Warner Bros. Studio Tour London has announced it is switching to a new zero emission electric bus service. The buses replace an existing route that operates between the Studio Tour in Leavesden and Watford Junction train station. The move to e-buses means more than 264 tonnes of CO2 a year will be saved from entering [...]
The Royal Collection has confirmed that the Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh, will reopen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in July and August this year. Both the Palace and Gallery will then return to a five-day opening (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from September onwards. Click the link below for tickets. More information
Welsh tourism organisations and local authorities provided a very warm welcome to Coach Tourism Association delegates for their Spring Networking event which is likely to lead to a strong boost for tours and excursions to the area. The CTA event was sponsored by Visit Wales with strong support from Southern Wales Tourism who organised a [...]
There may be contingency road closures in London over the Platinum Jubilee: Thursday 2 June 2022 - Trooping the Colour Due to the potential high number of attendees at the event, when the event finishes, it may be possible that the police will also close Parliament Square to assist with the egress of the crowds. [...]
CTA delegates will enjoy a very warm welcome in Southern Wales for the 2022 Spring Networking event which is based at the brand new Mercure Newport hotel and generously sponsored by Visit Wales, supported by Tourism South Wales and Newport County Council. The event kicks off with a reception at the Riverfront Theatre from midday [...]
Operator and wholesaler members enjoyed the first CTA Fam trip held since the pandemic which went to the Isle of Wight. The fam trip was inspired by the success of an earlier Johnsons Coaches’ ‘VIP Experience tour’ which Barry Cobb put together with Hovertravel, in 2019 following a successful auction bid at the CTA conference [...]
Visit Scotland has some live familiarisation events coming up with two dates in early May and three in September. There are a couple of spaces on the May fam trips available at the moment which are based in the North of Scotland. There is information here and below on the May showcases, including dates and [...]
The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich is relaunching the Nelson Room after a major conservation project to renovate and reinterpret this fascinating room off the Painted Hall which boasts a rich history as part of Nelson and the Old Royal Naval College’s story. The Nelson Room restoration follows the award-winning conservation of the Baroque Painted [...]
Edinburgh attraction Forth Boat Tours has introduced a new Three Bridges Cruise & Lunch ticket that is exclusive to the travel trade. Group visitors can relax onboard a 90-minute sightseeing cruise of this UNESCO World Heritage site and listen to the guided commentary on board while they enjoy a four-course buffet to include a choice [...]
VisitAberdeenshire’s latest travel trade product update highlights Walking Tours in Aberdeen which can allow your clients to discover a different side to Aberdeen on a range of street art walking tours.Turs are led by local, expert guides who will introduce your clients to some of the city's most beautiful pieces of art. Daily scheduled tours [...]
CTA member Coldharbour Mill in Uffculme is continuing its Culm Valley Rural Skills Training Programme which creates opportunities for people in the community to gain new skills and will, in turn help to regenerate part of the Coldharbour Mill Estate. The scheme encourages those who are unemployed or inactive and are looking to acquire new [...]
Award-winning attraction, World of James Herriot in Thirsk celebrated its 10th anniversary as a private business in April. Ian Ashton, managing director of the attraction said: “It’s been a fantastic ten years developing the World of James Herriot into a world-class visitor attraction that welcomes people from all over the world. And it is all [...]
New CTA member Big Heritage is offering a discounted ticket for members for its Chester city centre attractions. The new Deva Roman Discovery Centre is an interactive, fully refurbished attraction behind The Rows on Bridge St which opens on 23 July this year. Big Heritage’s other attraction in the city is Sick to Death - a [...]
Everything Changed: new photographic exhibition to commemorate the Falklands conflict, 40 years on. A new exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the outbreak of the Falklands War has opened at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Falklands 40: Everything Changed is a new exhibition by photographer and journalist Graham Bound which showcases a unique photographic journey [...]
Visitors to the Heights of Abraham this spring are invited to hold a conversation with the past, as live actors, depicting characters from the estate’s 233-year history have been added to the summit team until Jubilee weekend (4 June). Former Victorian owner of the Heights Benjamin Bryan explains: “In my day, visitors had to climb [...]
A newly-completed £5million conservation project has seen the installation of a protective free-standing timber structure at Clifford’s Tower in York, one of English Heritage’s iconic landmarks which now provides stunning views across the York skyline from a new ring-shaped roof deck that partially covers the 800-year-old ruin. English Heritage has added dramatic aerial walkways and [...]
The Royal Collection Trust’s latest group update includes details of the reopening of The Royal Mews which is home to the royal collection of historic coaches, carriages and The Queen's horses. The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace is open from 19 May - 2 October. One of the finest working stables in existence, it offers a [...]
A new member of CTA, Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, brings history to life with a blockbuster open-air performance at 11 Arches Park, County Durham. Two thousand years of history, myth and legend rush by in 90 minutes as we see young Arthur on his epic quest. Rebellions, wars, magic, majesty, celebration, and [...]
Group Line is exclusively offering tickets for Pretty Woman: The Musical through to 2 April 2023. Pretty Woman: The Musical in the West End gives visitors the chance to experience one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time live on stage at its glamorous new home - the Savoy Theatre. Get ready to fall [...]
Castle Howard promises another exciting season with an annual events programme that includes the likes of Duran Duran, The Chemical Brothers, and an iconic Proms weekend in August. The Estate will also host a range of added-value events for visitors, including the annual Festival of Dogs in May, Jubilee celebrations and new exhibitions. More than [...]
Group bookings are now open for 2022 at Waddesdon which offer a chance to find a little bit of France in the Chilterns with a beautiful French-style châteaux and tranquil landscaped gardens. Visitors can explore beautiful floral displays, see rare birds in the aviary and step inside the Manor to discover the Rothschild's extensive art [...]
CTA’s Spring Networking event will take place in Southern Wales on 22-23 May. We will be based at the brand new Mercure Newport Hotel and the event includes a half-day Fam trip on Sunday with our AGM and a showcase and seminar on Monday morning. The half-day familiarisation visit around Southern Wales will be a [...]
An Isle of Wight Experience Fam trip for CTA operators and wholesalers will take place on Fri 25 to Sun 27 March. It includes visits to a range of attractions that could form the basis of some great coach tours of the island. Please book now via this link. The Fam is hosted by Hovertravel, [...]
We have so many wonderful photos from the CTA Conference & Workshop held in Liverpool on 6-8 Feb. Many thanks to Stuart Render for photography. Here is a video slideshow of the photos And here is a gallery of the images: [...]
A record attendance at this year’s CTA Workshop & Conference in Liverpool signalled a strong desire by CTA members to get back to business at our first in-person event for two years. The final tally of delegates for the event, which was generously sponsored by CTA Partner member Tourism Ireland, reached 200 with new registrations [...]
2022 is set to be an exciting year and a great time to visit Wales. There are lots of new and exciting products for visitors to experience. As well as The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park will also be celebrating its 70th anniversary. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the [...]
Coach trips to France with DFDS have just got even better. Not only are there great benefits for drivers and discounts for groups, now there is the added bonus of Duty Free shopping onboard and at the ports. Shop Duty Free onboard DFDS’s ferries to France and save up to 50 per cent compared to [...]
Silverstone is inviting coach operators to attend for a free visit to see the museum. New caterers are now in place and an enhanced catering offering is being developed for groups. Silverstone is also able to offer coach operators the chance to enhance their visit with a guided perimeter road tour of the Silverstone Circuit [...]
There’s more to see and do than ever before at the award-winning Heights of Abraham, Derbyshire’s oldest tourist attraction, established in 1787. Begin your day at the Heights by taking flight in one of the famous cable cars. Travel across the picturesque Derwent Valley in style and enjoy the views of Matlock Bath below. It's not [...]
Signalling its confidence in the British tourism and cruise market, Ambassador Cruises has purchased its second ship, Ambition, which will enter service next year. Ambition, like its sister ship Ambience, will offer no-fly cruises predominantly targeting the 50-plus market with a premium-value, authentic cruise experience. In addition to sailing from London Tilbury, a summer 2023 [...]
Partner member CalMac has a new CTA contact, Stephen Monaghan, whom many members may have met up with at the Liverpool Conference. Stephen started with CalMac in September 2016 as a customer services team manager and had a hands-on approach overseeing the daily activities of a team to ensure the delivery of exemplary customer service to [...]
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust has a new attraction open until 20 November 2022 - Diving Deep: HMS Invincible 1744, an exciting maritime archaeological exhibition which takes visitors as close to the seabed as possible while staying in dry dock. Visitors to the new exhibition at The Historic Dockyard Chatham will be able to tread the seabed [...]
Shakespeare Distillery has been shortlisted twice in the West Midlands Tourism Awards. The independent artisan spirit producer based in Stratford-upon-Avon has been shortlisted in the Experience of the Year and Small Visitor Attraction of the Year and is one of only a small handful of businesses to be shortlisted in the Stratford-upon-Avon region. The awards [...]
ALTON TOWERS RESORT 18 March 2022 - 6 November 2022 Alton Towers Resort has been a world-renowned haven of fun and adventure for almost 200 years!. Despite what you may think, the castle-like structure in the heart of the theme park isn’t fake and isn’t a castle! It’s 100 per cent authentic and was once [...]
Following the postponed 2020 event due to the pandemic, Coach Tours UK magazine has confirmed a new date for an action-packed day in Buxton, Derbyshire. Hosted at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, Derbyshire on Monday 5 September, Coach Tours UK Magazine is inviting coach operators and GTOs to attend this free Fam, aimed at providing [...]
UNESCO World Heritage Site Canterbury Cathedral has new tours and group experiences lined up for 2022, along with new catering options and self-guided visits. To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year, Canterbury Cathedral is launching a special guided tour which is bookable for groups, telling stories of royals through the ages. On this private [...]
The latest VisitAberdeenshire travel trade update includes news on Aberdeen Art Gallery and Crathes Castle. Situated in the heart of the city, Aberdeen Art Gallery re-opened its doors to visitors in November 2019 following a landmark £34.6million redevelopment, winning the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020. Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one [...]
Coronation Street The Tour returns this spring and can take your groups on a trip down the nation’s most famed street to discover the hidden world which lies behind the camera lens. Explore the sensational external sets at MediaCityUK, Manchester on a guided tour which takes in Coronation Street, Rosamund Street and Victoria Street. This [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 24/01/22 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 24 Jan 2022 26 Jan 2022 26 January 2022 ... Tourism Alliance update: £10m Marketing Campaign With the forthcoming removal of most restrictions on International Travel, The Government and VisitBritain has announced [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 17/01/22 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 19 Jan 2022 21 Jan 2022 21 January 2022 ... Tourism Alliance update: Wales Moves to Level 0 The Welsh Government has announced that it will complete the move to Alert Level [...]
It is with sadness that we have to announce the passing of Paul Acklam of Acklams Coaches, after a short illness. He leaves behind his wife Jo, children Alan, Brian & Fay and grandchildren. Paul was always very generous with his time in assisting with the work of CTA, and took an active part in [...]
Great business networking, fabulous fam trips and the chance to all meet up again - plans finalised for CTA Workshop & Conference 2022 in Liverpool 6-8 February Book your place now! The CTA team has been preparing the ground for the Workshop & Conference 2022 which takes place in Liverpool on 6-8 Feb. [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 10/01/22 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 10 Jan 2022 12 Jan 2022 14 Jan 2022 14 January 2022 ... Tourism Alliance update: Reduction In Self-Isolation Period The Government has announced that, from Monday, the isolation period for [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 04/01/22 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 6 Jan 2022 6 January 2022 ... Tourism Alliance update: Removal of Pre-Departure Testing The Prime Minister has announced that from 4am on Friday the requirement for pre-departure testing for people [...]
A message for members from CTA chair Robert Shaw: Dear Member I imagine that like me, you are now having to adjust to yet another twist and turn on the long road out of this pandemic with the introduction of the latest Omicron measures. The past couple of years have been immensely challenging for all [...]
Since the creation of the moat in the 13th century, the space encircling the iconic Tower of London has had various roles, from an invasion deterrent to an allotment during the Second World War. In recent years, the moat has been the setting for two major commemorations for the Centenary of the First World War: [...]
Herriot Country and World of James Herriot reports that it is enjoying a surge in demand from visitors from all over the UK and there is pent-up demand overseas as The All Creatures Great and Small Channel 5 TV series is rolled out around the world after its success in the UK. The Yorkshire Vet [...]
Visit Flanders is highlighting a number of events and activities planned for 2022 in its latest update. While 2021 proved to be difficult hosting fam trips and educationals in Flanders, it is planning to host several niche visits to showcase new product in 2022. If you are interested in the themes shown below, please get [...]
Hever Castle has a number of special events lined up for next year including a new exhibition about Anne Boleyn. This is the first of a series of exhibitions detailing the life and times of Anne Boleyn and launches on 4 March 2022, 500 years to the day she made her debut at court in [...]
Eddie Brown, the founder of what became one of the UK’s most respected coach operators, has passed away aged 96. An interest in cars and all things mechanical prompted Eddie to pursue a post-war career in coaches. He bought his first coach, a 20-seat Commer, in 1949 for £200, a move that delayed his marriage [...]
