From Monday 28 September 2026, all passengers travelling by ferry between the UK mainland and the Republic of Ireland will be required to present a valid passport at check-in. This includes Stena Line and Irish Ferries with routes including Dublin-Holyhead, Fishguard-Rosslare, Pembroke-Rosslare. The requirement applies to all passengers, regardless of age or nationality, including [...]
The National Trust’s Kinston Lacy along with Coastal Cruises Poole will the host the main fam trips at CTA Winter Networking on Sunday 22 November. A lavish family home re-imagined as a Venetian Palace, Kingston Lacy in Wimbourne Minster, Dorset hosts paintings by renowned artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel, with the [...]
CTA supplier members can enhance their brand presence to operators and wholesalers with sponsorship at the CTA Annual Workshop 2027. Scheduled to take place 6-9 February in the Greater London area, the event will attract around 200 stakeholders from the coach tourism sector including the UK’s leading coach tour operators. Sponsorship at the event [...]
The CTA is launching an industry-wide research project aimed at helping members gain a closer understanding of the market and what drives bookings. The survey aims to discover the buying intentions, as well as barriers to booking, among thousands of UK coach holiday and day trip customers. The results of the survey will deliver [...]
Abergavenny is set to host the acclaimed touring heritage exhibition, The Longest Yarn: Britain at War, the 80-metre knitting and crochet work that bring Britain’s Second World War story to life. Taking place at St Mary’s Priory Church and opening on 6 May, the work features detailed handcrafted scenes and life-sized textile figures created [...]
Everton has joined the CTA, the latest in a growing list of Premier League football clubs that has become a member of the organisation to present stadium tour packages to coach operators. Tours of Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium will carry visitors from the historic dockland location to the heart of matchday operations. Groups will [...]
Fife has launched a new coach tourism webpage to help operators get the most from the area including useful information on parking and drop-off points. The peninsular, located between Edinburgh and Dundee, features destinations and attractions ideal for coach group tours, ranging from historic cities like Dunfermline, Scotland’s ancient capital, to the picturesque fishing [...]
VisitScotland is presenting a run-down of events taking place in autumn and winter including classic events plus new attractions to generate new product ideas for operators. The line-up of events includes The Scottish International Storytelling Festival, between 21-31 October, taking place across Edinburgh. The festival is one of the largest of its kind in [...]
Organisers of the annual Group Leisure & Travel Show are reminding CTA operator members that they can register to visit the exhibition for free on Thursday 8 October at Arena MK, Milton Keynes. The one-day event allows coach tour operators and group travel organisers to meet a range of exhibitors to find new ideas, [...]
For the first time, three of the University of Oxford's most significant historic buildings have been brought together to create a group experience. Oxford Academia Tour: Ceremony, Scholarship and Tradition, has been developed in partnership between the Bodleian Libraries and Oxford University Event Venues, offering visitors exclusive access to the Examination Schools, the Bodleian [...]
McKeever Hotels, a family-owned hospitality group with seven properties across Northern Ireland and into the Republic of Ireland, has joined the CTA. In County Armagh, the Armagh City Hotel sits at the heart of the historic ecclesiastical city, close to the Palace Stables and Navan Fort. The Dunadry Hotel & Gardens offers a peaceful [...]
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has announced its new Santa Express services this festive season, taking guests on a return route between Pickering and Levisham on an hour-long journey. Pickering Station will be home to a host of festive activities, including live music and a Christmas emporium with seasonal gifts. Once onboard, Santa [...]
Hospitality Line has been appointed as the dedicated group bookings partner for the newly opened Guinness Open Gate Brewery, London. Located within a restored, historic building in the heart of Covent Garden, Guinness Open Gate Brewery, London, marks a new chapter for the iconic brand, bringing brewing back to the neighbourhood for the first [...]
The Kronen Collection, a group of hotels in some of the UK’s most picturesque locations, has joined the CTA to reinforce its offer to coach groups. Hotels in the collection include the Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle, the Borrowdale Gates and the Keswick Country House Hotel in the Lake District, the Crown Hotel in [...]
There’s less than two weeks to go until Early Bird booking for CTA Winter Networking, providing up to £50 off each booking, closes after 31 July. The event is taking place 21-23 November and will be based in and around Bournemouth. With over 70 members already registered, places are selling fast. The Buyer-only pre-event [...]
Exigen Group has advised that it has been instructed to assist with the proposed Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation of Saren Travel Limited. The insolvency practice says the wholesaler has ceased to trade and is unable to fulfil any of its outstanding orders. Exigen reports that Saren Travel entered liquidation on 2 July. The update follows [...]
The CTA is inviting members to apply for sponsorship opportunities at next year’s Annual Workshop, the biggest event in the UK coach tourism calendar. The CTA Annual Workshop will take place 6-9 February in the Greater London area. Sponsorship at the event will present a brand to 200 stakeholders from the coach tourism sector, [...]
SS Great Britain, Bristol’s famous maritime attraction based on Brunel’s blueprint for modern ocean liners, has launched a new museum and has also updated its name to Bristol Dockyards to reflect its wider presentation. Newly opened on Saturday 18 July, Bristol Dockyards has expanded the SS Great Britain Experience to create a new museum. [...]
To promote trips and tours to Scotland, CTA members have access to VisitScotland’s online media library. The VisitScotland digital Asset Library offers a collection of free-to-use images and videos, as well as audio, plus documents and presentations. The library includes searchable geographical locations covering Scotland as well as themes such as landscapes, castles, cities, [...]
Leeds Castle in Kent, combining over 900 years of history with gardens, seasonal experiences and events, has frozen its group admission rates until March 2028 to help coach operators plan future visits. Group prices for adults are £22 for a non-guided visit, or £30.50 for a guided visit. Children aged 3-15 years receive entry [...]
Le Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious cycling race, is returning to Britain in July and August 2027 for both the men’s and women’s events. The men’s race will start on Friday 2 July 2027, instead of a usual Saturday start, with a stage between Edinburgh and Carlisle. Stage two, on Saturday 3 [...]
Mamma Mia! The Party, a dining experience set to a soundtrack of ABBA’s greatest hits, has extended bookings for groups of 16-plus until November 2027. Created by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! The Party transports guests to the island of Skopelos where the hit production is set, for a night of dancing, dining and [...]
The British Tourism & Travel Show (BTTS) has won gold for the Most Engaging & Creative Event at the Conference & Events Awards 2026. The awards ceremony, which took place on 26 June in London, recognised Tourism Tycoon, a show-wide game that gave visitors a memorable way to explore the exhibition. The game involved [...]
CTA member Michels & Taylor hotel management has announced last-minute hotel availability for coach operators from August to October. At Hotel Indigo Exeter, located in Exeter’s historic city centre, guests can enjoy a variety of food and beverage options, including Beckett’s Champagne Rooftop Bar, offering impressive city views. Rates start from £84 bed and [...]
The Queens Hotel & Spa, which will host an overnight stay for Buyer members on Saturday 21 November as part of the Bournemouth Experience at CTA Winter Networking, has joined the CTA. Set in the heart of Bournemouth, the Queens Hotel & Spa has been recently refurbished following a £2million programme after the hotel’s [...]
Hilton London Croydon is offering accommodation from £40 per person per half twin based on two people sharing. Rates apply until the end of the year, and dinner options from £20 per person are also available, including a three-course meal with coffee, while buffet breakfast is also provided. The hotel is an excellent base [...]
New Lanark, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, has joined the Coach Tourism Association as part of its drive to welcome more coach groups. The site is based on an 18th century Mill Village on the River Clyde, south-east of Glasgow. Founded with a focus on philanthropy, education and the welfare of the mill workers, [...]
Hotel management company Kew Green Hotels is providing a drinks promotion exclusively available to CTA members for bookings made before 31 October. To add extra value to group stays, all new qualifying groups will receive a drink on their first night. Guests can choose from a glass of wine, half a pint of beer, [...]
Booking is now open for CTA Winter Networking, taking place 21-23 November, based in and around Bournemouth. The Buyer-only pre-event fam, starting Saturday 21 November, features a choice of options including the New Forest Experience with a countryside stay at the Beaulieu Inn and a visit to the world-renowned National Motor Museum, or the Bournemouth Experience [...]
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, the world's biggest celebration of Irish music, is being staged in Belfast for the first time, taking place 2-9 August. The Festival of Music of Ireland is an eight-day event where musicians, dancers, and performers from across the globe will converge on Belfast for a celebration of traditional music. [...]
World Travel Market (WTM) has a new registration process including a £49 registration fee for non-Buyers set to rise after Wednesday 1 July. To attend this year’s 2026 event, taking place 3-5 November at London’s Excel, Buyers will receive complimentary entry once their application has been approved. Buyer registration is based on a commitment [...]
VisitScotland is presenting a variety of accommodation options to the travel trade with many additions relevant to coach tour operators. Available on the VisitScotland website under the banner Fresh Scottish Stays for Summer 2026, the page includes several newly opened and refurbished hotels suitable for coach groups, amongst a list that also includes accommodation [...]
Visit Wales is presenting a three-day itinerary exploring gardens in North and Mid Wales. The list features many popular National Trust locations, Snowdonia National Parks’ gardens, plus landscapes in Portmeirion, the charming Italianate-style village. The programme begins at Cwm Weeg near Newtown in Powys, featuring a three-acre formal garden set within 24 acres of [...]
Edinburgh Zoo’s immersive Giant Lanterns Trail is returning this winter with a new theme based on a space safari. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) will transform the zoo from November 2026 to February 2027 with over 600 lanterns, shining a light on ecology with an interstellar twist, from celestial planets to galactic [...]
Kynren – The Storied Lands, the new Bishop Auckland theme park with a difference, will officially open on 18 July 2026. Described as the UK’s first live-action show park, Kynren – The Storied Lands has been created by the team behind the acclaimed Kynren live show. The new attraction combines live action, immersive experiences, [...]
Axis & Globe Travel, the wholesaler to groups travelling across the UK & Ireland, has joined the CTA. For over 35 years, Axis has supported domestic coach operators with trip and tour packages, and the company is keen to build its relationships through CTA membership. Supplying accommodation, attractions and visits, and theatres and musicals, [...]
Brooklands Museum, the classic motoring and aviation attraction in Surrey, is staging a Festive Lunch Experience on Friday 11 December 2026, featuring entrance to the museum’s exhibits along with seasonal dining in a unique setting. Ideal for groups and corporate experiences, the experience starts at 10.15am and runs through to 3pm. The £55-per-person package [...]
Manchester City Football Club has announced the opening of a new museum experience designed to immerse visitors in the history and culture of the Club. Set to open later this year at the new Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across ten distinctive spaces [...]
The Royal Yacht Britannia, docked in Leith near Edinburgh and once the vessel of the Royal Family, is offering group visits. The Royal Yacht Britannia has also recently joined the CTA. The vessel was launched in 1953 for the British Royal Family, and for more than four decades, the Royal Yacht Britannia carried Queen [...]
Cornwall’s Eden Project has once again joined the CTA, while the attraction also plans the opening of two further sites in Morecambe and Dundee. Set on the land of a former clay mine, the Eden Project team transformed the crater into a series of gardens, include massive, covered Biomes. The iconic Rainforest Biome is [...]
Torre Abbey in Devon, the ancient scheduled monument and art collection set within 18 acres of garden and parkland, is welcoming coach group visits. Located in Torquay, Torre Abbey is the Torbay area's most historic building, dating back to 1196, and the site is the best-preserved medieval abbey in Devon and Cornwall. During a [...]
The Dundee Heritage Trust has joined the CTA, presenting the attractions Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, as well as the industrial heritage Verdant Works Museum. Discovery Point explores the pioneering Royal Research Ship Discovery and uncovers the stories of her past, from her origins in the shipyards of Dundee including the Antarctic expedition under [...]
CTA Spring Networking, the Coach Tourism Association’s (CTA) annual Spring business development meeting, gathered 106 industry stakeholders in Cardiff with the event sponsored by Visit Wales and the Welsh Government, supported by Southern Wales Tourism. Taking place between taking place 9-11 May and staged at the Majestic Hotel Cardiff, coach tour operators, wholesalers, and [...]
Geoff Holt, Managing Director of IOW Tours, has been appointed to CTA’s board of directors in an announcement made at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting in Cardiff on Monday 11 May. Geoff is a long-standing member of the CTA in his role leading the Isle of Wight-based coach tour operation. CTA Chair, Robert Shaw, [...]
The CTA has confirmed Bournemouth as the host of CTA Winter Networking, scheduled to take place 22-23 November, also with pre-night fam trip accommodation for buyers on 21 November. Full details of the host hotel and fam trips, plus booking link, will be announced to members in the coming weeks by e-mail and via [...]
The CTA is saddened to hear the passing of Andrew Simpson, the founder of wholesaler Classic Britain and long-time CTA member. Classic Britain says: “Andrew was more than the person who started our company — he was the driving force behind its vision, values, and culture. Over nearly 30 years, he built a business [...]
VisitScotland Connect 2026, Scotland’s premier travel trade event, which took place on 14-15 April at Glasgow SEC, attracted 330 global buyers spanning 20 countries. The event brought Scottish tourism businesses together with international and domestic buyers for two full days of in-person meeting. Representing 289 Scottish businesses including 68 attending for the first time, the event [...]
Wrexham’s leading attractions have combined in a new joint venture to showcase what the county borough can offer, in a campaign supported by Visit Wales. A specially-design trail, suitable for coach groups as well as independent visitors, features eight diverse attractions around Wrexham that could comprise a coach trip and tour programme in the [...]
DFDS has acquired the Stena Vinga ferry from Stena Line to operate between Jersey and UK and France, carrying both freight and passengers. The vessel is currently on charter and has been part of DFDS’s Jersey fleet since the launch of the service in March 2025. The 125-meter-long ferry can carry up to 400 [...]
Tourism Ireland has compiled a guide of 10 attractions, covering landscapes, cities, history, and heritage, that are all ready for coach groups. Long Meadow Cider The McKeever family orchard farm presents the history of apple growing in County Armagh, showing how they craft apple juices, ciders, and vinegar on-site. Combined with tastings of their [...]
