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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 Coronation Street Experience and Emmerdale Village Tour, operated by Continuum Attractions, are for the first time presenting Star Tours to groups. Star Tours allow guests to meet a mystery cast member at the culmination of their guided tour. While these special tours have been running for a number of years for individuals, this is [...]
Panoramart, situated within the 210m-high Paris Montparnasse Observatory, is a new attraction welcoming coach groups. The exhibition is a stunning visual experience that blends urban landscape with contemporary art. Created by French artist Aurélien Jeanney of Maison Tangible, this immersive installation turns the Observatory’s glass walls into a vibrant, interactive canvas. Through 10 colourful window [...]
One of the country’s best preserved medieval castles, Bolton Castle in North Yorkshire, has joined CTA, offering a great day out for groups. Located near Leyburn with stunning views across Wensleydale, a visit includes the opportunity to see the castle’s five floors, including a dungeon, as well the gardens. Much of the gardens are accessible, [...]
Hemswell Antique Centres, renowned as the largest antiques centre in Europe, has joined the CTA. Located just a few miles from the historic city of Lincoln, with four buildings and two coffee shops on site, the site hosts thousands of antiques and collectables. The antique centres house a large variety of high-quality antique furniture from [...]
Royal Museums Greenwich, home to four historic attractions in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich, is hosting a fam trip for CTA members on 29 April. The day will include guided tours of the Queen's House and Cutty Sark, followed by an afternoon tea beneath the ship’s hull in the dry berth. Later, [...]
English Heritage properties Kenwood and Kenilworth Castle are hosting celebrations of women in history in 2025. Kenwood has launched an exhibition of art by John Singer Sargent, looking at the fascinating lives of American heiresses and their roles in Britian, while Kenilworth focuses on Elizabeth I, one of Britain’s most formidable monarchs. Kenwood, on the [...]
Newly opened in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, the Flaxmill Maltings is celebrated as the grandparent of modern skyscrapers and the attraction is now open this year for group tours. Opening in 1797 as a purpose-built mill to process flax, commonly used in the manufacture of linen, Shrewsbury’s flaxmill was the first multifloored iron-framed building in the world. [...]
This Spring and Summer, the Medieval Palace at the Tower of London will explore the stories of the kings and queens who lived at the Tower, as well as the households who served them, and the fascinating world they lived in. The Medieval Palace at the Tower of London re-opens 23 May, and the royal [...]
CofGâr, the Carmarthenshire County Council museums and arts service, has announced a vibrant and diverse lineup of exhibitions and events for 2025 to early 2026. The programme will take place at Carmarthenshire Museum, Dylan Thomas Boathouse, the Museum of Land Speed, and Parc Howard Museum. At the Carmarthenshire Museum, Exploring Ancient Egypt: The Story of [...]
Kynren, the outdoor theatre performance covering 2,000 years of English history, is taking place again this summer, between 19 July and 13 September in Bishop Auckland. This year, the spectacle has a new focus on the Victorian era. Kynren is enhancing the overall scene for its audiences with new props and costumes, projections, innovative choreography, [...]
Zip World Llechwedd in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, has enhanced its Deep Mine Tour with new and improved interactive elements, audio visuals and light show. Visitors descend 500ft below ground on Europe’s steepest cable railway where a guide leads a tour of one of the world’s most renowned slate mines. The tour features 10 slate [...]
Coventry’s historic St Mary’s Guildhall claimed a trio of awards at the West Midlands Tourism Awards 2025, taking place on 18 March at Edgbaston Stadium. The 700-year-old Grade I listed building won the Gold award for International Tourism, as well as the top honour for Accessible & Inclusive Tourism, and the Silver award for Small [...]
A new exhibition staged by the Royal Collection Trust has opened at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, exploring the opulence and glamour of the Edwardian age through the lives and tastes of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples. Focussing on King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary, this [...]
The Severn Valley Railway, which follows the River Severn in Shropshire and Worcestershire, is hosting its Spring Steam Gala between 18 and 21 April. The SVR is currently operating along the 12-mile stretch of its line between Kidderminster and Hampton Loade following a major landslip that occurred near Bridgnorth in January. Repairs will begin in [...]
BBC Tours, taking place at BBC Cymru Wales in Central Square, Cardiff, has received a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award for the second year in a row, and a 2025 Visit Wales Gold award for the quality of the experience. The only BBC site currently open to the public, at BBC Cymru Wales, groups can join [...]
The World of Wedgwood, the tourist attraction that celebrates the work of the world-famed manufacturer of china and ceramic tableware and artistic items, has joined the CTA. The Stoke-on-Trent attraction is keen to welcome coach groups and can offer bespoke itineraries. Now with seven-day opening, 10am-5pm, groups can join a tour of the Wedgwood Factory [...]
The Three Counties Food and Drink Festival returns for its third year on 26 and 27 July at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, with attendance from a lineup of TV's celebrated chefs. Coming on the Saturday, the show features a schedule of expert demonstrations from chefs including Simon Rimmer, Co-Presenter of C4’s Sunday [...]
Shuttleworth, the mansion and gardens which hosts a collection of vintage vehicles and aircraft, has announced the acquisition of a special 1905 Wolseley ‘Baby’ X-type 5hp two-seater Phaeton. Once belonging to Dorothy Shuttleworth, the X22 vehicle is considered one of the rarest of all surviving Wolseley light cars. First purchased by the Shuttleworth family around [...]
Plymouth is targeting groups in 2025 with a new guide, ‘Plymouth Groups and Travel Trade’, which features a range of attractions in the city, from historic landmarks to scenic cruises. Situated on Plymouth’s waterfront, the Grade II listed Tinside Lido is an Art Deco saltwater pool that offers breathtaking panoramic views, spacious sunbathing areas, and [...]
Seism!c, a new sound and light installation, has been added to Derbyshire’s Heights of Abraham, known for its scenic cable car journeys. The new experience is included in a guided tour through the Great Masson Cavern, which has been enhanced by state-of-the-art projectors. The installation tells the story of key moments in Earth’s history, along [...]
Neath Port Talbot Council is celebrating the birth centenary of Hollywood legend Richard Burton, opening a new trail that marks significant locations as the area celebrates ‘RB100’. Born 10 November 1925 in Pontrhydyfen in Glamorgan’s Afan Valley, Richard Jenkins went on to be famously known as Richard Burton. Following celebrated performances in the theatre, Burton’s [...]
New CTA member Gardense Viaggi is a wholesaler providing coach operators with complete tour programmes around Italy. The team offers classic packages to major musical, theatrical, and sporting events, and can also create tailor-made programmes. Gardense Viaggi’s services include ticketing, hotels, restaurants, as well as travel transfers. Set up in 2022 in Costermano sul Garda, [...]
Kynren – The Storied Lands is a new theme park for Bishop Auckland, set to open in summer 2026. The experience will transport visitors through history, myth, and legend, bringing the past to life through live-action performances. Phase one of the park will feature five shows and immersive experiences set against landscaped historical backdrops. Unlike [...]
This summer at Shakespeare's Globe theatre, groups are welcomed to watch Shakespeare with a twist, alongside classic productions from other noted playwrights. Summer in the Globe Theatre begins in the dangerous world of the American West with an exciting new production of Romeo and Juliet. As a Globe first, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible also premieres [...]
For the first time in five years, Preston Manor in Brighton will reopen to the public with a new visitor experience. Groups can explore the world of the influential Stanfords at Preston Manor, where the upstairs-downstairs life of Edwardian society comes alive. Visitors are free to wander through elegant rooms, charming gardens, and servants quarters, [...]
LFC's award winning Stadium Tour has introduced new content for 2025 plus two new languages to its multimedia audio guides, including Brazilian Portuguese and Dutch. The complimentary multimedia guides are included in the LFC Stadium Tour ticket price and enhance the experience while visiting the famous ground. In addition to the two new languages, content [...]
The Port of Leith Distillery is an important landmark in Edinburgh’s historic whisky district of Leith as the UK’s first vertical whisky distillery. Thought to be unique worldwide, the distillery is intended to reflect the company’s ambition to bring a pioneering approach to producing Scotland’s national drink. During a visit, groups can explore the architecture [...]
Aber Falls Distillery in Abergwyngregyn near Bangor, North Wales, is welcoming coach groups in 2025, providing distillery tours as well as a quick stop option. Distillery tours include a full tour of the single malt whisky process, and Aber Falls Distillery also offers a gin lab experience. Tours include tasting sessions, as well as takeaway [...]
Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels has revealed plans for a significant investment at its flagship property in Perthshire. The multi-million-pound project at Crieff Hydro includes a new day-to-night bar, refurbished dining areas, and the introduction of a stylish speakeasy bar. The hotel is also set to unveil new innovative menus alongside a cocktail experience, a [...]
St Mary’s Guildhall in Coventry is hosting a fam trip on Thursday 10 April, 11am-1pm, where coach operators can discover the recently renovated attraction. St Mary’s Guildhall has acted as the centre of power in England during the War of the Roses, housed the crown jewels, been the prison of Mary Queen of Scots, and [...]
Wales Official Tourist Guides Association (Wales Best Guides) has launched a new interactive website, featuring an easy-to-use search tool that allows you to find a guide. The search tool enables the user to search for a guide by location, language, driver guide, availability, and guide interest. Groups can contact guides directly from the website. The [...]
The Best of Innsbruck 2025 is an essential guide for coach tour operators planning a visit to the most important city in Austria’s Tyrol, featuring must-see highlights including Nordkette mountain cable car, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, and Tyrolean Folk Show with the Gundolf Family. The useful guide includes group pricing and booking information, opening times and [...]
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram has unveiled the name of the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years, as the Royal Daffodil is set to enter service in the summer of 2026. The Royal Daffodil will provide passengers with improved accessibility, new seating areas, and an on-board bar. The vessel [...]
