Nottingham Industrial Museum and Wollaton Hall.....

Nottingham's Wollaton Hall is a spectacular Elizabethan mansion, which starred as 'Wayne Manor' in the Dark Knight Rises Batman film released in July 2012. Set within a 500-acre deer park, Wollaton Hall offers free coach parking and is ideally located for coach tours coming to Nottingham.

While here, be sure to visit the Nottingham Industrial Museum.Located in the 17th century stable block of Wollaton hall, Nottingham Industrial Museum celebrates the rich industrial heritage of Nottingham and the surrounding areas. The museum is volunteer run and is open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday. It can be opened for group tours on other days if pre-arranged.Take a walk around the galleries and discover the people, companies and industries that made Nottingham famous around the world. The museum has displays relating to five areas of Nottingham industry, Textiles, Transport, Communication, Mining and Steam, each investigating Nottingham's rich industrial heritage. The museum also houses a working Basford Beam engine and an original Thomas Humber's Bicycle! http://www.nottinghamindustrialmuseum.co.uk/

Beaulieu is best.......

Beaulieu, recently awarded Gold by VisitEngland in the 2013 Awards for Excellence, will guarantee a great day out for your group visitors. Between 20th July and 1st September join the Victorian house party in Palace House with music in the Lower Drawing Room, family games outside on the lawns and daily playlets to enjoy.

See Veteran and Vintage cars motoring around the grounds, and watch the Victorian cyclist on his Penny Farthing. In picturesque Beaulieu Abbey Cloisters, learn about the history of falconry and watch special daily flying demonstrations to see some of these amazing birds in flight. Join the Victorian gardener for a tour of the Kitchen Garden and see the National Motor Museum’s exciting exhibition, Bond in Motion with 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. View the museum’s collection of over 250 vehicles from Land Speed Record Breakers to F1 racers. Guided and themed tours can be tailored to your particular requirements.
☎01590 614645. www.beaulieu.co.uk/groups

Great new exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum......

The team at the excellent Coventry Transport Museum, located in the centre of historic Coventry, are preparing for a major new temporary exhibition for 2013, which will throw the spotlight on the British motor industry’s huge contribution to the wartime production, during World War II. The exhibition, entitled War Effort, will run at the Museum from 12 July 2013 until 5 January 2014, and will tell the incredible story of how in the 1940s, the UK’s motor companies supported the military, by building so-called ‘shadow factories’, and turning over production to building thousands of military vehicles, staff cars, munitions and other military equipment. War Effort will take visitors on a very personal journey through the lives of some of the people who worked in these factories, and will shed particular light on the fascinating stories of the women who were drafted to work in the factories, many for the first time in their lives.

War Effort is part of an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions mounted throughout the year at Coventry Transport Museum, with the aim of making sure that there is always something new to see at this fascinating treasure-trove of motoring, social history and nostalgia. Coventry Transport Museum is so much more than a display of cars, motorbikes and cycles – the Museum is laid out as a journey through time, taking visitors on a moving and inspiring journey through the story of Coventry’s past, and highlighting the stories of the people whose innovations revolutionised the world in which we live.
Admission to the Museum and to the War Effort exhibition is free of charge, and group visits are most welcome. Pre-booked coach groups will enjoy a dedicated in-coach meet and greet, discount vouchers to use in the Museum’s beautiful gift and nostalgia shop, complimentary coach parking (subject to availability) and a lunch voucher for drivers.
Find out more TEL: 024 7623 4270, www.transport-museum.com enquiries@transport-museum.co.uk.

Christchurch Welcomes Coaches…

The perfect destination for a great day out, Christchurch has the magnificent 11th century Priory Church, Highcliffe Castle, Red House Museum and Place Mill. There is plenty for your group to enjoy including river cruises, lovely gardens, riverside walks, delightful tearooms, Christchurch Quay and Stewarts Garden Centre. Book guided walk and tour, to suit your particular group. (01425 278807)
Coach into Christchurch and enjoy a warm welcome and free coach parking in the dedicated coach parking areas – Leisure Centre East (BH23 1HW), Mayor’s Mead Car Park (BH23 1HU), Highcliffe Cliff Top Car Park(BH23 5JE). The meet and greet service includes a five minute background talk on the Castle, plus vouchers for every passenger for discounted entry to the Castle and some concessions into the tearooms. 01425 278807.
enquiries@ highcliffecastle.co.uk
There are also a number of dedicated coach drop off, pick up points.
Special events include the Christchurch Food Festival Market in May, Living Craft Exhibition in June, Stomping in the Quomps in August and Jazz and Swing concert in September