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Latest News: Bath, Bristol, Bournemouth & Poole, Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire (inc. Cotswolds & Forest of Dean), Somerset and Wiltshire
Great West Way Targets Responsible TravellersVisitWiltshire is partnering with leading Out of Home Media company Ocean Media Group, encouraging responsible visitors to explore the Great West Way as travel restrictions are lifted. Read more | |
We The Curious Joins UK Science Centres campaignWe The Curious, along with over 40 members of the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), has today joined the Science Centres For Our Future campaign, which is calling on the government to set up an Emergency Resilience Fund to support the UK’s world-class network of regional Science Centres. Read more | |
Events cancelled sadly in Dorset till end of August‘Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole take difficult decision to extend the cancellation of outdoor events until end of August 2020. Major events and festivals including Bournemouth Air Festival that were due to go ahead this summer have been cancelled due to the continued impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Read more | |
Salisbury Museum Launch New Collection ProjectThe Salisbury Museum is launching its first oral history project: ‘COVID-19 Diaries for Salisbury’ in order to capture the impact that the coronavirus is having on the city and its residents. Read more | |
 | Community & Engagement & Lockdown LearningEver since the UK was placed in lockdown on Monday 23rd March, we’ve had to acclimatise ourselves to this temporary new way of life and get accustomed to spending an increased amount of time at home and indoors. Whether working from home, home schooling the children, ticking off the ‘lockdown list’ of to-do jobs, essential shopping and caring for elderly family and neighbours, or just trying to fill our time, we have all had to adjust quickly to this new way of living. Read more |
Eden Sessions Postponed until 2021The Eden Project announced today (April 17, 2020) that the Eden Sessions series of concerts planned for June and July this year will not take place but is being rescheduled for next year. Read more | |
Salisbury Museum Launches Online ExhibitionPick & Mix @pickandmixtsm is an Instagram exhibition developed by the team at The Salisbury Museum to explore the last 800 years of Salisbury’s history through fascinating objects and with a range of community voices. The exhibition launches online on 23 April 2020. Read more | |
 | Bath on ScreenThe UNESCO World Heritage site of Bath has been a backdrop for many big and small screen productions, most recently in ITV's current series Belgravia and McDonald and Dodds; now showing on newly launched Britbox. Read more |
 | Great West Way Launches New MagazineThis year’s Great West Way Travel Magazine is available to download now, providing the perfect inspiration for virtual travellers and future travellers Read more |
Visit Wiltshire Supports Local BusinessesVisitWiltshire has created an Instagram story to be used on the social media platform to encourage people to tag the account of their favourite place to eat, to grab a drink, to visit and to stay, in Wiltshire. VisitWiltshire is asking people to share this image to their personal Instagram story and nominate friends to do the same. Read more | |
South Devon Railway Launches Funding VideoSouth Devon Railway launches striking 'SOS' video appeal to raise survival funding. Read more | |
 | Digital Culture across the Dorset CoastAlthough all the conurbation’s vibrant and busy theatres, museums, art galleries, cinemas and music venues are currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a number of cultural festivals have been postponed or cancelled, there are many clever, creative and easily accessible ways of getting a rich cultural fix over the next few weeks and months. Read more |
Virtually Explore England's 'Great West Way'To those of us that are home right now keeping safe and keeping busy, in those moments when you're not home-schooling children, working from home or cleaning the house for the 100th time, allow yourself to let your mind wander and daydream of travelling. Read more | |
Update from Devon's Top AttractionsWith growing worries over the spread of Coronavirus across the county, the last few members of ‘Devon’s Top Attractions’ (the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions - DATA) who remained open have effectively been told to close for business from tonight (Monday 23 March) by the Prime Minister. Read more | |
 | VisitWiltshire Hosts Leading Travel InfluencersVisitWiltshire, Great West Way and English Heritage invited leading UK travel influencers to an exclusive event in Wiltshire. Read more |
Wellington Monument Restoration Reaches MilestoneOn Tuesday 17 March the National Trust’s restoration process of the Wellington Monument took a step forward, as it’s crowning stone known as the ‘Pyramidion’ was removed from the Monument. It is the pinnacle of the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world, at a height of 175 feet. Read more | |
Torquay Penguins Inspire Novel!Living Coasts, in Torquay, famous for its penguins, has helped inspire a novelist to write a book featuring penguins – published by Penguin. Read more | |
How to tell if your Great Ape is Pregnant...The world’s number one selling brand in home pregnancy and fertility tests has donated pregnancy kits – for orang utans. Read more | |
Wild Planet Trust - Business as UsualThe three South West zoos run by regional conservation charity Wild Planet Trust have a defiant message for coronavirus: “It’s business as usual”. Read more | |
 | Double Dose of Herbs at Lytes Cary ManorAnyone going away over Easter might want to carry a supply of mugwort (artemisia) – it was reputed to prevent weariness on a journey, according to a 16th-century medical text that is the inspiration behind a new herbal border at the National Trust’s Lytes Cary Manor. Read more |
 | Visit South Devon Forges Ahead with Destination PartnershipsVisit South Devon’s new group travel trade campaign is getting off to a smashing start with partnerships in place with key towns and destinations in South Devon. Read more |
 | Amazing Insect - Eating Plants at EdenThe Eden Project has opened a new garden dedicated to the fascinating world of carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes). Read more |
 | Apple Trees Planted in Montacute's OrchardMore than 50 apple trees have been planted at Montacute House, expanding orchards that provide vital habitat for wildlife in the south west. Read more |
 | Bristol Aquarium Displays a Cute Young PufferfishBristol’s city centre aquarium has a new, young pufferfish on display for visitors to see. Read more |
 | Paramedics Win at Prestigious Rail Business AwardsSouth Western Railway’s (SWR) team of paramedics have won the 'Customer Service Excellence' award at this year's prestigious Rail Business Awards, with judges describing the team as “exceptional and game-changing with life-changing results”. Read more |
 | Giant Bunnies Herald a very Happy Easter at Eden!The Eden Project will be going hopping mad over the Easter holidays (March 28 to April 19) with the arrival of three giant rabbits outside the famous Biomes. Read more |
 | Bath Inspiration with McDonald & DoddsITV’s new crime drama, McDonald and Dodds, debuted on Sunday 1st March. Set against the stunning and very sunny backdrop of Bath, here’s a rundown of must-see spots from the first episode of the series and some inspiration for places to stay… Read more |
 | Sponsor a Gargoyle at Gloucester CathedralGloucester Cathedral, in partnership with Cheltenham Racecourse, is pleased to offer this time-limited opportunity for a group of six individuals to come together to sponsor a Cheltenham themed gargoyle. Read more |
 | Scafold Platform Tours at Wellington MonumentTours to a viewing platform situated 10 metres from the ground on the Wellington Monument scaffolding are now available to book, the National Trust has announced. The tours will start from 25 April and will see visitors climbing 6 flights of stairs to the specially created platform. Read more |
 | Eden Classic Prize is a Dream Come TrueA super-keen cyclist could not believe his eyes when he read a phone message telling him he had won his dream bike in a prize draw. Read more |
 | Pick up your Pilgrim Passport at Gloucester CathedralGloucester Cathedral is delighted to announce that Pilgrim Passports are now available in the Cathedral Gift Shop. The passports are also available in every Church of England cathedral as part of the national campaign for 2020 Year of Cathedrals, Year of Pilgrimage. Read more |
 | Cloister Challenge Sleep Out at Gloucester CathedralGloucester’s annual Cloister Challenge event returns to the Cathedral on 20 March 2020 marking its fifth anniversary raising money for the homeless and vulnerable. Read more |
 | Colour Colour Everywhere at EdenCartoon demonstrations, a giant nature art installation and a colourful trail around the Biomes are some of the vibrant activities for Colour Uncovered at Eden this February half term. Read more |
 | Poignant Art Display at Gloucester CathedralYou can dedicate a beautiful Forget Me Not in memory of a loved one to be planted in a stunning new art installation at Gloucester Cathedral. Read more |
 | Gloucester Cathedral to hold Chorister AuditionsSinging auditions for aspiring choristers are set to take place at Gloucester Cathedral later this month. If you know a girl or boy that loves to sing, now is the time to get in touch. Read more |
 | Wookey Hole's Wild Wookey Wins GoldSomerset’s oldest and biggest attraction is proud to announce it has been awarded GOLD for its Wild Wookey caving experience, in the Active and Sporting Experience category in this year’s South West England Tourism Excellence Awards. Read more |
 | New Members at Devon's Top AttractionsThe Devon Association of Tourist Attractions, which trades as ‘Devon’s Top Attractions’, has started off 2020 with two NEW association members, plus an incoming new Chairman too. Read more |
 | New Natural Play Area at Brownsea IslandFollowing a winter of conservation work and improvements, Brownsea Island is once again open to visitors during weekends in February. Read more |
 | Show Stopping Snowdrops at Kingston LacyKingston Lacy, nr Wimborne, is famous for having magnificent displays of snowdrops. The snowdrop walk stretches through the 40-acre garden for one and a half miles and is at its best throughout early February. Read more |
 | Volunteers Wanted for Coleridge CottageThe National Trust is calling for volunteers to join the team at the former home of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and help the charity look after the place where he wrote some of his most-loved works. Read more |
 | Veganuary at Max GateThis month Max Gate, the home of Thomas Hardy, is celebrating Veganuary. There will be vegan 'cream' teas and cakes available throughout January, all homemade onsite in the Max Gate kitchens by the baking volunteers. Read more |
 | Eden's Korea Garden takes ShapeA pair of striking totem poles are greeting visitors to the Eden Project in Cornwall as Britain’s first Korean garden takes shape. Read more |
 | Gloucester Cathedral to Shine BrightThe exhibition titled ‘Where There is Light’ marks the culmination of events celebrating 20 years of Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) and features artwork by Gloucestershire based digital arts group, Squidsoup. Read more |
 | Isaac Newton Space Sapling at EdenOne of eight young trees grown from pips from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple tree and blasted into space with British ESA astronaut Tim Peake is to be planted at the Eden Project. Read more |
 | Gloucester Cathedral Receives Big BoostThe Wolfson Foundation has generously awarded an £80,000 grant to help Gloucester Cathedral secure the future of one of the oldest parts of the building, the North Ambulatory. Read more |
 | Pop-Up Vegan Cafe at EdenThe Eden Project has launched a pop-up café called the Vegan Kitchen to help people trying out a plant-based diet in January. Read more |
 | Stourhead Welcomes Weekend VisitorsFor visitors enjoying a winter walk around the garden at weekends, the National Trust team at Stourhead is offering a chance to warm up by a log fire in the house. Visitors can also spend time with the portraits of the Hoare family, which line the walls of the Entrance Hall. Read more |
 | Snowdrop Festival at The Garden HouseExcited snowdrop enthusiasts are set to travel across the UK to an exquisite corner of Devon to see one of the best collections of snowdrops in the world burst into fragrance and colour at The Garden House’s first ever Snowdrop Festival, which takes place January to March. Read more |
 | Giant Grouper at Bristol AquariumBristol Aquarium has added a giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) to their coral seas display for the first time. The giant grouper is currently a two-year-old female but is a protogynous hermaphrodite so will change sex to become a male in around three to five years when she reaches sexual maturity. Read more |
 | Gloucester Cathedral to Shine BrightSpectacular Light Installation to Shine Bright for GARAS at Gloucester Cathedral. Gloucester Cathedral hosts immersive artwork to recognise Gloucestershire refugees throughout history. Read more |
 | Enter Eden Classic for Chance to Win BikeCornwall’s biggest annual cycling event, the Eden Classic, is now open for entries with the chance to win a fabulous new road bike. Read more |
 | Eden Hails Tour of Britain StartThe Eden Project has hailed the announcement of the official route for the start of the Tour of Britain bike race as a great moment for cycling and for Cornwall. Read more |
 | Unique and Bespoke Small Tours for 2020The multi award winning Caerhays Castle and spring gardens has announced its new season of tour opportunities for 2020 with a focus on bespoke, guided and unique experiences for smaller groups. Read more |
Gloucester Cathedral - Kings School ScholarshipsGloucester Cathedral and The King’s School, Gloucester are set to make history by offering choral scholarships to girls for the first time. Read more |
