Insert Document Title Here

What’s New in England 2015 and

Beyond

For the most up to date guide, please check:

http://www.visitengland.org/media/resources/whats_new.aspx

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1. Accommodation

Bouja by Hoseasons, Devon and Hampshire From 30 January Hoseasons will be introducing ‘affordable luxury breaks’ under new brand Bouja. Set across six countryside and coastal locations, Bouja will offer holiday homes with a deck, patio or private garden, as well as amenities including a flat-screen TV. Bike hire, nature trails and great quality bistros and restaurants will be offered nearby, while quirkier spaces will be provided by the designer Bouja Boutique. Beach Cove Coastal Retreat will be the first location to open, with others following throughout Q1. http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/ The Hospital Club, London January The former hospital turned ‘creative hub’, The Hospital Club, has now added 15 hotel rooms to its Covent Garden venue. The rooms boast sumptuous interiors and stained glass by Russell Sage studios, providing guests with a home away from home. Suites also include a private terrace, rainforest showers and lounge area. Rooms start from £180 per night. http://www.thehospitalclub.com The 25 Boutique, Torquay January A luxury 5 star boutique B&B, is located a 10 minute walk from the centre of Torquay and close by to the Riviera International Centre and Torre abbey. Each room is individually designed and provides different sizes and amenities. http://www.the25.uk/ The Seaside Boarding House, Restaurant & Bar, Burton Bradstock February/March The Seaside Boarding House Restaurant and Bar is set on the cliffs overlooking the sweep of Dorset’s famous Chesil Beach and the wide expanse of Lyme Bay. The accommodation features eight large bedrooms, while the restaurant overlooks the ever-changing seascape and will source local produce from the land, sea and air, embracing forgotten classics alongside modern British cooking. There is also a separate bar offering old fashioned cocktails, a ‘snug’ for afternoon naps and a larder for mid-afternoon snacks or 'midnight feasts'. Rooms are £200 per night including breakfast. http://theseasideboardinghouse.com The Elephant at the Market, Newbury March A brand new restaurant with rooms, The Elephant at the Market has opened in Berkshire. The décor is inspired by the Babar children’s books and each of the 14 rooms is named after a character from the stories. Located in Market Place, the restaurant serves up delicious food in a home-from-home space. Rooms from £95 per night. http://theelephantatthemarket.com/ Weavers’ House Spa, The Swan Hotel at Lavenham March In time for the festive season, the iconic 15th century Swan Hotel in Lavenham, Suffolk will be opening its brand new spa. Facilities will include six treatment rooms with two relaxation suites; a manicure/pedicure area; aromatic steam room, hot stone sauna and an outdoor vitality pool. The Spa will offer over 30 results-orientated and total wellbeing, sensual facial and body treatments for men and women, plus bespoke day packages, to relax, restore and refresh. http://www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk/weavers-house-spa-suffolk/ M by Montcalm, London April

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The M by Montcalm hotel will become a standout new landmark on the London skyline. Fusing large scale art, sculpture and architecture in a futuristic-looking tower, this 23 storey building in Shoreditch will house 200 bedrooms, retail venues, bars, a business centre and fitness centre. http://www.mbymontcalm.co.uk/ Roomzzz, Chester April Roomzzz is a new luxury 64 apartment block, which includes five stunning penthouses all with balconies overlooking the racecourse. It is ideally located a short walk from the city center and right next to the oldest racecourse in the UK, Chester. www.roomzzz.com/chester-city/ Stanbrook Abbey, Worcestershire 17 April Following a multi-million pound refurbishment, Stanbrook Abbey is opening its main building for overnight stays with the introduction of 52 luxury bedrooms. The newly-refurbished monastery, which was built in 1625, offers a range of rooms including a cardinal suite whose balcony looks over the surrounding grounds. Room start at £135 including breakfast. www.amazingvenues.co.uk No Man’s Fort, the Solent 23 April No Man’s Fort, a man-made island in the middle of the Solent, is opening its doors for day trips and overnight stays after undergoing extensive renovation. Along with 22 luxury bedrooms, the fort offers a nightclub, rooftop hot-pool, glass-floored lighthouse, gallery restaurant, wine bar, spa facilities, games rooms and two helicopter pads. No Man’s Fort is located 1.4 miles from the Isle of Wight and is accessed via boat from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. Overnight, full-board stays start from £450 per room. www.amazingvenues.co.uk Living Architecture: A House for Essex Spring Living Architecture has worked with artist Grayson Perry to build a unique new house in the North Essex countryside. The house, near Wrabness on the North Essex coast, is an artwork in itself and is the setting for a number of works by Grayson Perry, exploring the special character and unique qualities of Essex. www.living-architecture.co.uk Hotel Football, Manchester March Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville will launch the second brand under the GG Hospitality umbrella, Hotel Football, which will be located on the doorstep of Old Trafford football stadium and provide a vibrant experience with football at its heart. Guests can enjoy the functioning rooftop football pitch, the distinctive bedrooms and the iconic stadium right on their doorstep. Rooms will start from £89 per person. www.hotelfootball.com The Old Stocks Inn, Gloucestershire 9 March The Old Stocks Inn has reopened as a Grade II listed boutique hotel. Located in Stow-on-the-Wold’s historic market square, the hotel has undergone an extensive refurb. Its novel ‘hub’ hotel approach, fuelled by the local knowledge of its staff, makes it the perfect place to explore all that the Cotswolds has to offer. It contains 16 inviting bedrooms, all housed within this beautiful 17th century building. www.oldstocksinn.com/ LEGO® FRIENDS themed Hotel Rooms, Legoland Windsor

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March Ten premium themed rooms are set to open in the unique Resort Hotel in March as well as a new LEGO Friends area in early summer. Accommodating two adults and up to three children, each room has a separate sleeping area for young Friends and their grown-ups, as well as interactive games. The new LEGO Friends rooms bring a fourth theme to the 150-room hotel joining the existing Kingdom, Pirate and Adventure rooms. Premium LEGO® Friends room packages are available from £369 in low season including two full days on the park and breakfast at the Bricks Family Restaurant. http://www.legoland.co.uk/en/hotel/ Innside by Melia, Manchester April Melia will open its first hotel in Manchester as part of the First Street North development. It promises sleek, design-led rooms, state-of-the-art technology, and stylish destination bars and restaurants. www.innside.com Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton April From February, the Hilton Brighton Metropole will undergo a major £3.75m renovation, which will see the landmark building transformed with a brand new restaurant and spa. The hotel, which sits on Brighton’s seafront, is also set to refurbish 185 of its 340 guest rooms (including four suites) as well as its meeting rooms. Whilst the refurbishments won’t be ready until April, the Salt Room restaurant and the spa will be open from the end of February. www.hilton.com/brightonmet Enchanted Village, Alton Towers April Alton Towers is launching brand new accommodation at its theme park resort in Staffordshire. Guests will be able to enjoy an enchanting break in woodland lodges or a luxury tree house, and experience a land full of forest spirits and little fable folk that live amongst the trees. http://www.altontowers.com/hotels/enchanted-village/ Cockliffe Country House Hotel, Nottinghamshire April Cockliffe Country House Hotel is a 17th century former farmhouse set in the heart of rural Nottingham, bordering the historically significant Sherwood Forest. The 11-bedroom property was acquired by independent hotel group, Heritage Estates, who already own Kelham House. The property will undergo an extensive refurbishment scheme, investing up to £1m to transform the venue’s bedrooms, restaurant, wedding and conference facilities. The refurbishment programme begins in January, with phase one expected to be completed by April. www.cch-hotel.co.uk Safestay hostel, Holland Park April Safestay will open its third luxury hostel this year in a Grade I listed building within Holland Park in West London. The property, which has undergone a £2 million refurbishment, forms part of the original Jacobean building, which dates back to 1607, and was until recently a YHA hostel. The hostel forms the backdrop for the open-air Holland Park Opera and is located near The Belvedere restaurant and the Park’s sporting facilities. Rates at Safestay start from £18 per bed per night. Private twin rooms start from £60 per room per night. http://www.safestay.co.uk/ The Base hotel, Cornwall April Located in Bude, The Base hotel will be the third hotel in the Hebasca Group chain. It will complete the design- led flair of its sister hotels, promising all the style and amenities of a luxury hotel at a fraction of the price.

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Perfectly located for exploring the paths and coastal walks of the north coast of Cornwall, rooms will start from just £27.50 per night. http://www.hebasca.co.uk/ Chapel House Hotel, Penzance 1 May Restoring one of the town’s finest domestic buildings from near collapse, the new Chapel House Hotel is set to offer gorgeous boutique accommodation in Penzance. It will have only six bedrooms, all with original Georgian features and five offering stunning views over Mounts Bay. Double rooms start from £180 per night. http://www.chapelhousepz.co.uk/ Hampton by Hilton, Newcastle upon Tyne May Planning permission was granted in 2013 for the conversion of the Baron House office block opposite Central Station into a 160-bedroom hotel. The hotel will be a Hampton by Hilton upper-tier budget/limited service hotel operated by Interstate Hotels. Initially with 124 bedrooms, the hotel has the potential option to extend to the full 160 bedrooms at a later stage. http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/index.html St Martins Hotel, London May The 15 year old property located in Covent Garden, St Martins Hotel, has completed an extensive redesign. The hotel now has an additional late-night cocktail lounge, Blind Spot, designed by Tim Andreas, and a refreshed restaurant décor in the hotel’s Asia de Cuba restaurant. Each of the 204 bedrooms has been given a technological makeover, including an interactive mood lighting system. https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-st-martins-lane-london Royal Wells Hotel, Kent May Following a £2.4 million transformation by Britain’s oldest brewers, Shepherd Neame, the Royal Wells Hotel has reopened in Tunbridge Wells. Renovations include a new orangery, The Brasserie, a new courtyard garden, and a cosy new library area. Four additional en-suite bedrooms have been added to the hotel, taking the total to 27, and every room has been refurbished in a contemporary, elegant style with bold splashes of colour. Queen Victoria made frequent visits to the hotel at the start of the 19th century, and later granted the use of her coat of arms, which is displayed on top of the building. Double rooms from £100 per night, including breakfast. http://www.royalwells.co.uk/ Exclusive hire at Cowdray House, West Sussex May The home of British polo is set to provide a glorious and memorable West Sussex backdrop for upscale country house gatherings, which aims to host private events with a stately blend of glamour and warm hospitality within the 11bedroom house. Cowdray House, which sleeps 22, is surrounded by some 100 acres of its own gardens and grounds, boasts expansive views of the South Downs National Park and is set within Capability Brown parkland. www.cowdray.co.uk Hotel Gotham, Manchester Spring The spectacular new Hotel Gotham promises to be 'a fun, witty destination and a little bit naughty’. The brand new hotel will be in the central conservation area of Manchester and set in one of the city's grandest, listed buildings - a former bank premises at 100 King Street, designed by Edwin Lutyens and referenced in Pevsner's Architectural Guide. Along with the 60 bedrooms, there will be a restaurant, a prohibition style bar and roof-top members-only club. www.bespokehotels.com/hotelgotham

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The Lanesborough, London Spring After auctioning every piece from its public spaces and rooms last year, the newly designed Lanesborough - by interior designer, Alberto Pinto - will integrate the latest innovations while honouring the building’s architectural Regency heritage. The hotel offers 5 star luxury accommodation with a wide range of complimentary services, including exclusive Butler Service, change of clothing pressed on arrival, Sony VAIO laptops in all rooms, and access to the spa and fitness studio. www.lanesborough.com Norton Grounds B&B and Self Catering, North Cotswolds Spring Norton Grounds, based just outside Chipping Campden, offers luxury self-catering accommodation in beautiful converted barns, and bed and breakfast in the 18th Century Farmhouse. In addition, Norton Grounds Equestrian provides first class facilities for eventers and is home to two professional yards. The 120 acre farm estate offers the ultimate retreat for a peaceful getaway, and also offers a delicious home cooked breakfast. www.nortongrounds.com Padstow Townhouse, Cornwall Spring Owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Number 6, Chef Paul Ainsworth is set to open his first accommodation offering. Previously known as The Tregea Hotel, The Padstow Townhouse will feature six high-end luxury rooms in the heart of Padstow, a north Cornish harbour town on the edge of the Camel Estuary. It will include six boutique bedrooms, all with luxury amenities. http://www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk/blog/padstow-townhouse/ The Victoria, Holkham, Norfolk Spring Following a major renovation project, The Victoria is creating 10 new guest bedrooms this spring, following the conversion of the adjacent Ancient House. The rooms will include three split-level suites and guests will be able to relax in the house’s peaceful and private walled rose garden. http://www.holkham.co.uk/victoria/ancienthouse.html

Treehouse Hotel, Port Lympne Reserve, Kent June Port Lympne Wild Animal and Safari Reserve will launch its much anticipated Treehouse Hotel in June. Guests can experience the height of luxury in these unique treehouses with a thirty mile vista over the English Channel and roaming rhino below. Ensconced in the tree canopy, high above the 600 acre reserve, the glass fronted suites reflect their stunning natural surroundings whilst offering space, comfort and serenity away from the everyday buzz of life. Treehouse from £300 per night (low season). https://www.aspinallfoundation.org/treehouse-hotel Vermont Aparthotel, Newcastle June Offering 11 luxury apartments, including two stunning penthouse suites, on the Cosmopolitan Newcastle Quayside, Vermont Aparthotel is set to open in June. These luxury serviced apartments are all available on a nightly basis, making them ideal for both corporate clients and leisure visitors to Newcastle and the wider region. http://vermontaparthotel.com/ Inn on the Square, Cumbria June The family owned and run Cumbrian hotel group, Lake District Hotels Ltd, has opened a new property in the charming market town of Keswick. Inn on the Square, designed for laid-back luxury escapes with a hint of urban-cool, in the heart of the Lake

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District, has 34 modern bedrooms, a chic lounge bar and the Lake District’s first dedicated Steakhouse – Brossen. Perfect for romantic weekenders and fresh-air-seeking walkers, this new hotel is set to be the first 4-star property in Keswick. Prices start from £106pp Bed & Breakfast. http://www.innonthesquare.co.uk/ The Woodlands, Leicestershire June The Woodlands is a quirky new village-style woodland accommodation in Leicestershire. Located in the wooded grounds of the manor house, Hothorpe Hall, the venue is a distinct alternative to the original Georgian manor house. It comprises of 23 bedrooms nesteled along the edge of the woods within a series of quirky woodland lodges, snugs, and an elevated treehouse, offering countryside and woodland views. www.hothorpe.co.uk/woodlands Killingworth Castle, Oxfordshire June The Killingworth Castle pub in Woodstock has recently undergone a refurbishment, launching eight new letting bedrooms in the 1637 pub’s stable block. Back in 2012, it was a near derelict pub, but since coming under new ownership, it is now a thriving establishment, with each of the bedrooms boasting handpicked furnishings, individual artwork, roll top baths and four-poster beds. Rooms are from £112 per night. www.thekillingworthcastle.com/ Fish Hotel, Broadway, Cotswolds June Sister hotel to the celebrated Dormy House and Foxhill Manor in the Cotswolds, the Fish Hotel in Broadway is the latest addition to the group. The 47 room hotel is a ‘budget boutique’ alternative with rooms starting from £125 on a B&B basis. Part of the Farncombe Estate, it boasts beautiful views of the Vale of Evesham. The Fish’s restaurant offers local dishes with seasonal produce. www.thefishhotel.co.uk/ Bert’s Barges, London July A new boutique barge hotel brand, Bert’s Barges, has launched its first ‘city barge’ moored on the Regent’s canal in Hackney, east London. The barge offers guests a one bedroom luxury floating suite, a large living/ dining area, fully fitted kitchen, flat screen TV, underfloor heating, wood burning stove and a large bathroom with walk in Agape shower. The location allows guests easy access to east London’s thriving creative art and design scene, and prices start from £250 per night (for bookings of two nights or more), based on two sharing the suite. There are also plans to expand to other city locations, such as Bristol and York. www.bertsbarges.com Igloo Hybrid Ho[s]tel, Nottingham 11 July Igloo Hybrid Ho[s]tel brings a new independent and quirky place to stay in the centre of Nottingham at a fragment of the price. The boutique hostel offers a range of rooms from mixed dorms to private doubles each with an individual style. The living areas are furnished with repurposed pieces of furniture found from local flea markets and are great for evenings in. www.igloohostel.co.uk/igloo-hybrid/ GreyFriars, Colchester, Essex 23 July This 18th century private family house has been renovated into a boutique hotel in the centre of Colchester. As well as luxury bedrooms the hotel is also open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails, dinner or a pot of speciality tea. www.greyfriarscolchester.co.uk/

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St Anne’s Beach Apartments, Lancashire 31 July The award-winning St Anne’s Beach Huts, just a short walk from the beautiful St Anne’s beach, have launched their brand new Beach Apartments for the summer season. The stylish apartments are the ultimate beach havens, offering the luxury and comfort of a five star hotel with the freedom of a self-catered property. Guests can finish off a busy day at the beach by watching the sun set over the breath-taking Fylde coast. Apartments from £480, minimum 3 night stay. http://www.stannesbeachhuts.co.uk/apartments/ Hotel Indigo, York Summer A new boutique hotel, Hotel Indigo York, is set to open this summer. It will boast 101 individually designed rooms, and will reflect the city's strong chocolate heritage in its décor and ambience. The hotel will even have York’s first speciality meatball restaurant, The Yorkshire Meatball Co which uses only the freshest locally sourced produce. www.hotelindigo.com/ King Street Townhouse, Manchester Summer Located within the Upper King Street conservation area of Manchester City Centre, this Grade II listed building, dating back to 1864, has undergone redevelopment into a luxurious and intimate townhouse hotel by Eamonn and Sally O'Loughlin, proprietors of Eclectic Hotels. The hotel will feature 40 bedrooms and suites, a south facing roof garden and rooftop spa pool. www.kingstreettownhouse.co.uk The Lodge Hotel, Putney Summer The Lodge Hotel in Putney is building a new 23 bedroom addition to their hotel, following extensive refurbishment to their restaurant and public areas too. Alongside its new urban chic rooms, the refurbishment also includes a luxury state-of-the-art gym. The property is highly sustainably focused, creating a hotel which will be able to provide fabulous accommodation alongside being conscious and kind to its surrounding environment. Classic Doubles or Twin from £123 B&B. www.thelodgehotellondon.com Carden Park, Cheshire Summer Set in 1,000 acres of scenic Cheshire countryside, the Carden Park hotel has recently undergone a £4million refurbishment. It now has a renovated spa and a state of the art gym, which joins the two golf courses, vineyard and award-winning restaurants. Perfect for families, the hotel includes a crazy golf course and a climbing ropes course. www.cardenpark.co.uk/ Opening of InterContinental Greenwich Summer The 452-room property, which will be known as the InterContinental London The O2, will stand at 19 storeys high. The five-star hotel will feature Europe's largest pillar-free ballroom, a health spa, several restaurants and a panoramic ‘Sky Bar’ with views of Canary Wharf and the River Thames. http://www.intercontinental.com/ Crowne Plaza Hotel Development, Newcastle upon Tyne July North East developer Silverlink is building a £55m 251-bed, four-star Intercontinental Hotels Group, Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Stephenson Quarter, next to Newcastle's Central Station. Development was carried out throughout 2014, with a projected opening date of July. http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/gb/en/reservation

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Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath 1 July Originally built in the 1800s, The Gainsborough Bath Spa occupies three listed and historic buildings, The Gainsborough, Bellotts, Hetling House, with distinguished Grade II Georgian façades and the one remaining Elizabethan building in the heart of Bath. The Gainsborough Bath Spa has the unique privilege of being the only hotel in the United Kingdom to house a natural thermal spa. www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk Horringer Park Gates, Ickworth Estate, Suffolk July Guests staying in this strikingly attractive cottage (which sleeps four) can tramp along woodland lanes, gaze across Fairy Lake or nose around the beautiful walled gardens of the Ickworth Estate. Situated in front of a church, the cottage has a pretty rear garden, part-walled with a lawn, fruit trees and sheltered spots. Just a few minutes' walk away is the Six Bells country pub and restaurant in Horringer village, or guests can take a leisurely stroll to Ickworth's own spacious restaurant, the West Wing. http://www.nationaltrustholidays.org.uk/ Mottistone Manor Farmhouse, Isle of Wight July A 30 minute ferry journey is all it takes to reach the Isle of Wight with its rolling countryside, sandy beaches and laid back villages. Mottistone Manor Farmhouse, (which sleeps 14) is set in one of the smallest villages on the island and occupies an enviable location close to Mottistone Gardens and church. The cottage is surrounded by large, secluded gardens with sea views and guests are free to explore the Mediterranean-style gardens at Mottistone. http://www.nationaltrustholidays.org.uk/ Two Hoots Campsite, East Hampshire August Two Hoots Campsite has introduced Shepherd’s huts to its campsite. The huts will be built with traditional wood panelling inside and additional insulation for all winter glamping, with French door in the centre, and will also have homely facilities, with heating and electricity. The adult-only escape is close to the famous Watercress Steam Railway, quaint Georgian town of Aresford with take-away, pubs, cafes, boutiques and more. www.twohootscampsite.co.uk/shepherdshuts.html Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire August Soho House will open its latest outpost in Great Tew, Oxfordshire in August 2015, joining Babington House as one of only two English country retreats by the exclusive group. 40 cabins of different sizes and styles, a boathouse with an indoor/outdoor pool that flows into a lake, a Cowshed spa, farm shop & deli, electric barn cinema and much more can be found across the 100 acre site. Cabins start at £230 for a non-member. www.sohofarmhouse.com Hobbit House, Yorkshire August Lord of the Rings fans are now able to experience a little bit of The Shire, at Golden Hill Farm in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Potts Corner features a green round porthole-like door, stained glass windows and even a grass roof. The cosy retreat sleeps six, and contains all amenities such as cooking facilities, a log burner and a roll-top free-standing bath. It is available to rent from £650 for three nights. www.northshire.co.uk/ The Laslett, London 5 August

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The Laslett, a new hotel by Living Rooms – the hotel alternative - will open its doors in London’s Notting Hill this summer. Inspired by the area’s vibrant cultural heritage, the 51 guest rooms and suites will resemble a stylish townhouse. Downstairs at The Laslett will boast a multifunctional space which will evolve throughout the day – part coffee shop, part bar-kitchen, part gallery, part concept store. It will also celevbrate the ‘Best of British’, with staff wearing Doc Martens, and a shop showcasing British designers and artists. http://www.living-rooms.co.uk/hotel/the-laslett Shankly Hotel, Liverpool 15 August The football themed hotel, Hotel Shankly, is due to open in Liverpool, named after former Liverpool FC manager and club icon, Bill Shankly. It will be opened by the developers that opened the Titanic-themed 30 James Street property in August last year. It will transform the Millennium House building, with both the 250-room hotel, as well as a Bill Shankly museum full of previously unseen memorabilia. The hotel’s promotional opening offers means that rooms start from £35 per head per night. http://shanklyhotel.com/ Ramside Hall, Durham City 1 August Ramside Hall it set to open a luxury spa and 47 new deluxe rooms this summer. The multi-million pound spa will have a range of facilities including a 25metre swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, saunas and a range of steam rooms, as well an infinity pool spa, a caldarium – a hot plunge pool – and a Rasul mud chamber. It’s spa forms part of significant expansion at the four star country house hotel, with the additional bedrooms bringing the total up to 128. The development follows the opening on a 18-hole championship golf course earlier this year at the hotel. www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk/ Zetter Townhouse, Marylebone, London Summer The Zetter Townhouse, Marylebone, is the latest addition to the Zetter Group’s boutique hotel family. This 24-bedroom Georgian townhouse includes a cocktail bar on the ground floor and a spectacular rooftop apartment, complete with a large roof terrace with an alfresco roll top bath. http://www.thezettergroup.com/#venues M Spa Wellness Retreat by M by Montcalm, London September The M by Montcalm Hotel opened in Shoreditch last year and in September 2015 it unveiled its new M Spa Wellness Retreat. Designed to help guests escape the stress of city life, the spa includes signature treatments ila and Natura Bissē, ranging from £15-£145. www.mbymontcalm.co.uk/ Nadler Hotel, Victoria, London Autumn Nadler Hotels has announced it will launch its fourth property this autumn. Located next to Buckingham Palace in Victoria, the hotel will offer 73 luxurious bedrooms, all with the signature Nadler style, including mini kitchens. The hotel chain already has properties in Kensington and Soho, as well as Liverpool. http://www.thenadler.com/hp/the-nadler-victoria Rockliffe Hall, Durham Autumn Rockliffe Hall in the Vale of Durham is set to unveil its newly expanded spa this autumn. It will include a new 200-metre square ‘Spa Garden’ which will be the only one of its kind in the North East. Placed next to the current spa, it will have two outdoor hot pools including an infinity edge hydrotherapy pool with massage features and a warm jacuzzi, under-floor heated decking and

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lounging areas, a garden room with a traditional glass-fronted sauna cabin, fire pit, water feature, landscaped gardens with views across Rockliffe Hall’s grounds and heated relaxation loungers. www.rockliffehall.com/ Hilton London Bankside October A brand new purpose-built hotel, the Hilton London Bankside contains a four-storey glass atrium, 292 rooms and fitness centre, complete with swimming pool, and an opulent ballroom. It will boast 31 suites, an executive lounge, plus a restaurant, bar and cafe. The building has been designed by Dexter Moren Architects and features a split-level design with one half of the building lower than the other to give two adjoining forms. It will be accepting reservations from late October. www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-london-bankside-LONSBHI/index.html M by Montcalm, London November This luxe tech hotel, situated amidst the buzz of London in Shoreditch, will see its 16th and 17th floors now complete. M by Montcalm oozes style, and boasts the largest spa in the area with a pool, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, and gym facilities. The hotel offers two standout dining experiences; Urban Coterie on the 17th floor created by Anthony Demetrie who is well known for his Michelin star dining; and Tonic & Remedy, spread across the ground and mezzanine floors offering a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel has 269 stylish rooms and suites all embedded with advanced technology. www.mbymontcalm.co.uk

Forest Side Hotel, Grasmere, Cumbria November Set to launch in mid-November 2015 after a four million pound renovation and refurbishment, Forest Side Hotel will open as a 20 bedroom, 50 cover restaurant, all set in a 19th-century Victorian hotel minutes from Grasmere in the Lake District, Cumbria. Heading up the kitchen will be Kevin Tickle, former chef and head forager at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume. Kevin’s menu will change daily according to produce available within the abundant 46 acres of forageable ground and the extensive Victorian walled kitchen garden. www.golakes.co.uk Kedleston Country House, Derbyshire Late 2015 Set in the rolling countryside of the Kedleston Estate near Derby, Kedleston Country House is scheduled to open later this year as a five-bedroom boutique hotel. Each of the rooms, boasting views of the estate, has been individually designed to offer “modern country elegance”. The iconic grade II listed building has been transformed in a joint venture between the Derby Brewing Company and the Kedleston Estate’s Curzon family. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall/ Z Hotels, London Winter Z Hotels will be adding two new properties to its portfolio, Z Shoreditch and Z Gloucester Place, at the end of 2015 with four more openings in early 2016. As with all Z properties, the compact-design rooms will offer guests luxury bed linen on handcrafted beds, 40” LED TVs with Sky Sports and Movies at no extra cost, power showers and free high speed wifi throughout. There will also be complimentary cheese and wine each evening for guests. www.theZhotels.com Opening of Hilton Hotel Bournemouth Winter An £85m scheme will see a new four-star Hilton Hotel open in Bournemouth town centre. It will boast 172 bedrooms, a skybar, leisure club, swimming pool, conferencing facilities and a café. http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-bournemouth-BOHTMHI/index.html

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Intercontinental London – the O2, London Winter With easy access to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and London’s West End, as well as being right next to the world’s most popular entertainment venue, guests will not be short of things to do at the Intercontinental London – O2. The hotel itself has 453 luxurious rooms as well as an array of bars and restaurants and a well-equipped fitness centre and spa. http://iclondon-theo2.com/#/ 2015: New hotel at Plymouth’s Royal William Yard Developer Urban Splash and the Watergate Bay Hotel in north Cornwall have agreed a lease on the clock tower building in Plymouth’s Royal William Yard. http://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/areas-to-visit/royal-william-yard 2. Activities

Sandstone Way, Northumberland Spring A brand-new, 120-mile mountain bike trail linking Berwick-upon-Tweed and Hexham via Northumberland’s most spectacular coastal and countryside scenery will open in Spring. Aimed at mountain bikers, the trail will include off-road and link sections on very quiet country lanes, and has been designed to safely cross rivers, main roads and railway lines. It will appeal to riders of all abilities taking three or four days to complete on average. http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/ Salisbury Escape Room; Magna Carta Challenge, Wiltshire 28 March New to Salisbury, Escape Games are physical adventures in which players are locked in a room with other participants and must use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles, find clues, and escape within an hour. Players must be observant and use their critical thinking skills to escape the room. Testing and addictive, the games include a Magna Carta Challenge in which players must pit their wits against fiendish puzzles and clues to recover the stolen Magna Carta and escape. http://www.salisburyescape.com/ Abseiling experiences, ArcelorMittal Orbit, London Various dates from April The ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture, is launching a new abseiling experiences this year. The five dates available are 18 April, 27 June, 11 July, 8 August and 19 September but groups can also book privately on selected dates as well. The iconic landmark was conceived and designed by Turner Prize winning artist Sir Anish Kapoor and structural designer Cecil Balmond to mark the London 2012 Games offering stunning panoramic views across the capital. http://www.arcelormittalorbit.com/ Ullswater Steamers, Lake District May New for 2015, the Aira Force Pier will link a new cruise and walk between National Trust Aira Force Waterfall and Glenridding Pier from 23 May. Aira Force has a love story behind it, involving a knight and his beloved Emma, which was immortalised by William Wordsworth. The new walk will also take visitors past another famous Wordsworth landmark – the lakeshore where his daffodils still bloom. In 2015 there will be a new group tour with Dove Cottage and Aira Force cruise and a joint day ticket for the public for Ullswater Steamers, Dalemain Historic Mansion & Gardens and Lowther Castle & Gardens. http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/ Mermaid swimming courses, Cornwall May

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Diving company Freedive UK is set to launch England’s first-ever mermaid swimming course in May. A popular pastime in many tropical resorts already, the course teaches students the art of gliding underwater with a mermaid tail attached. Students can choose between a one-day or three-day course, costing £100 and £400 respectively. http://freediveuk.com/freediving-courses/mermaid-courses-uk/ Urban swimming pool at Royal Docks, London Summer The Royal Docks in east London have opened as an urban swimming pool during set periods for the summer months. Suitable for both competitive and casual swimmers, it is open at set times to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Open water courses run by trained professionals will also be on offer, with areas marked for casual swimmers, as well as training stretches for more serious swimmers. www.londonroyaldocksows.co.uk Hartnett Holder & Co cookery courses, Limewood Hotel, Hampshire July Guests at Limewood can now head behind the scenes of the Hartnett Holder & Co kitchen for cooking lessons with head chefs, Angela Hartnett & Luke Holder. Drawing on Angela and Luke’s fresh, confident approach to cooking and eating, the signature home-cooked style cookery classes offer a, fun and informal way of learning how to cook delicious food. Suitable for everyone from complete beginners to budding master chefs,. All classes take place in their brand new purpose built cookery school kitchen at the Limewood Hotel. www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/hartnett-holder-and-co/backstage/ 3. Anniversaries

80th anniversary of the Ramblers, Countrywide January On 1 January 1935, the Ramblers Association was officially created. Over the past eight decades, it has continued to grow and change with the times. www.ramblers.org.uk/england 50th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s death, Countrywide 24 January Sir Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of the UK in the 1940s and 1950s, encompassing the Second World War. He also fought in the First World War and is regarded one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century. 800th anniversary of Magna Carta exhibition, British Library 13 March – 1 September 2015 To mark the 800th anniversary Magna Carta, the British Library is holding a once-in-a lifetime exhibition that explores the history and resonance of this globally-recognised document that enshrines the principles of justice, democracy and freedom. The exhibition will be at the heart of a wider Magna Carta programme at the Library with a series of public events. As part of the exhibition, two of the most fundamentally important documents in American history, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, are to go on display in the UK for the first time. http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/magna-carta/

50th anniversary of the Pennine Way, Various locations April 24 April marks the 50th anniversary of the Pennine Way - the first National Trust trail and the UK’s longest trail. The anniversary will be celebrated by Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Northumberland and Cumbria and an official event will take place at the Moorland Discovery Centre in Edale. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/pennine-way

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500th anniversary of Hampton Court Palace 2015 will mark 500 years since Cardinal Wolsey commissioned builders to lay the foundations of Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, which was famously the centre of court life for over 200 years. To celebrate the momentous anniversary, the Palace will host a series of special events, displays and entertainment that will explore the Palace’s vast history and the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII. From Easter, the famous wine fountain will flow once more and a state-of-the-art 3D film projection will take place on the Palace’s south façade. Two large garden parties will be staged in the summer, bringing the Tudor Palace to life with medieval jousts and Tudor kitchens. http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/ 100 year anniversary of the sinking of Lusitania, Liverpool May 2015 marks 100 years since the sinking of Lusitania, one of the biggest tragedies of WW1. Most of the 404 crewmen who lost their lives were from Liverpool. 40th Anniversary of the inaugural Cricket World Cup 7 June It doesn’t get more English than a genteel game of cricket unfolding on a village lawn. Invented in England, in the 16th century, the game’s first World Cup was hosted in England in 1975. The inaugural tournament started on 7 June and eight teams participated, including Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies (the six Test nations at the time), together with Sri Lanka and a composite team from East Africa. The tournament is a key milestone in the evolution of the sport and was won by the West Indies, who defeated Australia by 17 runs in the final at Lord's.Today, get to the heart of the game on a tour of Lords cricket ground in north London where fans can visit the MCC Museum and have tea and cucumber sandwiches in the historic Long Room. The Museum’s collection, which began in 1864, spans the full history of cricket from its emergence as a major sport in the early 18th century, to the modern age of Twenty20 and the IPL. Its most famous exhibit is the original Ashes urn, a personal gift to then England captain the Hon. Ivo Bligh. www.lords.org 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain July – October Regarded as the most important event in Royal Air Force history, the Battle of Britain was fought between 10 July and 31 October 1940. To mark the anniversary, the RAF Museum has a number of activities and events planned throughout the year. There will be a number of Vulcan Access Days, allowing the public to sit in the pilot’s seat of an Avro Vulcan, as well as a Battle of Britain Weekend in September. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/ 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth, Devon September Four billion of Agatha Christie’s detective stories have been sold over the years and to celebrate the 125th year of her birth, a planned programme of films and events is in the pipeline. Tate Modern’s 15th Anniversary May Tate Modern opened in 2000 as part of the public-owned Tate Group, along with Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives and Tate Online. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world. http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern Cunard 175th anniversary, Liverpool May May 2015 will see Cunard return to its spiritual home in Liverpool, to celebrate its 175th anniversary. Cunard’s three Queens – Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria – will meet on the famous Liverpool waterfront in a spectacular one-off

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event that will draw tens of thousands of people to the banks of the Mersey. In July, Queen Mary 2 will also recreate the voyage of the first ship, Britannia, from Liverpool to New York. http://www.cunard.co.uk/campaigns/anniversary-cruises/world-club-sale/maiden-atlantic-crossing/ 200th anniversary of Waterloo, London and Kent June The bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo will be marked throughout the year, with English Heritage celebrations at Wellington Arch, Apsley House (the home of the Dukes of Wellington) and Walmer Castle. Objects on show in these locations include the famous Wellington boots and the Iron Duke’s campaign bed. www.english-heritage.org.uk 125th anniversary of Stan Laurel’s birth 16 June The Laurel and Hardy Museum in Stan’s hometown of Ulverston will celebrate the comedy duo this summer with Another Fine Fest. The event will feature music, comedy, theatre and street art and will also coincide with the 125th anniversary of the birth of Stan Laurel. http://www.laurel-and-hardy.co.uk/ 10th anniversary of Seven Stories, Newcastle August The National Centre for Children’s Books, which is a fantastic place for families and set over seven storeys will be marking its tenth birthday in August. www.sevenstories.org.uk 25th anniversary of Manchester Pride August One of the biggest Prides in England celebrates its quarter century in August. www.manchesterpride.com 750th anniversary of Battle of Evesham, Worcestershire August This year is the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Evesham, fought between Simon de Montfort and Prince Edward II in the Baron War. To mark this important historical event, The Battle of Evesham 2015 Festival will take place on 8 and 9 August and will include tours, treasure trails, live battle re-enactments, archery, falconry displays and much more. http://www.visitworcestershire.org/Evesham-The-Battle-of-Evesham-2015-Festival-at-Evesham-Town-Centre/details/?dms=3&venue=1394240&feature=1010 40th anniversary of the National Railway Museum, York 25 September 2015 marks 40 years since the opening of the National Railway Museum in York (25 September 2015), which will be marked with a fantastic programme of special events and exhibitions. The programme will include the re-display of the Battle of Britain Class locomotive, which was used to pull Winston Churchill’s funeral train 50 years ago, and the return of the award-winning partnership with York Theatre Royal, to bring railways alive through theatre. www.nrm.org.uk 600th anniversary of Agincourt October 2015 will mark 800 years since Henry V’s greatest moment. An event, ‘Henry V’s Court’ will take place at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire, where the campaign is alleged to have begun after he received the insulting gift of tennis balls, made famous in Shakespeare’s play, which was the catalyst for the campaign. Visitors can also explore Portchester Castle in Hampshire, where the king gathered his troops before sailing to France.

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www.english-heritage.org.uk 150 years since the publication of Alice in Wonderland, Oxford November Lewis Carroll’s enchanting tale with iconic characters such as the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter is celebrating 150 years since its publication this year. The Story Museum in Oxford will hold a special Alice Day on 4 July, which will include a Mad Hatter’s tea party, exhibitions, storytelling, promenade theatre and Alice-themed walks and talks. On 4 July (co-inciding with the day Alice entered Wonderland), Oxford River Cruises will launch their brand new floating Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, including a river tour of Oxford and a themed afternoon tea. In addition, Alice’s Shop Oxford runs Alice in Wonderland-themed tours year-round, taking in many places of significance to Alice and Lewis Carroll in Oxford and showcasing the many ways in which Oxford influenced and inspired Carroll's writings. http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/alices-day/ 300th anniversary of Battle of Preston, Lancashire November 12 November sees the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Preston, the last ever battle fought on English soil. The city will be marking the anniversary with a variety of exhibitions, guided walks and events in the latter half of the year. Visitors can take in the city’s battle sites, including the Market Square where the Jacobite Army proclaimed ‘James III as King’, and Church Street, Fishergate and Friargate, where the main battle took place. The Harris Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Lancashire will also host exhibits about the Jacobite rebellion. http://www.visitlancashire.com/explore/preston/the-battle-of-preston 200th anniversary of birth of Ada Lovelace, London December Daughter of Lord Byron (commonly known as Ada Lovelace) is renowned for her pioneering work in computing and engineering and has become known as the world’s first computer programmer. The Bodleian Library in Oxford will be running an exhibition dedicated to her life from 29 October – 20 December. http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/ 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s Emma December The timeless classic Emma celebrates its 200th anniversary this December. Whilst Austen may have promised to create in Emma ‘a heroine whom no one but myself will much like’, the novel has been readapted on film and screen many times over the years. 150th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling’s birth 30 December Famed for his short-stories and poems, Rudyard Kipling was born to English parents and spent much of his childhood living in the country. He has links to Bideford in Devon, where he attended school, as well as Rottingdean in Sussex – the county which he adopted as his own. Visit Bateman’s, the home of Rudyard Kipling, set in the rolling Wealden countryside. Learn about his life and the sad story of his son Jack, whom he lost in the trenches of the Great War, aged just 18. From November 2015, visit the exhibition of family photos on display and learn about Kipling’s early life in India. Readings of Kipling’s poetry will also take place, bringing his works to life. The Kipling Festival will take place in June. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans/ http://www.kiplingfestivalrottingdean.co.uk/ 300 year anniversary of Birmingham Cathedral The cathedral, which has been at the heart of the city’s Anglican faith since 1715, is planning a year-long series of events to celebrate its birthday. http://www.birminghamcathedral.com/index.asp?idarea=1&idareasub=1

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50th anniversary of Ikon Gallery, Birmingham Ikon is one of Birmingham’s leading contemporary art galleries, located in Brindleyplace. The gallery was first established in 1965 in a glass-walled kiosk in the city’s old Bullring shopping centre. http://ikon-gallery.org/ 25th anniversary of Birmingham Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet Company relocated to Birmingham in 1990, where it is now an independent ballet company. It is located at the Birmingham Hippodrome. http://www.brb.org.uk/ 4. Attractions/ Exhibitions/Restaurants

Sky Garden, London January Occupying the top three levels of 20 Fenchurch Street and run by ‘rhubarb’ venues, the Sky Garden is nestled within the stunning prehistoric forest garden. Each of the two restaurants and the café/bar will offer the finest food and drink against the striking backdrop of London’s iconic skyline. http://www.rhubarb.net/venues/sky-garden Pride Park Velodrome, Derby January The spectacular new Velodrome will be England’s fifth 250-metres indoor track and is likely to welcome some of the biggest names in cycling. In addition to the 1,500 seater Velodrome, the building will also include a 12-badminton-court-size infield arena and a 5,000 seater concert venue. http://derbyvelo.co.uk/ Churchill: Science in War and Peace, Science Museum 23 January 50 years after his death, the Science Museum will be hosting a brand new exhibition dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill this January. Churchill: Science in War and Peace will adopt an intimate tone by spotlighting individual scientists and their achievements under the direction of Churchill. The exhibition will be divided into two sections: one addressing the uniqueness of scientific innovations to the British war effort, the second tracing how the huge infusion of war research and development defined fundamental science of the 1950s and has resonated to the current day. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ Salt Room restaurant, Brighton February The team behind the Coal Shed, Brighton’s award-winning restaurant, will launch the Salt Room this month in a prime, seafront location. While the Coal Shed has made a name for itself as serving the best steaks in town, its sister restaurant will celebrate the Fruits of the Sea, delivering the finest seafood to the table. The Salt Room is owned by Razak Helalat, who opened the Coal Shed almost four years ago, and will be part of the Hilton Brighton Metropole site. www.saltroom-restaurant.co.uk New Churchill exhibition, Blenheim Palace 14 February Blenheim Palace will re-open after the winter break on 14 February with a completely re-vamped Churchill exhibition. The story of Sir Winston Churchill’s life will be told with new artefacts and interpretation. http://www.blenheimpalace.com/blenheimpalace/about-blenheim-palace/winston-churchill.html Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester

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14 February On 14 February, the new Whitworth Art Gallery will reopen with an extended two new wings elevating the gallery into Whitworth Park. A glass wing will house a first floor 'café in the trees' and a ground floor learning studio which will open into a new art garden. The second, brick wing, will house a new landscape gallery with views over the park and a ground floor study centre. The wings are linked by a promenade that wraps the back of the original building, giving views over the park. http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/galleryinthepark Shaun the Sheep Experience, Cornwall February Ahead of the release of the Shaun the Sheep film, a new attraction will open in Land’s End, Cornwall. The Shaun the Sheep Experience, presented by Aardman, will see the famous Land’s End signpost rebranded 'Lamb’s End' with original sets, models and characters from the BAFTA and Academy award-winning productions. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in Mossy Bottom Farm, discover the sheer mayhem of the Naughty Pig's Sty and try to cure Shirley the Sheep's hiccups. There will also be an opportunity for people to star in a real Shaun the Sheep scene using green screen technology and to meet other characters from the Aardman family including Wallace and Gromit and Morph. www.heritagegb.co.uk Hawksmoor restaurant, Manchester March The well-known steak restaurant Hawksmoor, which has been a huge success in London, has opened its first venue outside of the capital. Located in Deansgate, the new restaurant features dark and opulent interiors and a menu that sticks closely to its signature London dishes, with large steaks cooked over charcoal. http://thehawksmoor.com/locations/manchester/ Newcastle Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne Spring Following a re-imagination of the visitor experience thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, Newcastle Castle will be transformed into a hub of heritage activity and learning. The Black Gate and Castle Keep will provide visitors with a portal into the history of Old Newcastle, telling the story of the people who lived here over the centuries. http://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/ Osborne House, Isle of Wight Spring The Durbar Room, which is part of the wing constructed by Queen Victoria in 1890, is set to reopen in spring following renovation to return this grand space to its historical presentation as a dining room. Inspired by photographs from the1890s, English Heritage has stripped out the 20th century display cases and replaced them with a newly commissioned dining table and balloon-backed dining chairs. New showcases will display a collection of fine, decorative objects from the sub-continent; predominantly gifts commemorating Queen Victoria’s golden and diamond jubilees of 1887 and 1897. www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/osborne Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Cornwall Spring After five years at the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock, Nathan Outlaw’s latest restaurant will open in the fishing village of Port Issac where it will sit within the spacious, modern building currently known as The Edge. It will complement the one Michelin star Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen also in Port Isaac while Outlaw’s at St Enodoc Hotel will remain open for hotel guests and non-residents. http://www.nathan-outlaw.com Hogwarts Express, Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden 19 March A 20,000ft expansion is set to be unveiled at Warner Bros. Studio, which will include the original Hogwarts Express steam engine and a recreation of Platform 9¾. This new, permanent addition will offer a glimpse into how some of the films’ most

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iconic scenes were created, as well as giving visitors the chance to climb aboard the train and to pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the platform wall. www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/news-updates/HogwartsExpress Magna Carta exhibition, Salisbury Cathedral 7 March This exhibition, entitled ‘Magna Carta: Spirit of Justice, Power of Words’, will present Salisbury Cathedral’s original 1215 Magna Carta manuscript in its historic context. It will move from the story of the struggle between King John and his barons to the legacy of Magna Carta across the ages, and why it is still relevant today. http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/magna-carta/visiting-magna-carta Opening of new Weston Library at the Bodleian 21 March The Weston Library is intended to be a place for study, research and teaching using the Bodleian’s special collections. The newly-renovated building will accommodate new and existing facilities including: reading rooms for the consultation of special collections (rare books, manuscripts, archives, music, maps), new research facilities and enhanced public access through exhibitions and lectures. It is due to open on 21 March. http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/our-work/estates-projects/weston Completion of Bournemouth Seafront Strategy March The new development will connect the Bourne Stream which currently ends in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens, to the seafront for the first time in over 100 years. This will allow locals and visitors to stay down at the pier until later in the evening. http://www.bournemouth.co.uk/ Kitty Café, Nottingham March The Kitty Café is Nottingham’s first ever feline cafe and the only one in England outside of London. Meet and relax with 19 cats and kittens, all of which are looking for a new home. An absolute must for all cat lovers, guests can also enjoy a range of 100 different types of tea, fresh coffees and baked goods made onsite, whilst making lots of new furry friends. http://kittycafe.co.uk/ Penguins of Madagascar, Chessington World of Adventures March 2015 has been dubbed Year of the Penguins aby Chessington World of Adventures, and the DreamWorks Penguins of Madagascar will be descending upon the theme park with their brand new live show. Launched on the Africa stage, ‘Penguins of Madagascar Live! Operation Cheezy Dibbles’ will feature exclusive, never before seen in the UK animatronic characters that sing, dance and talk, helping to bring the secret mission to life. Visitors can also join the agent birds on a top secret operation on a themed Penguins of Madagascar ride for young adventurers. http://www.chessington.com/2015/penguins Octonauts, Alton Towers 21 March My First Coaster is the brand new Octonauts rollercoaster to hit CBeebies Land, aimed at pre-schoolers. Children will discover some fascinating sea creatures and learn about some of the Octonauts most exciting missions as they take an interactive tour of the Octopod. CBeebies Land include rides, immersive play areas, live experiences, character appearances and is a fun and safe environment in which pre-schoolers can play and learn. https://www.altontowers.com/things-to-do/theme-park/octonauts-rollercoaster-adventure/ I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Maze, Thorpe Park, Surrey 27 March

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Thorpe Park is opening a new I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here themed attraction. Visitors to the jungle maze will take on some of the most iconic trials inspired by the award-winning TV show, including the Catacombs of Doom and the Chambers of Horror. www.thorpepark.com/rides/im-a-celebrity/ National Videogame Arcade, Nottingham 28 March This five-storey building in the heart of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter is set to promote the diverse cultural, educational, economic and social benefits of gaming. The brand new National Videogame Arcade will showcase the widest imaginable array of interactive experiences – from vintage arcade machines and home computers to experimental new works and location-specific installations. It will be made up of a mixture of permanent and changing exhibitions which are suitable for all ages, including A History of Games in 100 Objects, which tells the story of videogames in Britain from 1951 to the present day. www.gamecity.org LEGO®-tastic improvements to LEGO City, Legoland Windsor March Guests to the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort will see changes to one of the Resort's original and most popular areas this year as the famous Traffic attractions become part of a new, improved LEGO® City area. The LEGO City Driving School is bigger and better than ever with more child-size Fiat cars as well as a new lane on the test course. Boating School will also get a new look, with more boats and more LEGO models and featuring surprising animations and audio affects The resort opens for the 2015 season on 13 March. http://www.legoland.co.uk/en/Explore/Activities/LEGO-City/ Magna Carta exhibition, Bodleian Library, Oxford March - September The Bodleian Library houses four of the seventeen surviving pre-1300 ‘engrossments’ of Magna Carta. To mark its 800th anniversary, the new Weston Library at the Bodleian will host an exhibition entitled ‘Marks of Genius’, which will display the Gloucester Charter. There will also be a special celebration event planned for the Magna Carta sealing anniversary day on 15 June. http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/bodley

Critter Creek, Paultons Park, New Forest Easter For those with a taste for the jungle, the brand new Critter Creek attraction at the award-winning Paultons Park theme park offers a land which is crawling with fun. Enter Beasty Burrow and step inside the tree trunk world to see stick insects and giant snails in themed rooms, or step aboard the new ‘Cat-o-pillar’ ride and track Professor Blast’s expedition to Critter Creek in his travel diary. The attraction will also feature a real life bug emporium with unusual insects, fish and lizards. https://paultonspark.co.uk Lincoln Castle Revealed April Regarded as one of the country’s best examples of a Norman castle, Lincoln Castle has been at the centre of the fight for the English throne, a prison and, of course, home to Lincoln Cathedral’s Magna Carta. In 2015, there will be new castle walks, an “in the round” cinema offering a fresh perspective on Magna Carta history, and improved access to the male and female Victorian prisons. http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincoln-castle-revealed/100256.article New vineyard at Kedleston Estate, Derby April Over 2,000 vines have been planted in the Ireton Walled Garden at Kedleston Estate to create a new vineyard. Housed in the superb 18th century Grade II listed brick construction, which was once the main kitchen garden Kedleston Hall, it will be one of

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the most striking vineyards in the UK. The vineyard has been organised by founder of The English Wine Project, Kieron Atkinson, and the vines are expected to start producing crops in three years. http://www.englishwineproject.co.uk/ Hadleigh Park, Essex 29 April After extensive ground work to make the site more accessible, Hadleigh Park is now open to the public. Home to the London2012 Olympic Mountain Biking Games, this world-class sporting venue boasts a wide network of bike trails and paths suitable for a range of users. It is one of the largest country parks in Essex with a mix of woodland, pasture, hay meadow and marsh with hedgerows and ponds. http://hadleigh-park.co.uk/ Dinsoaurs Alive!, Longleat From May 22 Dinosaurs are set to take centre stage at Longleat Safari Park this summer with its new Dinosaurs Alive! attraction. Starring 20 life-sized, pre-historic creatures including Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Pterodactyl and the king of dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, it will give visitors the chance to walk amongst these beasts - as some of them come to life. Other prehistoric adventures on offer this summer include a Dinosaur Dig, giving younger explorers a chance to test out their palaeontology skills, and the Dinosaur Explorer, Bertie Buckland who will be on hand to talk all things prehistoric. http://www.longleat.co.uk Star Wars attraction, Madame Tussauds, London May A new, multi-million-pound Star Wars attraction will open at Madame Tussauds London in May. Created in close collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm, the unique, immersive experience will bring to life some of film’s most powerful moments through wax figures and 11 authentic walk-in sets. Fans can star alongside their favourite heroes and villains from Star Wars Episodes I-VI and experience dynamic special effects and dramatic theming. www.madametussauds.com/london Dover Castle, Kent May This spring, Dover Castle’s Admiralty Lookout will be re-presented as a First World War anti-aircraft position (a reconstruction of an original First World War gun and battery), marking the site’s role during the war. In May, a ceremony will take place to mark the 75th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation, where the Secret Wartime Tunnels beneath the fortress played a key role. A WWII weekend is also scheduled, which will see the castle return to the 1940s. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/ Stonehenge exhibition, Wiltshire May A new exhibition at Stonehenge will look at another side of the famous stone circle – its history as a tourist attraction– with an array of fascinating objects from the past few centuries on display. Highlights of ‘Wish You Were Here!’ include the very first Stonehenge guidebook, which dates back to 1823, and an array of memorabilia including a Great Triliton-shaped toasting fork. The exhibition begins with Stonehenge in Victorian times and traces its development through war and peace, both as a tourist attraction and global icon. It will run until March 2016. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/ Ben Ainslie Racing HQ, Portsmouth May Portsmouth will now be home to the Ben Ainslie Racing America's Cup sailing team, following the construction of a permanent base and visitor’s centre at The Camber in Old Portsmouth. The new visitor centre will be at the heart of the base, showcasing

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the sport, innovation, technology and sustainability and welcoming schools and community groups. Visitors will experience the construction and on-going operation of the team’s America’s Cup boats first-hand. http://ben-ainslie-racing.americascup.com/

Enchanted Forest Tree Top Quest, Alton Towers May The Tree Top Quest is a fantastic new high ropes course set within the captivating woodland of the brand new Enchanted Village, featuring both an adult and junior course. The adult course contains 19 challenging elements, where guests can swing from the trees as they navigate their way through the forest, before hurtling back down to earth on a zipwire. For younger children and those who want to keep their feet a little bit closer to the ground, there is also a Low Ropes course option. https://www.altontowers.com/things-to-do/enchanted-forest-tree-top-quest The Alice Look, V&A Museum of Childhood, London 2 May - 1 November Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll's much loved tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this enchanting exhibition brings together a range of photographs, rare editions, garments and illustrations that show how the character of Alice became a major cultural icon. The exhibition is divided into four main areas, with examples of the period dress that Alice was best known for, along with displays in which the character adopts a contemporary look. http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/exhibitions-and-displays/the-alice-look/ New exhibition at York’s Chocolate Story, York 4 May A new exhibition ‘Brilliant Brands: York Chocolate through the Ages’ will allow visitors to delve deep into the history of York’s most famous brands. Visitors will be able to take a journey through York’s much-loved confectionery – from the 1800s to the modern day. Discoveries will include which world-famous chocolate bar was once called Chocolate Crisp, and which multi-coloured treats were formerly known as Chocolate Beans. The exhibition will showcase a varied collection of packaging and artefacts, never before seen together. www.yorkschocolatestory.com ‘Lest We Forget – Rugby and the First World War’, World Rugby Museum, Twickenham 5 May – 1 September Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the death of Ronald Poulton Palmer, England’s Grand-Slam winning captain from the 1914 season, this exhibition is dedicated to the memory of all rugby players who fought and died in the First World War. Featuring stories of rugby players from many different countries, and all levels of the game, the exhibition is an opportunity to view many unique objects and images brought together for the first time. The exhibition can be viewed as part of a World Rugby Museum visit or a combined stadium tour and museum ticket. http://www.englandrugby.com/twickenham/world-rugby-museum York International Shakespeare Festival 9 – 16 May The International Shakespeare Festival, brand new for 2015, will see York taken over by Shakespearean productions, screenings, exhibitions, events, workshops, and talks, with a programme ranging from local amateur dramatics groups to international professional theatre. There will be family-friendly events, outreach activities with local state schools and an international conference for academics. www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk HOME, Manchester 21 May A new purpose-built centre for international contemporary art, theatre, film and books will open its doors for the first time in Manchester on 21 May, as part of the First Street North development. From gallery to screen via café bar and bookshop, HOME will redefine the contemporary arts centre, creating a space where ideas, hopes and moments of wonder ricochet off walls and lodge themselves in the headspace of audiences old and new. Director Danny Boyle is one of the patrons of HOME.

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http://homemcr.org/ Thames Walk, London Sea Life Aquarium, 23 May Themed around the iconic River Thames, the London Sea Life Aquarium’s newest attraction allows visitors to discover a secret portal into the hidden world of hundreds of creatures and freshwater plants living in the UK’s most iconic river. Guests entering the new zone will be taken through the history of The Thames, from the ‘Great Stink’ of Victorian Times to the impressive cityscape of modern day London - spotting an array of English creatures along the way. www.visitsealife.com/london

Red Arrows ride, Blackpool 25 May Blackpool Pleasure Beach has joined forces with the world famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, to launch a unique thrill ride. It will become the world’s first tourist attraction to have a ride based on the planet’s best aerobatic display team, and will provide an exhilarating experience like no other. Stepping into their very own Red Arrows cockpit, visitors will take control of the plane and spin, glide and take formation in their very own display. The opening event on 25 May will include a dazzling display by the Royal Airforce Aeroabtic Team, the Red Arrows. www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com Damien Hirst Gallery to open, London May/June British artist Damien Hirst's personal art collection will go on display in a street-length gallery designed by the architects who revamped London's Tate Britain. It will display Hirst's over 2,000-strong art collection, including pieces by Francis Bacon, Jeff Koons and street artist, Banksy. There will be six exhibition areas, a shop, a restaurant and office spaces, with an office for Hirst himself. It is scheduled to open in May/June in Lambeth. http://www.damienhirst.com/ Sienna Restaurant, Dorset June The Sienna Restaurant has recently re-opened in Dorchester with new head chef, Marcus Wilcox, meaning that there are now two MasterChef veterans cooking in the town. Sienna Restaurant’s menu offers British food with a modern twist, whilst a tasting menu offering sample portions is also available. www.siennadorchester.co.uk/ Transport Museum, Coventry June A £9million redevelopment of the Coventry Transport Museum and Old Grammar School is currently underway, with the project completed this June. The Transport Museum will relaunch as a newly-revitalised world-class home for the city’s transport collection, while the Old Grammar School will come back into public use for the first time in decades. A grand relaunch will take place in June, and the museum will also attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest parade of classic cars, around the Coventry ring road. www.transport-museum.com/ Matilda the Musical afternoon tea, London Scoff & Banter in Covent Garden has devised a new pre-show afternoon tea themed around Roald Dahl’s enchanting tale, Matilda. It features decadently layered chocolate cake, as well as lemonade jelly shots with candied newts. There will also be a complimentary copy of the book for every child. www.scoffandbanter.london/offers/ The Ivy, London 1 June

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Following a significant redesign, London’s iconic restaurant The Ivy has announced that it will reopen its doors in May. Art will remain a focal point at the restaurant, with major commissions being installed from renowned British artists, as well as a range of pieces created by emerging names from the British art scene. Executive Chef Gary Lee, who remains at the helm, has created a new menu that comprises recognisable Ivy staples alongside modern dishes with international influences, with a particular nod to Southern Europe and Asia. http://www.the-ivy.co.uk/ Floating Cinema On Tour, Brentford to Bristol 4 June – 2 August The Floating Cinema On Tour will be the cinema’s first voyage outside of London, touring across the South West along the Kennet and Avon Canal. It will travel across Berkshire, Wiltshire, and through Bath, before arriving into Bristol in early July, drawing inspiration from the unique ecology, rich history and heritage of the waterways. http://floatingcinema.info/about/-2015 The Refinery at Regent’s Place, London Spring With a string of successful bars and restaurants throughout London already under its belt, Drake & Morgan will now open its eighth establishment at Regent’s Place. Pared-back décor comes courtesy of their long-term designer-of-choice, Fusion, whilst food and drinks will be made up of fresh, seasonal menus from the kitchen and creative cocktails at the bar. www.therefinerybars.co.uk Eltham Palace restoration, London Spring Eltham Palace in Greenwich will unveil five new rooms to the public for the first time in spring, as part of a project to restore the Art Deco jewel to its 1930’s heyday. Once the former childhood home of Henry VIII is reopened, visitors will be able to explore the Courtauld’s luxury wartime bunker, an extensive basement billiards room and much more. There will also be a brand new visitor centre, shop and café in the former glasshouses. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/eltham-palace-and-gardens/ National Civil War Centre, Nottinghamshire Spring In spring, the UK's first ever National Civil War Centre is set to open in Newark. The £5.4m centre is a flagship project by Newark and Sherwood District Council and will be housed in the Grade II* Old Magnus Building, now undergoing restoration. The centrepiece theme will be the deadly struggles for power in 17th century Britain during the British Civil Wars. The struggle to control Newark – a staunchly Royalist town – was one of the defining events of the Civil War. It was near here that King Charles I surrendered to the Scots Army which was allied to the Roundheads. www.civilwarnewark.co.uk The BIG One rollercoaster, The BIG Sheep, Devon Summer After five years of planning, the new family rollercoaster at the BIG Sheep theme park is due to open this summer. The 400m family coaster which will reach heights of up to 13m and speeds of 27mph, is to be installed above the Battlefield at The BIG Sheep. This will be a pink knuckle ride and is suitable for the whole family. www.thebigsheep.co.uk/ Opening of the Dreamland Heritage Park, Kent June Dreamland Heritage Park is a 21st-Century tourist attraction in Margate, based around the listed Scenic Railway and Cinema buildings. Dreamland will be the world's first amusement park of historic rides that will authentically recreate a thrilling seaside amusement park from the past. . Award-winning, multi-disciplinary designer, Wayne Hemingway OBE, has been appointed to deliver the feel, look, smell and sound of the new Dreamland – the world's first amusement park of thrilling historic rides and

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classic side shows, eateries and evocative spaces, set within a landscape capable of hosting national festivals, major events and visiting attractions. www.dreamlandmargate.com The Lion Salt Works, Cheshire June Lion Salt Works is a restored historic open-pan salt making site in the village of Marston. Explore the site and its restored buildings, and discover how the salt works operated and the impact of salt on mid-Cheshire’s people, economy and landscape. A visit will also set the scene for a wider exploration of the footpaths, waterways and attractions of the adjacent Northwich Woodlands and the wider Weaver Valley including the Anderton Boat Lift. lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/ New visitor centre at Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent July One of the best-known brands in the world is upgrading its visitor experience with a series of new landmark buildings, a factory tour, a new visitor centre, additional hands-on activities, an outdoor play area, and a comprehensive retail offering of contemporary lifestyle ware. www.wedgwoodvisitorcentre.com Tattenhall Ice Cream Farm, Cheshire July The Tattenhall Ice Cream Farm in Cheshire has undergone a £4m development. The farm aims to prolong customers stays and increase spend by building one of the world’s biggest purpose-built ice cream parlors as well as the largest indoor sand and water play area in Europe. www.cheshirefarmicecream.co.uk/ Toboggan Ride, Watermouth Family Theme Park & Castle, Devon July A brand new toboggan ride, winding down a 250 metre alpine track, is set to open at the Watermouth Family Theme Park and Castle in North Devon. Suitable for both children and adults, visitors can enjoy stunning views as they glide down the mountain, before enjoying the theme park’s Victorian Castle, landscaped gardens and the various rides and play areas. www.watermouthcastle.com/ Peak Wildlife Park, Staffordshire June After a short absence, Peak Wildlife Park has re-opened its grounds, which is full of immersive animal habitats. Get up-close and personal with four brand new animal walk-throughs. Inspire the kids and let them come face-to-face with lemurs, penguins, wallabies and more! Experience the animals’ unique habitats from within and take a walk on the wild side, as the Wildlife Park is perfectly located on the doorstep of the stunning Peak District National Park. www.peakwildlifepark.co.uk/ KidZania, London 25 June One of the fastest growing education entertainment brands, KidZania, will be opening its first English ‘city’ in Westfields in early 2015. Children will enjoy role-play activities such as becoming a pilot, firefighter or police officer. Each role-play experience is crafted to teach kids essential life skills including; financial literacy, team work and independence. http://london.kidzania.com/en-uk/ Second World War Tunnels, Dover July

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The labyrinth of tunnels built on the order of Sir Winston Churchill beneath the White Cliffs of Dover will open to the public for the first time, following almost two years of conservation. Constructed in the 1940s as part of Dover’s connected offensive and defensive gun batteries, Fan Bay Deep Shelter was designed to prevent German shipping moving freely in the English Channel. The shelter is the largest of its kind in Dover, and visitors descend the original 125 steps into more than 3,500 square feet of tunnels, reinforced with heavy duty iron girders and metal sheeting. They will also be able to see two historic sound mirrors which form part of the site. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-cliffs-dover Shrek’s Adventure!, London 1 July The much anticipated new Shrek attraction from Merlin Entertainments PLC will open on London’s South Bank this summer. The brand new adventure will feature cast of fairy tale characters, themed shows and sets, 4D bus ride, dramatic special effects and new DreamWorks animation. Visitors can be part of the ten live fairy-tale themed shows, where they can visit Shrek’s swamp, get lost in the Mirror Maze, and much more. https://www.shreksadventure.com/london/ Yves Saint Laurent exhibition, Bowes Museum, Durham 11 July – 25 October An exclusive exhibition will present a stunning display of the work and life of esteemed French designer, Yves Saint Laurent. Yves Saint Laurent: Style is Eternal will be the first exhibition of its kind in the UK, highlighting the defining elements of YSL’s vision and his significant influence on fashion and the way we understand womenswear today. The collection will showcase the different eras and styles of his creative career and explore a number of themes including art, lace and transparency and women’s emancipation. http://www.thisisdurham.com/blog/january-2015/Yves-Saint-Laurent The Art of Lauren Child, Mottisfont, Hampshire Until 6 September Lauren Child, creator of children’s book ‘Lola and Charlie’, will now have the first retrospective about her hosted at National Trust-owned properly Mottisfont. It features 50 original art works from Lauren’s own personal collection including many that have never been seen before, as well as Lauren’s sketch books and one of the original sets from the Princess and the Pea. Visitors will also get a sneak preview of some of the illustrations from Lola’s new book, One Thing, due to be published in autumn. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/visitor-information/article-1355900529727/ Islands, Chester Zoo 13 July Islands is the biggest and most ambitious development in UK zoo history and plans to immerse visitors, transporting them thousands of miles away to experience the splendour of the animals, plants and cultural aspects of far-flung places. Islands will showcase the zoo’s Act for Wildlife conservation activities as visitors navigate their way through mangroves, swamps, bamboo and tropical forests. It will also include Monsoon Forest, the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK and home to Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques and a new species for the zoo, the Sunda gharial crocodile. www.chesterzoo.org/islands Hi and Lo Ropes Aerial Adventure, CONKERS, Leicestershire 13 July A brand new Hi and Lo Ropes Aerial Adventure is set to open at visitor attraction CONKERS, in the heart of the National Forest. It is set to be one of the most physically-challenging outdoor adventure courses in the country, and will open on 13 July for visitors and families to enjoy. Within the 15 aerial sections will be climbing nets and high level walkways, all around 30 feet above the ground. The fast and furious 110 metre Zip Wire is a fantastic way to finish off the course. www.visitconkers.com/thingstodo/hiropes

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Three Rivers Restaurant, Bristol July The Three Rivers is a unique sensory-immersive cultural food and drinks dining experience. Created by the House of Gastrophonic and designed especially for the City of Bristol, it will pair food and drink with music and colour. The experience includes a three-course evening dinner featuring a sensational seasonal food and drink menu inspired by and sourced from local producers from the countryside along the tracts of the rivers Frome, Severn and Avon. http://www.threeriversbristol.co.uk/ Her Majesty’s Secret Service bar, Bristol July A new James Bond-themed cocktail bar and punch house has launched in Bristol. The bar’s interior combine a variety of themes, fusing industrial décor with a gin-palace and espionage vibe. The hope is to provide visitors with a bar ‘where Bond would hide from his associates’, and comes from the talented team behind the popular Cocktail Trading Co in London. visitbristol.co.uk/ Centre of Ceramic Art, York Art Gallery, York 1 August A new national centre dedicated to exhibiting and promoting ceramic art, the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) is due to open in August. It will showcase works from the York Museum Trust’s world class collections of ceramics, one of the largest in the world. There will be new works and installations by contemporary artists, and the centre will also act as a ceramics hub. It will be houses within York Art Gallery. www.yorkartgallery.org.uk HMS M.33, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard August The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £1.75million to the National Museum of the Royal Navy to restore HMS M.33, which will open to visitors this summer for the first time. . Launched in May 1915, she is the sole remaining British veteran of that year’s Gallipoli Campaign and the only British warship from the First World War that will be open to the public in Gallipoli’s centenary year. Once opened, the boat will have a new interpretation, including an immersive battle experience, and will bring to life HMS M.33’s history, the stories of the men who served on board, and the history of the Gallipoli Campaign. http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/site-attractions/attractions/hms-m33 Memories of Her Majesty, Madam Tussauds, London 1 August – 30 September 9 September marks a momentous royal occasion, when the Queen will become the longest reigning monarch in Britain. Madam Tussauds will have a new display to mark the occasion, ‘Memories of Her Majesty’, which will include a recreation of the Coronation Crown. It will also include photography and archive materials, as well as dresses worn by some of the 23 wax portraits which have been done of her over the years. www.madametussauds.com/london/ York Art Gallery reopens Summer Following an £8 million redevelopment, the new-look York Art Gallery will reopen in summer 2015 with a brand new ceramic collection. CoCA – The Centre of Ceramic Art will showcase works from York Museums Trust’s world-class collections of ceramics, including more than 5,000 pieces from British Studio Ceramics, the largest collection in the world. www.yorkartgallery.org.uk Wildrootz Indoor Play Facility, Pensthorpe, Norfolk Summer Following the opening of the 7,000 sq metre outdoor play area in 2013, an indoor facility is now set to open. The new facility will be an extension of the natural style of WildRootz and will demonstrate Pensthorpe’s ongoing commitment to encouraging

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families to have fun and learn more about the natural world. It aims to inspire the next generation of wildlife watchers who love Pensthorpe for the habitats it has and the wildlife it attracts. http://www.pensthorpe.com/ Resorts World, Birmingham Summer Resorts World will be the UK’s first integrated destination leisure complex and will include a 170 room four star hotel, 11-screen cinema, The Vox Conference Centre and a casino. http://www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk/ Dragon’s Den, National Maritime Museum, Falmouth July The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth has launched a new interactive Vikings and dragons play zone, Dragon’s Den, for the summer. Suitable for children of all ages, it allows little ones to explore the world of Viking myths, monsters and legends, including taking part in the Vile Vikings’ trail and even dressing up as an actual Viking! The play zone is included with the Museum entrance ticket. www.nmmc.co.uk/ Alice in Wonderland Gallery, Bodleian Library, Oxford 1 July – 6 September To mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland, the Bodleian Library in Oxford will be running an exhibition dedicated to Lewis Carroll’s most famous work. The exhibition will run from 1 July – 6 September. http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/bodley Audrey Hepburn exhibition, National Portrait Gallery 2 July – 18 October A new fascinating photographic exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery entitled ‘Portraits of an Icon’ will illustrate the life of actress and fashion icon, Audrey Hepburn. The exhibition will comprise more than 60 images, including classic and rarely seen prints, as well as an array of vintage magazine covers, film stills and extraordinary archival material, illustrating her captivating story. http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/hepburn/home.php Lichfield exhibition, Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire 18 July – 7 September The Shugborough Estate will be holding an exhibition of Lichfield’s Nudes in the cinema room of his former private apartments in the Mansion House. Famous for both the portraits he took of the celebrities of this eraand wedding photos of Charles and Diana. Regular ticket prices of £15 for adults will include entry to the exhibition. www.shugborough.org.uk The Grand Tour, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire July – September 2015 and March – June 2016 Galleries, museums and a stately home across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire − Nottingham Contemporary, Chatsworth, Derby Museums and The Harley Gallery, Welbeck − have joined together to create a contemporary reinterpretation of The Grand Tour. This modern day Grand Tour will reveal hidden treasures from private collections juxtaposing them with contemporary art exhibitions across the four venues, showcasing them in a new light. http://www.thegrandtour.uk.com/ Wild Explorers, Marwell Zoo, Winchester 5 August ‘Wild Explorers’ will be the biggest exhibit to date at Marwell Zoo. The African wilderness will be available to experience first-hand whilst enjoying a range of entertaining activities both indoors and out. The exhibit will focus on discovery, learning and the

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natural history and conservation of these magnificent creatures. It also includes the success stories of the conservation of three iconic species, for which Marwell has special responsibilities. www.marwell.org.uk ‘The Queen’s People’ exhibition, Eleven Gallery, London 19 August – 19 September A brand new compelling exhibition will display a photographic portrait of the British monarchy and those who help to sustain it. Through the clever use of mirrors, the exhibition will present a quadruple portrait of key members of the royal family, capturing full-length pictures from the front, back, and sides. It also features members of the Royal Household and senior ceremonial figures in their traditional uniforms. The photographs were taken in 2013 at Windsor Castle, and will be displayed at the Eleven Gallery in Belgravia. www.elevenfineart.com/ Mayflower Museum, Plymouth 1 August Following a £35,000 refurbishment, Plymouth’s Mayflower Museum has reopened, with all three floors having undergone improvements to create a more exciting and engaging experience for visitors. It will now use interactive graphic panels to explore the fishing industry and military harbour, while two floors now explore the story of the Mayflower and the Pilgrim Fathers. www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymouthmayflower Aubergine by Gordon Ramsay, London August Gordon Ramsay has purchased Aubergine, the restaurant where he began his career more than twenty years ago. The restaurant is where Ramsay was awarded his first Michelin star and, whilst the name is set to change, the food promises to remain as spectacular as ever. Steeped in culinary history, the restaurant is set to open in mid-2015. http://www.gordonramsay.com/ Banksy’s ‘Dismaland’, Weston-Super-Mare 22 August – 27 September Britain’s most famous graffiti artist, Banksy, has just unveiled a new pop-up exhibition entitled ‘Dismaland’ at a derelict lido in seaside resort Weston-super-Mare. Dismaland is a festival of art, amusements and entry-level anarchism’, and will include an incredible array of contemporary art, with artists such as Damien Hirst being involved. The ‘bemusement park’ will include three on-site galleries, and a series of Friday night events with comedy events and DJs. www.dismaland.co.uk/ Grand Central, Birmingham September Birmingham’s new high end shopping complex Grand Central opens in September, boasting 40 stores and 20 restaurants, including the largest John Lewis store outside of the capital. The opening of Grand Central and John Lewis will coincide with the completion of Birmingham New Street station which will transform rail travel for millions of passengers and provide a unique shopping and station experience. http://www.grandcentralbirmingham.com/ Airhop, Guilford September Visitors to Guildford can now summon their inner Tigger when one of the first indoor trampoline parks in England opens this September. Participants can leap like a superhuman in the Basketball Slam Dunk Lanes, bounce to their heart’s content over 50 interconnected trampolines in the free jump zone, or even try out their skills with a game of trampoline Dodgeball. The Airhop will also open in Bristol in autumn and Birmingham in winter. http://airhoptrampolinepark.com/index/

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‘Magnificent Obsessions’ exhibition, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich 12 September 2015 – 24 January 2016 ‘Magnificent Obsessions: The Artist as Collector’ celebrates the many and varied motivations for collection, and presents fascinating personal collection of post-war and contemporary artists, including Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst. The exhibition will include both artworks and works from the artist’s private collections. www.scva.ac.uk British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent 26 September – 8 November British Ceramics Biennial will feature 20 exhibitions with over 60 national and international ceramic artists in numerous venues across the world-famous ‘potteries’. There will also be activities and special events as well as opportunities to purchase the exhibition pieces. One highlight will be a new WW1 commemorative installation in honour of the fallen men of the North Staffordshire regiment. www.britishceramicsbiennial.com Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Garden, Derbyshire Autumn Following on from the success of the Laurent-Perrier garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, designer Dan Pearson will continue to work with Chatsworth in order to create a lasting legacy for the award-winning garden. Many of the plants, rocks and decorative features from the show garden at Chelsea will be returning to Chatsworth in the autumn, and will be used in the regeneration of the Trout stream area of the garden. The results of the project will start to be seen from spring 2016. www.chatsworth.org/ Rick Stein restaurant, Sandbanks, Poole Late Autumn Rick Stein has announced plans to open a restaurant in Sandbanks, Dorset, with views overlooking the water, the restaurant will seat around 200 and is set to open in late autumn. The group’s business has continued to grow, with recent openings in Winchester and, Porthleven and Fistral in Cornwall. The self-titled ‘Rick Stein’ restaurant will offer classic seafood dishes, alongside a more casual lunch time menu with dishes such as a crab salad and moules frites. www.rickstein.com/ Bar Convent refurbishment, York October The Bar Convent in York, England’s oldest working convent, is set to benefit from a £2 million pound Living Heritage Project funding It is set to make the Bar Convent more accessible for the 21st century, visitors’ expectations and needs. There will be a new two floor state-of-the-art exhibition created, telling the inspiring histories of Mary Ward and her followers, education for girls and the history of the Catholic church in England. There will be a phased opening of the new facilities in the late summer, with an official launch in October. www.bar-convent.org.uk British Art Show 8, Leeds October The internationally renowned exhibition, British Art Show 8, will open at Leeds Art Gallery in October. Organised every five years by the Hayward Gallery as part of the Hayward Touring programme, the British Art Show showcases the very best work of both emerging and established artists. It is the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK calendar, attracting over 420,000 visitors in its tour to four cities in 2010 and 2011. http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/ British Museum of Food, London 23 October (for three months)

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The world’s first cultural institution to entirely devoted to the history, evolution, science, sociology and art of food will open as the British Museum of Food. Located in Borough Market, the museum will be open for three months whilst it seeks a permanent home, and is a new venture by renowned foodie duo Bompass and Parr. www.bmof.org/ Lawrence Weiner exhibition, Blenheim Palace 10 October – 21 December Blenheim Palace will announce a brand new exhibition by American artist and confounding figure of Conceptual Art, Lawrence Weiner. It will showcase works conceived by the artist over the past few decades, which will be displayed throughout the ornately furnished Palace rooms, as well as the exterior of the 18th century building. The exhibition, entitled Within a Realm of Distance, will encourage visitors to experience Weiner’s work in tandem with the rich heritage of the Palace, and is the second exhibition of contemporary art following the 2014 Ai Weiwei exhibition. www.blenheimpalace.com/ Samuel Pepys exhibition, National Maritime Museum, London 20 November 2015 – 28 March 2016 Samuel Pepys was one of the most colourful and appealing characters of the 17th century and witness to the great events that shaped Stuart Britain, brilliantly brought to life in his famous diary. Using the voice and personality of Samuel Pepys, the exhibition, Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire and Revolution, will explore and interpret the period from the execution of Charles I in 1649 to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. www.rmg.co.uk/about/press/samuel-pepys-plague-fire-revolution Brick Wonders, Life Science Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne 28 November 2015 - 31 January 2016 Brick Wonders is the new exhibition of the wonders of the ancient, modern and natural worlds built out of Lego. One of the exhibition highlights is a large airport with working lights, and there will also be a chance to get ‘hands-on’ at one of several Lego activity stations. www.life.org.uk

LiveWorks Launch, Quayside, Newcastle Late 2015 LiveWorks is a new £10 million capital scheme by Live Theatre to develop Quayside frontage and land and buildings adjacent to the theatre, creating a new landscaped public park and a children and young people’s writing centre. A launch event and a programme of public events are also in the pipeline. http://www.live.org.uk/liveworks Opening of Knole, Kent The former Archbishop’s Palace in Sevenoaks is being renovated and is set to reopen in 2015 alongside a new visitor centre. It will be a place to discover treasures dating back to the 17th century from The National Trust. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole/ Harvard House, Stratford upon Avon In 2015, visitors will be able to wander into the beautiful Grade I listed Harvard House in Stratford upon Avon. Known for centuries as ‘the Ancient House’, the Harvard House of today was rebuilt in 1596 by wealthy townsman, Alderman Thomas Rogers, whose grandson founded Harvard University in the United States. Visitors will be able to learn more about the history of the house, as well as view the elaborately carved façade and an array of mid-late 17th century oak furniture. The house is open to visitors while New Place and Nash’s House are closed for conservation. http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/home.html 2015: The Flax Mill Maltings

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Shrewsbury’s historic Flax Mill Maltings will see the site’s main mill and a number of other key historic buildings restored to their former glory. The site will be transformed into an area dedicated to the Flax Mill’s heritage and will become a place to learn about the building’s place in social and international history. http://www.flaxmill-maltings.co.uk/ 5. Films/ Novels/ Theatre

Shaun the Sheep Movie 6 February The Shaun the Sheep Movie is planned for release this year from the quadruple Oscar-winning Aardman Animations studios in Bristol. http://www.aardman.com/ Into the Woods 9 January Set to be released in England on 9 January, the film adaptation of the eponymous Broadway musical Into the Woods features an all-star cast including Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, James Corden and Emily Blunt. Filming took place in English locations including Dover Castle in Kent, and Waverley Abbey and Virginia Water, both in Surrey. Cinderella 27 March Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Cinderella will be the latest adaptation of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale. The film will star Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden and Helena Bonham-Carter as Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Filming locations included Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, Black Park in Iver Heath and the Old Royal Naval College. ‘The Twits’ on stage 7 April After the successful adaptations of Roald Dahl’s works Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory onto the West End stage, The Twits is due to open on 7 April. Adapted by Enda Walsh, the director of hit musical Once, the play will follow the story of the horrible Mr and Mrs Twit. It will run at the Royal Court theatre until 31 May. http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/the-twits Bend It Like Beckham – the musical, London May 12 years after its box office success, Bend It Like Beckham will take to the stage in May at the Phoenix Theatre in London. The musical will be directed by award-winning Gurinder Chadha, who directed the original film. The story centres on two 18-year-old girls who set out to make careers as professional footballers despite their families’ best efforts to stop them. Tickets are on sale now. http://www.phoenixtheatrelondon.co.uk/bend-it-like-beckham/ The Elephant Man, Haymarket Theatre Royal, London 19 May – 8 August The Elephant Man tells the true story of 19th-century London man Joseph Merrick who became a star of the travelling freak show circuit. Starring Bradley Cooper as Merrick andh Patricia Clarkson as the beautiful actress Mrs. Kendal, who is deeply touched by Merrick’s pure and genuine soul. The show will run for eight weeks. http://elephantmanlondon.com/ Frankenstein 2 October Based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name, the latest adaptation is set to be released on 2 October and will feature a stellar cast. Daniel Radcliffe will star as hunchback Igor, whilst James McAvoy will portray Victor von Frankenstein. Filming

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locations included Manchester Town Hall, Chatham Historic Dockyard and the Old Royal Naval College, including King Charles Court. Suffragette 7 October This dramatisation of the early feminist movement contains a star-studded cast, including Helena Bonham Carter, Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep. Filming took place in a variety of locations across England, such as Windsor, Chatham in Kent, Harpenden and Myddleton Square in London. ‘Pan’ 16 October This brand new film by Warner Bros describes the life of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland, and is forever known as Peter Pan. Filming took place across England, including Stowe in Buckinghamshire and Kensington. James Bond movie 26 October Ian Fleming’s iconic British secret agent returns in the latest blockbuster release, Spectre. The film will see Daniel Craig return to the role of James Bond once again, with the plot itself being shrouded in secrecy. Star Wars: Episode VII 18 December The saga originally created by George Lucas is set over 30 years after Return of the Jedi. Filming took place across the globe, including the Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. The film stars Star Wars veterans Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher as well as new actors such as Gwendoline Christie. 6. Events

Bristol is European Green Capital Bristol has long been one of the UK’s leading green cities and has now also been bestowed the international accolade of European Capital 2015. A vibrant programme of ‘green’ themed events makes Bristol stand apart as an environmentally-focused and sustainable city, including Bristol’s Big Green Week, Festival of Nature, Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride, Bristol Green Doors and Bristol Cycle Festival. http://visitbristol.co.uk/discover-bristol/european-green-capital

Aegon Open Nottingham 8 – 14 June / 22 – 27 June This year marks the return of world-class tennis to the city of Nottingham for the first time since 2008. The Aegon Open Nottingham features a men’s ATP World Tour 250 event and a brand-new WTA International competition at the biggest public tennis facility in Britain, the Nottingham Tennis Centre. The WTA event takes place 8 - 14 June, with the men returning to the venue from the 22 - 27 June. http://www.lta.org.uk/major-events/aegon-open-nottingham/ FIA Formula E Championship, London 27 June Formula E is a new FIA single-seater championship and the world's first fully-electric racing series. It commenced in September 2014 and will finish in June 2015, with the Championship having competed in the heart of 10 of the world's leading cities. Round 10 on 27 June will be held in London, focussed on and around Hyde Park, with multiple access to the circuit and some extremely high speeds achieved. http://www.fiaformulae.com/ England 2015 Rugby World Cup

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18 September – 31 October Rugby World Cup 2015 will span England, with games being played in Newcastle upon Tyne, Leeds, Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, Exeter, Brighton and London, from 18 September until 31 October. www.rugbyworldcup.com/destinationengland Magna Carta celebrations, Cartmel Priory, Cumbria 25 – 29 September Cartmel Priory was founded in 1189 by William Marshal, England’s premier knight, who played a pivotal role in gaining King John’s assent to create Magna Carta. To celebrate Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary, the Priory will host five days of festivities, including a historical flower pageant, a living history medieval encampment, tournée and fayre, with local food and drink. The evening Son et Lumière spectacle on Saturday and Sunday is expected to draw large crowds as the Priory is illuminated with magical images at dusk. http://www.cartmelpriory.org.uk/Home 7. Tours, Trails and Holidays

Tudor Trail, Winchester January Launched at the end of January, the new Tudor Trail takes in some of Winchester’s most famous Tudor connections. The trail leads visitors around various locations including Farnham Castle, Mottisfont Abbey, and Southsea Castle. It also incorporates many of the filming locations of the hit BBC TV series Wolf Hall, including Winchester Cathedral and the Great Hall. http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/winchester-tudor-trail Shaun in the City trail, London 28 March – 25 May Following the popular ‘Gromit Unleashed’ trail, Aardman’s internationally-acclaimed character, Shaun the Sheep, will be taking over London this spring. Over 100 giant sculptures created by artists, celebrities and designers will be placed in iconic locations across the capital city. The trail will then move to Bristol from 6 July – 31 August. http://www.shauninthecity.org.uk/ Battle of Waterloo Commemorative Walk, London March - June The Waterloo 200 charity has linked up with The City of Westminster Guide Lecturers' Association to create a London walking trail to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. The walk celebrates this final victory by the Duke of Wellington over Napoleon and gives an insight into the Duke's military and political careers. Starting in Trafalgar Square, a qualified guide will lead guests past some of the most memorable sights in central Westminster, finally finishing at Hyde Park Corner by Apsley House, the London home of the Duke. The walk launched on 21 March and will run every Saturday morning through to 20 June. http://www.nam.ac.uk/waterloo200/ Cycleway Paths, Cumbria Three new cycleways are set to open in Cumbria throughout the year. First, the Cumbria Cycle Way will be a new 260 mile circular route (on-road) around Cumbria, exploring parts of the county rarely discovered by tourists. It can be started anywhere on the route: Carlisle, the Eden and Lune Valleys, Morecambe Bay, the West Coast or Solway Firth, and is due to open in spring 2015. This will be followed by the Bay Cycle Way, a new 100 mile route from Walney Island to Glasson Dock around Morecambe Bay, which is due to open in summer 2015. Finally, at the end of the year, Eden Source to Sea, a new route following the source of the River Eden to its ultimate destination on the Solway Firth, will open. http://www.golakes.co.uk/ New United Airlines flight route: Newcastle to New York 23 May

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United Airlines will be launching a new non-stop service from Newcastle to New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport. Five flights a week are scheduled between 23 May and early September in what will be Newcastle’s first scheduled non-stop trans-Atlantic service. www.united.com The Line, London 23 May The Line is a three-mile sculpture walk in London, linking the Olympic Park with the O2. It brings together the works of renowned artists such as Damien Hirst, Abigail Fallis, and Gary Hume. Visitors will be able to join The Line at any point along the route, in order to explore the three miles of waterways. http://the-line.org ‘Gramping Holidays’ package, Pinewood Park, Scarbororough From May Following an increasing demand from guests with multiple family age ranges looking for glamping tipis, Pinewood Park glamping resort in Scarborough has created a new ‘Gramping Package’. The package caters to the growing trend of families holidaying with their grandparents. Families visiting the resort can book free grandparent places for a limited period and then at a reduced rate for subsequent dates. http://pinewoodpark.co.uk/ Pennine Golf Trail, Lancashire and Yorkshire May To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Pennine Way, a new golf trail has been launched. Showcasing five scenic courses in the foothills of England’s mountain spine, the trail straddles both sides of the Pennines in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The new trail is the latest initiative of Golf Tourism England, and there are five clubs taking part: Clitheroe GC, Woodsome Hall GC, Huddersfield GC, Manchester GC and Pleasington GC. www.golftourismengland.com Super Slow Way, Pennine Lancashire May The Super Slow Way is a three-year project running along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, with the aim to demonstrating how our time can be used more creatively. The project will include a huge programme of artist residencies and performances inspired by three themes: creative (freeing imaginations), people (community visions made real), and places (inspirational Pennine Lancashire). http://www.artsmap.org.uk/super-slow-way Film Trail, Blenheim Palace 31 July Visitors to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire can now go behind the scenes of some of their favourite films on its new ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ tour. With the latest Mission Impossible blockbuster filmed at the Palace, which is released in July, the new tour will educate visitors about the secrets of filming, taking care of the Palace and how the crews operate on set. In addition to Mission Impossible’s Rogue Nation there have been many exciting films shot at Blenheim Palace, including Spectre, the next James Bond film, Disney feature Cinderella and A Little Chaos. The tour will take place on Mondays and Saturdays. www.blenheimpalace.com/ Bay Cycle Way, Morecambe Bay July Explore the stunning coastline of Morecambe Bay on two wheels on the brand new family-friendly Bay Cycle Way, which launched in July. Ride at your own pace and discover some of the secrets of the Lancashire coast with plenty of opportunities to take in the spectacular views. cyclelancashire.com

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Dazzle Ferry tour, Liverpool to Manchester August and September Created in honour of the patterns that were first exhibited on vessels in World War One, Liverpool’s Dazzle Ferry was designed by Sir Peter Blake. Visitors can come aboard for a 50 minute cruise of the city, or for the months of August and September, sail up and down the Manchester Ship Canal. The Liverpool to Manchester cruise will run on various dates throughout the two months. www.merseyferries.co.uk/dazzle Jailhouse Tours, Shrewsbury Prison August Jailhouse Tours is a new way to discover the redundant Shrewsbury Prison in Shropshire, which was originally built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1793. The daily guided tours offer visitors a first-hand experience of what life in the prison would have been like, and provide a chance to explore areas of the prison never visited by the public before. www.jailhousetours.com/ Nottingham Cave Trail October The new Nottingham Cave Trail is a three mile walk designed to give visitors a special insight into what lies beneath, with everything from decaying dungeons to breweries, cock-fighting pits and cave houses waiting to be uncovered. Along the way, visitors can discover the cave where Robin Hood was imprisoned, explore hidden underground artworks, and taste pints in atmospheric medieval cave pubs. www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/explore/culture/nottingham-cave-trail-p646411 The Lodge, Bristol Zoo, Bristol October A secluded luxury lodge, with a safari twist. This unique, luxury accommodation offers an amazing experience for the whole family to enjoy. Guests can visit the animals in an exclusive, behind-the-scenes, twilight tour, and watch the sun set and rise over Bristol Zoo. The culinary experience is one not to miss: boasting a private chef, and even breakfast with the gorillas. Located behind the Zoo’s Zona Brazil exhibit, ‘The Lodge’ can accommodate up to four adults and two children. Prices start at £125 for six people www.bristolzoo.org.uk/explore-the-zoo/the-lodge

8. And Beyond…

January 2016: Pullman Hotel Liverpool Opening on Kings Dock, the four-star Pullman Liverpool Hotel will be a 216-room Accor property, claiming to be 'one of the most stylish, upscale hotels in the city'. It will also include a restaurant, bar and gym, and has a fantastic location in the city centre, making it great for both leisure and business. http://www.pullmanhotels.com/ 20 March 2016:Holkham Hall, Norfolk

The magnificent 18th century Palladian hall on the Norfolk coast will reveal a £4.5m transformation of the former stables and

pottery buildings into new and improved visitor facilities, and an attention-grabbing farming exhibition. Through the use of audio

visual, interactive, film and objects the exhibition will tell the story of producing food from farm to fork. A new Courtyard Café

can be enjoyed by visitors, which serves homemade locally produced food and drink. There is also the refurbished pottery

building renamed ‘The Lady Elizabeth Wing’ which will provide an event facility seating over 250 guests.

www.holkham.co.uk

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March 2016: Re-opening of Hastings Pier Following repeated fire devastation, Hastings Pier was finally closed in 2008 due to structural concerns. Now, after an £11.4 million donation from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Hastings Pier is set to be completely transformed into “one of the coolest-looking piers in the world”. Reopening this summer, the pier will host circuses, plays, concerts, film festivals, farmers’ markets, urban sports, a restaurant and more. http://www.hpcharity.co.uk/ March & July 2016: Brimstone Hotel, Lake District Since its launch in 2013, the Brimstone Lodge has been renowned for its style and luxe décor. Now this luxurious boutique hotel will launch two significant additions a 200 seat restaurant Stove, and the Brimstone Spa. The Stove Restaurant will offer modern British food and Brimstone Spa will offer 10 treatment rooms plus an indulgent double treatment room. The Restaurant will launch in March, with Brimstone Spa following in July. www.brimstonehotel.co.uk 24 March 2016: Magic Garden, London Set to be an innovative and sensory experience, Hampton Court Palace has teamed up with a Chelsea-winning gardener to help plan the new Magic Garde, due to open on the 24 March. The garden will be an adventure playground with history at its heart and will feature a jousting arena, five tiltyard towers and a fire breathing dragon. http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/

2016: The Grand Tour, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire March – June 2016 Galleries, museums and a stately homes across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire − Nottingham Contemporary, Chatsworth, Derby Museums and The Harley Gallery, Welbeck − have joined together to create a contemporary reinterpretation of The Grand Tour. This follows on from the summer 2015 Grand Tour, and will reveal hidden treasures from private collections juxtaposing them with modern day and contemporary art exhibitions across the four venues, showcasing them in a new light. www.thegrandtour.uk.com/ April 2016: Royal Navy Museum, Hartlepool Plans are underway for Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience to become part of a national museum with the Borough Council joining forces with the National Museum of the Royal Navy and Trincomalee Trust. With the NMRN extensive collection including Harrier jump jets, Polaris missiles, mini submarines and a large variety of both modern and historic vessels, further details surrounding the content of the museum are eagerly anticipated. www.destinationhartlepool.com

April 2016: Hilton Garden Hotel, Sunderland The next hotel to be opened by the Hilton Group, the Hilton Garden Hotel is set to offer a perfect destination for visitors and businesses alike. The 141 bedroom hotel is situated at Stadium Park, ideally located to enjoy Roker beach, National Glass Centre, and Sunderland AFC’s Stadium of Light. The hotel also gives guests the perfect opportunity to explore further North East destinations, such as Newcastle Gateshead, Durham and Northumberland. www.safc.com/hospitality-and-events/conference-events-and-hotel-centre/hilton-hotel-information 21 Jan 2016: 250th anniversary of The Old Vic, Bristol One of the country’s most beautiful and important theatres will celebrate its 250th birthday in 2016. The celebrations will be marked by the completion of its refurbishment, which will reveal more original features of the historic building, include a new and welcoming foyer space based on a Venetian Piazza as well as a new studio space underneath Cooper’s Hall. The celebrations continue till 28 May. www.bristololdvic.org.uk

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2016: Piece Hall, Halifax In 2016 one of the most extraordinary buildings in Britain will reopen following a £19 million restoration, it will herald the most dynamic new era for Halifax for generations. This unique, Grade 1 Listed building dates from 1779 and was originally built to support the trading of “pieces” of cloth; it is one of Europe’s great public squares and will be home to shops, creative businesses, a heritage centre, and will host a variety of special events throughout the year. www.thepiecehall.co.uk/ 2016: Sunbridge Wells retail complex, Bradford Bradford’s first ever underground retail complex is due to open in heart of Bradford’s historic trading quarter. This vibrant and exciting development will transform the Victorian tunnels under the city centre, incorporating Victorian and contemporary shop units together with restaurants and bars. The venture will not just attract well-known brands, but will be encourage both independent and young entrepreneurs to trade in the heart of the city. www.sunbridgewells.com/ Spring 2016: Alpamare waterpark, Scarborough A waterpark unlike any other is coming to the seaside town of Scarborough in 2016. Alpamare will bring a new kind of water experience to the UK, a day of fun and relaxation for all the family. Get set for a memorable day out on the exhilarating waterslides, and water playground suitable for big and little kids! Dive into the waves with your friends, relax in the heated outdoor pool or indulge yourself in the spa and get re-energized in the Iodine outdoor pool, overlooking the sea at North Bay. However, if water is not enough, there is great Alpine food on offer, as Alpamare brings the Alps to the sea. http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/ 20 March 2016: Harley Gallery, Wellbeck, Nottinghamshire A new gallery space is set to be opened at the Harley Gallery in Wellbeck in 2016. The new building will display historic works from The Portland Collection, the fine and decorative arts collection of the Cavendish-Bentick family. The new building will be situated next to the existing Harley Gallery, within the walls of the Victorian Tan Gallop, which was originally used for storage. www.harleygallery.co.uk/ Spring 2016: The Barrel Store Youth Hostel, Cirencester Cirencester’s thriving arts, theatre and cultural centre New Brewery Arts, is embarking on a new project to transform The Barrel Store into a 48-bed youth hostel offering visitors to the south Cotswolds stylish and reasonably priced accommodation. It will also give visitors the opportunity to stay inthe first public Passivhaus, ultra-low-energy building in Gloucestershire. www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/making-a-visit/the-barrel-store 2016: Living Architecture: The Secular Retreat, Devon In south Devon, between the resorts of Salcombe and Hallsands lies a landscape of rolling hills, wooded river valleys, patchwork fields and small stone villages. Here, Peter Zumthor will create The Secular Retreat. On top of a hill, with endless views onto the rolling south Devon landscape, Zumthor has designed a veritable haven from the pressures of modern life - a space dedicated to calm, reflection and perspective. www.living-architecture.co.uk 2016: Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire Westonbirt Arboretum has plans for a project including Treetop Walkway, which will be a new ‘never-seen-before’ perspective on the arboretum’s trees and landscape. The walkway will transport visitors 13metres high into the canopy and give them the opportunity to learn more about trees and how they live. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt 2016: Capability Brown celebrations, Burghley House, Lincolnshire To celebrate the tercentenary of landscaper Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, Burghley House (a Brown-designed parklands and gardens) will set out a whole calendar of events. In March, Burghley will launch a brand new exhibition showcasing Brown’s

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involvement at Burghley, as well as self-guided ‘Brown’ tours, which will run for the whole of the season. The original views and vistas will also be restored, in order for visitors to enjoy his landscaping vision in all its glory for the first time. www.burghley.co.uk/ Spring 2016: Underfall Yard, Bristol The historic boatyard Underfall Yard ,a working dock yard on Bristol’s Spike Island, is set to become a Maritime Centre of Excellence in 2016. The planned renovations will preserve its character, as well as share its history and protect its future, with reparations to the historic buildings, including Grade 2* listed landmarks, the Power House and chimney. There will also be a highly-anticipated new restaurant, and works are set to take place to complete the missing section of the Harbour Walkway, allowing people to walk around the entire Harbourside. http://underfallboatyard.co.uk Spring 2016: ArcelorMittal Orbit slide, London The world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide is set to open at the ArcelorMittal Orbit in London’s Olympic Park next spring. Starting at 80 metres high, it will spiral around the tower five times before a final 50 metre route down to the ground. The ride will cost £5 and the descent will take about 40 seconds, with transparent sections on the ride for visitors to enjoy the view. arcelormittalorbit.com/ Spring 2016: Dalmeny Resort Hotel, Lancashire To celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2016, The Dalmeney Hotel will undergo a £2.5million refurbishment, with many of the hotel’s bedrooms being given a facelift. A new restaurant will be created, as well as improvements made to the spa services. The hotel is set on St Anne’s award-winning beach, offering romantic sea view rooms and spacious family suites. www.dalmenyhotel.co.uk/ 12 – 15 May 2016: The Queen’s 90th birthday To mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, a magnificent celebration will take place at Windsor Castle, showcasing her life, her love of horses, her dedication to the Commonwealth and her deep involvement with the Navy, Army and Air Force. Over 90 minutes, 500 horses and more than 1,000 participants from around the United Kingdom and the World will create a joyful event for The Queen, taking people on a journey of her life. It is organised by the team behind the Diamond Jubilee pageant. www.hmq90.co.uk/ 2016: Swallows and Amazons film A remake of the classic Arthur Ransome novel ‘Swallows and Amazons’ is set to be released in 2016. The cast includes Andrew Scott, Rafe Spall and Gwendoline Christie, and filming took place in the Lake District and Yorkshire. 2016: Command of the Ocean, Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent A major new project at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham will tell the story of the Dockyard during the Age of the Sail. Plans include a brand new visitor entrance, a free to enter Discovery Centre, as well as preserving and interpreting a unique archaeological assemblage of ship’s timbers. www.thedockyard.co.uk/trust/command-oceans/ 2016: The Painswick, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire-based Calcot Hotels has now added the Cotswolds88 Hotel in Painswick to its portfolio. The hotel already offers 17 guest bedrooms and suites, a 34 seater restaurant, a separate private dining/ meeting room and a beauty treatment room, but is now undergoing a refurbishment, and is set to be transformed into a restaurant with rooms. After a short closure, it is set to reopen in early 2016 as The Painswick. www.thepainswick.co.uk 2016: 25 years of the National Forest

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Since the National Forest was launched a quarter of a century ago, over eight and a half million trees have been planted, new cycle trails and accommodations have been established, as well as the National Forest Way, the 75 mile long distance walking trail. www.nationalforest.org/ 2016: Queen Street Dining Complex, Exeter A £12million redevelopment of Exeter’s Guildhall within the city’s cultural quarter is due to open in early 2016. The neoclassical Guildhall will be transformed into an exciting dining quarter, providing a luxury place to eat and drink in a refurbished building complete with a rooftop terrace overlooking both Market and St Pancras Squares. www.queenst-exeter.com/ 2016: Arts complex in the Cultural Quarter, Southampton Development of Southampton’s burgeoning Cultural Quarter is well underway, with the creation of a new arts complex alongside Guildhall Square, overlooking the central parks under construction. It will create a fantastic new focal point in the city for artistic and cultural activity, and will house a contemporary art gallery, as well as performing arts facilities. www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/future/city-centre-masterplan/cultural-quarter 2016: Rolling Stones exhibition, Saatchi Gallery, London April – September The Rolling Stones are set to host their first exhibition from April – September 2016. Entitled ‘Exhibitionism’, it will be the most comprehensive and immersive insight into the group, and will take over the entire of the Saatchi Gallery. Tickets for the exhibition went on sale in July 2015. www.stonesexhibitionism.com/ 2016: Ibis Styles, Leeds Ibis Styles Leeds will be a 134 room new build hotel based in the city’s Merrion Centre, located close to the shopping centre and within the Arena Quarter. It is part of the hotel operator Accor. www.ibis.com/gb/united-kingdom/index.shtml 2016: Mystery Plays at York Minster, York June The 800 year-old Gothic cathedral of York Minster will undergo a spectacular transformation to become a monumental auditorium for a much anticipated month-long staging of the York Minster Mystery Plays 2016. The Mystery Plays will return to the Minster for the first time since the acclaimed Millennium production in 2000 when over 28,000 people attended the sell-out performances which had an ensemble cast of more than 200 local amateur actors and, in keeping with the tradition of the Mystery Plays, just one professional actor. www.yorkminster.org DATE TBC: The Wave, Bristol The Wave: Bristol will have a brand new inland surfing lake, set to bring together people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The surfing lake will be powered by the latest wave-making technology and will be situated in beautiful gardens, including sensory, healing and kitchen gardens. There will also be a swimming pool, café, education centre and surf shop. http://www.the-wave.co.uk/Bristol/

2016: Roomzzz Aparthotel, Manchester Roomzzz Aparthotel, part of the Parklane Group will open its second Manchester site in the iconic Corn Exchange in the City Centre. The new hotel is part of a £30 million leisure redevelopment programme by Aviva Investors and Queensberry Real Estate, which also includes 13 new independent restaurants and four retained restaurants. The hotel, which is expected to open in early 2016, is a key part of the redevelopment of the Grade II listed building which, upon completion, will be Manchester's primary dining destination. The hotel will have its entrance fronting Exchange Square, with guest accommodation over the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors. http://www.roomzzz.com/

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2016: Nobu Hotel, London Master sushi chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, is planning his first European hotel, the Willow Street Hotel in London's Shoreditch. The new hotel has been designed by Ron Arad Associates and will house 143 bedrooms and a statement restaurant: a dramatic five metre high space in the basement. The five storey hotel includes its own garden, while rooms are clustered around a central bathroom and screened off by a full-height curved unit. http://nobuhospitality.com 2016: Back To The Future on stage, London A stage musical version of cult 1980s time travel film Back to the Future is set to arrive in the West End in 2016. The science fiction action adventure film starred Michael J Fox as Marty McFly – the high school kid that travels back to 1955, the crucial point of his parents meeting and the reason for his own existence. 2016: 300th anniversary of Capability Brown Arguably England’s greatest landscape gardener, 2016 marks the 300th anniversary since the birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. 2016: Hunger Games musical, London The theatre adaptation of Suzanne Collins' dystopian novels is due to arrive in London at a new purpose-built venue next to Wembley Stadium. Lionsgate, Imagine Nation and Triangular Entertainment are collaborating on the production, which will be a musical. http://www.lionsgate.com/ 2016: New Design Museum, London The old Commonwealth Institute in west London is having an £80m transformation and will be three times bigger than the existing Shad Thames museum. http://designmuseum.org 2016: Manchester is European City of Science The prestigious badge of honour will be held by the city for the next two years. In summer 2016 the city will host the largest general scientific conference; EuroScience Open Forum, with 4,500 delegates expected to attend. 2016: LEN 2016 European Championships & LEN European Masters Championships, London British Swimming has won the bid to host the LEN 2016 European Championships and the LEN European Masters Championships at the London Aquatics Centre. It is set to be the first major international event to be held at the former Olympic pool since the 2012 Games. https://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/london-unveiled-as-the-host-city-for-the-len-2016-european-championships-260713/ 2016: 90th anniversary of Eric Morecambe’s birth Born in Morecambe in Lancashire on 14 May 1926, Eric Morecambe (born John Eric Bartholomew) is one of England’s most-loved comedians. He is best known for his double act with Ernie Wise. 2016 will mark the 90th anniversary since his birth. 2016: Bar Convent, York The Bar Convent in York is England’s oldest working convent, and still a home to an active religious community. The Grade I listed Georgian buildings will be conserved and public areas will be transformed. There will be a new two floor state-of-the-art exhibition created, telling the inspiring histories of the founder of the convent, Mary Ward and her followers, education for girls at the convent and the history of the Catholic Church in England. With nearly 350 years of continuous history on this site, it is a unique and important part of Yorkshire’s social, spiritual and educational life and heritage. www.bar-convent.org.uk 2016: The Staycity Aparthotel, York

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The Staycity complex will feature 197 serviced apartments with fully equipped kitchens and dining rooms/lounges, with two retail units on the ground floor. The six-storey building will be built next to York Barbican and overlooking the city’s Bar Walls. It is set to provisionally open in 2016. http://www.staycity.com/ 2016: Open Treasure at Durham Cathedral, Durham City Durham Cathedral will open world-class exhibition spaces in 2016, Open Treasure is previously hidden spaces within the Cathedral Cloister, representing some of the most intact surviving medieval monastery buildings in England. It is also home to the best preserved monastic library in the British Isles. The story of these remarkable buildings will reveal their historical and architectural significance through the creation of a new exhibition route, beginning in the 14th-century Monks’ Dormitory and ending in the Great Kitchen - one of only two surviving monastic kitchens in the UK. www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/open-treasure

2016: Etches Collection, Dorset A brand new multi-million pound museum is set to be built in Kimmeridge, housing a collection of Jurassic Coast fossils. Set to showcase the life’s work of local collector Steve Etches, it will tell the story of the life and death under the seas of Kimmeridge over 150 million years ago. The state-of-the-art space will include an exhibition gallery, with CGI projections, transforming it into an aquarium in the blink of an eye. It is due to open in June/July 2016. http://www.theetchescollection.org/home 2016: Oddfellows on the Park, Manchester Based in the heart of beautiful Bruntwood Park, yet only minutes by car to both central Manchester and Manchester Airport, lies a boutique hotel with personality and character. Housed in a Victorian mansion with an unforgettable history is Oddfellows On The Park, sister hotel to the award winning Oddfellows, Chester. Design-led and full of fun with 22 individually designed and luxurious boutique bedrooms, an events space to dream of, restaurant, cocktail bar and spa. www.visitmanchester.com/ 2016: Durham Cathedral and Castle - 30 Year Anniversary as World Heritage Site Durham World Heritage Site was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1986, one of the first to be designated alongside the Taj Mahal and Stonehenge. Durham Cathedral and Castle were inscribed because of the site’s exceptional architecture and visual drama; its archaeological importance, as well as the political (Norman Conquest) spiritual powers (medieval Prince Bishops) and religious traditions (Cuthbert, Bede and Oswald); and continued use as a place of worship, learning and residence for over 1000 years. durhamworldheritagesite.com 2016: Refurbishment of Kirkgate Market, Leeds The Grade I-listed Kirkgate Market in Leeds will undergo a full refurbishment in 2016, which will primarily modernise the building during the year-long works. It will include a new event space and café area, replacement roofs in both halls, and the introduction of a covered daily market within the 1976 hall. The market started in 1822 and is famously where Marks & Spencer had its first stall, a fact commemorated since 2013 by the retailer with a modern day market stall. http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leedsmarkets/Pages/Kirkgate-market.aspx 2016: Selby Leisure Village, Yorkshire A £5million investment into a new leisure village is due to open in Selby in 2016. The family orientated attractions will feature an indoor ski simulator, ten pin bowling, an adventure climbing facility, aerial trekking ropes, adventure play zone plus an indoor and outdoor skate and BMX park. www.selby.gov.uk 2016: Z Hotel, Bath Offering compact luxury rooms in city centre locations, Z Hotels will be opening its first property in the south west of England in 2016. Z Bath is part of a £14 million development in Saw Close and work will start imminently. The property will offer 148

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bedrooms and will follow in the footsteps of all other Z Hotels which offer luxury bed linen on handcrafted beds, 40” LED TVs with Sky Sports and Movies at no extra cost, power showers and free high speed wifi throughout. There will also be complimentary cheese and wine each evening for guests. www.theZhotels.com Spring 2016: York Theatre Royal After a £4.1 million redevelopment project, the historic York Theatre Royal is re-opening in spring 2016. This beautiful theatre was built in 1744 on, and among, the site of the medieval St. Leonard’s Hospital. The redevelopment project started in March 2015 and this will be the biggest change to the theatre since the 1967 extension. This project will see an extended foyer spaces, a revamped 1,000 seat auditorium and improved access around the building. http://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/ January 2016: Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, Royal Academy of Arts, London 30 January – 20 April This major exhibition will examine the role of gardens in the paintings of Claude Monet and his contemporaries. The exhibition will span the early 1860s to the 1920s and will include; Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Avant-Garde artists of the early 20th century. It will bring together more than 120 works from public institutions and private collections, including 35 paintings by Monet alongside rarely-seen masterpieces by Paul Klee, Emil Nolde, Gustav Klimt and Wassily Kandinsky. A highlight of the exhibition will be a magnificent selection of Monet’s water lily paintings including the great Agapanthus Triptych of 1916-1919 – it will be the first time this monumental triptych has been together in over 100 years, and the first time ever it’s been seen in the UK. www.royalacademy.org.uk February 2016: ‘Dad’s Army’ remake A remake of the classic comedy ‘Dad’s Army’ is set to be released next February. It will feature a star-studded cast including Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Gambon. Filming took place in East Yorkshire, in Bridlington and Beverly. February 2016: Flying Scotsman Season, National Railway Museum February – July A season of events and activities are planned to celebrate the Flying Scotsman’s highly anticipated return to steam. As well as spotting the steam icon out and about on Britain's railways Highlights include an exhibition exploring the Flying Scotsman's rollercoaster career and a display of the locomotive in the Great Hall (March – May). Immerse yourself in the rich history of luxury travel on board the Flying Scotsman route by standing on the footplate of the steam giant and stepping inside the carriages that tell the tale of the locomotive's hey-day. Its inaugural run in February will run between London’s King’s Cross and York. www.nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman/scotsman-season.aspx March 2016: British Music Experience, Liverpool Following a five year run at London’s O2, the British Music Experience will now make its new home in the iconic Cunard Building in Liverpool. The BME is an unrivalled collection of music artefacts and memorabilia including some of David Bowie’s, Ziggy Stardust costumes. The museum will also pay homage to the impact British music has had on the culture, fashion, art and politics of the time. www.britishmusicexperience.com/ March 2016: Turning 20, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds In 2016 The Royal Armouries celebrates its 20th anniversary since it opened to the public on 30th March 1996. The multi-million pound museum was built to house a large part of the national collection of arms and armour, and displays over 8500 objects throughout its six themed galleries: War, Tournament, Oriental, Self-Defence, Hunting, and Peace. It is one of the largest collections of historic arms and armour, comprising the National Collection of Arms and Armour at Leeds, National Artillery Collection at Fort Nelson, and National Firearms Collection. It is also the Keeper of the Tower of London history. There

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is also an impressive Hall of Steel and the outside Tiltyard is where live shows such as jousting take place during school holidays. www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/ April 2016: 200th anniversary of Charlotte Bronte’s birth Charlotte Brontë (21 April 1816 – 31 March 1855) was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels have become classics of English literature. She first published her works (including her best known novel, Jane Eyre) under the pen name Currer Bell. Visitors to the village of Haworth, where the sisters grew up, can discover more about the authors at the Bronte Parsonage Museum. https://www.bronte.org.uk/haworth-and-the-brontes/haworth April 2016: The PIG at Combe, Devon THE PIG hotels group has announced a fifth addition to its expanding portfolio. Located at Combe House in Devon’s Otter Valley, it will feature 33 rooms in the main house (a Grade-1 listed Elizabethan Manor) and a characterful stable block. A 600year-old thatched longhouse will provide further private accommodation for up to eight guests. http://www.thepighotel.com/at-combe/opening-2016/ April 2016: Peter Rabbit™ Adventure Playground, Willows Activity Farm, Hertfordshire Due to open on 2 April 2016, the Peter Rabbit™ Adventure Playground, will be a major new themed adventure play area tying in to the 150th anniversary of the birth of its creator, Beatrix Potter. The new area will include The Peter Rabbit Secret Treehouse, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle Kitchen and Lily Bobtail Nature Discovery and will be the first Peter Rabbit themed adventure play area of its kind. www.willowsactivityfarm.com/ April 2016: Hilton Garden Hotel, Sunderland Located at the entrance of the Stadium village site, adjacent to Sunderland AFC’s Stadium of Light, the Hilton Garden Inn hotel will be the perfect destination for a leisure break. It will be ideally situated to enjoy the sites of Sunderland such as Roker beach, National Glass Centre as well as surrounding North east destinations including Newcastle Gateshead, Durham and Northumberland. http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/ May 2016: Rievaulx Abbey, North York Moors National Park A major restoration project is taking place at an English Heritage site, near Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park, with a brand new museum, tearoom, shop and an expanded visitor centre set to open by May 2016. Visitors will be able to enjoy a new Museum displaying objects that shed light on the uniqueness of Rievaulx and the fascinating people who founded and developed the Abbey. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rievaulx-abbey/ Summer 2016: Brighton i360 At 162 metres high and with an observation pod rising to 138 metres, the i360 will be Britain's highest observation tower outside London – taller even than the London Eye. Built on the axis of the Grade II* Regency Square, the site will also have a large beachside cafe/brasserie and an exhibition space focused on displaying work by local artists. http://www.brightoni360.co.uk/ June 2016: New wing at Tate Modern, London The brand new wing of the Tate Modern will finally be unveiled on 17 June. Set to transform the Tate Modern, an iconic new building will be added at the south of the existing gallery. It will create more spaces for displaying the collection, performance and installation art and learning, as well as creating more social spaces for visitors to unwind and relax in the gallery. www.tate.org.uk June 2016: ITU World Triathlon, Leeds

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11-12 June 2016 The inaugural World Triathlon in Leeds is guaranteed to deliver a thrilling showcase of endurance and strategy as thousands of spectator’s line the course to cheer on both the recreational and professional athletes - including home heroes Ali and Jonny Brownlee who will be competing in their last event on home soil before the Rio 2016 Olympics. On Sunday over 5,000 triathletes of all levels of ability will compete starting with an open water swim in the glorious Roundhay Park, the bike leg will see participant’s complete laps in and around Leeds city centre before completing a testing run course and crossing the finish line in the city centre. http://leeds.triathlon.org/ July 2016: 150th anniversary of the birth of author Beatrix Potter Born in London in 1866, Helen Beatrix Potter was best known for her imaginative children’s books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter spent the majority of her adult life on her farm near Sawrey in the Lake District. July 2016: Eleven Arches at Auckland Castle, Durham From July 2016 an open air night spectacular at Auckland Castle in Durham, will bring to life 2,000 years of Britain’s History through the eyes of the North East, from the Roman times to post World War II. Eleven Arches will entertain up to 8,000 visitors per show across a 7½ acre stage with a cast and crew made up of 1,000 professionally trained volunteers. Taking inspiration from its artistic partner, Eleven Arches is modelled on Puy du Fou’s own night show in France. elevenarches.org July 2016: The Queen’s House reopens Ahead of its 400th anniversary, the Queen’s House in Greenwich closed in July 2015 for refurbishment. Once it reopens, visitors will be able to see Orazio Gentileschi’s Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife displayed in this iconic building for the first time since 1650. The painting, which is part of the Royal Collection, was one of a sequence commissioned for the Queen’s House by King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria. http://www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house July 2016: BFG Film In Roald Dahl’s anniversary year, the highly-anticipated release of one of his much loved stories, The BFG, will take place in July. It will be directed by highest-grossing director of all time, Steven Spielberg, and will star Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant and Penelope Wilton as The Queen. Filming for the live action film took place across the country, and viewers will be able to spot a variety of famous English landmarks.The film is due to be released on 22 July. July 2016: 50th anniversary of England winning the World Cup A series of events will take place across the country in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary since the English football team won the World Cup. It’s been half a century since the tournament, hosted in England, resulted in Bobby Moore lifting the trophy on 30 July 1966. The commemorations will celebrate the cultural aspects of the Football World Cup, with a major event being planned. August 2016: Countryfile Live, Blenheim Palace From 4 – 7 August 2016, a new outdoor countryside event from BBC Countryfile will be staged at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Hosted in partnership with the National Trust, it is set to display the very best of the living countryside. It will bring award-winning elements of the popular TV programme to a live audience, through a series of hands-on activities, talks, and unique interactive features. www.blenheimpalace.com/ August 2016: Tall Ships Regatta, Blyth, Northumberland 26 – 29 August 2016 Blyth is to host the prestigious North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016, an event involving some of the largest and most spectacular Tall Ships in the world. Sailing into the port at Blyth over the weekend of 26-29 August 2016, the event will give residents and

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tourists a chance to see some of the finest Tall Ships in the world. The weekend will be a festival of celebration with all kinds of events being organised including concerts, a sea battle, sporting competitions and a crew parade. www.visitnorthumberland.com/blythtallships2016 September 2016: 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth Born on 13 September 1916, Roald Dahl captured the imagination of children around the world with his tales including James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Twits and The BFG. The award-winning Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is situated in the Buckinghamshire village where Roald Dahl lived and wrote for 36 years. www.roalddahl.com/museum October 2016: 800th anniversary of coronation of Henry III, Gloucester 2016 marks 800 years since Henry III was crowned King at St Peter’s Abbey (now Gloucester Cathedral), at the age of just nine years old. There are currently plans to have a grand procession, a re-enactment of the coronation, museum exhibitions, as well as a permanent commemoration. The coronation was held on 28 October 1216, following the death of Henry’s father, King John. www.thecityofgloucester.co.uk/ October 2016: 90th anniversary of first volume of Winnie the Pooh Although Winnie the Pooh made his debut in the London Evening News in 1925, it wasn’t until October 1926 that A.A. Milne published his first collection of Pooh stories in the book, ‘Winnie the Pooh’. This was then followed by ‘The House at Pooh Corner’ in 1928. The stories are set in the Ashdown Forest in Sussex. October 2016: 100th anniversary of the birth of Alf Wight (James Herriot) In 2016 marks 100 years since the birth of the Thirsk Vet Alf Wight whom many know as author James Herriot, the country vet whose country vet adventures inspired the much beloved TV adaptation All Creatures Great and Small (which is on the cards to be remade by HBO). A Visit to James Herriot World in Thirsk allows visitors to immerse themselves in the life and times of James Herriot. Visit the original home of the veterinary practice at 23 Kirkgate, lovingly restored to its 1940’s glory, see the Alf Wight statue, wartime bunker, farriers workshop, memorabilia and instruments on display and go behind the scenes on the BBC adaptation of Creatures Great and Small. www.worldofjamesherriot.com/ November 2016: Hull city centre transformation A multi-million pound public realm programme, ahead of Hull becoming the UK City of Culture for 2017, will see visitors to the city centre be greeted with new public art installations and contemporary spaces. Other planned works include the area around Trinity Square being opened up and Holy Trinity Church being refurbished. The project is due for completion in November. www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com Winter 2016: Woolsington Hall Hotel & Spa, Newcastle The Grade II listed Woolsington Hall will see a luxury renovation, transforming the hall into a 34 bedroom, five star hotel and leisure complex, the first of its kind in Newcastle. The site will also be complete with a restaurant, lodges, golf course, spa, and a cookery school. With history as its backdrop, the hall will be gracefully and sensitively restored to its former glory, with a bespoke, unique and personal touch running throughout. It is set to open in winter 2016 or spring 2017 www.woolsingtonhallhotel.co.uk 2016: 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, Warwickshire William Shakespeare - arguably England’s most renowned playwright – will be commemorated in his home county in 2016, to mark 400 years since his death and to honour his timeless legacy. His family home in Stratford upon Avon, New Place, will be transformed and reimagined for a 21st century audience, telling the missing story of Shakespeare’s mature years as a successful writer and citizen of his home town. It will open in April 2016. The RSC will also open a major new exhibition, which is set to immerse visitors in its history. Work has also started to restore the Grade II listed Swan Wing of the theatre, which

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dates back to 1879. King Edward VI school will reopen Shakespeare’s school room and Guildhall (where Shakespeare was educated and watched his first piece of professional theatre) to the public in April. http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit-the-houses/nashs-house-amp-new-place.html 2016: Shakespeare anniversary operas, Glyndebourne Festival To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, two operas based on his plays will be performed at the Glyndebourne Festival, Béatrice et Bénédict by Berlioz and Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Adapted from Much Ado About Nothing, Béatrice et Bénédict will have its fully-staged Glyndebourne debut in a new production directed by Laurent Pelly. Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will see a return for Peter Hall’s enduringly popular 1981 production, its first revival in ten years. The commemorations will continue into 2017, when the Festival presents the world premiere of a new opera based on Hamlet. Glyndebourne Festival 2016 takes place from 21 May – 28 August 2016. www.glyndebourne.com/ 2016: 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings The towns of Hastings and Battle will be celebrating the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings with a programme of cultural events. The celebrations begin with the Root 1066 International Festival with a programme of exhibitions and performances. The anniversary is also marked by the opening of a brand new Battle Museum, as well as a new exhibition featured inside the Great Gatehouse on the legacy of the battle. Following the opening their will be a bumper edition of its annual re-enactment of the battle, which takes place every October on the battlefield lying behind Battle Abbey (English Heritage). www.battlelocalhistory.com/battle-950.html 2 September 2016: 350 years since the Fire of London Starting in a small bakery on Pudding Lane, the infamous Great Fire of London swept across the City of London over three days. Sir Christopher Wren’s flame-topped Monument stands in the City today, to mark this tragic event. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 2016: 150th anniversary of London’s Blue Plaques Founded in 1866, the London’s Blue Plaques scheme is believed to be the oldest of its kind in the world, commemorating the link between notable historic figures and the buildings in which they lived and worked. The first plaque to Lord Byron has been demolished, so the oldest surviving one is for Napoleon III standing at King Street. Since 1986, the scheme has been run by English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/ 2016: Stoke-on-Trent is European Capital of Sport Stoke-on-Trent has been named the European Capital of Sport for 2016. It is three years since a city in Great Britain was awarded this title and previous recipients include Gateshead and Leicester. This destination presents a huge opportunity for the city to raise its profile, as well as make a significant impact on levels of participation in sport, public health and the city’s ongoing regeneration. www.visitstoke.co.uk/ 2016 – 2021: The Canterbury Journey, Canterbury Cathedral In May 2014, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded an in-principle grant of nearly £12m to Canterbury Cathedral. The Canterbury Journey will radically transform the accessibility and sustainability of the Cathedral, while safeguarding the building, increasing the number of visitors and enriching their experience. The planned proposal includes a new welcome centre which will offer improved learning and hospitality, new trails which will guide visitors through both the Cathedral and its newly landscaped precincts, and an outreach programme to schools and communities. The fabric of the Cathedral’s western end, which is currently endangered, will be restored and enhanced. The project is due to be delivered between 2016-2021. http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/heritage-lottery-funding-the-canterbury-journey/ 2017: Hull to host Turner Prize

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Hull will host Europe's most prestigious contemporary arts prize as part of its year as UK City of Culture 2017. The Turner Prize is awarded each year to a British artist under 50 for an outstanding work of contemporary visual art. In 2017, the prize will leave Tate Britain in London for Hull's Ferens Art Gallery, where it will be the cornerstone of a 365-day festival of world-class culture. http://www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/ 2017: Scotland Yard Hotel The original Scotland Yard police station is set to become a five-star luxury hotel, following a £50million refurbishment to the historic building. It will combine luxury bedrooms with two bars, a library, and dining rooms, and rooms will cost up to £10,000 a night. 2017: Eden Project Hotel, Cornwall A £6 million hotel is set to open at the Eden Project in Cornwall next year. The hotel will have 115 bedrooms and has been designed to ‘blend into the countryside’. It will have access to the main site, as well as being close to the perimeter of Eden’s outer estate. www.edenproject.com/ June 2017: RHS Flower Show, Chatsworth From 7-11 June 2017, The RHS Flower Show will be hosted in partnership with Chatsworth House in Derbyshire on its breath-taking grounds. It will join the current portfolio of shows at Malvern, Chelsea, Hampton Court Palace, Tatton Park, and London. This incredible new show will be bursting with fresh ideas, held on the banks of the River Derwent and providing magnificent views of the countryside amid the landscape of Capability Brown. rhs.org.uk/chatsworth-show 20 – 23 July 2017: The Open Championship, Liverpool This major golfing event will be held at the Royal Birkdale in Merseyside. http://www.theopen.com/ December 2017: Bristol Arena Bristol is set to unveil a brand new £91 million venue in December 2017, situated near Temple Meads station. Whilst other details are yet to be revealed, it is set to be a 12,000 capacity site. http://visitbristol.co.uk/ 2017: 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter book series Since the release of the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, on 30 June 1997, the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide inspiring the highly popular film series. 2017: 400th anniversary of Pocahontas’s death In March 2017, Pocahontas became ill aboard a ship bound for Virgina, and subsequently died after only travelling as far as Gravesend. Her funeral took place on 21 March 1617 at St George’s church in Gravesend, Kent, where her body is buried. There is also a statue of her in the churchyard. www.stgeorgesgravesend.org.uk/ 2017: New ride at Longleat Forest Centre Parcs A Subtropical Swimming Paradise is due to open at the Longleat Forest Centre Parcs in 2017, and will be at the heart of the visitor experience. It will feature a four person exhilarating raft ride, as well as a unique one or two, person ride experience with an exciting light, sound, and visual element. www.centerparcs.co.uk/villages/longleat/

2017: Royal Pier, Southampton This £400 million development will transform the landscape of Southampton’s waterfront, showcasing the international face of the city as a great place to live, work and enjoy. The waterfront will be revitalised; Mayflower Park will be recreated and

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extended, while speciality shops, offices, leisure venues, apartments and waterside attractions will be scattered along the shoreline. The park will become a high quality public space offering spectacular views of the water and pretty southern skies. Construction will start in 2016. www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/future/city-centre-masterplan/royal-pier

2017: 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death One of the most widely read authors in English literature, Jane Austen died on 18 July 1817 in Winchester. Chawton Cottage, (now known as the Jane Austen House Museum) in the village of Chawton in Hampshire, is where she spent her final eight years and which now offers talks and workshops throughout the year. www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/ 2017: IAAF, London London has been awarded the right to stage the 2017 IAAF World Championships. http://www.london2017athletics.com/ 2017: Bristol Aerospace Centre The brilliance of British innovation, design and engineering will be showcased at the new Bristol Aerospace Centre, due to open at Filton in spring 2017. On display as the stunning centrepiece will be the Concorde 216, the finest of the British fleet. http://www.bristolaero.org/ 2017: IPC Athletics World Championships, London London has been announced as the host city for the 2017 IPC Athletics World Championships. The Championships will be held at the Olympic stadium, a month before the same venue hosts the IAAF World Athletics Championships. London will become the first city to host the Championships side-by-side. http://paralympics.org.uk/news/london-to-host-2017-ipc-world-championships 2017: Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa Preliminary work began in 2015 for the development of the brand new Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa at Ocean Village. Once completed, it will be the first luxury five star standard hotel in Southampton, marking a major milestone for the city. Construction is set to take approximately 18-24 months. www.harbourhotels.co.uk/ 2017: 120th anniversary of Tate Britain, London Originally known as The Tate Gallery, the art gallery is named after Henry Tate, the gallery's first benefactor. http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain 2017: Newcastle Brown Ale’s 90th birthday The city's popular ale was first launched in 1927. http://m.newcastlebrown.com/ 2017: Hull UK City of Culture Hull is set to be the UK City of Culture in 2017. It has set out ambitious plans for a unique and thrilling programme of cultural activity which would excite communities across the city and far beyond. http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/2017hull 2017: The Grand Hotel & Spa, York York’s renowned luxury five-star hotel has embarked on a major re-branding that will see it transformed into The Grand Hotel & Spa, York. If the two year redevelopment goes ahead, it will see the York venue double its number of guest rooms, as well as create a new restaurant space on what is currently an outside terrace area. www.thegrandyork.co.uk

2017: Blue Whale at Natural History Museum

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The central display in the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall is set to change in the summer of 2017, as long-serving resident Diplodocus is set to be replaced after 35 years. The new display will be a blue whale skeleton, and will mark the beginning of a decade of transformation for the museum. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/ 2018: Blackpool Heritage Museum Housed inside the Pavilion Theatre at the Winter Gardens, the £21 million museum will use film, photos, music and artefacts to show how Blackpool became one of the world’s largest tourist resorts. http://www.visitblackpool.com/ 2018: British Disneyland, Kent Chris Townsend, the commercial director at London 2012 organiser LOCOG, has been appointed to create a new theme park in Kent for Disney’s Paramount Pictures. The theme park will feature Paramount brands such as Star Trek, and there will be water parks, cinemas and live music venues. 2018: 900th anniversary of Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral is one of the finest Norman buildings surviving in Europe and is a UK landmark. http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/ 2018: 250th anniversary of the Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts At one time this celebrated annual show was known simply as ‘The Exhibition’, where the likes of Gainsborough and Reynolds, Turner and Constable sharpened their skills against each other. Today, the galleries at Burlington House continue to provide an unrivalled setting for artists to display and sell their artworks. The array of works and the celebratory atmosphere of the exhibition make for a unique experience where visitors can browse, buy and discuss the works of show. www.royalacademy.org.uk/ 2018: Opening of The Peninsula, London The luxury global chain has announced plans to open its first ever UK property in London. Located in Belgravia, steps away from Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, the new hotel will be in a prime location to explore the capital’s cultural highlights. This will add to the hotel’s ‘cultural learning experience’ with their in-house academy programmes, designed to offer destination insight. http://www.peninsula.com 6 June 2019: 75th anniversary of D-Day landings The D-Day Museum in Southsea is planning a major redevelopment ahead of the 75th anniversary. 2019: 50 Years of Monty Python Monty Python’s Flying Circus first aired on the BBC in October 1969, continuing for four seasons before the much-loved comedy troupe embarked on their big screen success. 2019: Battersea Power Station Hotel A new 160-room luxury hotel will open at the Battersea Power Station in 2019. It will feature a rooftop garden and pool, with panoramic views of the London skyline, which will run the length of the building. Beneath the garden level will be a restaurant and bar for guests to enjoy, as well as a creative space for exhibitions. The development is due for completion in 2019. www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk 2019: Cricket World Cup 2019 will see England and Wales host the Cricket World Cup for the 5th time. Hosting venues include: Birmingham’s Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Bristol’s County Cricket Ground, Sophia gardens in Cardiff, Riverside Ground at Chester-Le-Street, Headingley in Leeds, The Oval and Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester, Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Southampton’s Rose Bowl, and Taunton’s County Ground. The tournament will take place between May and July.

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2019: Royal Artillery Museum, Salisbury Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire has been selected as the preferred location for construction of a new military museum and exhibition centre by the Royal Artillery Museum. Expected to open in spring 2019, the attraction will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the 300-year story of the Royal Artillery through one of the UK’s largest military collections. This will not simply be a military museum, but a purpose-built interactive visitor attraction, with diverse appeal for visitors of all ages. http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/ 2020: Jurassica Dinosaur Museum, Dorset An £80m attraction, called Jurassica, is set to be built in a 40m (132ft) deep limestone quarry in Portland, Dorset. According to plans, the museum will span about 100m - a third the size of the Millennium Dome – and will house robot swimming plesiosaurs, fossils and interactive displays. http://www.visit-dorset.com/ 2020: 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens’s death After Dickens’s death on 9 June 1870 in Kent, he was laid to rest in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey. Born in Portsmouth in 1812, he spent much of his working life in London, writing novels such as Great Expectations and Oliver Twist. www.dickensmuseum.com/ 2020: England Coast Path The England Coast Path will be a new National Trail all around England's coast. It is due to open in sections and will be complete in 2020. When it is complete it will be one of the longest coastal walking routes in the world. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/england-coast-path 2020: Mayflower anniversary The Mayflower was the ship that in 1620 transported 102 English pilgrims, sailing from Plymouth to New England. The voyage is one of the most famous in early American colonial history. www.mayflower400uk.com/ 2020: Coast to coast canoe trail, Leeds & Liverpool Canal The first-ever coast to coast canoe trail is currently in its early stages of development, and plans to be completed by 2020. The new trail will link Mersey to Humberside, and will connect towns and cities along the way including Wigan, Liverpool, Blackburn, Burnley, Leeds, Skipton, and Goole. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk 9. Continued from 2014…

YHA Hostel, the Eden Project, Cornwall 24 October A new youth hostel made from shipping containers is opening at the Eden Project, in partnership with the YHA and Snoozebox. The 58 room hostel will accommodate more than 220 guests and offers views over St Austell Bay. Prices start at £39 per night for a private room or £12 per night for a bed, guests can add discounted entry to the Eden Project when they book. www.edenproject.com Aloft Hotel, Liverpool 29 October The new hotel will be set in a Grade II listed building and guestrooms will feature the brand’s signature high ceilings, oversized windows and an ultra-comfortable platform bed as well as large walk-in showers. www.alofthotels.com Froyle Park, Hampshire

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October Steeped in history and located only a couple of hours from London in the historic Hampshire village of Froyle, this unique Manor House, surrounded by thick woods and sprawling country meadows, will soon be offering 14 luxury self-catering suites. Each one is designed to reflect the nostalgic refinement of the Manor House’s Jacobean architecture and will ensure that guests are indulged in comfort. www.froylepark.co.uk The Coach House Hotel, North Yorkshire October Located in the grounds of Middleton Lodge in Richmond, this new-breed of country house hotel is a converted Georgian coaching house. With a focus on estate-to-plate dining, a refurbished kitchen garden in 2015 will add another dimension to seasonal menus. Each bedroom has an individual personality and is the perfect place to unwind after a stroll in the private North Yorkshire grounds. http://www.middletonlodge.co.uk/coach-house-hotel/ Wizard Chambers, Georgian House Hotel, London October The Georgian House Hotel in London is casting a spell over its guests with its brand new wizard chambers. The 163 year old property near Victoria Station now has Potter-style rooms furnished with trunks, potion bottles, cauldrons and spell books. The hotel is perfectly located to catch a coach to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour to continue the Harry Potter experience. One night in the Wizard Chambers, including breakfast, is £209 based on two people sharing. http://www.georgianhousehotel.co.uk/offers/Harry-Potter-Package-London.asp Northcote, Lancashire December This renowned country house hotel situated on the edge of the Ribble Valley, is adding eight luxurious bedrooms to its already widely reputable and Michelin starred, ‘restaurant with rooms’. Famed for mouth-watering cuisine and its brilliant in-house cookery school, the hotel offers a wide variety of experiences for the foodie traveller. www.northcote.com Glass Floor experience, Tower Bridge November Tower Bridge has unveiled a brand new and spectacular glass floor across the high-level Walkways – the most significant development to the Exhibition since it originally opened in the 1980s. It offers visitors a never-seen-before view of London life, from 42 metres above the River Thames. It is 11 metres long and 1.8 metres wide and is comprised of panels weighing 530 kilograms each. http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/tower-bridge-glass-floor/ Transmitting Andy Warhol, Liverpool 7 November 2014 – 8 February 2015 Bringing together more than 100 artworks, this is the first solo exhibition of Andy Warhol’s (1928–1987) work in the north of England. A major exhibition highlight will be a selection of Warhol’s iconic works including the Marilyn series, which will be shown alongside paintings loaned from international collections, films, drawings, prints and photographs, at Tate Liverpool. http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-liverpool Magna Carta exhibition, Temple Church, London From 17 November An outstanding exhibition to celebrate the Charter, past and present opened at the Temple Church in November 2014. The V&A has lent four casts of medieval effigies: William Marshal I and II (taken before the Blitz), John and Henry III, whilst further loans from Lincoln Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral and the National Archives have transformed the Temple’s Round Church into a shrine to the Great Charter of Liberties. The exhibition will be in place throughout 2015 and for the foreseeable future.

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www.templechurch.com The Cumberland Art Gallery, Hampton Court Palace 20 November Visit the new Cumberland Art Gallery and discover a fine display of works from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Holbein, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Canaletto – artists who worked for or were collected by British monarchs over three centuries. The gallery occupies the newly restored Georgian suite designed by William Kent for King George II’s favourite son, the Duke of Cumberland. http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/ Small Stories: At Home in a Dolls’ House, V&A Museum of Childhood 13 December 2014 - 6 September 2015 Discover the fascinating stories behind some of the UK's best-loved dolls' houses, by going on a journey through the history of the home, everyday lives and changing family relationships. Visitors are encouraged to come and meet the residents, and discover tales of marriages and parties, politics and crime. The exhibition encompasses country mansions, the Georgian town house, suburban villas, newly-built council estates and high-rise apartments. http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/ The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria December Housed in a former Victorian farm in the Lake District, The Lakes Distillery - Cumbria’s first whiskey distillery - also produces its own Cumbrian gin made with local botanicals. The Lakes Distillery will have a café, restaurant, shop and a visitor centre offering supervised distillery tours, but for now the distillery has launched a brand new pre-opening visitor reception. This allows visitors to see progress at the distillery as it develops, find out all about the distillery’s story so far, enjoy a complimentary tasting of The ONE whiskey and indulge in a bit of retail therapy at its shop. A series of webcams have also been installed at the distillery, allowing people to view the progress as it happens. http://www.lakesdistillery.com/ The Railway Children, King’s Cross Theatre, London 16 December 2014 – 1 March 2015 A new adaptation of E Nesbit’s classic novel ‘The Railway Children’ will arrive at London’s King’s Cross Station this December. Set in the new, purpose built 1,000 seat King’s Cross Theatre, the breath-taking show will feature a stage built around a real train track, and a beautiful 60-tonne locomotive that steams into the theatre to delight all ages. http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-railway-children/kings-cross-theatre/ The Woodspeen Restaurant and Cookery School, Newbury 29 October and 1 December The award-winning chef John Campbell will open a restaurant, bar and cookery school on the site of the former Five Bells pub in Woodspeen, Newbury. The property, which dates back to the 19th-century, will have a 66-seat restaurant and 18-seat bar and will open on 29 October, whilst the cookery school with 10 stations, and a half-acre kitchen garden will open on 1

December. One of very few British chefs to have held two Michelin stars, John promises that The Woodspeen will retain its ‘pub feel’ with a bar area and restaurant celebrating seasonal ingredients. www.thewoodspeen.com Churchill tour, Oxford From October 2014 Remembering Churchill 2015 is a brand new tour themed around Churchill’s life and his achievements during the war. Starting with a visit to Ditchley Park, where many cabinet meetings where held during the war, the tour then continues to the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, where visitors can discover personal stories behind the great wars of the 20th century. Visitors can also enjoy all that Blenheim Palace – the birthplace of Churchill – has to offer, including its brand new Churchill exhibition (opening

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14th February 2015). As an optional add on to this tour, a themed talk by an Oxford historian can be booked. The tour costs £26 per person. http://www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/group-travel/Group_itineraries.aspx Magna Carta tour, Oxford From October 2014 Beginning at Runnymede Meadow in Surrey, Celebrating the Magna Carta will take visitors to the ancient meeting meadow, where King John sealed Magna Carta, before taking a river cruise upstream. Visitors will then take a themed walking tour in Oxford, where they will hear about Oxford’s role in the history of Magna Carta: birthplace of King John and site of De Montfort’s Oxford Parliament. Also included is a visit to the new Weston Library building at the Bodleian Library with a tour of the Magna Carta exhibition. The library holds four of the 17 known surviving Charters, and they will be on display from late March – 20th September 2015. http://www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/group-travel/Group_itineraries.aspx