Bookings are now live for the CTA Spring Networking event which takes place on 19-20 May in Oxford. We are based at the Holiday Inn Oxford and the event includes Fam trips to Bodleian Libraries and Blenheim Palace, including a Blue Badge Guide tour courtesy of Roger Bailey. Blenheim has a host of events this [...]
CTA members are encouraged to attend the CTA Spring Networking event in Oxford on 19-20 May which promises to be a great opportunity for operators to develop business by enhancing their day trip and tour programmes, and for operators to present their latest news and innovations. The event includes CTA’s AGM, followed by a business [...]
CTA exhibited at VisitScotland Connect last week in Aberdeen, Scotland’s flagship travel trade event. The workshop-style travel trade event took place at the city’s P&J Live arena on 17 and 18 April. More than 250 domestic and international tour operators and travel advisors, representing 23 countries and global markets including the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, [...]
CTA member, Jason Edwards, of Jason Edwards Travel, as well as CTA Chair, Robert Shaw, were interviewed by ITV Wales and included on recent news coverage. ITV Wales made the interviews as part of a news story on the importance of coaches to the tourism economy, as well as the advantages of travel by coach. [...]
Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire, is presenting four unforgettable nights of concerts, from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 July, with its Music At The Manor performances. Group bookings are now open to hear hit music from some of Britain's top tribute artists. The lineup includes: Thursday 11 July - Bootleg Beatles supported by Le Freak, Friday 12 [...]
English Heritage advises visitors to Stonehenge this spring and summer that the A360 faces a temporary road closure. The works form part of the A303 Stonehenge (Amesbury to Berwick Down) scheme, with preliminary works scheduled to take place which involve temporarily closing the A360. Please see this link for further information regarding the temporary closure [...]
Shakespeare Distillery's Gin School has been named Experience of the Year in the West Midlands Tourism Awards. The independent artisan spirit producer, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, picked up the gold award at a ceremony on 20 March at Bear Grylls Adventure in Solihull. As a gold winner, Shakespeare Distillery will automatically be entered into the national [...]
Discover Durham is presenting outdoor attractions for groups this spring and summer, from hidden gardens in the heart of the city, to group-friendly outdoor attractions and countryside parks. In Durham City, visitors can stroll along the city’s riverbanks and see Durham Castle and Cathedral, as well as Durham University Botanic Garden. Groups can also visit [...]
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is presenting the exhibition Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians. The display charts the Georgians’ style story with paintings, prints, and drawings by artists including Gainsborough, Zoffany, and Hogarth, as well as luxurious textiles, sparkling jewellery, and a range of accessories from snuff boxes to swords. The exhibition reveals how the [...]
Historic Royal Palaces is presenting a range of updates for group visitors across 2024. The Orangery at Kensington Palace, now re-opened to visitors, was once a party house for Queen Anne. Groups can experience this unique building and its displays, including intricate carvings, while enjoying afternoon tea, or relax outside in the newly created terrace. [...]
Oxford Castle & Prison, which provides guided visits of the city’s iconic building, is also presenting Murder Mystery evenings and is welcoming groups to participate. The Murder Mystery is set around the Castle & Prison historic site, involving the atmospheric Norman crypt, Victorian D-wing cells, and eighteenth-century Debtor’s Tower. Costumed actors engage with the group, [...]
Kynren, the dramatic live performance that takes a trip through Britain’s history, is set to include a rare breed of horse as a new cast member. Knutsford Cosmopolitan, a majestic grey shire horse known as Cosmo to his friends, has been welcomed at 11Arches, the organisation behind Kynren, as he joins the equine team. Cosmo [...]
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is open for 2024 and the attraction is looking forward to welcoming groups to experience a great day out. Alongside its daily services, the railway has a full calendar of events, as well as the launch of an exciting new film trail this summer. Key upcoming events include the Spring, [...]
Visit Essex is keen to welcome coach groups in 2024 and beyond, and has packaged a range of attractions and destinations that celebrate the best of coast, countryside, and heritage cities and towns. Essex offers a 350-mile coastline, and coach groups can discover seaside towns such as Southend-on-Sea, home to the longest pier in the [...]
The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall is welcoming groups this Spring as well as looking ahead to events later in the year. Mindful of coach operator requirements, the impressive garden attraction near Mevagissey is also ready to help plan product for next year’s brochures. This month, the National Collection of Heligan’s Camellias and Rhododendrons [...]
Visit Isle of Man has welcomed Claire McColgan of Liverpool City Council to the organisation’s Non-Executive Board. Claire’s expansive background in destination making will assist in shaping the Visit Isle of Man Visitor Economy Strategy. Claire is Director of Culture and Major Events at Liverpool City Council and is responsible for Culture Liverpool, Marketing Liverpool, [...]
Visit Aberdeenshire is promoting Garioch Heritage Centre to groups, combined with fine group accommodation in Aberdeen. Garioch Heritage Centre showcases an architecturally acclaimed conversion of a former industrial building, originally part of the Inverurie Locomotive Works, which played a key role in the social and economic development of the area. Groups can explore the history [...]
Marriott is offering CTA coach operator members deals at its hotels across the UK. Many hotels within the Marriott brand are participating, so CTA members are advised to contact their prospective hotel directly. A selection of participating hotels and offers include Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County. Through to April 2025, the hotel is [...]
To celebrate its largest exhibition to date, Icons of British Fashion, Blenheim Palace has launched a fashionista-themed afternoon tea, and has enhanced its retail offering with a range of special edition gifts and merchandise. Visitors can start their Icons of British Fashion journey in the newly renovated Orangery at Blenheim Palace and enjoy savouries and [...]
Criterion Hospitality presents six London hotels with offers for groups at locations throughout the city close to the major tourist attractions. The hotels can offer multi-bedded room types, accommodating up to 12 people, and can also provide meeting space as well as group meals, including lunch and dinner. The hotels can also provide theatre ticket [...]
The Silverstone Museum, located trackside at one of the world’s best-known motorsport circuits, is welcoming groups for 2024 and beyond. The site houses a large collection of iconic race cars and motorbikes, and Silverstone Museum is also home to the British Racing Drivers’ Club archive collection. With interactive appeal for visitors of all ages, the [...]
St. Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry, is presenting a special Guildhall Ghost Stories Tour event this autumn. On October 21 and 22, the historic location is inviting groups to embark on a captivating journey to hear tales of paranormal phenomena and captivating folklore within the atmospheric building. Walking in the footsteps of historical figures such as Mary [...]
On Saturday 6 July the spectacular Battle Proms Picnic Concert brings a summer celebration of uplifting music from the New English Concert Orchestra, plus breath-taking aerial and pyrotechnic displays for their nineteenth annual performance at Blenheim Palace. The musical delights start in the afternoon with the harmonies of the Battle Proms Belles warming up the [...]
Newly-joined CTA member CN Live Productions, is promoting The Great Big Christmas Show at Bedworth Civic Hall on 7 December 2024. The show is a professional variety production featuring an amazing mixture of talented performers and acts that will blow you away and get you nicely into the festive spirit. The Great Big Christmas Show [...]
CTA is very sad to report that Janet Scutt of Viewfinder Tours died on Saturday 23 March 2024 after a short illness. Janet's husband Michael says that her passing was very quick and unexpected as she had been diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer only on 1 March and had been having chemotherapy. Michael Scutt [...]
Join CTA at BTTS as we host a networking event on the show’s opening day, Wednesday 20 March, at Birmingham’s NEC. The CTA drinks reception starts at 1500hrs on the opening afternoon of BTTS within the main hall. Complimentary refreshments will be provided to CTA members. CTA is a BTTS Partner and has a stand [...]
Over 40 CTA operator and wholesaler members participated on the CTA Paris Fam Trip, courtesy of CroisiEurope. The group discovered the opportunities of the CroisiEurope fleet, including several vessels, as well as the locations, itineraries, accommodation, and food and drink on offer to groups. CTA members were also guided on a tour of Paris, experiencing [...]
Edwards, based in Llantrisant, South Wales, has launched a coach hire booking portal to increase the ease and speed of travel arrangements for group organisers. The new My Coach Manager portal from Edwards is accessed after a booking has been made. The new portal enables customers to conveniently handle all their coach bookings and requests [...]
Visit Isle of Man has announced that it saw a positive surge in figures achieved in 2023, marking a significant milestone in the resurgence of travel and tourism. In 2023, Visit Isle of Man recorded that the Island welcomed 318,000 visitors who contributed £183.2m revenue in visitor spend, exceeding targets by 18,000 and £21.8m respectively. [...]
The museum dedicated to the life and works of the city’s most famous band have put the ‘acorns for peace’ on display - with a remarkable backstory. Yoko Ono recounted how, on 15 June 1968, along with John Lennon, the couple planted two acorns for peace at Coventry Cathedral - the first of many Peace [...]
Blenheim Palace is marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill. The estate is celebrating his extraordinary life with an exciting line-up of events including weekly Churchill at Blenheim tours, VIP tours of the Palace State Rooms, Churchill exhibition and Private Apartments, as well as a tour to Churchill’s grave. Churchill at Blenheim [...]
A New Kensington Palace exhibition uncovers the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over three hundred years ago. Untold Lives: A Palace at Work, has opened at Kensington Palace, telling the stories of the servants and courtiers who looked after the royal family and their homes. From pages to cooks, from [...]
Shakespeare North Playhouse, located in Prescot, Liverpool, is home to the only 17th-century style, timber-built "Cockpit" theatre outside London. Awarded the Theatre Building of The Year 2023 prize at The Stage Awards, the venue can be configured in two formations: end-on, and in-the-round. Built entirely during the pandemic thanks to public funds and donations, the [...]
Visitors to the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery can celebrate the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision win at Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974 with an exhibition commemorating the event and the iconic pop band. Displayed through photographs, film, memories, and memorabilia, the Abba: One Week in Brighton exhibition, running from 28 March to 4 [...]
The popular TV drama Vera and author Ann Cleeves, who wrote the book series, were awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award at February’s North East England Tourism Awards. The hit crime drama, now in its 13th series, was awarded the title for the positive impact it has had on the region, thanks to filming [...]
Excursions, the UK’s original and longest running one-day group travel show, took place in January and attracted almost 1,000 visitors from the group travel trade. The Wembley Stadium event celebrated Excursions’ 50th anniversary show. The show brought together GTOs, coach operators, tour operators, and itinerary planners with destinations, attractions, venues, cruise companies, ticketing agencies, hotels, [...]
This year the Bodleian Libraries is relaunching its groups offer and is working with attractions and hotels across Oxford to create a memorable experience. The Bodleian Libraries, or ‘the Bod’ as it is affectionately known by the students who study in the space, is the academic heart of Oxford and the central University library, dating [...]
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury reopens from 20 March, and with a host of events for Spring and Summer, the house kicks off with an exciting new exhibition for art lovers. Over 350 years since they were created, five paintings by the renowned Baroque painter Guercino are displayed together for the first time in this new exhibition, [...]
The Three Counties Food and Drink Festival, held at the Three Counties Showground at Malvern, Worcestershire, returns on 27 and 28 July 2024. The festival has announced the initial line-up of talented chefs who will be serving up their repertoire of recipes in the 500-seat cookery theatre, which is accessible to all ticket holders. Rachel [...]
A stunning historical treasure in the West Midlands is giving visitors the chance to marvel at two of Europe's most remarkable tapestries and uncover centuries of captivating history. Situated in the vibrant heart of Coventry's Cathedral Quarter, St Mary's Guildhall is inviting guests to embark on a journey through seven centuries of rich history with [...]
Strawberry Field, the interactive visitor exhibition and place of John Lennon’s childhood, has won the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards. Strawberry Field is a visitor attraction in Liverpool, located at the iconic site immortalised by John Lennon in The Beatles' hit, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Telling the story [...]
CTA is hosting a networking event on the opening day of the British Travel & Tourism Show (BTTS), 20 March, NEC, and is welcoming all members. The CTA drinks reception starts at 1500hrs on the opening afternoon of BTTS within the main hall. Complimentary refreshments will be provided to CTA members. CTA, which is a [...]
Featuring within CTA’s 2024 Conference, County Durham has announced various updates for groups in 2024. At Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, the Remaking Beamish development continues. The opening of a Georgian tavern and pottery is planned, alongside a 1950s cinema, toy shop and electrical store. Meanwhile, at Auckland Castle, which featured on the [...]
The Heights of Abraham, claimed to be Derbyshire’s oldest visitor attraction, has announced that 2024 will be “A year of light and colour” as the destination celebrates 40 years of cable car flights and 50 years since the current owners took over the stewardship of the hilltop estate. The cable cars have now restarted with [...]
Throughout 2024, The Royal Collection Trust is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House at Windsor Castle, the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world. Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House was built between 1921 and 1924 as a gift from the nation to Queen Mary following the First World War. It is [...]
Betws-y-Coed’s The Swallow Falls Inn, owned by The Inn Collection Group, is set to reopen after long-term closures. Located close to the spectacular waterfall of the same name on the Afon Llugwy, The Swallow Falls Inn will undergo a full and extensive refurbishment to bring it back to life. Plans include a new bar and [...]
VisitScotland Connect 2024, VisitScotland’s flagship travel trade event, is taking place on 17-18 April 2024 at P&J Live in Aberdeen. The event will include two days of pre-scheduled, one-to-one workshop appointments, plus an optional fam trip. Ideal for operators and wholesalers, attending VisitScotland Connect can help to plan your Scottish coach tours, or enhance your [...]
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) features 10 centres around the British Isles offering groups a look at wetland birds and wildlife. In 2024, groups can benefit from 15% discount on admission as well as talks and guided tours. Sites also offer accessibility. Each site promotes conservation, as well as opportunities for activities including photography, [...]
New CTA member Premier Holidays is an award-winning tour operator, specialising in group departures around the UK. In particular, the independent operator has many years’ experience organising travel and events to the Channel Islands, and can offer tailor-made itineraries for groups. Premier Holidays provides a wide range of accommodation, up to 5 star hotels. All [...]
Kynren, a performance based on an epic tale of England, will take place every Saturday night from 27 July to 14 September, located just outside Bishop Auckland, County Durham. The historical show is a multi-award winning production featuring a 1,000-strong volunteer cast and crew, performed on a gigantic 7.5-acre stage. The show travels through 2000 [...]
