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 [...]
Visit County Durham’s ‘Next Stop, Durham’ campaign is capitalising on the county’s location on the tourist trail between London, York and Edinburgh, as well as driving demand from domestic groups. Building on Visit County Durham’s tourism promotion success in 2025, which contributed an estimated £165m in visitor spend, this year’s campaign aims to raise [...]
Coastal Cruises Poole has confirmed that contracted rates for its trade partners will remain unchanged despite rising fuel costs. The company has issued an update to its trade partners in response to ongoing increases in global fuel costs, which continue to impact the tourism and marine sectors. “We recognise that our partners are navigating [...]
Hotel management company Valor has acquired four hotels from Tower Hotel Management, adding 700 rooms to reach 7,000 bedrooms across the UK. The new hotels include the Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport, Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport, Holiday Inn Express Trafford City, and Hampton by Hilton Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The US headquartered global company [...]
Kingfisher Hospitality Group, which manages a variety of hotels across the UK, has announced the appointment of Daniel Leigh as National Sales Manager for leisure, sport & golf. Kingfisher says Daniel brings a wealth of experience, with a track record of building commercial partnerships across the sector. Previously, Daniel represented Marriott and more recently, [...]
Leeds Castle in Kent is again welcoming groups across 2026, presenting over 900 years of fascinating history with its gardens, seasonal experiences, and events to enjoy throughout the year. Current group admission rates have also been frozen until March 2028. Garden Tours are returning this season, including private tours that guide groups through the [...]
Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, one of Britain’s most breathtaking natural landmarks, is presenting its Cave and a Cake offer to coach groups as a short stop-off. For £18.45 per person with pre-booking, group visitors receive entry to the spectacular Gough's Cave, one of Britain's most iconic show caves, plus a hot drink and a [...]
CTA Spring Networking will take place 9-11 May, sponsored by Visit Wales and the Welsh Government, and supported by Southern Wales Tourism. The business development event is set to welcome over 100 coach tourism stakeholders to Cardiff with over 80 CTA members already signed up. The weekend will also host the organisation’s Annual General [...]
The Coach Tourism Association (CTA) has appointed experienced tourism professional Andrew Guthrie as the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer. The well-known industry figurehead started the role on 20 April and will oversee the organisation’s management as the CTA continues to grow. The new role will manage the organisation’s internal governance and infrastructure, as well as [...]
At The British Tourism & Travel Show (BTTS) 2026 on 19 March, 225 exhibiting tourism brands marked a successful new one-day format at the NEC Birmingham. The show organisers noted a strong uptake of pre-booked meetings and well-attended Theatre sessions across the day, confirming the success of the new, one-day show format. Visitor numbers [...]
VisitScotland has prepared a portfolio of trade-ready garden experiences that showcase Scotland’s gardening excellence and heritage, ideally suited to coach groups. The listing of gardens includes the classic, from Backhouse Rossie Estate Walled Garden near Auchtermuchty in Fife, through to the more unusual, such as The Japanese Garden at Cowden (Sha Raku En), Clackmannanshire. [...]
The National Trust has taken over the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, the set of 10 attractions based in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which focus on the area’s role at the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Located in Telford, Shropshire, and based around the Ironbridge Gorge, the museums include Blists Hill Victorian Town, Enginuity, the [...]
B&B Hotels, which has recently joined the Coach Tourism Association, has completed the refurbishment of all seven of its UK hotels, concluding an 18-month investment programme aimed at updating the group’s British portfolio. The refurbishments cover properties in Birmingham, Cambridge, Derby, Heathrow, Inverness, Ipswich and Warrington. The group said the work included upgraded guest [...]
A new entertainment destination is opening at Manchester City Football Club’s Etihad Campus later this year. Medlock Square will include an expansion to the stadium, as well as providing a new museum, store, and covered area. At the heart of Medlock Square is the Etihad Stadium North Stand expansion, a major development that will [...]
New CTA member and coach tour operator Eclipse Breaks has launched a Traitors-inspired three-day break to consumers. The Glasgow operator, which has recently joined the CTA, is presenting the Traitors Murder Mystery based on a three-day trip on two dates commencing Friday 1 May and Friday 10 July. Set at the Park Hotel in [...]
Following the success of the CTA Annual Conference that took place in Derry~Londonderry earlier this year, Visit Derry has joined the CTA, recognising the value of the organisation in welcoming coach tour operators. Derry~Londonderry has a wealth of attractions in the city, covering recent history and back to the medieval era, alongside an array [...]
The Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham Museum, set to open later this year, will celebrate the history and future of Welsh football and will also display collections from Wrexham Museum. Half of the building will celebrate Welsh football, past and present, honouring the stories, triumphs, and memories of football fans and players. Meanwhile, [...]
CTA member Shakespeare Distillery based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, is hosting the Stratford Gin & Rum Festival on Sunday 19 July 2026. Taking place between 12pm and 5pm at the Crowne Plaza riverside, Stratford-upon-Avon, the event is ideal for groups, with sampling of craft gins & rums, live music, as well as learning sessions with [...]
The Bowes Museum near Barnard Castle, County Durham, focussing on art and set within 22 acres of landscaped parkland, has joined the CTA. The museum includes a world-class collection of over 58,000 objects, with highlights including works by renowned masters such as Goya, Canaletto, and Van Dyck. Among its treasures is the Silver Swan, [...]
Hotel management provider Starry Hospitality has joined the CTA, presenting a range of five hotels suited to coach tours. In Colchester, Essex, Starry Hospitality’s portfolio includes the Delta Hotels by Marriott Colchester, which features 131 bedrooms, as well as the Holiday Inn Express Colchester with 101 bedrooms. Also in the south east, Starry Hospitality [...]
Book your place now for CTA Spring Networking, 9-11 May, taking place in Cardiff and sponsored by CTA Partner member, Visit Wales, with support from Southern Wales Tourism. Hosted at the Majestic Hotel Cardiff (formerly Radisson Blu Cardiff) in the heart of the city, the event will include product development fam trips to Cardiff Castle, Hensol [...]
CTA welcomed over 120 visitors to our stand at the British Tourism and Travel Show 2026, which took place on Thursday 19 March at Birmingham’s NEC. The high visitor numbers included many new prospect members looking to join the organisation and learn about the benefits, including several coach tour operators and wholesalers. BTTS 2026 [...]
The CTA Member Handbook 2026 is now available, containing the latest member listing plus a series of useful articles to help you get the most from your membership. The Handbook, which has now been posted to all members, explains how you can benefit from the organisation’s events, plus the ways you can communicate your [...]
Now on at Kensington Palace, The Last Princesses of Punjab exhibition marks the 150th birthday of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the suffragette, activist, and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. The exhibition explores the extraordinary lives of Sophia and the influential women around her, including Queen Victoria. Together, their stories reveal a family shaped by empire and identity. Visitors will discover rare [...]
Plymouth Boat Trips has introduced a new vessel to its fleet of cruise boats and ferries for 2026. The Legend of Plymouth, formerly the Legend of Loch Ness, has been brought to Plymouth from the Scottish Highlands, having previously cruised Loch Ness. The boat comes complete with advanced echo sounding sonar equipment and screens [...]
Dinefwr Blankets, located in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, is presenting guided tours for coach groups where visitors can learn about the heritage of Welsh cloth plus blanket design and weaving. Dinefwr Blankets is known for its modern approach to traditional Welsh blanket design, and its tours offer groups the opportunity to discover Welsh heritage through traditional [...]
Compass Hospitality UK, which manages and operates 29 hotels across Scotland, England, and Wales, has joined the CTA. The brand offers hotels for coach groups seeking all levels of luxury, from budget to boutique, with locations varying from the scenic to the convenient. Across England, Compass Hospitality hotel locations range from cities such as [...]
Alpine Travel has launched the Alice in Llandudno Open Top Bus Tour, an immersive storytelling experience that brings the magic of Lewis Carroll’s tales to life across one of Wales’ most iconic seaside towns. Now open, the experience invites visitors into the world of Alice in Wonderland, a story connected to Llandudno where author [...]
Chester Zoo is leading a nationwide push to change how weather forecasts are displayed on popular weather apps, warning that rain icons could be costing some venues up to £137,000 a day. The zoo has coordinated a joint approach to the Met Office on behalf of more than 80 outdoor attractions, including the Eden [...]
