VisitScotland has prepared a portfolio of trade-ready garden experiences that showcase Scotland’s gardening excellence and heritage, ideally suited to coach groups. The listing of gardens includes the classic, from Backhouse Rossie Estate Walled Garden near Auchtermuchty in Fife, through to the more unusual, such as The Japanese Garden at Cowden (Sha Raku En), Clackmannanshire. [...]
The National Trust has taken over the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, the set of 10 attractions based in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which focus on the area’s role at the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Located in Telford, Shropshire, and based around the Ironbridge Gorge, the museums include Blists Hill Victorian Town, Enginuity, the [...]
A new entertainment destination is opening at Manchester City Football Club’s Etihad Campus later this year. Medlock Square will include an expansion to the stadium, as well as providing a new museum, store, and covered area. At the heart of Medlock Square is the Etihad Stadium North Stand expansion, a major development that will [...]
The Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham Museum, set to open later this year, will celebrate the history and future of Welsh football and will also display collections from Wrexham Museum. Half of the building will celebrate Welsh football, past and present, honouring the stories, triumphs, and memories of football fans and players. Meanwhile, [...]
CTA member Shakespeare Distillery based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, is hosting the Stratford Gin & Rum Festival on Sunday 19 July 2026. Taking place between 12pm and 5pm at the Crowne Plaza riverside, Stratford-upon-Avon, the event is ideal for groups, with sampling of craft gins & rums, live music, as well as learning sessions with [...]
The Bowes Museum near Barnard Castle, County Durham, focussing on art and set within 22 acres of landscaped parkland, has joined the CTA. The museum includes a world-class collection of over 58,000 objects, with highlights including works by renowned masters such as Goya, Canaletto, and Van Dyck. Among its treasures is the Silver Swan, [...]
Now on at Kensington Palace, The Last Princesses of Punjab exhibition marks the 150th birthday of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the suffragette, activist, and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. The exhibition explores the extraordinary lives of Sophia and the influential women around her, including Queen Victoria. Together, their stories reveal a family shaped by empire and identity. Visitors will discover rare [...]
Plymouth Boat Trips has introduced a new vessel to its fleet of cruise boats and ferries for 2026. The Legend of Plymouth, formerly the Legend of Loch Ness, has been brought to Plymouth from the Scottish Highlands, having previously cruised Loch Ness. The boat comes complete with advanced echo sounding sonar equipment and screens [...]
Dinefwr Blankets, located in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, is presenting guided tours for coach groups where visitors can learn about the heritage of Welsh cloth plus blanket design and weaving. Dinefwr Blankets is known for its modern approach to traditional Welsh blanket design, and its tours offer groups the opportunity to discover Welsh heritage through traditional [...]
Alpine Travel has launched the Alice in Llandudno Open Top Bus Tour, an immersive storytelling experience that brings the magic of Lewis Carroll’s tales to life across one of Wales’ most iconic seaside towns. Now open, the experience invites visitors into the world of Alice in Wonderland, a story connected to Llandudno where author [...]
Chester Zoo is leading a nationwide push to change how weather forecasts are displayed on popular weather apps, warning that rain icons could be costing some venues up to £137,000 a day. The zoo has coordinated a joint approach to the Met Office on behalf of more than 80 outdoor attractions, including the Eden [...]
The Cromer Pier Summer Show, the world’s only full-season end-of-pier show, is returning in 2026, presenting a live entertainment experience that blends classic variety with contemporary flair, delivering a uniquely British tradition that’s both nostalgic and fresh. The Summer Show will run from 27 June to 19 September. This year, the North Norfolk pier [...]
Tickets to Kynren 2026, the epic tale of England presented in an outdoor spectacular show, are now available. Meanwhile, construction is gathering pace at the new action park that will run alongside the live production. The Kynren show in Bishop Auckland will take place on selected evenings between July and September. The live production [...]
Cruise Loch Ness has joined the CTA to support its offer to coach groups, providing cruise experiences across Scotland’s most famous loch. For over 50 years, Cruise Loch Ness has welcomed visitors from around the world to discover the beauty, history, and mystery of Scotland’s most famous loch, operating year-round from the picturesque village [...]
CTA member Continuum Attractions, the York-based visitor experience specialist, has acquired Eden Camp Modern History Museum, one of Yorkshire’s most popular tourist attractions. Eden Camp Modern History Museum, located just outside Malton, provides immersive storytelling around the reality of life in the Second World War. As a former prisoner of war camp, the museum [...]
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is welcoming groups this year to experience a nostalgic journey through 24 miles of stunning Yorkshire scenery aboard its fleet of heritage steam and diesel locomotives. The main railway season starts at the end of March and runs through the year until the end of October, when the NYMR [...]
Strawberry Field Liverpool has been awarded a Gold certification from Green Tourism, placing it among a small number of leading sustainable visitor attractions in the Liverpool City Region. The internationally recognised accreditation confirms that Strawberry Field has exceeded rigorous sustainability standards. Green Tourism assesses organisations against robust criteria aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development [...]
CTA member Worldwide Attractions, the business-to-business travel sales representation company, staged a successful fam trip to Rotterdam in December, hosting15 attendees including the CTA. The three and four day fam trips were presented in conjunction with three CTA supplier members, including P&O Ferries, Royal Spido and Euromast, to demonstrate how rewarding Rotterdam is as a [...]
CTA member Visit Southport is presenting a host of exciting events across 2026, ideal for group trips. Highlights include Lightport, an immersive light and sound installation that will turn the town into a walk-through rainbow of colour and creativity, taking place 14 - 16 February. From 3-4 April, French street theatre company Transe Express brings [...]
Liverpool’s The British Music Experience, which presents the history of British rock and pop, is staging Don’t Believe the Hype… Uncovering the Artwork of Arctic Monkeys’ Debut Album. This temporary exhibition, staged between 23 January and 22 March 2026, explores the creation and cultural legacy of one of the most recognisable album covers of the [...]
Edinburgh Zoo has appointed the city’s Heritage Portfolio, a Sodexo Live! brand, as its new catering and hospitality partner. The zoo says the new partnership will celebrate Scottish ingredients, support local producers, and enhance the visitor’ experience. The food and beverage plan is built around conservation, community, and engagement, with priorities focussing on improving quality [...]
Perth Museum, the new £26.5m redevelopment of a historic building in the centre of Perth City, has released its travel trade rates and guide. A popular feature on the recent CTA Winter Networking event, The Perth Museum invites visitors to explore Scotland’s past and its connection to the wider world through its display of exceptional [...]
The Museum of Royal Worcester, the famed porcelain brand, is inviting group travel organisers to step into a world of creativity, heritage, and craftsmanship spanning over 250 years. The museum is located by the regenerated Royal Porcelain Works factory site in the historic city of Worcester. Founded in 1751, Dr. Wall’s early porcelain factory began [...]
Scotland's Tay Country has published its new Coach Operator Toolkit, providing operators with full information to plan, promote, and deliver coach trips and tours across Scotland’s Tay Country. Tay Country comprises Angus, Fife, Perthshire, and the city of Dundee. The new toolkit provides insights to help operators understand the Tay Country offer, including suggestions for [...]
The popular Stratford-upon-Avon attraction Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall, has published its new group rates covering 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028, including group tours. The 605-year-old building, built during the reign of Henry V, is the location where the young William Shakespeare was educated and inspired to become one of the world’s most famous [...]
Shuttleworth has added a Hawker Hurricane to its collection of historic aircraft, with the aircraft registration G-HURI flying in at the end of November. Hawker Hurricane G-HURI was one of the first civilian Hurricanes flying in 1989, and Shuttleworth’s addition has been added from the Historic Aircraft Collection. The airworthy Hurricane was part of the [...]
The first, new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years has taken to the water in Liverpool where sea trials will begin next year. The Royal Daffodil, the new £26m Mersey Ferry, was moved to the River Mersey on 6 November for basin testing, where the vessel first touches the water to test propulsion, steering, [...]
CTA member Raby Castle in County Durham has created a festive package for groups featuring the new Raby Castle at Christmas experience. For the first time in fifty years, groups can visit the ground floor of the fourteenth century castle, which will be open to the public in the build up to Christmas. The new [...]
Westminster Abbey has launched a new groups booking portal, giving access to group tickets with guaranteed timed entry. Travel trade partners and Blue Badge Guides can now register for a groups booking portal account, which will become the standard booking route for all groups visiting Westminster Abbey. The registration form is live now on Westminster Abbey’s Groups [...]
Cadw would like to remind coach operators about the advantages of its Tour Operator Scheme when making bookings to its historic properties in Wales. Cadw is the Welsh government’s historic environment service, presenting visitors with a range of special interest sites and buildings. For group visits, the Tour Operator Scheme provides preferential trade rates, two [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
