by card only.
The concert usually lasts around 1 hour and 40 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
Drop off zone for disabled passengers and limited blue badge holder spaces are available in the Stableyard car park (signposted ‘Staff and Business parking’), close to the Mansion and Gardens. No booking required.
Blue badge holder spaces are available in the main car park with level tarmac/flagstone access to Stableyard (200m).
There is one accessible toilet available in the entrance to the Tenant’s Hall. There are also accessible toilets in the Stableyard, around 100m from the Hall entrance. These will only be open for the matinee concert.
Assistance dogs are allowed in all areas of the estate both inside and outside.
Flagged pathways have been laid to avoid cobbled areas.
If anyone attending the concerts is a wheelchair user, please contact us on 0161 706 1990 to reserve one of the auditorium’s designated wheelchair spaces. Alternatively, email admin@ncorch.co.uk with your telephone number and we’ll call you. The matinee entrance to the Tenant’s Hall is flat access. Visitors to the Mansion Tour in the evening will need to use this entrance as the Mansion entrance is stepped. Once inside, the Mansion tour is flat access.
Parking is available inside the Knutsford Entrance of Tatton Park. Here you can use the main car park, which is near the mansion and the Tenant’s Hall.
To find the correct route on your Sat Nav system, use post code WA16 6SG.
Please note that there is a short walk over potentially muddy ground from the main car park to the Tenant’s Hall. As the concert is in December, it is likely to be dark, though the footways are illuminated. Wear suitable footwear.
You can reach Knutsford Railway Station by train and bus. From there it is half a mile to the Knutsford Entrance to Tatton Park and a further two mile walk down the estate drive to the Mansion and the Tenant’s Hall.
The venue doors usually open 30 to 45 minutes before the concert begins. When you arrive, you can collect a free programme in the foyer and enjoy a drink from the bar.
Concerts at The King’s School and Tatton Park include an interval. You can pre-order your interval drinks before the performance begins, so they are ready for you.
The auditorium usually opens 30 minutes before the performance. Your ticket will be checked at the auditorium entrance.
Forgotten or lost your ticket? Don’t worry. Speak to us at the box office in the foyer. We will have the details of your booking and can confirm your ticket information.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the music. Your free programme includes information about the pieces being performed, so you can read as much or as little as you like.
The director, soloist or another member of the orchestra will often introduce the music from the stage, helping you feel more connected to what you are about to hear.
You do not need to know anything about classical music to enjoy an NCO concert. You can simply sit back, listen and see what you respond to.
That said, you may know more classical music than you think. Classical music appears everywhere, from films and television to adverts and cartoons, so some of this season’s music may already sound familiar.
Some people like to listen to the pieces before they come to the concert, so that they know what to expect. You can listen to all the pieces before you book by visiting the individual concert pages. Each page includes a playlist, so you can sample the music and find a concert that suits you.
Looking for something lively and uplifting? Try Impressions of Italy.
Prefer warm, atmospheric music with a strong sense of place? British Landscapes is a lovely place to begin.
For rich, expressive melodies and emotional intensity, choose Russian Romanticism.
For a quieter, deeply reflective experience, The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross may be just right.
How long does a concert last?
Concerts at The King’s School usually last around two hours, including a 20-minute interval.
Concerts at St Michael’s Church usually last around 1 hour and 15 minutes and do not include an interval.
Our Christmas concerts at Tatton Park usually last around 1 hour and 40 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
Can I leave during the performance?
If you need to leave during the performance, please try to do so between pieces, while the audience is applauding.
If you need to leave urgently, that is absolutely fine. Please leave as quietly as you can, and a member of our team will help you return at a suitable moment.
What happens if I arrive late?
Don’t worry if you arrive after the concert has started. Please speak to a member of our front-of-house team when you arrive.
We will usually show you into the auditorium between pieces, so that you can take your seat without disturbing the performance. If the programme consists of one longer piece, we may ask you to sit in the back row until a suitable moment.
Can I bring children?
Yes, children are welcome at our concerts. You know your child best, so it is worth considering whether they will enjoy the music and feel comfortable sitting quietly for the length of the performance.
For evening concerts at The King’s School, the concert usually finishes at around 9.30pm, so you may also want to consider whether that will be too late for them.
We also organise family concerts from time to time. Keep an eye on our website or sign up for our newsletter to hear when the next one is taking place.
Can I use my phone or take photographs?
You are welcome to take photographs and short video clips for personal use. Please do not use flash, and keep your phone or camera low so that you do not distract the musicians or other audience members.
Please do not share video recordings of the performance online without permission from the NCO team.
What should I wear?
It’s your night out, so wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Most people come in smart-casual clothes, although some choose to dress up a little more. There is no formal dress code.
When should I clap?
The usual tradition is to clap at the end of a complete piece, rather than between its individual movements. You can follow the programme to see where one piece ends and the next begins.
If you are not sure, simply follow the rest of the audience. And if you do happen to clap between movements, don’t worry. We are always glad to know the music has moved you!
Do I need to know the music?
Not at all. You can simply come along, sit back and let the music wash over you, just as you would at any other kind of concert.
If you would like to listen beforehand, every concert page includes a link to a YouTube playlist featuring the pieces in the programme. You will also receive a free programme on the night, with background information and a few things to listen out for.
In the weeks before each concert, we also share more about the music and the performers on our social media channels and in our newsletter.
Will the musicians speak during the concert?
Usually, yes. The director, soloist or another member of the orchestra will often introduce the music and share a few things to listen out for before each piece.
Can I come alone?
Absolutely. Lots of people come to our concerts on their own, and you will not feel out of place.
You can arrive early, enjoy a drink and settle in before the performance begins. Our front-of-house team will also be happy to help if you have any questions when you arrive.
We want your first visit to feel easy and enjoyable. If there is anything else you would like to know, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
Explore our upcoming concerts and find the one that feels right for you.
