A festive pilot scheme has been launched to encourage UK coach operators to include Newcastle in their Christmas tour programmes and add the city to their year-round coach trip schedules. Two pre-Christmas weekends have been set aside for the trial, including Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 November, and Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 December. The [...]
Isabelle Sanzelle Kanaan has been appointed as CTA’s new Operations Director and will start in the role on 17 September. Her appointment follows the announcement that Sue and Steve Rooney are stepping down from the CTA member services role by the end of the year. After graduating with a degree in economics from Loughborough University, Isabelle’s [...]
Places are still available for CTA’s Winter Networking event, sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council, taking place 21-24 November, with discount air and train travel to the event now available. Based at the Crieff Hydro Hotel, the event showcases a host of fam trips, including Forth Boat Tours, Cairn Hotel Group’s Stirling Highland Hotel, [...]
CTA has announced the dates for all events taking place in 2026, including the Spring and Winter Networking events. Following the CTA Conference & Workshop 2026 taking place 6-10 February in Derry-Londonderry (booking and event details available soon on the CTA website), CTA Networking Reception at BTTS 2026 at the NEC will go ahead on [...]
VisitScotland Connect 2026, Scotland’s biggest travel trade event, is scheduled to take place 15-16 April at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow. The event presents tourism buyers from around the world with the opportunity to experience Scotland and meet face-to-face with Scottish tourism businesses to develop new product. VisitScotland Connect hosts two days of pre-scheduled, 1-2-1 [...]
Scotland’s Tay Country has created a four-day itinerary for coach tours journeying through some of Scotland’s most storied landscapes, from the coach-friendly heritage centres of Dunfermline and Perth, as well as the Fife estates, rural Angus, and Highland Perthshire. Day one begins in Dunfermline and takes in the city’s Abbey and Cathedral, before heading to [...]
RSC Hotels has become a member of the CTA, offering members a choice of four coach-friendly hotels in Wetherby, Durham, Banbury, and Mickleton in Warwickshire. The Bridge Hotel & Spa, Wetherby, just off the A1, offers 37 comfortable rooms, afternoon teas, and elegant dining. Ideal for a stop or an overnight stay, the hotel hosts [...]
A new visitor centre has opened to the public at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore. The £1.6 million redevelopment includes a shop, café and accessible facilities, and forms the final phase of a £7.6million investment in the park. An interactive exhibition centre, hilltop den, and an events space for [...]
London Gatwick airport has introduced a new process allowing operators to pre-book coach park permits online in advance. The online service also allows permits to be booked after arrival at the coach park, and bookings can be amended or cancelled if plans change. The permit includes access to the forecourts for a calendar day, with [...]
The UK debut of Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in Lego Bricks at The Historic Dockyard Chatham has been extended until 16 November 2025. The exhibition invites visitors to discover the dramatic stories of eight iconic shipwrecks through large-scale Lego models. Featuring models up to three metres long, Brickwrecks showcases legendary vessels such as Uluburun, the world’s [...]
Tenby’s Imperial Hotel has reopened after a refurbishment by Crest Hotels Group. The Grade II-listed hotel features redesigned rooms with views of South Beach, a new dining experience, and modern amenities. The hotel currently has 52 rooms while work on a new spa and additional family rooms will start this winter. Since acquiring the hotel [...]
Visitors to St Mary’s Guildhall Coventry can now enjoy a falconry demonstration as part of an enhanced group travel experience. St Mary’s Guildhall, set in Coventry’s Cathedral Quarter, is combining guided tours with a live falconry experience that explores use of birds of prey during Tudor times. Available Wednesday to Saturday when booked alongside a [...]
Wexford on Ireland’s east coast will welcome opera fans this autumn when it stages the Wexford Festival Opera between 17 October and 1 November. Now in its 74th year, this year’s theme is Myths and Legends, and the three main stage operas include Verdi’s Le Trouvère, Handel’s Deidamia, and Delius’ The Magic Fountain. The productions will take place [...]
The Severn Valley Railway that runs between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire has fully reopened after a landslip closed part of the track earlier in the year. Thanks to an ambitious joint volunteering effort by companies across the rail sector, the railway has re-laid the track across its newly repaired Mor Brook bridge [...]
Bookings are coming in well for CTA’s Winter Networking event, sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council, taking place 21-24 November. There are limited places remaining for the special buyer-only pre-event fam trip on Friday 21 November at the Peebles Hydro Hotel, so operator and wholesaler members are advised to book asap to avoid missing [...]
CTA Networking Event at World Travel Market 2025 will take place on the morning of 4 November with all CTA members heading to WTM invited to attend. On WTM’s opening day, CTA is once again hosting its popular member networking event, kindly sponsored by Croisi Europe, at the Fox pub at ExCeL, 9am-11am. Offering a [...]
The CTA Conference & Workshop 2026 will take place 7-10 February in Derry-Londonderry. Northern Ireland will once again host the premier event in the UK coach tourism calendar that will feature an array of fam trip experiences in and around Derry-Londonderry. This is the first time that the city will host the Conference and it [...]
Saren Travel Group, a wholesaler to coach tour operators, has launched a new website, enabling customers to make reservations through an online booking system. The new website presents Saren’s portfolio of tours, providing operators with packages across the UK plus a growing plan for Europe. Operators can request a personal log-in to make reservations across [...]
Forth Boat Tours, Edinburgh’s largest boating attraction, is offering CTA operator members a free familiarisation visit. Situated in South Queensferry, 20 minutes from Edinburgh City Centre, Forth Boat Tours provides a range of cruises up the River Forth and into the Firth of Forth. Cruises include the Three Bridges Cruise plus sailings to Inchcolme Island, [...]
Raby Castle’s recent landscape design scheme and remodelled eighteenth century walled gardens have been nominated in the 2025 European Garden Award. The castle has been shortlisted in the Historic Park or Garden category following the redesign of the extensive public areas throughout the grounds, which formed part of a three-year regeneration project completed in 2024. [...]
LW Theatres operates six of the most prestigious theatres in the world, including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The CTA member is keen to welcome coach groups and offers a dedicated groups booking service. The theatre operator hosts some of the world’s best musicals, plays, concerts, and comedy events, and its [...]
Geoff and Oli from group specialist IOW Tours are getting married on 24 July, and they’re marking the occasion in a truly meaningful way. To celebrate their big day, Geoff and Oli are aiming to raise £15,000 in support of two charities close to their hearts: Mountbatten Hospice, which provides compassionate end-of-life care on the [...]
This autumn and winter, five Royal Horticultural Society Gardens across England are participating in RHS Glow evenings, transforming the garden grounds into a spectacle of light and illumination. Starting at the end of November, participating gardens will feature illuminated trails with sparkling hi-tech colours, providing an immersive festive experience. All the gardens involved will offer [...]
Hever Castle in Kent is hosting a contemporary Autumn Craft Fair, taking place 18-21 September. At the show, visitors will be able to purchase from around 150 of the UK’s finest professional craft makers and artists. Contemporary craft makers will exhibit a wide range of work including home accessories and interior products, artwork, textiles, glassware, [...]
The UK’s largest harvest festival, The Malvern Autumn Show, is taking place between Friday 26 and Sunday 28 September at Worcestershire’s Three Counties Showground. At the event, RHS medal-winning nurseries will display their finest bulbs, plants and flowers, competing for recognition from RHS judges. Meanwhile, the Gardening Village will also host impressive floral displays with [...]
The British Bird of Prey Centre is moving to a new home in Idole, near Carmarthen, with the opening scheduled for October this year. The centre says the new location will allow visitors to get closer to native birds, providing education and experiences through conservation-focused encounters. Building on the success of its current location at [...]
Cedar Court Hotels, with Yorkshire locations including Harrogate, Huddersfield, and Bradford, has launched a Tour Charter designed to enhance the experience for coach operators and their guests. For groups of 20 or more, the charter includes tea & coffee on arrival, express check-in, porterage, free on-site coach parking, one free place per 20 guests, driver [...]
CTA’s Winter Networking event, sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council, will take place from 21-24 November, and will give operators and wholesalers opportunities to meet attractions and hotels from across Scotland in addition to existing CTA supplier members. The event has a special pre-night event for buyers on Friday 21 November at the Peebles [...]
Just to let you all know that Sue and Steve will be stepping down from their role as Member Services by the end of this year. We have very much enjoyed our time with CTA and met lots of wonderful friends and colleagues. We will miss the vibrant, fun networking events but looking forward to [...]
CTA’s Winter Networking event, sponsored by VisitScotland, will take place from 21-24 November, and will give operators and wholesalers opportunities to meet attractions and hotels from across Scotland in addition to existing CTA supplier members. The event has a special pre-night event for buyers on Friday 21 November at the Peebles Hydro Hotel, including a [...]
Visitors to Kensington Palace can explore the intricacies of court dressing in a new exhibition ‘Dress Codes’. Part of Historic Royal Palaces, the exhibition is on now and runs until 30 November 2025. Celebrating the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which spans 500 years, the exhibition includes recognisable pieces set alongside items worn by courtiers as [...]
Aberdeenshire Council is providing a list of maps to support coach tour operators visiting the seaside town of Stonehaven. The maps show suitable locations for coaches to park for a short duration. The guides have been created to support coach tours and improve traffic flow and town centre parking. A drop off/pick up point is [...]
Set in 23 acres of countryside, Stourport Manor Hotel is a new CTA member keen to attract coach tour groups to an area of the West Midlands rich in attractions. The hotel features 72 spacious and comfortable bedrooms and can accommodate large groups while delivering a personal guest experience. The hotel offers ample, free on-site [...]
The Royal Mint Experience near Cardiff has launched an exciting new tour including its ground-breaking gold recovery technology. Using a world-first process, The Royal Mint extracts precious metals including gold from electronics provided for recycle, such as mobile phones and laptops. This sustainable initiative highlights The Mint’s commitment to a greener future and adds a [...]
Located on Brighton Waterfront, Maldron Hotel Brighton is a four-star hotel offering 225 modern, air-conditioned rooms. Within just a two-minute walk of Brighton Centre and a short stroll to the seafront and pier, the hotel is ideally located to experience the elegant seaside town. Coach drop off and collection is also available at the front [...]
The Crowne Plaza Gerards Cross, just off Junction 2 of the M40 in Buckinghamshire, provides 138 rooms and is expanding with a new development opening this year. This summer, the hotel is adding 47 new bedrooms with half being double-double rooms. Providing free coach parking plus ample turning space and easy access, the hotel is [...]
Cromer Pier in Norfolk is one of the UK’s most iconic coastal landmarks. Located on the county’s north coast, the award-winning pier is now a CTA member and is offering a great day out for coach groups including authentic seaside charm, live entertainment, and spectacular sea views. At the heart of the attraction is the [...]
The American Museum & Gardens in Bath has become a new member of the CTA. The attraction hosts American art, design, and heritage, as well as an extensive outdoor landscape, plus a deli café. The Georgian estate on the Bath skyline is home to American stories, decorative arts, folk art and textiles. From indigenous peoples [...]
The British Music Experience, Liverpool is hosting a temporary exhibition looking at the legendary Live Aid concert 40 years later, including content from the personal archive of organiser Bob Geldof. The exhibition Live Aid 40: Music, Power & Unity, is running at The British Music Experience, the UK’s Museum of Popular Music in Liverpool, from [...]
The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown on the Isle of Wight is a refuge for exotic animals. With over 70 different animal species, the sanctuary is a captivating attraction which has also welcomed new animals this year. Two brown bears, named Benji and Balu, have arrived from Azerbaijan following rescue from poor conditions, to be [...]
One hundred coach tourism industry stakeholders attended the CTA AGM & Spring Networking event in Norwich this month. Drawing coach tour operators, wholesalers, and industry suppliers from across the UK and Europe, the weekend helped develop new trips and tours, with a particular focus on Norfolk. “We estimate the event will generate significant new business, [...]
CTA’s latest qualitative survey of coach operator and wholesaler members has reported an upturn for 2025. Insights also suggest strength in Continental tours and premium products. The latest survey of market conditions invited various industry stakeholders to report on current and future business prospects. Looking at the sector right now, Caroline Thorpe, Marketing Manager at [...]
CTA members will be attending the CTA Spring Networking this weekend, 17-19 May, at Kew Green Hotels’ Holiday Inn Norwich North. An extra late attraction has been added for Saturday night with a Eurovision evening on the big screen at the hotel. Hosted by Geoff Holt and Oli Williams from IOW Tours, the night will [...]
CTA is sad to learn that Alan Cartwright of A & P Travel passed away on 9 May. Alan founded A & P travel in 2006 with son Paul Cartwright, starting with one coach and growing to a five-coach operation. In a career in the industry spanning over 62 years, Alan remained a coach driver [...]
Strawberry Field, Liverpool’s Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, is marking the date of a headline event that turned heartache into new opportunity. 25 years ago on 11 May, the attraction, which celebrates John Lennon’s legacy of peace and kindness, hit the news following the theft of its iconic red gates. In broad daylight, thieves [...]
CTA member Nordkettenbahnen cable car of Innsbruck is attending CTA Spring Networking in Norwich to update members on tours to the area. Alex Ziwes from the Nordkette mountain cable car is inviting coach groups to come to Innsbruck to experience the spectacular journey, which travels from the city centre to Austria’s largest nature park. The [...]
New CTA member Pensthorpe comprises 700 acres of nature park, gardens, and outdoor adventure areas, and the Norfolk attraction is keen to welcome coach groups. Based in Fakenham, the attraction’s extensive gardens provide five different areas. A new manicured garden is staged alongside the Millennium Garden, focussing on shrubs, grasses and climbers, as well as [...]
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the wildlife conservation charity behind Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, has joined CTA. The organisation welcomes the opportunity to build new partnerships, connect with coach operators and tour planners, and offer memorable group days out at two of Scotland’s most unique attractions. This winter at Edinburgh Zoo [...]
The Ropewalks Hotel in Liverpool is a 127-room establishment based in Liverpool city centre’s fascinating Ropewalks area, offering food and drink on site. New to CTA, the hotel offers breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner in the on-site Dicey Riley’s Irish Sports Bar, as well as the Gin or Juice bar. Ropewalks Hotel is [...]
DFDS is celebrating three decades of its Newcastle-Amsterdam route. First launched in 1995, the service carries over 600,000 passengers every year. In 2024, DFDS invested €10million in the upgrade of cabins, plus an additional €2.8million enhancing public areas including restaurants, bars, and on-board shopping. The ferry operator is also currently working on the design and [...]
