News

2011 Bristol news for group travel organisers

15/02/2011

Categories: Official press releases

M Shed

2011 marks an exciting year for groups visiting Bristol, with the addition of a new history museum, major milestones and new flights to the destination. Some of the key highlights include:

New £26m museum opens in Bristol: A most significant addition to Bristol’s list of exciting openings in 2011 is the city’s new £26m history museum, M Shed. A brand new innovative social history museum, M Shed, is due to open on 17^th June and tells the story of Bristol, past and present. Three galleries, over 3000 objects, exciting activities and extracts from over 150 archival films will enable visitors to discover the history of Bristol from prehistoric times to the 21st century.

M Shed will uncover Bristol’s trading past, its wartime experiences, Bristolian’s discoveries, including things made and created in Bristol, from Brunel’s ss Great Britain to world renowned Wallace and Gromit. In addition, the museum discovers how we as a city have entertained ourselves and others, and how Bristol has grown and transformed into the city it is today.

Visit www.mshed.org for further information about group visits to M Shed

New flight routes to Bristol: From March 2011, Aer Arann and Aer Lingus will be operating a new Aer Lingus regional route between Bristol and Dublin, allowing for connection options from the United States. Bristol currently has no direct services to the United States and the new Aer Lingus Regional route will offer customers the convenience of flying from New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando to Bristol via Dublin.

Visit www.bristolairport.co.uk for more information about flights to and from Bristol

Bristol Zoo Gardens celebrates 175 years: Bristol Zoo Gardens celebrates its 175^th anniversary in 2011, with a host of events and activities throughout the year to entertain groups. A new meerkat exhibit will open in February, and April sees the opening of a Walk of Fame at the zoo, celebrating Bristol’s icons, past and present. Throughout the summer, the zoo will also release dozens of life-size, gorilla sculptures onto the streets of Bristol. Individually painted and sponsored by local organisations, the gorillas will form a public art exhibition. At the end of the year, the gorillas will be auctioned off to raise money for charity.

Bristol Zoo holds a number of events throughout the year for group visitors – such as guided tours of its botanic gardens and history walks. To help you plan your visit, book a free familiarisation visit. The zoo offers discounts of up to 32% on entry prices for groups of 10 or more paying visitors. Event organisers receive free entry and special arrangements are in place for coach drivers.

For more information contact us on 0117 974 7300, receptionist@bristolzoo.org.uk or visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk

At-Bristol opens exciting new exhibition: At-Bristol brings science to life with hands-on fun for groups of all ages and interests. In 2011, groups can discover just how amazing they are in At-Bristol’s latest exhibition ‘All About Us’ which opens in March.

‘All About Us’ features over 50 new or significantly enhanced hands-on exhibits, allowing visitors to test human phenomena. The £1.5 million exhibition is At-Bristol’s largest since the science centre opened its doors in Bristol 10 years ago. The science centre is conveniently located in the Harbourside, offering easy access to other city centre attractions, shopping and sightseeing tours. Group visitors to At-Bristol will receive the following benefits:

Special group rates for groups of ten or more paying visitors
Free planning visit for the group organiser
Free admission for the group organiser (with groups of 10 or more)
Free admission for coach drivers and recognised courier guides
Coach drop-off and pick-up next to At-Bristol
Free entry for dedicated assistants and carers,
Level access and lifts to all floors, and hearing loops in the Planetarium.

For further information see www.at-bristol.org.uk/groups or to make a group booking, call At-Bristol on 0845 345 1235

New Learning Lab for The Bristol Aquarium: The Bristol Aquarium and IMAX Cinema, formerly known as the Blue Reef Aquarium, has unveiled a new ‘Learning Lab’ where visitors can find out more about the marine environment.

The new feature includes a series of tanks which showcase the aquarium’s captive breeding programmes with a variety of species including baby seahorses, pipefish and cichlids. The area also includes a recreated rock pool, which will be used for talks and presentations on native marine creatures found around our shores and there is a display of marine artefacts including shark jaws and shark skin.

As well as providing a new feature for visitors, the Learning Lab is also designed to provide schools and colleges with a dedicated space to study specific topics. It will also be used for daily talks and presentations on a variety of themes.

The Bristol Aquarium offers:

Great discounts for groups of 10 or more
Group prices frozen for 2011
Free entry and drinks voucher for coach/bus driver
Completion of the 'Learning Lab' will add a new dimension to the conservation experience
Brand new classroom sessions for educational groups (Keystage 1, 2, 3 and 4)

For group enquiries contact 0117 929 8929 or email bristol@bluereefaquarium.co.uk

New group tours from City Sightseeing: City Sightseeing is introducing three brand new guided tours in 2011 that are guaranteed to give groups a greater variety of choice in Bristol. The new tours include story-telling trips for children and adults, delivered by experienced storytellers behind Bristol Storytelling Festival. There is also a wildlife tour from a local expert about the surprising wildlife that lives alongside the city hustle and bustle, such as a herd of wild goats and peregrine falcons. Finally, a new religious history tour will be introduced to offer a multi-denominational insight into Bristol’s past and present. Bristol is proud of its profusion of churches and places to worship and any group visit to the city should include a glimpse inside some of these remarkable locations that have helped to make Bristol a place of significant religious importance.

For private hire enquiries and bookings please contact Nicola Padden on: nicola@citysightseeing@yahoo.com / 0117 367 0208

Home is where the heart is at Tyntesfield: The wraps are off! Unveiled for 2011, this extraordinary Victorian estate is ready to explore all year round. Tyntesfield’s house, chapel, gardens and woodland make for an inspiring day of fresh air and discovery. This year Tyntesfield’s new Home Farm visitor centre is open for the first time too – with a restaurant, shop, exhibition space and family play area, free to visit every day.

Explore

Find family fun at Home Farm play area.
Stroll through the woodland and take in stunning views of the valley below.
Spot intriguing and fascinating objects from the National Trust’s largest collection
Take home fresh produce from our working kitchen gardens
Have a seat and relax in the rose garden gazebos

Group Admission £9.75 per person (minimum 15 people). Gardens only £5.00

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk and search for Tyntesfield House for further information on group visits.

Journey into a world of trees at Westonbirt Arboretum: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire, is internationally known for its vibrant autumn colour and makes a memorable visit for groups.

Spectacular spring flowers, the Festival of the Tree, summer walks amongst lush woodlands and the Enchanted Christmas illuminated trail offer great reasons to visit the Forestry Commission managed National Arboretum throughout the year. Guided tours delivered by experienced Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum volunteer guides will help visitors to delve into the history and importance of Westonbirt. Costing £30 for up to 25 people, these tours are a fantastic way to discover more about The National Arboretum.

Groups can sit down for lunch at Westonbirt’s onsite Maples restaurant, or picnic on the Grade 1 listed Downs landscape; then visit the Plant Centre to pick up a Westonbirt maple or the Forest Shop for condiments, crafts, accessories and gardening books. Coaches can be parked in the designated coach area and a host can be arranged to welcome visitors, give directions to facilities and give a brief introduction to the site.

Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-groups or call Helen Daniels on 01666 881200 for more details.

Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre welcomes groups: The world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to span the spectacular Avon Gorge.

A visitor centre on Leigh Woods side of Bridge contains displays and artefacts explaining the history, construction and maintenance of this world famous symbol of the city of Bristol. There’s also a retail area that has postcards, greetings cards, information and souvenirs of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Free guided tours are provided at 3.00pm every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from Easter until October (note that this is not suitable for large organised groups). Guided tours of the Clifton Suspension Bridge for organised groups are available at £2.50 per person (minimum £50.00 per group, maximum £100.00 per group).

Contact group co-ordinator, Mike Rowland on 0117 974 4664 visitinfo@clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk

Brunel’s ss Great Britain—a favourite for groups in 2011: Groups can travel back in time when boarding Brunel’s ss Great Britain, one of the UK’s favourite visitor attractions. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the ss Great Britain is the world’s first great ocean liner and was named in 2010 as one of the world’s top new museums by Museum ID Magazine. Throughout 2011, groups can enjoy a host of exciting events in celebration of food to experience the good, the bad and the yummy from Victorian days.

Groups can also enjoy the new Brunel Institute which is a world-class conservation and education centre alongside the ss Great Britain. It comprises a conservation suite and archive, major reference library, lecture theatre and seminar rooms, education space, teaching offices and a new ticket and reception area serving the whole site.

With audio tours available, a fantastic Dockyard Café Bar overlooking the stunning Harbourside, full wheelchair access and facilities for the blind and visually impaired, Brunel’s ss Great Britain makes an ideal visit for groups.

Groups and educational tours are welcome by arrangement. Contact Brunel’s ss Great Britain on 0117 926 0680 or visit www.ssgreatbritain.org.

Music for groups at St George’s Bristol: Fans of high quality, eclectic music can enjoy a warm welcome and fabulous acoustics of St George’s Bristol. From John Williams to Jacques Loussier, the Brodsky Quartet to Carla Bley, St George’s has something to cater for all tastes and offers a perfect venue for group hospitality.

For parties booking through Destination Bristol, St George’s Bristol can offer:

A starting offer of two tickets in every ten free for first time group bookers, and one ticket in every ten free for subsequent bookings.
A friendly and flexible Box Office service, allowing for the provisional reservation of tickets to suit the needs of the group co-ordinator.
A free glass of house red or white wine included in the price of each ticket.
Private function rooms for group hospitality, subject to availability, and by arrangement with our Head of Events Jennifer Hutchinson (j.hutchinson@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk).
Convenient location in central Bristol, with nearby coach dropping and collection points.

For further information about our exciting offers or to place a booking, please contact group co-ordinators Robert Convey or Ben Hensor at the Box Office on 0845 40 24 001 or boxoffice@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.

Add Bristol to your group shopping list: As the shopping capital of the South West, Bristol offers the perfect destination for a group shopping trip. Bristol’s city centre shopping area includes nearly 500 stores, two separate covered shopping centres, more than 50 cafes and restaurants and ample parking, making Bristol the shopping capital of the region. The city centre shopping area includes Cabot Circus, The Galleries and a further 300 stores in the surrounding area.

Offering the ultimate shopping experience, Cabot Circus brings together a host of high street and designer brands, confirming the city’s status as the region’s style capital. With more than 120 stores stocking the latest trends, Cabot Circus lies underneath a striking glass roof, offering urban fashion brands and high street retailers including flagship stores such as H&M, Next, Espirit and Top Shop, and lifestyle and homeware retailers including Dwell and Sony. Quakers Friars is part of Cabot Circus and features a stylish piazza set against the historic backdrop of a 13^th century Dominican Friary building. The area is home to the only Harvey Nichols store in the South West, which offers truly iconic brands. Other retailers in Quakers Friars include Hugo Boss, LK Bennett, Kurt Geiger, Ted Baker and Hobbs. The area is also home to the luxurious Sanctuary Spa which is the first to open in the South West, as well as a number of delicious dining options and gourmet delis that offer the perfect setting for a relaxing lunch, drink or dinner.

Linking seamlessly to Cabot Circus, the shopping area continues on to the high street, where a further 300 stores are located including Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Bhs and the UK’s second largest Primark store. With a great range of places to eat and drink, the newly-transformed pedestrianised streets offer a great environment in which to shop, and relaxing open spaces in which to watch the world go by. The wide range of independent retailers means that the city centre offers a diversity of stores difficult to beat.

Also located within the city centre shopping area is The Galleries, an attractive, three-storey shopping centre - home to a further 100 stores including a host of independent retailers. Food Street is located within The Galleries offering a wide range of eating facilities. The centre also boasts a safe and modern car park.

Don't miss:

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta returns to Ashton Court in August. This world class weekend fiesta is free to attend and has become one of Bristol’s most popular annual events.
2011 sees the 40th anniversary of the Bristol Harbour Festival. There are some exciting plans underway to mark the occasion, including an additional week of activity and increased indoor shows in the venues around the harbour.
The Bristol Hippodrome remains a firm favourite for groups, proudly continuing to stage major West End and Broadway productions. From musicals, ballet, opera, concerts, comedians or children’s shows, the venue’s busy programme has something to suit every taste. In 2011, major productions include Hairspray The Musical in April, and Evita which opens in June.
Christmas in Bristol’s city centre shopping area promises to be bigger and better than ever in 2011 with a range of festive markets, an outdoor skating rink in Quakers Friars, Santa’s Grotto and a line-up for seasonal activities for the enjoyment of all age groups.

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