Bookings are now open for the CTA Annual Workshop which takes place in Derry/Londonderry on 6-10 February 2026. The event includes a new all-day Workshop on the Monday which has been scheduled in response to members’ requests to provide more time for the appointments. The Annual Workshop’s headline sponsor is CTA partner member Tourism Ireland [...]
The last call is being made for places at CTA Winter Networking, 22-24 November, and members are also invited to CTA Networking event at WTM 2025, 4 November. CTA Winter Networking, sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council, will take place in Perthshire, including a programme of fam trips such as Forth Boat Tours [...]
The Port of Dover has launched a phased introduction of the new European Union Entry/Exit System (EES). The new system requires all coach passengers travelling through the Port of Dover to attend the new coach facility at the Western Docks for EES and border processing. Port of Dover advises that all coach drivers should arrive [...]
Zedwell, managed by Criterion Hospitality, has launched Zedwell Capsule Hotel Piccadilly Circus, said to be the largest capsule hotel in the world, offering group rates of £25 per person per night. Sitting directly above Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, the hotel includes nearly 1000 individual sleep capsules spanning five floors. Zedwell says that a capsule hotel [...]
Jamesway Travel based in Rugby has announced that it will be operating its final tours, bringing to a close 35 years of service. “After long consideration, it is with sadness and a heavy heart that we will be running our final holidays. Like many independent businesses in the leisure industry, we never fully recovered from [...]
Marriott franchisee Hotel Co 51, with hotels across the UK and Europe, has joined the Coach Tourism Association, underlining its commitment to work closely with coach operators. The hotel portfolio includes London, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Berlin, Milan, and Paris. Hotel Co 51 says its properties are designed to meet the needs of groups, providing accessible locations, [...]
Brunel's SS Great Britain, the world's first great ocean liner, has joined the CTA. Today, the ship rests in dry dock in Bristol's vibrant harbourside as a leading attraction for the city. In an immersive and sensory experience, groups can discover how Isambard Kingdom Brunel revolutionised travel and set new standards in engineering. Aboard the [...]
Derbyshire’s award-winning visitor attraction, The Heights of Abraham, has announced that the 2025 Lights of Abraham event will shine from 21 November. The 2025 Lights of Abraham will feature new glittering archways, interactive stepping stones, a neon forest, and giant illuminated creatures including majestic swans, on a trail that can take over an hour to [...]
In 2026, Oxford’s Bodleian Library will stage daytime group tours in peak season for the first time. The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and is a group of 23 libraries that serve the University of Oxford. In 2026, group tours will continue in July and August, and the library has [...]
Hovertravel Ltd, the world’s longest-running passenger hovercraft service, is celebrating after being named Ferry Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards 2025. The awards were held at the start of October and took place at the Westminster Park Plaza in London, hosted by broadcaster, Jeremy Vine. This is the first time Hovertravel, now [...]
A Very Austen Christmas at the Royal Pavilion Brighton will celebrate 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen as the historic building is decked out in Regency splendour. Between 22 November to 4 January, the event transforms the Royal Pavilion for a Regency-style celebration with an Austen-inspired set. Characters from Austin’s novels will come [...]
Shuttleworth has announced its 2026 ‘Events & More’ season, with occasions ranging from a comedy night, to music performances, and a Christmas lights trail. The Biggleswade, Bedfordshire estate is home to a famous collection of aircraft, presenting the fleet in amazing air shows, plus a range of motor vehicles from over the years. Now, Shuttleworth’s [...]
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves in Devon has joined the CTA. As one of the most significant Stone Age sites in Europe and part of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, the caves have been welcoming visitors for over 120 years and are one of Devon’s leading attractions. A guided tour takes visitors through an extensive [...]
Limited places are available for the CTA Winter Networking, with the pre-event overnight at Peebles now full. Taking place in Perthshire between 22-24 November, the event is sponsored by VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council. In a packed weekend, fam trips include Forth Boat Tours, Scone Palace, the Perth Museum, and Black Watch Museum, plus a visit to [...]
CTA is inviting members to the annual CTA Networking event at WTM 2025 on the opening morning of the World Travel Market exhibition, Tuesday 4 November, 9am-11am. The event will take place in the main bar area of The Fox pub at Excel. There’s no booking required for the CTA event, however members must book [...]
Tiroler Abend, The Tyrolean Folk Show with the Gundolf Family, based in Innsbruck, has released 2026 group rates and an itinerary suggestion for UK coach tour operators. Taking place in Alpensaal in Innsbruck’s city centre, the Gundolf Family presents an evening of traditional Tyrolean entertainment including yodelling, music, and dancing. The team of highly skilled [...]
Belvoir Castle, the fairytale Leicestershire home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, will be dressing its Regency State rooms in festive finery this year as its Christmas event reopens. From Saturday 29 November to Tuesday 30 December, A Magical Night Before Christmas at Belvoir Castle will invite visitors to tour the early nineteenth century [...]
Worldwide Attractions is offering CTA members a fam trip to Rotterdam in December on a visit that showcases what the city has to offer coach groups. Between 10–12 December 2025, plus an optional extension to 13 December, the Rotterdam experience includes an overnight ferry with P&O from Hull to Rotterdam. Worldwide Attractions will confirm the [...]
UK hotel management company Providence Hotels has announced the lease acquisition of four Mercure properties, including Mercure Exeter Southgate, Mercure Daventry Court, Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh, and Mercure Haydock. The expansion strengthens Providence Hotels’ footprint in key UK destinations, with the company now operating 14 hotels across the UK including the South West, the Midlands, the [...]
Coach groups are being invited to St Paul’s Cathedral, London, to experience one of England’s most iconic landmarks and over 1,400 years of history. Visiting coach groups can explore the Cathedral Floor and Crypt, along with the intricate mosaics and historic monuments. The dome was an iconic scene during The Battle of Britain, where today’s [...]
The Maison des Landes accessible hotel in Jersey is welcoming groups, combining the atmosphere of a modern hotel with the latest facilities for people with disabilities, and their carers. Set in tranquil grounds overlooking Jersey's National Park, the hotel includes a restaurant and a daily schedule of activities. Maison des Landes comprises 15 ground-floor rooms, all [...]
Cornwall’s The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey, is launching a new programme, ‘Homecoming Presents’, that will welcome authors, musicians, poets, horticulturalists, chefs, and artists to Cornwall this Autumn for inspiring evenings and important conversations. The first event takes place on 17 September with Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, founder of The Thousand Year Trust, who will talk [...]
Caerphilly Castle, the second largest castle in Britain and the largest in Wales, has reopened to visitors, with its refurbishment including state-of-the art digital exhibits. Managed by Cadw, refurbishment includes the Great Hall, decorated to reflect the grandeur of how it might have appeared in its medieval heyday. With digital enhancements, visitors are transported back [...]
LeShuttle, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, has increased coach capacity with the reopening of the refurbished UK Coach Exit Check Hall inside the main terminal building at Folkestone. The change increases capacity from two coaches up to six coaches per hour, which LeShuttle says gives operators greater scheduling flexibility, reduced waiting times, and the [...]
CTA operator and wholesaler members are invited to visit the Group Leisure & Travel Show for free on Thursday 2 October at Arena MK, Milton Keynes. The one-day event is ideal for coach tour operators and group travel organisers, offering a chance to connect with a wide variety of exhibitors, discover new ideas, discuss plans, [...]
