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 [...]
CTA member Exbury Gardens is highlighting new woodland wonders, family nature trails and dazzling spring colour in 2021. A new River Walk will allow visitors to explore previously-hidden woodland within the 200-acre New Forest garden, with glimpses of the Beaulieu River estuary. Interpretation boards will explain how to spot some of the iconic native trees. Stretching nearly [...]
English Heritage is holding admission prices at 2020 levels until April 2022 for travel trade partners, pre-booking FIT and group visits at its 120-plus paid-for historic attractions countrywide, including its most popular tourist sites Stonehenge, Tintagel Castle, Dover Castle and Osborne. The charity has made the decision to hold prices to play its part in [...]
Mersey Ferries’ Manchester Ship Canal Cruises will set sail along a new cruise route in 2021. The new round-trip cruise will sail from Liverpool and Wirral, travel along the Manchester Ship Canal to the historic Latchford Locks and back, giving groups the opportunity to experience a round-trip in the same day. Relax as you travel [...]
The Royal Collection has announced that bookings for 2021 are now open. Groups can book to visit a blockbuster exhibition at The Queen's Gallery in London, featuring paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Titian, or to see watercolour scenes from Queen Victoria's and Prince Albert's life at The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh. At Windsor Castle, until [...]
Waddesdon is extending its popular Winter Light programme through January for the first time. Brighten January runs from 7th to 31st (4-10pm, closes 8pm Sundays) to bring a little cheer to a dark time of year. Visitors will be able to enjoy the gardens ablaze with light, stroll under the stars beneath illuminated tree canopies and [...]
LFC Stadium Tours was delighted to open its doors to welcome visitors again. Behind the scenes, it has been working hard to ensure that it provides a safe and enjoyable experience for all staff and visitors to Anfield Stadium. Alongside the additional health and safety measures implemented earlier this year, the stadium tour itself has been [...]
Dick Wood, chairman, Devon Association of Tourist Attractions, remembers Ian Stuart: "Ian was a good friend of mine and a very loyal, supportive member of the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) too, and we worked together frequently attending various tourism trade shows for national and international audiences flying the flag for Devon and the [...]
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Tourism has recently created a new group travel video showcase which aims to share positivity in these testing times for everyone in our industry. It has also created a Travel Trade & Group Travel Hub to offer ideas and inspiration for 2021 and beyond. BCP is advising all group organisers to please contact accommodation, [...]
Windermere Lake Cruises is continuing to warmly welcome group travel and coach parties on all services. It has attractive incentives for all pre-booked groups and coach drivers at the Boatman’s Café in Bowness. For passengers, these include 10 per cent discount vouchers to use in the café and gift shop, along with new menus, table [...]
The world-famous ‘Imagine’ piano that John Lennon used to compose and record one of the great peace anthems of the 20th century is on loan to Liverpool’s Strawberry Field exhibition courtesy of the estate of the late George Michael. The piano has been delivered to the Liverpool institution to mark what would have been Lennon’s [...]
The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, is delving into its rich and complex past, shining a light on the Black mariners that played a crucial role in its history. A new exhibition Black Greenwich Pensioners explores the hidden histories of the black Royal Navy personnel who formed one of Britain’s earliest black communities when they [...]
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 [...]
