BTW 2010 Calendar of Events

Grand Hall, Olympia London

09.30- 15.00

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Exhibition

Domestic Visitors

Whether you're planning your family holiday, weekend away, afternoon escape or just determined to make the most of your leisure time, the adventure starts here! With more than 350 exhibitors, 1000's of destinations, attractions and places to stay you can meet the experts and get the best advice face-to-face. Get your bearings before you go at Best of Britain & Ireland 2010!

Grand Hall, Olympia London

11.00 am

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Meet the men who built and run the newest narrow gauge railway in Wales. The Welsh Highland railway runs through Snowdonia and the Aberglaslyn Pass - voted the ‘most scenic view in the UK’. Andrew Thomas and Paul Lewin tell their tales of making it possible soon for us to travel by steam all the way from Caernarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

13.15

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

A member of the terrible Hawhurst gang dispels our romantic image of smuggling days gone by. A revenue man tells his side of the story and we find out how a wench would hide her wares.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

16.15

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Harvey Stephens, Head Gardener of The Savill Garden and Nick Day from the Crown Estate take you on an illustrated tour of the Royal Gardens of Windsor Great Park. Learn how Royal Patronage has supported the developments within these horticultural gems and enjoy an entertaining and informative look behind the scenes at some of England’s finest Gardens. Plus your chance to quiz Harvey about your own horticultural headaches.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

11.00

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Learn all about English wines from the experts at Denbies in Surrey, England’s largest vineyard. Followed by a tasting of the finest English wines and beer.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

14.00

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

From ancient abbeys, medieval castles and historic houses to museums, distilleries, gardens and folk parks, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh from Ireland’s Heritage Island group helps you make the most of a visit to the island of Ireland.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

14.00

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Discover Norbury Blue, Surrey’s only handmade cheese and a perfect match for England’s award winning Denbies wine. A fascinating half hour explaining the fine techniques of making cheese and England’s single estate grown wine. Followed by a cheese and wine tasting.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

12.30

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Margaret O’Shaughnessy from Foynes Flying Boat Museum recaptures the nostalgic era of the flying boats. When courageous pilots navigated the Atlantic with film stars, Foynes in County Limerick was the centre of the aviation world and Irish Coffee was invented to warm up the famous passengers.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

13.15

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Your chance to quiz a panel about everything you’ve ever wanted to know about one of the greenest, most convenient ways to enjoy the best of Britain and Ireland. Meet our panel of experts from Shearings Holidays and discover how coach holidays have moved on up over the last hundred years.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

14.45

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Not cheese on toast but tasty and unusual places to stay in Wales. Find out more about the country house hotels, boutique hideaways, historic inns, chic townhouses, luxury spas and top restaurants with rooms that make up the Welsh Rarebits collection of 54 hand-picked gems.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

11.30

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Launch

Domestic Visitors

The launch of a new Diploma in Travel and Tourism. Of interest to all teachers, parents, students and everyone who wants to work in tourism today. Keynote speakers include Brian Wisdom, Chief Executive of People1st, Steven Freudmann, Chairman of the Institute of Travel & Tourism and John McEwan Chairman of ABTA.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

11.45

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Do you know the origin of the phrases straight-laced, loose women or pin money? Learn the intricacies of dressing and the significance of clothing in Elizabethan society as experts from London’s Globe theatre dress a volunteer as Shakespeare’s fair Ophelia.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

14.45

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Want to be green and have fun on holiday? Let journalist Richard Hammond, founder of www.greentraveller.co.uk and travel editor of National Geographic’s Green magazine supplement inspire you. Richard’s joined by the greenest of B & B landladies to help answer all your holiday questions.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

16.15

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Sneak a preview of this year’s Agatha Christie festival. Find out more about the world’s best-selling fiction author as Torbay prepares to celebrate the Queen of Crime’s 120th anniversary, the 90th anniversary of Poirot and the 80th of Miss Jane Marple.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

11.45

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Only the Gingerbread Man knows the secret recipe of Cumbria’s iconic and tasty delicacy. His wife Joanne Wilson explains how spices and alcohol first came to the region and why Sarah Nelson developed the recipe in the 1850s.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

15.30

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

Where can you find a frozen waterfall, Europe’s largest rock garden and the sleeping quarters of long-extinct brown bears? Ireland’s Barbara Falkner reveals some of the Burren’s greatest treasures.

Grand Hall, Olympia London

12.30

Melissa Saunders

BoB Events Ltd

020 7424 7890

melissa@bobevents.co.uk

Other

Domestic Visitors

A fascinating talk explaining what a Geopark is and telling us what we can expect when we visit the English Riviera’s newest natural attraction.

BOBI Olympia

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

Explore the amazing views at the edge of our islands. Learn about the newly accessible coastal footpath and cast your net into the sea to sample the fish caught around our shores. South West Blue Badge Guide Chrissie Le Marchant brings the traditional seaside holiday bang up to date.

BOBI

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

Stone circles, mist-covered mountains, legendary heroes and scenery to set your soul free. You won’t need Giant’s Footsteps to follow Cornish Blue Badge Guide Janie Dymock from John o’ Groats to Lands End via Wales and Ireland.

BOBI

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registererd Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

The hills and dales, ups and downs, fells and moors, and the rivers running through them – breathe in some fresh air as Heart of England Blue Badge Guide Ian Jelf reveals his favourite places.

BOBI

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

The perfect spot to sip a scotch overlooking the West Highland Way? Sausage wars between Lincolnshire and Cumbria? The Cherry Ripe trail in Kent and the best National Trust afternoon teas? Geordie Blue Badge Guide Laura Rhodes brings you the answers with a walk bursting with flavours.

BOBI

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

London Blue Badge Guide Clarissa Fell brings to life foul deeds from our violent history with tales of executions, murders, battles and ghosts. By the end of this walk you’ll “remember, remember” to avoid the Scavenger’s Daughter and watch out for the great bear and flying hornet’s nests.

BOBI

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

They come in stone, brick, glass, steel and straw. Towers, bridges, palaces, observatories, cathedrals and even a Taj Mahal. It’s definitely not grim up north on a guided walk with Manchester Blue Badge Guide Sue Grimditch.

BOBI

Throughout the day

Julie Tan

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

We all need a little luxury in our lives. It’s a tough job but someone had to research the luxury BOBI guided walk. Blue Badge Guide Donna Nathan will share the secrets of where to find sumptuous hotels, hand made chocolates, fine wines and whiskies - all the ingredients you need to create special personal experiences and indulge in the very best of Britain and Ireland.

BOBI, Olympia

1030, 1300 and 1400.

Philippa Owen

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

Other

Blue Badge Tourist guides, in collaboration with People 1st, lead pre-booked guided walks for teachers attending the launch of the diploma in Travel and Tourism.

London Olympia

Luc Benyon

Enterprise UK

02074308071

luc@enterpriseuk.org

Competition

Students

Teams from colleges across the UK have been putting together business plans for a locally based tourism business. Start Up: Travel and Tourism, run by Enterpirse UK, aims to increase levels of enterprise amongst T&T students. The best 5 entries will be announced and granted £1000 each, courtesy of Virgin Holidays, to run their business for real!

BoBI, Olympia

11:30 - 12:00

Gareth Groarke

People 1st

01895 817047

gareth.groarke@people1st.co.uk

Launch

All

Also during the lunch break Enterpise UK will be announcing the short-list for 'Start up: travel and tourism' - an enterprise competition for FE Colleges based on the travel and tourism sector.

BoBI, Olympia

Throughout the day

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

020 7403 1115

guild@blue-badge.org.uk

Guided Tour/Walk

All

Active spectator, adrenaline junkie or an armchair enthusiast: we have something for everybody on our free guided walk of the active theme stands. Energetic Londoner and Blue Badge Guide Andy Rashleigh is keen to tempt you off your sofa!