Salisbury Cathedral is pleased to still be welcoming groups within the ‘rule of six’, having cautiously added to its capacity to keep pace with demand. A one-way system and social distancing is working well and there has never been a better time to see the cathedral. The chairs have been removed from the Nave and [...]
Historic Royal Palaces reports that it is facing a £98million shortfall in its finances this year, an income reduction of more than 85 per cent. However it remains strongly committed to working with the travel trade and is hard at work to provide opportunities to get clients enthused about future travel and to have something [...]
Well known CTA member Ian Stuart of Stuart Line Cruises passed away on Saturday 3 October. Ian was a great champion of coach tourism and will be missed by his many friends and colleagues across the industry. Stuart Lines’ Lauren and Jake have penned the following tribute: “Ian had been diagnosed with terminal cancer almost [...]
CTA is delighted to welcome VisitAberdeenshire as a new member. Situated in the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen and the surrounding area Aberdeenshire offer a truly authentic Scottish experience. A vibrant city, distilleries, castles, food and drink experiences and stunning scenery await. A wide range of group-friendly accommodation is available, from budget city centre hotels to [...]
Strawberry Field is an inspirational heritage attraction, immortalised by John Lennon in The Beatles hit Strawberry Fields Forever, which opened in September 2019. The attraction, which has achieved the Good to Go’ accreditation, and its famous garden and new exhibition welcomes pre-booked groups. One of The Guardian’s ‘Fab Finds of the Year’, Strawberry Field won ‘Tourist Attraction of The Year’ at the inaugural Staycation [...]
Hovertravel welcomed its first group visit from Johnsons Coaches following careful planning to ensure the visit was conducted in accordance with all current COVID-secure guidelines. The customers enjoyed a private Hover Experience charter and several hours on the Isle of Wight. “We have recommenced our first day excursions since March,” says Barry Cobb, Tours Manager, [...]
London Transport Museum reopened its doors to visitors on 7 September after closing for an unprecedented 173 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. Families, culture lovers and transport fans will once again be able to enjoy the Museum’s stunning exhibits, historic vehicles and world-famous posters, which together reveal how public transport has shaped life in [...]
English Heritage has re-opened six of its most popular attractions for pre-booked travel trade and group visits. They join Stonehenge, which has now been successfully welcoming pre-booked groups since early July. It has introduced a central booking system which is now open for travel trade and groups to visit the following sites: · 1066 Battle of [...]
Royal Museums Greenwich can now accept groups of up to 30 at both the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark. Following the successful reopening of Cutty Sark on 20 July, the Royal Observatory on 3 August, and the Queen’s House on 10 August, Royal Museums Greenwich are pleased now to be in a position to welcome [...]
After recently re-opening to the public, Hever Castle & Gardens is delighted to be starting to work with group organisers and travel trade partners again. Bookings will now be taken with changes to processes and procedures in line with the government’s COVID-19 regulations. Christmas bookings (21, 22 and 28 November and 6,12, 14, 15, 17 [...]
Liverpool Football Club stadium tour and museum has launched a new tour, The Anfield Origins. This is an historical walking tour which takes in the external surroundings of the stadium learning about the hidden history and architecture surrounding the club from the late 19th century to the present day. The Anfield Origins Tour is around the perimeter of Anfield [...]
Mersey Ferries is now very much looking forward to the 2021 season with its Manchester Ship Canal Cruise and Liverpool Bay Cruise programmes now available for group bookings and reservations. The Manchester Ship Canal Cruise offers a fascinating full-day cruise between Liverpool and Manchester and the new Liverpool Bay Cruise offers a unique view of [...]
As lockdown lifts, traveltrade@nts.org.uk - the trade’s one-stop shop at the National Trust for Scotland - is now open for business. Headed up by Sandrine Contier-Lawrie and supported by Peter Stewart, this tailored service aims to match your itinerary to the perfect attraction. Whether you are looking for a world-beating experience like Culloden, or fancy a hidden [...]
VisitScotland has launched a £3million marketing campaign with an emotive film welcoming back Scottish tourism and reminding us what a beautiful country we have right on our doorsteps. The film, which is covered on TV and radio stations across Scotland has the clear message that ‘Only in Scotland can travelling so little make such a [...]
Over recent weeks Historic Royal Palaces has successfully opened some of its sites and welcomed positive reviews from visitors enjoying the palaces in a safe and secure environment once again. The organisation has now confirmed its plans to travel trade partners and group organisers, giving them the confidence and enabling them to include palace visits [...]
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is reopening The Historic Dockyard Chatham to visitors on Saturday 25 July. The attraction has been closed to the public since March as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the government took the decision to allow tourism businesses to reopen from the start of July, the Trust has taken [...]
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Tourism has officially signalled the launch of the summer season with a new ‘We Are Tourism’ campaign. Using social media channels, and working with local businesses, the destination is heralding a new dawn for visitors after the disruption triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new campaign emphasises the measures implemented by [...]
Liverpool FC’s stadium tour and museum are now open and ready to welcome groups for the first time since March. Following the Government’s announcement that visitor attractions are able to reopen, the stadium tour and museum team have been working hard to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests in line with social [...]
Historic Royal Palaces are testing operations in the first few weeks of opening, and are planning to re-open their website to group bookings within the Government guidelines of group gatherings, in the coming weeks. Further details will be available soon.
The Old Royal Naval College, part of Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, is reopening from Monday 13 July. This stunning London landmark will once again offer public access to its buildings and expansive grounds with visitor and staff safety measures in place. Groups are welcome to visit, but will be limited to a maximum [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises is operating some services again with a circular (non landing) 60-minute cruise from its three main piers, Bowness (up to every 15 mins), Ambleside (up to every 45 minutes), and Lakeside (every 90 minutes). These trips can include the steam train with a combined ticket available. Windermere Lake Cruises’ Jennifer Cormack says: [...]
The Silverstone Experience will reopen its doors on 20 July, giving motorsport fans the chance to get their racing fix after months of lockdown. Visitors will be able to get close to cars and bikes from seven decades of motorsport history and experience the Ultimate Lap – an immersive cinema show. The Silverstone Experience will [...]
Royal Collection Trust is re-opening Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and The Queen’s Galleries in London and Edinburgh on Thursday 23 July. They will be open five days a week, from Thursday to Monday but only for direct booking individuals and 1-Year-Pass holders. Royal Collection Trust says that it would [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises has donated more than 600 items of food and drink from its onboard and on-shore shops and cafes to the Morecambe Bay Foodbank. Following reports of an increase in the need for foodbank services during the Covid-19 pandemic, staff at the attraction emptied their shops of stock which would otherwise have gone [...]
Salisbury Cathedral is continuing its 2020 celebrations online as it marks its 800th anniversary. A range of activities are planned for the weekend Friday 29 - Saturday 31 May, including music sessions, yoga, children's workshops, sports training, quizzes, talks and virtual exhibitions. The Cathedral’s online art tour Celebrating 800 years of Spirit and Endeavour was included in the BBC's [...]
Among the new offerings from Historic Royal Palaces is a new ‘Highlights of the Tower’ audio guide which will enable groups to experience all that the Tower of London has to offer in just 60 minutes. And in May 2020, Kensington Palace will be introducing an audio guide tour, and Mandarin will be added as [...]
CTA member Stuart Line Cruises has issued an update to operators with information about ongoing roadworks on Exmouth seafront. Due to ongoing flood defence engineering works, there is a road closure along Exmouth Seafront. Diversions are currently in place. Coach access to the Stuart Line Cruises departure point has not been affected but additional directions [...]
The world-famous RHS Flower Shows and Flower Festivals bring a burst of colour to the group calendar from April onwards. Ranging from the world’s most famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, to the fabulous RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and inspirational RHS Flower Shows at Tatton Park and Chatsworth, every show is brimming with vibrant [...]
Mersey Ferries is launching an exciting new cruise product for 2020 following a successful trial this year with 14 Liverpool Bay Cruises scheduled between June and August. The three-hour sightseeing cruise into Liverpool Bay offers breathtaking views from the deck of a Mersey Ferry. During the three-hour cruise, groups will enjoy great scenery and learn [...]
York’s Chocolate Story is working in partnership with Nestle to bring KitKat Chocolatory to York, the UK’s home of KitKat. The KitKat Chocolatory is a luxury experience where visitors get the chance to create their own eight-finger KitKat using different flavour combinations and a host of diverse ingredients including shortbread pieces, mini marshmallows, honeycomb and [...]
The View from The Shard has announced the return of The Slide, an exhilarating 360-degree Virtual Reality experience which is back by popular demand for a limited period. Visitors to London’s highest attraction will be able to enjoy the thrill of ‘The Slide’ travelling at up to 100mph down and around the iconic building, using [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises, England’s fifth most popular ‘paid for’ attraction will be marking its 40th anniversary year at WTM London, providing clients with information about its fleet of vessels, the lake and surrounding attractions and accommodation providers. The event will also be used as an opportunity to showcase the attraction’s new 300-seat ‘MV Swift’, which [...]
Tatton Park at Christmas offers a host of festive activities to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit – all available for groups of fifteen or more. Visitors can start in the stunning Winter Gardens – recently voted the ‘Best Garden in the North West’ by readers of Garden News magazine – and see the [...]
CTA communications director Helen Bowron took part in the recent Fáilte Ireland Fam Trip which proved to be a cracking event with visits to some fascinating attractions and destinations that would love to welcome your groups. Read Helen’s account of the trip: CTA members know that Ireland is a great destination for coach tour holidays [...]
CTA member ITO Tours UK is keen to talk to fellow operator members about visits to Floriade Expo 2022 which will be held in Almere near Amsterdam for 180 days from April to October in 2022. ITO Tours is now starting to introduce the Floriade Expo 2022 to the travel trade and wants to get in touch [...]
The much-awaited Silverstone Experience is opening on 25 October. The attraction will take visitors on an exciting journey through the past, present and future of Silverstone and British motorsport. "We are expecting a lot of interest from the coach market," says Gillian Bell who is responsible for trade sales. "It promises a fascinating half-day of [...]
CTA member Groups Direct has some great winter offers to help coach operators fill their coaches over the winter months. A free group organiser place is available with every 20 paid customers to deliver a reasonably-priced day out that can help group organisers and coach operators offer clients something during the winter months. The following winter warmers [...]
A glimpse of the Downton Abbey grandeur at our National Trust for Scotland properties From the television series to the big screen blockbuster, the Crawley family and their servants at Downton Abbey have caught the public’s imagination. But coach groups can also get a feel for Downton life at some of the grand houses the [...]
Westminster Abbey marks the 750th anniversary of the consecration of Henry III’s church this autumn. Henry III was devoted to Saint Edward the Confessor, and in his honour he rebuilt Edward’s 11th century Abbey in the then new Gothic style of architecture. Work started in 1245 and the consecration of the Church took place on [...]
As the Turner Prize opens in Margate, Kent looks ahead to an exciting year of culture in 2020. According to Visit England’s recent Annual Attractions Survey, England’s art galleries and museums are currently enjoying significant growth in visitor numbers with figures up by 6 per cent in 2018 compared to the previous year. With millions [...]
Cheshire’s iconic Anderton Boat Lift is marking the national Heritage Open Days campaign with free history talks and ‘Walking the Lift’ tours on Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September. The history talks will cover the restoration of the lift and the engineering that makes the boat lift worthy of its ‘Scheduled Ancient Monument’ status. [...]
In addition to its range of cruise products, City Cruises Poole has opened its own cafe, the Harbour Station Café. Located directly on the Quay opposite the departure point for the cruises, the café provides a wide range of both hot and cold food, as well as an ice cream station. In addition to regular [...]
A spring day out at an RHS Garden offers an unrivalled opportunity for coach groups to see fabulous displays of bulbs, blossoms and special events. From the Royal Horticultural Society’s historic home, RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, to the beautiful RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon, and from RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate to the [...]
CTA member Aerospace Bristol has launched two new tours for groups in 2020. The Concorde Tour gives groups the chance to learn about the supersonic superstar that is Concorde, just across the runway from where all British Concordes were built. As they walk around the last Concorde to be built and the last to fly, [...]
Coach groups are invited to visit Britain’s ‘Sistine Chapel’ at the Old Royal Naval College, the centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and with more than 500 years of history, the Old Royal Naval College, in a spectacular riverside location, boasts some of the most beautiful architecture [...]
New CTA member Cruise and Maritime Voyages is offering CTA operator members the opportunity to join its groups department to celebrate Christmas at a Festive Dinner and overnight event in London Tilbury on Thursday 19 December 2019. The event is a great opportunity to step aboard Columbus, to view the facilities and cabins, sample the [...]
Coach groups visiting London can take in a great comedy afternoon tea and join Lord and Lady Right in A Right Royale Tea, a hilarious, immersive and participatory performance set in the grandeur of the British aristocracy at the Amba Hotel, Charing Cross London on Sundays. Guests will join the fictitious Lord and Lady Right [...]
The Elizabethan Gardens at Kenilworth Castle have been rejuvenated in a £70,000 project to mark the anniversary of the 19-day visit to the castle by Queen Elizabeth 1 in July 1575, and can now be enjoyed by groups visiting this popular Warwickshire attraction. The one-acre walled garden forms part of the greatest love story that [...]
The newly re-landscaped Princess Alexandra Gardens at Leeds Castle have been formally opened by patron of the foundation Princess Alexandra, during a day of celebrations for the attraction’s 900th anniversary. The Princess unveiled an official plaque to rename the new garden zones, which are now the second gardens in Kent to boast a royal title. [...]
An ingenious structure of treetop nests connected by rope bridges, slides and nets to emulate the natural landscape has been installed at Castle Howard by award-winning designers CAP.Co. The new Skelf Island, designed to engage the next generation with nature, is home to the otherworldly Skelves who have been inhabiting a secret world over the [...]
