Shakespeare Distillery in Warwickshire is celebrating after scooping two recent awards despite a very challenging year which has seen the business go from strength to strength. The independent artisan spirit producer has been awarded the Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2021 and has also been awarded a silver medal in the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2021 for its Jester [...]
New CTA member, Heights of Abraham, has been recognised as a 2021 Travellers’ Choice award winner for attractions worldwide. This achievement celebrates businesses that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to travellers around the globe, having earned great reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, The Heights stood out by continuously [...]
Chatsworth has announced that it can now increase the total number of visitors per group at Christmas from a maximum of 30 to a maximum of 50. Coach operators with bookings do not need to do anything at this point, as Chatsworth has automatically increased the provisional number of visitors on bookings to 50. Operators [...]
Following the success of hosting the Euro 2020 games, Wembley Stadium Tours will reopen on Monday 6 September with tickets now on sale to the travel trade. Wembley is ready to welcome visitors back behind the scenes and under the world-famous arch once more and has made new additions to the tour while it has [...]
The slate landscape of North West Wales has now become Wales’ 4th UNESCO World Heritage site following more than 15 years’ of hard work by partners to record, safeguard and recognise the living legacy of the slate landscape of Gwynedd locally and worldwide. This new World Heritage Site comprises six distinct areas, known as ‘Component Parts’: [...]
Visit Windsor’s campaign to entice international visitors back to its Royal Borough includes the launch of a new digital magazine, Woo. Pre-Covid, Windsor welcomed 8.4 million trips annually as travellers from across the globe came to town to enjoy its many attractions, from Windsor Castle and the magnificent Crown Estate to Legoland Windsor and a host of activities on the River Thames. Supporting the Royal Borough’s [...]
Encore has provided another update on West End shows, including Disney’s Frozen which launches as a brand-new theatrical experience in London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane this August. Incredible special effects, stunning costumes and jaw-dropping scenery bring Elsa and Anna’s journey to life in a whole new way. And with all the beloved songs from the [...]
Waddesdon is promoting a magical outdoor visit for the forthcoming festive season with spectacular light displays that bring the gardens to life, including its longest ever Winter Light trail, a Christmas Fair offering unique gifts and delicious seasonal treats, and a chance to see the Manor's façade illuminated with dancing lights set to sequenced music. [...]
Roadchef has overhauled its Captain’s Club loyalty scheme as coach travel returns to the roads following the COVID pandemic. The nationwide scheme – which has over 3,000 members so far – has benefitted from an upgraded and easy to navigate app, along with lots of new offers and personalised rewards for drivers bringing passengers to [...]
Southern Wales Tourism has launched a wonderful virtual tour video which gives you an insight into all the great attractions and experiences your groups can enjoy in the are. Take a look here - https://www.facebook.com/southernwales/videos/513853993011620
Salisbury Cathedral reports that thanks to the great weather - and the occasional bouts of heavy rain and storms - its visitor numbers have been steadily climbing since the changes to Covid restrictions came in last month. More than 14,500 people visited the cathedral in July and a steady stream have been booking for the [...]
CTA is delighted to welcome the National Trust as a member and can report that many of its properties are once again welcoming coach groups. A list of 55 properties which now accept coach bookings is available here. We will pass on updates on further properties which are re-opening to coach groups. The property website [...]
Southern Wales Tourism’s regular Group and Travel Trade Buyers event went online this year with a virtual Meet the Buyers/Fam Visit on 1 July showing off the area in a new film, and giving an opportunity for accommodation, attractions, activities and food & drink businesses to present what they offer. The event featured well-known sites [...]
Historic Royal Palaces has thanked all those partners who have supported it over the past year by purchasing palace tickets or watching Crowdcast events hosted by Lucy Worsley. “To those who have been waiting in eager anticipation for all restrictions to ease, we look forward to giving your customers a royal standard welcome!” HRP has [...]
The Prince Of Egypt, based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film, returned to London’s Dominion Theatre on 1 July 2021 with standing ovations and an extended 14-minute curtain call. Having been turned down by UK Government for a Culture Recovery Fund grant, producers Michael McCabe and Neil Laidlaw spoke of their long and difficult battle to bring the production back to the stage. [...]
Encore has provided an update for CTA members on reopening of West End shows including Mary Poppins, Wicked and Matilda. Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins is returning to the Prince Edward on 7 August. Group rates available for groups of 10+; school rates are also available on 10+ guests. Now back on sale, Wicked: [...]
Hampton Court Palace has reopened with a new exhibition highlighting Tudor treasures. Gold and Glory: Henry VIII and the French King will bring the opulence and spectacle of the Field of Cloth of Gold – Henry VIII’s legendary encounter with his great rival François I - to life at Hampton Court Palace until 5 September [...]
Shakespeare Distillery and Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall have launched an exclusive, limited time offer for your groups, 'A Day out in Stratford-upon-Avon’. The group visit needs to be booked and paid for by 31 October 2021 and features the following itinerary: 11am: Visit to SHAKESPEARE DISTILLERY • Entertaining, informative and amusing talk on the history [...]
Following a sold-out installation in summer 2020, the monumental Gaia sculpture is returning to the Old Royal Naval College this summer. Gaia will be displayed in the magnificent Painted Hall for a month, including late night openings. The sculpture by Luke Jerram amazes audiences as it rotates slowly while suspended in mid-air, an exact scale [...]
Visit Kent is encouraging groups to head to the Battle of Britain Memorial, high upon the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone to pay respects to Churchill’s famous “Few” who fought in the skies overhead in 1940 in the Battle of Britain. The Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall lists the names of all those known to have taken part [...]
Strawberry Field, the latest addition to Beatles tourism, marked the 50th anniversary of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ by inviting a student from Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts to play the very piano on which John Lennon composed and recorded ‘Imagine’. The Liverpool Signing Choir, joined by Julia Baird, John Lennon’s sister and Major Kathy [...]
As summer arrives, it's the perfect time to enjoy the private Rothschild walled garden at Eythrope. Legendary in the horticultural world for its gardening excellence and as a haven for traditional techniques that might otherwise be lost, a visit to Eythrope will intrigue, inform and inspire. The four-acre walled garden, glasshouses and orchard still supply produce [...]
The latest CTA zoom session took members on an extensive virtual tour of Wales, packed with ideas about attractions and destinations that are keen to welcome coach groups back as the Covid restrictions begin to be lifted. Taking place just a few days before 17 May, which signals a significant moment for operators in England [...]
The lights are coming on again in the coming weeks at a number of West End shows, and Encore has released an update of the opening dates and group prices. Clearly, since theatres are currently updating their information about going back on sale fairly regularly, this is a work in progress. There are a few [...]
Last month Thames River Sightseeing restarted services every Saturday & Sunday on one route between Westminster, Embankment, Tower of London (St Katharine’s) and Greenwich, with plans to resume full services shortly. Here is a link to its timetable. www.thamesriversightseeing.com
Online booking has now reopened at Royal Collection Trust. Tickets are available to book for all of the royal residences, including more tickets released for the summer opening of Buckingham Palace Garden. Further dates are also now available for Buckingham Palace Garden Guided Tours. The Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh reopened to visitors on [...]
Mersey Ferries is restarting its daily River Explorer sightseeing cruises from Monday 17 May 2021. The River Explorer Cruise is a great way for groups to experience Liverpool and the UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront from the deck of the Mersey Ferry. Guided by expert recorded commentary throughout the 50 minute trip, the cruise offers an unrivalled Liverpool [...]
The Tony & Olivier Award-winning show, Wicked returns to London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre from 15 September. The iconic musical - seen by over 10 million people in London alone - celebrates its 15th anniversary in its West End home this year and tickets are on sale from 10am on 17 May 2021. London performances will resume [...]
Waddesdon is reopening to visitors as Covid restrictions in the UK ease and from 19 May it plans to welcome visitors back into the House, the Manor Restaurant and the Five Arrows Hotel. Guided tours to the private Rothschild walled garden at Eythrope are available to book now. Visitors can discover the four-acre walled garden, glasshouses and orchard at Eythrope [...]
Salisbury Cathedral is keen to welcome coach groups back and has a number of special exhibitions to help tempt them, including a new embroidery exhibition, Threads through Creation, runs from 17 - 27 August featuring local embroiderer Jacqui Parkinson whose work comprises twelve pieces inspired by the Book of Genesis, highlighting the human experiences of hope and [...]
The Beatles Story first opened its doors on 3 May 1990 and with the 30th anniversary celebrations obviously curtailed last year due to Covid 19, it is aiming to continue the festivities into 2021, when it reopens on Monday 17 May. The leading attraction welcomes record-breaking numbers of visitors each year from Merseyside and beyond, and is considered a ‘must-visit’ [...]
CTA member South Devon Railway has a hit movie on its hands with a charming pony’s-eye view of the railway and the surrounding countryside and attractions that can be enjoyed. It’s a lovely romp through the beautiful Devon countryside in the company of Albert and Ernie. The video has just been released on Facebook and [...]
The Historic Dockyard Chatham will reopen to visitors on 17 May after being closed to the public for seven months due to Government COVID-19 restrictions. The Dockyard was once the country’s largest and most important industrial site. Today its surviving Slips, big enough to protect mighty warships; and Mast Houses, long enough to store ships [...]
Kensington Palace is hosting a new exhibition which features the wedding dress of Diana, Princess of Wales as part of exploration of the fine art of designing for royalty. Royal Style in the Making opens on 3 June 2021 and will run until 2 January 2022. As Kensington Palace reopens to visitors, a new temporary [...]
Group visits to over 80 of English Heritage’s historic attractions countrywide will once again be possible from 17 May, provided the country successfully passes each milestone on the government’s roadmap. The sites due to open include Stonehenge and other popular group-friendly day trip destinations, such as Whitby Abbey (North Yorkshire); Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens [...]
Following the recent publication of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, Leeds Castle in Kent has announced reopening dates for some of its most popular attractions and events. The Leeds Castle Foundation plans to stagger the reopening of its attractions over the next few months in line with government guidelines. All charitable income raised from [...]
After being closed for more than a year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the scenic South Devon Railway (SDR) has announced its outline programme for a Spring re-opening of the seven-mile heritage line running from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. The last SDR steam trains ran virtually empty on Tuesday 17 March 2020 just ahead [...]
Here is a link to a short immersive film for the National Trust of Scotland to commemorate the Anniversary of The Battle of Culloden in April. https://virtual-visits.co.uk/battle-of-culloden/
More than 60 per cent of respondents in a survey conducted on behalf of Southern Wales Tourism said that they may include the area in their future programme, with 42 per cent hoping to run tours in 2021, Covid-19 restrictions permitting, and 46 per cent planning for 2022 and 12 per cent for 2023 onwards. [...]
A new CTA member, Hauts-de-France, France’s northernmost region, is the UK’s closest international driving destination offering a truly authentic French experience on our doorstep. Easily accessible for groups and coach parties via the Channel Tunnel and ferry services, there is a wealth of inspiration for group holidays for a variety of interests. From historic WW1 [...]
Rooftop cameras captured images of Salisbury Cathedral’s latest delivery of a peregrine’s egg last month. The female stayed with the egg overnight, taking a break at just after 06.00 when her mate came in and took over. The pair won’t start incubating the egg yet, but they will sit on the egg for brief periods. [...]
CTA member Stuart Render Tourism is inviting coach tour operators and group tour wholesalers to join a familiarisation trip this October to discover what northern France has to offer as a group-friendly destination. The four-day fam trip, being delivered by Hauts-de-France Tourism (which has recently joined as a new member of CTA), with the involvement [...]
Historic Royal Palaces’ 2021-22 Group Visits Guide is available to view and download via its website. For the first time, this edition will only be available in a digital format, so the guide can easily be amended to reflect any changes to the visitor offer. Operators are therefore recommended to check the guide before a visit for [...]
Uber boat by Thames Clippers is planning to return to service from Monday 29 March, following the government’s roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. On the basis that the government’s Step 1 remains unchanged, it will return with a phased re-introduction of services from 29 March and initially operate the RB1 service between [...]
Coldharbour Mill is one of the oldest woollen mills in the UK having been in continuous production since 1797. Originally owned by world-renowned textile producers Fox Brothers, the mill took fleece from all over the world and transformed it into yarn, cloth and textiles. Today the heritage lives on as one of the finest working [...]
Skipton Boat Trips is located in the centre of an award-winning market town at the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. Whether it’s a one-hour cruise with an entertaining commentary and complimentary refreshments or an Afternoon Tea, Ploughman’s Lunch, Sunday lunch, or Fish & Chips cruise, at Skipton Boat Trips the goal is to make your [...]
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust received a grant of £177,500 to support the rebuilding of audiences following the COVID-19 pandemic from the Garfield Weston Foundation Culture Fund. The funding will be used to support the redevelopment of the popular Victorian Ropery gallery at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, telling the 400-year-old story of ropemaking at Chatham – [...]
The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), is a new industry-led management and marketing organisation for the South of Scotland – including Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. CTA member MBTAG, the Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group, will merge into the SSDA and continue its work from the last three years across the [...]
Coach groups can be transported to a secret side of London with a virtual tour of a disused Tube station organised by the Hidden London team at London Transport Museum. Virtual guests can experience a subterranean world of shadowy tunnels and forgotten spaces of London Underground in groups of a minimum of 25 people and [...]
Hospitality Line says that for 29 years, its clients have been able to book with no commitment from a selection of more than 10,000 venues and it has confirmed that it will be continuing to provide this level of operational freedom wherever possible throughout 2021 and beyond. There are a host of attractions looking forward to opening [...]
