AGTO

Explore Saffron Walden on a group familiarisation trip
2024-09-24 09:00 - 17:00 UTC
Visit Essex would like to invite you to the next group travel organizers’ familiarization trip taking place on Tuesday 24th September. Visit FAM trips in the members area to view more

London for Groups Live
2024-09-03 | The Actors Church, Covent Garden Piazza, London, United Kingdom

AGTO Magazine - Autumn Deadline
2024-08-16

First Leicester Food Festival to take place in Abbey Park
2024-08-10 11:00 - 2024-08-11 18:00 | Abbey Park, Abbey Park Road, Leicester, LE4 5AQ
Biggest food and drink festival in the city launches in 2024
Leicester will be hosting a new food festival this summer when a range of local, national and international food and drink producers will be showcasing their wares at Abbey Park from 10-11 August 2024.

The new Leicester Food Festival, sponsored by UberEats, the online food ordering and delivery platform, will be the biggest food and drink festival to be held in Leicester.
It will bring together an exciting line up of award-winning food producers, street food vendors, local brewers, local bars, bakeries, distillers and more.
Some of the highlights include award-winning Colombo Street Sri Lankan street food, Smashing Plates’ authentic Greek food, Fat Hippo, who are famous for their epic burgers, craft ale tasting workshops from local micro brewery, Mill Hill and Tynt Meadow who are the only Trappist Brewery in the UK. There will also be ice cream filled Chimney cakes which are a traditional Hungarian street food, wine tasting with local enthusiast, @the.winefan, gin masterclasses, luxury milkshakes made with local milk from Leedham Farm Dairy, eating competitions and so much more!
Midlands Makers, who are known for their local Makers Markets, will also be curating a
bespoke artisan food and makers tent with up to 100 market stalls.
The festival will also host Ultimate Coldplay, the UK’s finest and most accurate live tribute to Coldplay who are headlining the main stage on Saturday 10 August and Dan East, who is widely considered to be the best Ed Sheeran tribute, who will headline on Sunday 11 August. There will also be a lip sync competition on the main stage for people to sign up to on the day.
There’s a programme of brilliant local bands, family shows and things to do throughout the weekend including an interactive story tent, a children’s craft tent, theatrical shows, character appearances with photo opportunities, a magical bubble fairy, balloon modelling, stilt walkers, circus skills, face painting and glitter.
Representatives from Leicester Riders and Leicester City in the Community will also be attending with some fun activities and people can also enjoy the famous local Billy Bates Fun Fair, where all tickets for the festival will give you free entry into the fair.
The festival takes place from 11am-9pm on Saturday and 11am – 6pm on Sunday. Limited Early Bird tickets are now on sale from www.Leicesterfoodfestival.co.uk. Children’s and adult tickets are currently half price at £5 and £7.50, respectively with under 5s free.
Follow us on Instagram @leicesterfoodfest Facebook @leicesterfoodfestival
Plans for a food festival in Leicester were initiated by Visit Leicester’s Taste The Place campaign which highlights many of the fantastic food producers, food and drink experiences, and places to buy and consume local food and drink across the city and county.
Mike Denby, Director for Inward Investment and Place Marketing, said: “Visit Leicester is proud and excited to see the first food and drink festival take place in Abbey Park, on the back of our Taste The Place campaign. This is an opportunity for visitors to discover the quality and variety of locally produced food and drink for themselves, whilst having a fun day out with the family.”
For more information on the events and festivals taking place in Leicester and Leicestershire in 2024, visit www.visitleicester.info/whats-on
Full size image of Leicester Food Festival flyer available here.

AGTO Eastern Branch visit to Apsley House
2024-07-18 10:30 - 17:00 | Apsley House
AGTO Eastern Branch have been invited by English Heritage to visit Apsley House on 18th July 2024
Find out more here

KYNREN’S PREVIEW NIGHT FOR THE 2024 SEASON
2024-07-13 18:00
Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, brings history to life with a blockbuster open-air performance at 11Arches Park.
Each 90 minute spectacular show starts at sunset and ends in starlight.
Go to FAM trips in the members area to find out more

Westminster Abbey Choir School Summer Fête
2024-07-13 11:00 - 15:00 | Westminster Abbeys Choir School, Deans Yard, London, SW1P 3NY
The world renowned Westminster Abbey Choir School’s Summer Fete is on the Saturday 13th July this year, from 11am – 3pm
Westminster Abbey Choir School Summer Fete
Date: Saturday 13th July 2024
Start time: 11:00am
End time: 3:00pm
Location: In Dean’s Yard, next to Westminster Abbey, London SW1P 3NY
It’s a Free event. No booking necessary, just come along everyone welcome!

Event description
An old fashioned Fête in the picturesque garden square of Dean’s Yard situated right next to Westminster Abbey. Families can enjoy Morris Dancers, a fantastic band and masses of stalls from Crafts to Speed Composing – for a musical souvenir of the day! Stalls include Tombola, Raffle, Inflatables. Children’s games, Bric-a-Brac, Face painting, Speed Composing, Knitting, Craft and Gardening Stalls. Refreshments include BBQ, cakes, tea, coffee and Pimms, beer and soft drinks.
View the leaflet

Eltham Palace - Fleurs de Villes Exhibition
2024-07-13 - 2024-07-21
Experience Eltham Palace like you have never seen it before!
Discover stunning floral displays around the mansion and gardens inspired by the glamorous history of Eltham Palace.
The unmissable exhibition has been designed by Fleurs de Villes, in partnership with English Heritage and will see Eltham Palace brought to life by talented local florists.
Marvel at stunning array of Fleurs de Villes’ fresh floral mannequins which have been based on the palace’s famous former residents and guests who left an indelible mark throughout its history.
Step into the mansion and enjoy the Art Deco decadence of the 1930 and undercover captivating stories of the Courtauld family and their guests, from esteemed actors to royal visitors.
Continue on to the medieval great hall and uncover more breath-taking floral displays telling Eltham’s royal past when it played host to kings, queens and the Tudor court.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the fusion of history and floral artistry at one of London’s most iconic landmarks!
For group bookings, please contact Eltham.Palace@english-heritage.org.uk

London Transport Museum: Discover the past, present and future of London’s transport this summer
2024-07-05 08:00 - 2024-07-07 17:00 | Museum Depot, 2 Museum Way, W3 9BQ
Discover the past, present and future of London’s transport this summer
Tickets now on sale for London Transport Museum’s ‘From Past to Present’ Depot Open Days. 5-7 July, Acton Town, west London

Enjoy a rare opportunity to explore London Transport Museum’s Acton Depot this summer – a working museum store full of amazing objects from London’s transport history
July’s Depot Open Days event will include curator-led talks, tours, vehicle displays, and family activities
Adult tickets costs £17.50 and £8.50 for children. Free for children aged 3 and under
Concessions available for local residents in Ealing and Hounslow
Book in advance online

London Transport Museum is opening the doors to its Museum Depot in Acton for one weekend this July. Only open to the public on special dates throughout the year, Depot Open Days give ticketholders a chance to explore an amazing collection of over 320,000 objects from London’s transport past not currently on display in the Covent Garden Museum, while enjoying a lively programme of themed activities.
The ‘From Past to Present’ Depot Open Days event will offer guests a line-up of talks, workshops, and family activities inspired by stories of ingenuity from London’s transport past and present, and how these can pave the way for a greener London of the future.
Visitors can also explore the Depot’s vast collection of historic vehicles, plans, posters, signs and maps, including early plans for the Underground and original versions of Harry Beck’s iconic diagrammatic Tube map from 1933. Plus the largest collection of London transport signage in the world.
Event highlights include:

Expert talks that delve into fascinating moments in London’s transport history – such as the creation of the world’s first electric railway – as well as the exciting things TfL are doing today that can give us a glimpse of what a green London of the future could look like.
Tours uncovering the weird and wonderful objects that can be found at the Depot. Discover station models, curiosities from the large object store, and explore the poster store – home to famous works of graphic art that have adorned the Tube network since the 1900s.
STEM zone demos and workshops where visitors can learn about and test out tech – including railway engineering simulators used by TfL – and take on problem-solving challenges such as coding train signals and controlling a set of traffic signals with representatives from Yunex Traffic.
A talk from Siddy Holloway from the Museum’s Hidden London team about her experience presenting UKTV’s hit ‘Secrets of the London Underground’ series. Expect fascinating tales of her underground adventures with behind-the-scenes footage.
Green-themed creative workshops for families, inspired by eco-friendly vehicles such as a Transport UK London Bus zero-emissions Electroliner bus which will be on display, and TfL’s station gardens.

The ‘From Past to Present’ Depot Open Days event is part of London Transport Museum’s Enjoyment to Employment scheme that tackles the engineering and green skills shortage in the UK transport sector by turning childhood enthusiasm into future careers. The programme is sponsored by ABM, Cubic Transportation Systems, Hitachi Rail, Sopra Steria, telent and Transport for London.
See full event programme and book in advance at ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/depot-open-days/depot-open-days-past-present
Adult tickets costs £17.50 and £8.50 for children. Children aged 3 and under go free. Concessions are available including local resident tickets for residents of Ealing and Hounslow.

Group Leisure & Travel Awards
2024-06-27 19:30 - 2024-06-28 01:00
Awards dinner – Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington
For more details click here

The British Tourism & Travel Show
2024-03-20 - 2024-03-21 | NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT
The British Tourism and Travel Show is returning to the NEC, Birmingham on 20-21 March 2024 – and if you’re planning group tours, you need to be there!

Saint Hill Manor Groups
2024-03-01
Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead

London for Groups Awards
2024-02-20 19:00 - 22:30 | Smith & Wollensky, Adelphi Street, London

AGTO AGM 2023
2024-02-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Wonderville Theatre, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4QX
Annual General Meeting open to all members free of charge.
10.30 welcome teas & coffees
11.00 AGM
11.30 TBA

Girl Power! Spice Girls at 30
2024-02-07 - 2024-09-08 | British Music Experience, Liverpool
TravelBeat’s partner the British Music Experience, are delighted to announce their new temporary exhibition Girl Power! Spice Girls at 30 charting the history of the most important girl band in British history.
In March 1994 an ad was placed in The Stage asking “Are you street smart, extrovert, ambitious, and able to sing and dance?”. The rest is history. The Spice Girls debut single Wannabe topped the charts in 31 countries in 1996, they sold 80 million records and had nine UK Number One singles. The exhibition celebrates the story of how Sporty, Baby, Scary, Ginger and Posh became one of the most successful girl groups ever and enjoyed phenomenal global success.
Girl Power! Spice Girls at 30 will run from 7 February 2024 to 8 September 2024 and will tell the band’s story through outfits from the extraordinary collection of independent curator Liz West, who is the foremost collector of Spice Girls memorabilia and merchandise in the World. Liz’s Guinness World Record breaking collection boasts many iconic costumes all beautifully hand-made by international designers or specially commissioned by the Spice Girls themselves.

Excursions 50th Event
2024-01-27
Wembley Stadium, London

Excursions Group Travel Show 2024
2024-01-27 | Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS
Excursions™ – the original and longest-running domestic group travel show covering the UK and near Europe is on Saturday, 27th January 2024 at Wembley Stadium. For 50 years the show has been a driving force for group travel inspiration in the UK and near Europe.

World Travel Market
2023-11-06 - 2023-11-08 | ExCel, London, United Kingdom
The ultimate destination for Travel & Tourism

Group Leisure & Travel Show
2023-10-05

Group Leisure & Travel Awards
2023-10-04 19:00 - 23:30 | Double Tree by Hilton, Milton Keynes

London for Groups Live
2023-09-05 | St Pauls Church (The Actors Church) Covent Garden
Our venue for LONDON FOR GROUPS LIVE September 2022, is the historic St Paul’s Church (affectionately known as The Actors Church), in the heart of London.​
Located on Covent Garden Piazza, The Actors Church boasts 400 years worth of history – including the first recorded Punch & Judy performance, the setting for the opening of Pygmalion (My Fair Lady), the burial place of the first known victim of the 1665 plague, and the memorials within the building dedicated to many famous entertainment personalities of the 20th century, including Sir Charlie Chaplin, Sir Noël Coward, Gracie Fields, Vivien Leigh, Barbara Windsor and Diana Rigg.
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With excellent transport links and within easy walking distance of Charing Cross, Embankment, Temple and Covent Garden Stations, The Actors Church will provide us with a vast indoor space, as well as the well manicured gardens (and the church cats, Eliza and Mrs Higgins!).

Kensington Palace, London
2023-06-09
Eastern Branch FAM trip

Jubilee Market FAM, Covent Garden
2023-04-05
Barry Stuart is hosting GTOs to a FAM trip and Covent Garden tour.
Info@jubileemarket.co.uk

British Tourism & Travel Show
2023-03-22 - 2023-03-23 | NEC Birmingham
The British Tourism and Travel Show is returning to the NEC, Birmingham on 22-23 March 2023 – and if you’re planning group tours, you need to be there!
The UK and Ireland are full of adventures and exciting experiences for groups – but it can be difficult to know where to start planning. The British Tourism & Travel Show brings all the inspiration you need together, so you can give your groups a truly unique and memorable experience.
Nothing compares to the atmosphere of the tourism industry coming together. The energy will leave you buzzing to plan your next trip!
It’s free to attend, register now.

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
2023-03-14
Eastern Branch are taking members to the Old Royal Naval College

South East Groups Visit Fair
2023-03-03 10:00 - 13:00 | Saint Hill, East Grinstead, United Kingdom

London For Groups Awards
2023-02-21 19:00 - 22:30 | Smith & Wollensky, Adelphi Street, London
Don’t miss the first even of its kind for London For Groups.
Tickets to the London For Groups Awards 2023 include red carpet access, a bubbles reception, wines & beers and canapés.

AGTO AGM & TREATS
2023-02-20 11:00 - 13:30

Group Leisure & Travel Show
2022-10-06 | Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Western Branch AGM Weekend
2022-09-23 - 2022-09-25
Contact Gill Brooker (gillian.brooker@btinternet.com)
