Two exciting new UK challenges

CHARITY challenge operator Global Adventure Challenges has launched two exciting new UK challenges, and is encouraging anyone looking to conquer an iconic UK challenge in 2019 to join them!

The Snowdon at Night and Yorkshire Three Peaks treks will see people of a range of ages and abilities come together to conquer some of the UK’s highest peaks. Whether your goal for the New Year is to build your fitness, raise funds for a cause that’s close to your heart, meet new people or just to step outside your comfort zone, taking part in a challenge is a fantastic way to achieve it!

The Snowdon at Night trek is a challenge with a twist, taking adventurers to the summit of Mount Snowdon by starlight, just in time to witness the sunrise across #Snowdonia National Park. The #Yorkshire Three Peaks trek is a classic UK challenge, taking trekkers to the summit of the Yorkshire Dales’ three highest peaks.

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Alton Towers comes out tops

USING search volume data from Google, travel website, The Tourist Trail has published a list of the top 20 most searched for UK attractions in 2018, and the results may surprise you.

Whilst over half of the top 20 attractions were based in London, the top spot went to an attraction much further outside the capital. In fact, only two out of the top five went to London attractions, with the number one spot going to Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire.

Since opening in 1980, Alton Towers has evolved into a large resort with a range of attractions, including a theme park, a waterpark, several hotels, and even a spa.

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Picture Credit: david.nikonvscanon Alton Towers: Rita Queen of Speed via photopin

Chinese New Year to boost UK visitor figures

FORWARD flight booking data showed that bookings from China to the UK were up 24% from Wednesday 30 January to Tuesday 12 February, compared to the period when Chinese New Year fell last year. Longer term forward booking data shows that bookings from China to the UK were up 31% from January to June this year compared to the same period in 2018.

Chinese New Year is a prime time to travel for the Chinese and the UK is gearing up to host some of the largest celebrations outside of Asia. Events include three days of celebrations in Liverpool, parades in Manchester, festivals and performances in Birmingham and Leeds to a street parade from Charing Cross to Chinatown in London and the first ever Chinese New Year festival in Edinburgh.

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Business or pleasure afloat on the Thames

CITY Cruises has acquired its first dedicated events boat, named the Erasmus. The 300-capacity boat is City Cruises only private-hire corporate and leisure event venue in #London.

The 38-metre vessel has several versatile indoor and outdoor spaces including, three alfresco decks, a formal 130-seater dining space with booth and table seating, plus a large inside mid-deck room which increases the inside vessel capacity to 300 guests.

The flexibility and technology capabilities of the boat allows event organisers to host corporate product launches, award ceremonies, company gatherings and personal celebrations from weddings to birthday parties.

Erasmus’ galley and kitchen team will cater to a wide variety of dining styles, from casual fare to canapés, fine dining and upper deck BBQs during the summer months.



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Eurostar and Virgin Trains partnership

VisitBritain has welcomed a new Eurostar and Virgin Trains partnership to offer a united travel service for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market, to drive growth in international business events to the UK.

The partnership, which was launched at IBTM World in Barcelona, gives international event planners the freedom to book multi-stop journeys from mainland Europe to British destinations on the Eurostar and Virgin Trains networks through a ‘one-stop-shop’ booking experience.

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On the rails . . .

AUSTRALIAN owned International Rail has just launched its new live booking system for rail systems in UK and Europe, allowing agents to book trains instantly for their clients. Available for trains in the UK, Europe, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as popular intercountry services such as Eurostar and overnight trains; the website will connect directly to the European reservations systems, managing director Jonathan Hume said.
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More options for British Airways passengers travelling to and from Moscow

BRITISH Airways has launched a flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO). Now, British Airways flights are even more convenient for passengers who live in Russia wish to get to the center of Moscow as quickly as possible on arrival.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is located 29 km northwest of central Moscow. British Airways' timetable gives fliers the option of taking an early morning, mid-morning or overnight flight from Terminal 5 to the Russian capital. The new Sheremetyevo flight will be operated by an Airbus 321.

British Airways has major plans. The company is already investing £4.5 billion to improve service and flight quality for customers. This includes the installation of the latest generation in-flight Wi-Fi as well as power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline is also investing £600 million specifically in Club World (long-haul business class), including outstanding catering at an altitude of 11,500 meters, and providing the best conditions for sleeping onboard the airline's planes.
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GFEST 2018

THE annual November LGBTQI+ entertainment and cross-art event GFEST – Gaywise FESTival will be launched on Monday the 12 November at Alexandra Palace, Palm Court. GFEST 2018 events will be listed on the website: https://gaywisefestival.org.uk

This year’s festival theme is #SociallyEQUAL and the organisers are proud to present a free entry entertainment evening full of live acts presenting music, dance, acapella, performance poetry at the launch.


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London tops world university rankings

THE Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings revealed that four universities in #London are listed in the top 40 – more than any other city in the world.

The UK capital also has five in the top 200, cementing London’s reputation as one of the best cities in the world for higher education.

The five London universities in the top 200 are:
• Imperial College London (9)
• University College London (14)
• London School of Economics and     

   Political Science (26)
• King’s College London (38)
• Queen Mary University of London (130)

Almost 30 per cent of London’s 378,840 students come from overseas, contributing £3 billion each year to the UK economy.

Laura Citron, CEO London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional agency said: “We are delighted that London universities have once again topped the rankings, which confirms London’s outstanding global reputation as a fantastic choice for international students.

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Travel Franchise leads the way

THE Travel Franchise is currently leading the way in the travel industry as one of the most successful franchise businesses in the UK. One thing that makes them stand out from the crowd is their unique Money Back Challenge incentive, which this month has seen two winners in the space of a week.

This means that two franchisees will be repaid their franchise fee in full, on top of their own earnings to date. The Travel Franchise has sold over 600 franchises since it was founded, and with its rapid growth they are seeing more and more people hitting their targets and winning the Money Back Challenge within the first year of purchasing their franchise.

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Best 2018 UK hot tub holiday destinations

THE staycation has grown in popularity over preceding years and with 66% of us planning a break the UK in 2018 (according to ABTA research) it has led to a mini boom for the UK tourist industry.  At Aqua Warehouse we believe enjoying a holiday with friends, family or a romantic break can only be made better with a hot tub. So, we’ve put together our top five favourite UK hot tub holidays, for whatever style of break you’re looking for.

The forest makes for a beautiful escape for the family. Perfect for reconnecting with nature, and spending quality time together as a family. Create unforgettable memories on your forest adventure with Forest Holidays. With 10 locations from Scotland to Cornwall to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice!

If glamping is more your style, try the Sunridge EcoPod in Devon - This takes glamping to a new level! Underfloor heating, luxury German kitchen, remote control colour changing lighting, 3D home cinema snug, games consoles, 10 minutes from a beach and seconds away from your own private hot tub - bliss!

Brook Lodge is one of five detached luxury lodges which are located in idyllic countryside on the Wakes Hall Estate in the breath-taking Colne Valley on the Essex/Suffolk border. Each lodge boasts a verandah and the ultimate indulgence – a soothing Vita Spa 300 series Voeux hot tub, surrounded by 500 acres of land and walks to the village of Wakes Colne.

Knoydart Hide offers stunning luxury Scottish self-catering accommodation for two with hot tub and sauna in a beautiful and secluded woodland setting overlooking Loch Nevis. Total privacy, total luxury, 180 degree breakfast-in-bed forest views from your super-sized antique canopy bed, infra red sauna, outdoor floodlit hot tub, monsoon shower, free wifi throughout and freestanding bath, a truly unique experience.

With cottages and lodges sleeping from 2-9 guests Ta Mill in Cornwall has the facilities to cater for romantic getaways, family holidays, and weddings. The flexibility of self-catering allows you to enjoy the local attractions, but if you really don’t fancy cooking you can ‘rent a chef’ and enjoy a night in with all the luxuries of a night out!


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Food on the go for Brits

A study conducted by Le Boat into the eating habits of holidaying Europeans has revealed that Brits lag behind their French and German counterparts when it comes to experimenting with foreign cuisine.

The survey of 1,000 adults from each of France, Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) found less than half of UK travellers (47%) cited food and drink as very being a very important element of their trip compared to nearly two-thirds (62%) of Germans and half of French (50%).

When it comes to the first dish of the day, it seems half of Brits prefer to stick to a savoury start to the day while the French have the sweetest tooth of all at the breakfast table. Nearly four-fifths (79%) of French travellers ensure their morning meal includes some sweet elements, such as pastries, yoghurt or fruit, whereas only two thirds of Germans (64%) and 50% of Britons would do the same.

According to the poll, the British tendency to grab and go at work may be a hard habit to break on holiday. When asked how long they would be likely to spend enjoying lunch, those from the UK are three times as likely to spend less than 15 minutes having lunch while away and four times as likely not to eat anything at all compared to their French and German peers.


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Travel and Tourism growth for the UK

TRAVEL & Tourism grew by over four times the rate of the wider UK economy in 2017, according to a new report recently launched by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). 

WTTC's latest annual research, in conjunction with Oxford Economics, shows the United Kingdom’s Travel & Tourism sector contribution to GDP grew by 6.2% in 2017, higher than the global average (4.6%) and more than four times faster than the UK’s economy as a whole (which grew by 1.5%). 

This growth translated into £214 billion contribution to GDP, 4 million jobs, and £29 billion in exports. This shows the role of Travel & Tourism in driving economic growth and creating jobs in Britain, and emphasises the vital importance of safeguarding the interests of the sector post-Brexit.

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Top Tower

THE Tower of London has been named as the best-rated landmark in the UK in the Travellers’ Choice TM awards for Landmarks, announced by the travel planning and booking site, TripAdvisor. 

The UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the Crown Jewels, beat out last year’s winner, Big Ben, to claim the top spot. The historic London landmark has also been named the ninth best-rated landmark in Europe and jumped to 15th in the world – despite not making the world’s top 25 list, last year.

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Picture Credit: matt_lowe1 Poppies via photopin

Gatwick to be first airport in the world to trial autonomous vehicles

GATWICK'S 300 airside vehicles are stationary 90% of the time – as staff attend to aircraft and passengers – however a trial of electric-powered autonomous vehicles will soon see workers shuttled between popular locations on the airfield when it starts later this summer, the airport has announced.

The trial is thought to be the first of its kind for any airport in the world and - if successful and scaled up – could lead to airfield transport needs being met from a much smaller pool of autonomous vehicles, reducing the need for such large vehicle fleets, reducing emissions and saving on costs.

If the technology is proven in an airfield environment and following further trials, this project may be the precursor to a wide range of other autonomous vehicles being used on airport, including aircraft push back tugs, passenger load bridges, baggage tugs and transportation buses.

No passengers or aircraft will be involved in this trial, which will be limited to airside roads between the airport’s North and South terminals.

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G'day mate

TOURISM Australia has launched a new campaign in the UK introducing some of the 24 million friendly Australian locals who are all potential mates just waiting to share their inside knowledge with British visitors.

The campaign features engaging videos and user-generated content on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as well as Australia.com alongside a media partnership with The Telegraph.

Some of the #24MillionMates introduced so far include: Ben from South Australia; Brian from Western Australia; Janine from Victoria; Penny from New South Wales; Marcus from the Northern Territory; and Madison from Queensland.

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Say I do in London

AS the UK gears up for the royal nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018, London’s official visitor guide, visitlondon.com celebrates the very best of the capital’s reigning wedding venues.

Say ‘I do’ at the Zoo! ZSL London Zoo hosts around 40 weddings a year between its two venues, The Mappin Pavilion and Prince Albert Suite – both offering exciting views of the animal residents. Make your day even more special by getting up close and personal with the animals or host a drinks reception in Penguin Beach (or another animal house). You can even stay overnight at a one of the Gir Lion Lodges, where guests are encouraged to sleep with the windows open to soak up the sounds and experience ZSL like no other. ZSL is still available to book on the 19th May!

For those culture vultures, the soon-to-be newlyweds can immerse themselves and their guests in the charming setting of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, against a background of famous works by Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Canaletto to name a few.

Enjoy your day in the beautiful surroundings of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a wedding at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture. Journey to the top of the 262ft viewing platform to say your vows against the stunning panorama of London’s skyline. For a more unusual start to married life, adrenaline-seeking couples can also hire The Slide, the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide.

For something a bit more historic, the happy couple need look no further than Middle Temple - one of the four ancient Inns of Court. The Elizabethan Hall boasts a soaring, double hammer beam roof, stained glass windows, and comes complete with its own Minstrel Gallery. The Hall was famously the setting for the first performance of Twelfth Night, with Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare himself in attendance.

Give your wedding a touch of glitz at the May Fair Theatre at the May Fair hotel, the official hotel to the British Film Institute and London Fashion Week. As well as weddings, the May Fair’s luxury screening room is home to film premieres, screenings and theatrical performances.

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Easter delights in London

EASTER egg hunts and special Easter events for kids and grownups, to the best chocolate shops and Easter opening hours in #London, plan a fun-filled #Easter break in the capital.

• Watch a spectacular free performance of The Passion of Jesus, featuring 100 performers, in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday.

• Join an Easter weekend service at one of London’s churches or cathedrals, including Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Southwark Cathedral. March 30 -Apr 1

• Visit London’s top chocolate shops for beautiful chocolate eggs and Easter treats.

• Look out for chocolate-themed afternoon teas in London at Easter, including May Fair Kitchen’s Charbonnel et Walker afternoon tea and a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych.

• Hunt down Lindt chocolate bunnies and learn some chocolate-themed history about the palace’s past at Hampton Court Palace.  Mar 26 - Apr 15

• Follow the Peter Rabbit trail among spring daffodils and crocuses at Kew Gardens, stopping off for lots of fun activities along the way. Mar 30 - Apr 15

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Wood you?

ALTON Towers Resort has released first-look images of their latest thrill attraction Wicker Man, the first wooden rollercoaster to be built in the UK for 21 years, with the unique thrill of fire. 

The dramatic images reveal a spectacular six-story (57.7ft) structure, featuring an impressive human face on one side and ram’s head on the other, which bursts into flames as the train races through its chest.
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Picture credit: Alton Towers

Bournemouth rated best beach in UK

BOURNEMOUTH Beach in Dorset is named the best-rated beach in the UK in the Travellers’ Choice awards for Beaches, announced today by TripAdvisor, the site that helps you find the latest reviews and lowest prices.

Not just a favourite in the UK, #Bournemouth #beach also celebrates the title of fifth best-rated in Europe and 14th in the world, ranking above beaches in locations world famous for their miles of golden sands and crystal clear waters, including the Seychelles, Australia, Turkey and Sicily. 

Bournemouth’s seven mile stretch of sandy beach has something to offer everyone with its traditional seaside attractions, famous beach huts for hire, water sports and stunning views of the Isle of Wight and the Purbecks. The bay also boasts its own micro-climate, giving it some of the warmest sea temperatures in the UK.

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