AGTO Magazine - Winter Deadline
2024-11-15

Christmas at Blenheim Palace
2024-11-15 - 2025-01-01 | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
Christmas at Blenheim Palace: the magical light trail returns and don’t miss Neverland® in the Palace
Discover a festive atmosphere like no other at Blenheim Palace in 2024. The historic Palace and Gardens will once again come alive with thousands of twinkling lights, seasonal scents, sparkling baubles and the warmth of the festive season. This year, we invite you to enjoy a special Christmas experience with us and soak in the joy of the season with your loved ones.
Your very merriest Christmas starts here, Christmas at Blenheim Palace will return between 15th November 2024 – 1st January 2025! There is limited capacity with timed entry. Book early and don’t miss the date and time of your choice!

Old Royal Naval College Christmas Carol Concerts
2024-12-02 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
Come and enjoy a Christmas concert in the beautiful Chapel of St Peter & St Paul at the Old Royal Naval College, regarded as one of the finest eighteenth-century interiors. Following a brief introduction that sets the scene to this breathtaking chapel, the award-winning Trinity Laban Choir will perform a concert with a chance for you to join in some of your festive favourites. Included in your visit, is entry to the Painted Hall, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the UK’ with its magnificent painted ceiling and walls of over 40,000 square feet depicting 200 figures including kings, queens and mythological creatures.

Old Royal Naval College Christmas Carol Concerts
2024-12-09 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-12-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
Come and enjoy a Christmas concert in the beautiful Chapel of St Peter & St Paul at the Old Royal Naval College, regarded as one of the finest eighteenth-century interiors. Following a brief introduction that sets the scene to this breathtaking chapel, the award-winning Trinity Laban Choir will perform a concert with a chance for you to join in some of your festive favourites. Included in your visit, is entry to the Painted Hall, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the UK’ with its magnificent painted ceiling and walls of over 40,000 square feet depicting 200 figures including kings, queens and mythological creatures.

2pm – 3.20pm Chapel Overview and Christmas Carol Concert in chapel

Rediscover the magic of Christmas in Coventry at St Mary’s Guildhall
2024-12-11, 2024-12-17 | St Mary’s Guildhall, Bayley Lane, Coventry
Christmas Tour and Tudors 11th and 17th December 2024.
Tour price per person – £8
Step into the enchanting holiday atmosphere at St Mary’s Guildhall, adorned in festive splendour, on December 11th and 17th. Embark on a seasonal, guided tour of this historic 700-year-old building, where knowledgeable guides will regale you with tales of Christmas traditions throughout the ages. Immerse yourself in the Christmas charm of the Guildhall, featuring breathtaking decorations, real trees, twinkling lights, and the invigorating scent of evergreen. Don’t miss the chance to witness the Guildhall Tudors in action in the Medieval Kitchen, as they prepare for the 12 days of Christmas giving visitors an insight into seasonal feasts and games from the Tudor period.
All tours are subject to availability and must be booked and paid for in advance.

Merry Christmas
2024-12-25 08:00 - 17:00
Merry Christmas from everyone at AGTO

Cirque du Soleil presents Corteo - London 2025
2025-01-09 - 2025-03-02 | Royal Albert Hall, London

Excursions Group Travel Show 2025
2025-02-01 10:30 - 15:30 | Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS

AGTO Showcase
2025-02-04 08:00 - 2025-02-06 17:00 | Marsham Court Hotel, 3 Russell Cotes Road, East Cliff,, Bournemouth, BH1 3AB,
We are going to a fabulous Hotel on the South Coast
The Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth
right on the seafront!
The facilities at the hotel are great, check out their website for full details go to www.marshamcourthotel.co.uk
The hotel has just been Highly Commended at the Disability Smart Awards 2024 in the Inclusive Customer Experience category – a great achievement when pitched against TUI UK & Ireland
Full details of the event, FAM trips, transport information & booking forms out soon!
In the meantime if you wish to express your interest, drop Helen a line at agto.agto.co.uk
Look forward to seeing many of you at this great event at a fabulous hotel.

AGTO Magazine Deadline
2025-02-14, 2025-05-09, 2025-08-08, 2025-11-10

London For Groups Awards
2025-02-18 19:00 - 22:30 | Smith & Wollensky, Adelphi Street, London

British Tourism & Travel Show
2025-03-19 10:00 - 17:00 | NEC Birmingham
The British Tourism & Travel Show is the largest event of its kind, dedicated to celebrating the very best of group tourism in the British Isles and beyond. The next show will be hosted on 19-20 March 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham.
Gain knowledge through face-to-face interactions with industry professionals enthusiastic in helping plan your next group tour.
See familiar faces, make new connections and have the opportunity to build relationships with key players across the group travel trade industry!
Get your FREE ticket here – https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=BTT35Visitor

British Travel & Tourism Show
2025-03-20 10:00 - 15:30

AGTO Board Meeting
2025-03-21, 2025-06-26, 2025-09-26

Central Region FAM Trip to West Midlands Police Museum
2025-05-22
Further details- Familiarisation Trips – AGTO

Group Travel & Leisure Awards
2025-06-26 19:00 - 23:30 | Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, 2, 24 Kensington High St,, London, W8 4PT
The details

When: Thursday 26th June 2025, 7:00pm drinks reception for 7:30pm dinner (timings subject to change).
Where: Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London.
Tickets: pricing and order form available soon.

View the event

Magna Carta at Durham Cathedral
2025-07-11 - 2025-11-02
See the only surviving 1216 Magna Carta, along with issues from 1225 and 1300, and three Forest Charters in Durham Cathedral Museum.
The rare documents will be on display as part of a new exhibition, Magna Carta and the North, alongside temporary artworks and installations throughout the cathedral that will tell the story of these 800-year-old documents which are still a powerful symbol of social justice in the world today.

Summer family fun at London Transport Museum
2025-07-23 - 2025-08-31
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
• This summer, celebrate 200 years of railway innovation at London Transport Museum
• Enjoy hands-on activities, including arts and crafts, invention making and storytelling – all inspired by 200 years of rail
• Kids go free and adult tickets offer free return day-time entry for a year
• In the Museum’s Cubic Theatre, catch the return of Transport Explorers: A Live Show – a fun-filled family theatre experience with live experiments, comedy and audience interaction
• Further afield, families can step into secret parts of the Tube by joining a Hidden London tour
This summer (23 July – 31 August) families visiting the award-winning London Transport Museum in Covent Garden can enjoy a packed programme of rail-themed family fun, celebrating Railway 200 which marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
From the construction of the world’s first underground railway to the opening of the cutting-edge Elizabeth line, visitors will discover the people and innovations that have kept London moving for almost two centuries.
Families can get hands-on with creative activities that will bring London’s railway history to life, from coding electric toy trains and designing pop-up railways to meeting costumed characters from the past and joining a birthday party for trains. Each day of the week will feature a different activity, with the full programme available on London Transport Museum’s website.
Activities for all ages include:
• Imagine what it would have been like a hundred years ago when different lines had to compete for customers in a fun poster-making activity
• Become a budding engineer and build a pop-up railway model inspired by the first railway in London
• Discover how train carriages have changed over the last 200 years and try designing a carriage of the future
• Get creative in a range of arts and crafts sessions run by other museums who will pop-up at London Transport Museum throughout the holidays
Activities for ages 0-5 include:
• Discover the different ways to travel around London by train today through exciting games and activities at a birthday party for trains
Activities for ages 3 plus include:
• Embark on an imaginative mission to crack the code and discover how to create a signalling system to run trains through a capital city
• Look out for costumed characters in the Museum’s galleries and chat to them to discover what it was like to work on London’s railways over the past 200 years
Activities for ages 5 plus include:
• Discover what it was like to travel on the world’s first underground Railway in an interactive storytelling session
• Tackle a historic challenge – how to reach deep-level Tube platforms – by creating an invention to transport passengers below the surface
During a visit to the Museum, families can also explore historic vehicles, climb aboard mini trains in the All-Aboard play zone, and try driving an Elizabeth line train in the Future Engineers gallery. When it’s time for a break the Museum’s cafe offers delicious food and views over Covent Garden Piazza.
Kids go free! Adult tickets to London Transport Museum include free return entry for a whole year. Concession tickets are also available. Book tickets in advance online here: ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/family-events/summer-holidays-rail-adventures
The family fun continues in London Transport Museum’s Cubic Theatre with the return of Transport Explorers: A Live Show. Packed with live experiments, comedy, and plenty of audience interaction, this 60-minute show puts kids (and their grown-ups) right in the middle of the action as they journey through amazing moments in London’s transport history. A fun and educational adventure not to be missed!
Tickets for Transport Explorers: A Live Show start from £12.00. Book tickets here: ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/family-events/transport-explorers
Further afield, families with children aged 10 and over can join the Museum’s exclusive Hidden London tours this summer. These guided tours offer a rare chance to explore Clapham South deep-level shelter and other off-limits parts of the Tube. Visitors can discover disused stations, wartime shelters and secret filming locations, walk alongside former railway tracks or even watch trains come and go from hidden ventilation shafts. Tours run all year around with three locations available to explore this summer.
Book tickets for Hidden London tours here: ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london

Eastern Region FAM Trip to Epping and Ongar Railway
2025-07-30 | Epping and Ongar Railway

LONDON FOR GROUPS LIVE 2025
2025-09-09 | The Bloomsbury Ballroom, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square,, London, WC1B 4DA, United Kingdom
Returning bigger and better for 2025, LONDON FOR GROUPS LIVE will take place on Tuesday 9th September in a new, larger home, The Bloomsbury Ballroom!
On the day, you will meet with venues across London who are eagerly awaiting to host your group. Including West End theatre productions, visitor attractions, museums, galleries, bars, restaurants and more.
You will leave filled with new exciting ideas!
As well as the exhibition, you’ll be able to take advantage of a full day ‘London Experience’ – with previous activities including free river cruises & attraction visits, tours of museums & galleries, and an evening at the theatre.
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Eastern Region FAM Trip to Richmond Theatre!
2025-09-18 | Richmond Theatre

Group Leisure & Travel Show
2025-10-02 | Arena MK, Milton Keynes, Arena MK, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Looking for fresh inspiration, exclusive group deals, and direct connections with top travel suppliers?
Then don’t miss the Group Leisure & Travel Show, the UK’s biggest event for group travel organisers – coming to Arena MK, Milton Keynes on Thursday, 2nd October 2025.
✅ Meet face-to-face with leading attractions, destinations, tour operators and cruise lines
✅ Get new ideas for days out, short breaks and longer holidays
✅ Enjoy free seminars and Q&A sessions with celebrity speakers. This year we have TV’s Adam Frost from Gardeners World and Mark Smith from the Antiques Roadshow, as well as TV travel expert Simon Calder.
✅ Network with fellow organisers and professionals who understand your world
✅ Free entry, free parking and free coach travel!
Whether you plan one trip or dozens each year, this show is your one-stop shop to make group travel easier, more exciting and more rewarding.
👉 Register now for FREE entry – and start planning your next great trip!

Christmas at Blenheim Palace 2025
2025-11-14 - 2026-01-03 | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
Bigger, better and brighter than ever, as you set off on an adventure through The Palace of Oz, inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The Palace will be transformed for the festive season, featuring the return of the Illuminated Trail, a spectacular after-dark trail through the parkland with all-new lights and festive scenes, and The Palace of Oz, where the opulent State Rooms are dressed as never before.
Follow the road of yellow brick sprinkled with Christmas magic and look out for Toto, The Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, witches, Munchkins and more as you journey to the Land of Oz and discover the Emerald City where Dorothy awaits.
Spend the whole day at Christmas at Blenheim Palace – buy a combined ticket to enjoy the illuminated after-dark trail and The Palace of Oz. To make the most of this exceptional place, you can also book a delicious Emerald City themed afternoon tea in The Orangery.
For more information or book visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/christmas/
