A scheme that encourages UK destinations, visitor attractions and tourism suppliers to become ‘coach friendly’ has welcomed its 51st member.
Organised and managed by the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), ‘Coach Friendly’ status recognises and rewards a commitment to understanding the requirements of coaches and their passengers, while also providing first-class facilities, access and information for drivers.
The scheme, first introduced in 2003 to focus on towns, cities and villages, has now recognised 28 UK destinations. The scheme was extended in 2016 to include visitor attractions. Blair Castle and Scone Palace in Scotland, and the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, were awarded the prestigious status this month.
Destinations and attractions wishing to apply for the status should contact the CPT. The CPT’s regional offices will then visit the destination or visitor attraction to carry out an audit of existing facilities for coaches and groups and, where necessary, make recommendations. It is understood that a number of destinations and visitor attractions are currently going through the process, with announcements due shortly.
For more information, go to www.coachfriendly.co.uk
Recipients of the ‘Coach Friendly’ status
‘Coach Friendly Town, Cities and Villages’ status has been awarded to:
– Rochester (2003)
– Stratford-upon-Avon (2004)
– Windsor (2004)
– Southport (2004)
– Salisbury (2005)
– Scarborough (2005)
– Eden Valley (2006)
– Chester (2007)
– Bury (2008)
– Lichfield (2009)
– Alnwick Castle & Garden (2010)
– Alnwick Town (2010)
– Ironbridge Gorge (2011)
– Cardiff (2011)
– Liverpool (2011)
– Coventry (2012)
– Shrewsbury (2012)
– Chesterfield (2013)
– Burnham-on-Sea (2014)
– Devizes (2014)
– Llandudno (2014)
– Nantwich (2015)
– Perth (2015)
– Blackpool (2016)
– Bournemouth (2016)
– Conwy (2016)
– Betws-y-Coed (2016)
– Inverness (2016)
Since the scheme was expanded in 2016 to include visitor attractions, the following attractions have been awarded the status:
London and South East England
– ArcelorMittal Orbit, London
– Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent
– Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway, Hampshire
– National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art, Newmarket, Suffolk
– Woburn Abbey & Gardens, Bedfordshire
Midlands
– Boundary Mill Stores, Grantham, Lincolnshire
– Boundary Mill Stores, Walsall
– National Memorial Arboretum, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire
– Sabrina Boat, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
– West Midland Safari & Leisure Park, Worcestershire
North East England
– Boundary Mill Stores, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear
– Boundary Mill Stores, Colne, Lancashire
North West England
– Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village & Garden Centre, Accrington, Lancashire
Scotland
– Blair Castle, Perthshire
– Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop, Dumfries and Galloway
– Scone Palace, Perth
South West England
– The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset
– The Merchant’s House, Marlborough, Wiltshire
– Stourhead (National Trust), Wiltshire
– Wells Cathedral, Somerset
Wales
– Parc Slip Nature Reserve, Bridgend
– Talyllyn Railway, Gwynedd
Yorkshire
– Boundary Mill Stores, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
