Wholesalers Training Notes January 2019 Slide

Wholesalers Training Notes January 2019

Slide Topic Slide 1 GWW LOGO

Slide 2 Welcome to the GWW

Slide 3 Our Vision

Slide 4 Map What is the Great West Way? • Based on First Great Road commissioned by Kings of England • An extraordinary variety of product along route – both icons and less well known places to visit – lots of history and heritage, traditional English market towns etc. Slide 5 A Multi-modal Touring route & Connectivity

• Multi-modal Range of travel options – road, rail, water, walk, cycle • Bristol Airport or Heathrow Airport – Bristol Airport has branded Arrivals corridor • Great Western Railway (GWR) – Rail and local bus routes – new Great West Way Discoverer ticket 3 & 7 day https://www.greatwestway.co.uk/explore/rail/great-west-way- discoverer-ticket • National Cycle Network Route 4 • Waterways: River Thames (Visit Thames) and K & A Canal (Canal & River Trust) – boat trips / overnight / self-drive / hotel boats • Views and landscape along the journey are part of the experience • Walking routes, trails and guided / self-guided

Slide 6 Video – url - https://youtu.be/FgcK5d-T6F4 Slide 7 The Curious Visitor For the curious, the inquisitive. Those who like to go deeper, to see and feel and do and try and taste for themselves. For seekers of real, the authentic and the very essence of England.

Journey part of the experience Second time visitors Flexible – ideal for FIT

An Ambassador network has been created to ensure the sustainability of the Great West Way and provide the intimate knowledge of the route. To date 25 places have signed up including landscapes such as North Wessex Downs, towns and cities along the waterways and towns where the old coach routes run through such as Calne. River Thames – Richmond, Windsor, Reading, Henley and Marlow K&A Canal – Reading, Hungerford, Pewsey, Devizes and Bath

Slide 9 Top things to see and do in Bristol 1. Climb the rigging of a Victorian ship, the SS Great Britain and reach heights of more than 25 metres above Bristol harbour! If you’re feeling really brave you can even walk out along the main yard. 2. Have a “meet and greet” with a red panda, one of several behind the scenes experiences at Bristol Zoo. 3. Sail up into the sky in a hot air balloon at Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta every August. You needn’t wait for the fiesta though, Bailey Balloons offer flights all year round above both Bristol and Bath. 4. Step aboard the last Concorde ever built at Aerospace Bristol, on the site that built every British Concorde ever made. It’s the 50th anniversary of Concorde in 2019. 5. Take a paddle boarding lesson around Bristol Harbour with SUP Bristol (Stand Up Paddleboarding). 6. Walk across Brunel’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, gazing across the dramatic Avon Gorge 7. Spot a Banksy – an artwork by the anonymous street artist – in the city he hails from, Bristol. You can also watch other street artists at work, painting the walls as part of Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival, every July. Book a street art tour. 8. Drink English wine direct from the vineyard at the award-winning Aldwick Vineyard in Bristol. English sparkling wine is getting especially popular so be sure to give it a try. 9. Learn how stop animation works in Bristol, home to Aardman Animations, the Academy Award winning studio who brought the world Wallace and Gromit. We the Curious science centre hosts model making workshops with experts from the studio – you’ll even get to take home a plasticine Gromit. 10. Book a Harbour Tour with Bristol Packet Boats or Bristol Ferry Boats 11. Take a guided walk around Arnos Vale cemetery. It was opened in 1839 as a garden cemetery, visually attractive in the style of a walled Greek Necropolis, with neo-classical mortuary chapels and gate lodges. There are 4 Grade II Listed buildings. Discover the history of those buried there.

Slide 10 Top things to see and do in Bath 1. Soak in the UK’s only natural hot springs at Thermae Bath Spa – home to a rooftop al fresco pool with views over the city’s ancient rooftops. 2. Visit No 1 The Royal Crescent and stay at Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa 3. Step into the first to the fourth century AD in the The Roman Baths and the remarkably preserved remains of one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world. 4. Dress like Jane Austen, bonnet and all, and dance the night away at the Regency Costumed Masked Ball in Bath, part of the annual Jane Austen Festival (September) – Visit the Jane Austen Centre. 5. Shopping in Bath - Bath’s compact, visitor-friendly city centre is packed with retailers large and small, from one of-a-kind independent boutiques to major high street names. Shop while walking on water at Pulteney Bridge. This gorgeous Georgian bridge is one of only four worldwide to have shops lining both sides and is a classical masterpiece. 6. See paintings by English masters Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable, housed together at Bath’s Holburne Museum 7. Hear nothing but silence in the designated Silent Space at Prior Park Landscape Garden. This was once the site of a Gothic temple; today it’s a serene spot where every Thursday noon-3pm mobile devices are banned and silence is requested. 8. Discover the history of the shoe at the Fashion Museum in Bath, where you’ll find a collection that runs from Georgian silk shoes to Nike trainers. 9. Accommodation partners include 5* Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa and 4* Abbey Hotel with its new brasserie Koffman & Mr White’s. VisiSlide Top things to see and do in Bradford on Avon 11 • Step inside a 14th century Tithe Barn, complete with a staggering timber roof of wooden arches that stretch for more than 50 metres above your head. Bradford on Avon’s tithe barn is so historically important that it’s protected by English Heritage. • St Laurence’s Church, is an ancient Anglo Saxon building. It’s reported to be standing in the 1120s, but thought to date back to the time of St Aldhelm (d. 709). • Treat the whole family to a luxury stay at Woolley Grange, a hotel that puts family first – and even includes two hours daily free childcare in its room rates. • Canoe the Kennet & Avon Canal, pushing off in a Canadian canoe at Bradford on Avon and paddling, where you can moor up for a pub lunch before the return journey • Take the Barbara McLellan narrowboat (up to 40) for a sightseeing trip on the Kennet & Avon Canal • Ancient bridge in the centre of the town remains its natural focus and the bridge still retains two of its original 13th-century arches. • Nearby is the beautiful Iford Manor Gardens – Italianate Peto Gardens – new film due out ‘The Secret Garden’ in 2019 was partly filmed here. • Accommodation partners include family friendly Woolley Grange Hotel & Spa and The Swan, a 300 year old inn. Slide 12 Top things to see and do in Malmesbury • Malmesbury’s rich history as England’s oldest borough: stunning 12th Century Malmesbury Abbey with its tomb of King Athelstan - still very much in use today. The original Market Cross – dating back to 1490 and the free Athelstan Museum, there’s lots to see and do here. • Abbey House Gardens - home to over 1,000 years of history and straddle the River Avon. Over 2,000 different roses, 100,000 tulips and 10,000 different plants can be found here offering visitors constant colour from March to November. Famous for the Naked Gardener! • Interesting old Malmesburians include King Athelstan, first king of all England, Eilmer the flying monk, Thomas Hobbes, the renowned philosopher and Walter Powell MP who vanished at sea in a hot air balloon. • Accommodation partners include The Old Bell in Malmesbury - England’s oldest hotel. It’s Grade I listed and stands right next to the Abbey. Fully restored, it offers elegant modern accommodation and relaxed dinners. Five star luxury Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa, complete with Michelin-star restaurant.

Slide 13 Top things to see and do in Henley • 13th century market town, one of the most beautiful towns in England. Henley enjoys a wonderful stretch of river with delightful independent shops, brilliant pubs, numerous cafes and great restaurants, while throughout the summer it hosts internationally renowned sporting events and festivals. • Mess about in boats on the Thames surrounded by hundreds of others doing the same, at Henley Royal Regatta (July). It is the most famous in the world and a highlight of the sporting calendar with more than 200 races with Olympians among the participants. • Take a sightseeing boat trip with Hobbs of Henley or relax on a Gin & Fizz cruise, Jazz cruise or Midsomer Murders cruise. Book Afternoon Tea on board. • Attend the weekly mass at Stonor Chapel, built in the late thirteenth century on the site of a prehistoric stone circle and resolutely Catholic ever since. Stonor House has been in the same family for 800 years. • Henley-on-Thames, aka Causton, In Midsomer Murders, has appeared in numerous episodes. Fans of Inspector Barnaby will recognise many of the filming locations within the town including Gabriel Machin’s butcher shop, Tudor House Antiques and the Argyll Public House. Midsomer Murders Tours with Tours 2 Order. • Thames Traditional Boat Festival, July: Showcases trades and crafts of a bygone era, as well as providing a fun day out for all the family. Highlights include: Gloriana - Her Majesty's Royal Rowbarge, "Little Ships" of Dunkirk, Amphibians, Battle of Britain Memorial. • The River & Rowing Museum, according to The Times one of the 50 best museum’s in the world with galleries including rowing, history of Henley and the Thames • Walk the Thames Path and get the Marlow Donkey back – it’s the local train!

Slide 14 Top things to see and do in Windsor • Wave to the Queen as she rides in the daily Royal procession at world-famous horseracing event Royal Ascot (four days every June). • Poke your nose into the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle at Windsor Castle, the home of the Queen – and said to be her favourite castle. Watch the Changing of the Guard along the High Street – check which days. • Take a sightseeing boat trip from Windsor to Runnymede with French Brothers and walk across the meadows to Runnymede, birthplace of modern democracy. Enjoy tea in the National Trust tearoom or have Afternoon Tea on board. Packages are available with Savill Gardens. • Swim in the pool that plunged the UK into chaos at Cliveden House – backdrop to the infamous Profumo Affair. Now a hotel where Meghan Markle stayed the night before her wedding to Prince Harry. (Watch the C4 documentary A Very British Country House) • Gawp at the super-elite school that educated Princes William and Harry – as well as 19 British Prime Ministers. The tour of Eton College includes the School Yard and College Chapel. • New hotel opening The Langley, Iver (7 miles from Windsor) a Marriott Collection hotel - Grade II*-listed mansion that was at one time the hunting lodge of the Duke of Marlborough and a Grade II-listed, 18th century building that was used to house stables and a brew house.

Slide 15 Geography and Landscape 6 Counties - Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and southern parts of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Kew Gardens, Stonehenge/Avebury and Bath (plus a fourth, Blenheim, within easy reach of the route) 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - The Chilterns, The Cotswolds and North Wessex Downs 3 National Trails - The Ridgeway, Thames Path and Cotswold Way – The River Thames is the only river in Europe to have a national trail, the Thames Path, along its length from a trickle in a field in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier.

Slide 16 Discover Extraordinary History From historic houses, many now owned or managed by the National Trust or English Heritage to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Stonehenge built over thousands of years ago. Plus Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. • Lacock – village looks just as it did 200 years ago – oldest house is older than the 13thC Abbey. The Abbey House is home to the Fox Talbot Museum, who was involved in the invention of photography. Popular filming location: Pride & Predudice, Harry Potter, Downton Abbey • Roman Baths – discovered late 19thC and first opened in 1897. The underground level has digital reconstructions. • Runnymede – book a 1 hour guided tour with National Trust incorporating the history of the Magna Carta and the American Bar Association Magna Carta Memorial.

Slide 17 National Trust properties 31 National Trust properties and landscapes some along the route, many a detour off the route Houses: • Dyrham Park - Ancient deer park, 17th-century house and garden, the Cotswold Way links Dyrham Park to Bath (8miles) • Montacute – A 40mile detour, it’s a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design with towering walls of glass and surrounding garden. Gardens: • Prior Park Landscape Garden - Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath. • Stourhead – A 24mile detour it first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees. Uncover the fascinating history of Stourhead House with an Italian ‘Grand Tour’ of this Palladian house and enjoy the unique Regency library, Chippendale furniture and inspirational paintings. Landscapes: • Wiltshire landscape - A variety of fascinating sites across Wiltshire, including parts of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. At Avebury you’ll find the largest stone circle in the world as well as many other Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, including Windmill Hill, The Sanctuary and West Kennet Long Barrow. Just outside Marlborough, Lockeridge Dene and Piggledene’s unusual sarsen boulder stream, creates a striking landscape, from which the standing stones of Avebury were probably sourced. • Bath Skyline - Wide open space overlooking the World Heritage City of Bath. Discover hidden valleys, interspersed with extensive views over Bath and out towards the Mendip hills and the Brecon Beacons. Groups welcome, there are a selection of self-led walks available. • Cheddar Gorge - At almost 400 feet deep and three miles long, this is England’s largest gorge. The Cheddar Yeo River gradually made its way underground, creating the famous Cheddar Caves. Explore the caves and the landscape.

Slide 18 English Heritage 28 English Heritage properties, including Avebury and Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s former home • Apsley House – the address is No 1 London. The home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, it has changed little since his victory at Waterloo in 1815. It has celebrated artists such as Rubens and glittering interiors. • Wellington Arch – Originally constructed to be an entrance for Buckingham Palace but was taken down and moved and became a monument to Wellington. It is now opposite Apsley House. It is crowned by the largest bronze sculpture in Europe. Take a walk to the top and peep into the Queen’s back garden! • Donnington Castle Gatehouse – Admire the striking twin-towered gatehouse of this 14th century castle, Both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I are thought to have stayed here. In 15th century it was held by the son of the poet Chaucer. (Only to view and walk around). • Old Sarum – A 25mile detour and take a 45 mins tour of this Iron Age Hillfort, Royal Castle and the site of the first Salisbury Cathedral. Joint tickets are offered with Salisbury Cathedral.

Slide 19 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 3 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Sites– Blakehill Farm, Lower Moor and Jones’s Mill • Blakehill Farm - In World War II Dakotas took off from here carrying troops and equipment to the battlefields of Europe. The old runways are long gone but they can still be traced by the changes in vegetation. Now the grassland is home to brown hare, roe deer, kestrel and skylarks. • Jones’s Mill - Jones’s Mill is a fen, made up of wet woodland (called alder carr), ponds and wet grassland. Its peaty soils are fed by natural springs and the Salisbury Avon flows through its centre. In the wet areas it’s best to stick to the boardwalks as water bubbles and shimmers at your feet. It is home to wildlife that thrives in wet conditions. • Lower Moor - Opened in 2007, it is the gateway to Clattinger Farm, Oaksey Moor Farm Meadow and Sandpool nature reserves. You can walk into the other reserves and explore a landscape of fascinating contrasts. The reserve is a mosaic of three lakes, two brooks, ponds and wetland scrapes linked together by boardwalks, ancient hedges, woodland and meadows. Visitor Centre and toilets on site.

Slide 20 A Route for all Seasons • Spring – amazing bursts of colour in the countryside and landscape. Afternoon teas in gardens – Bowood House, Whatley Manor – longer daylight hours to explore by foot, cycling. Bluebell walking tours with the National Trust. • Summer – warm summer days – activities for families, bus top tours, canal boat rides, paddle boarding, outdoor festivals and events. Cliveden National Trust Gardens and the Summer Parterre. Look out for the two 2,000 year old baboons (statues)! On certain days book a tour of the gardens and you can also visit Cliveden House. • Autumn – Golden colours in the landscape – countryside walks Stourhead, Visits to gardens Westonbirt is particularly lovely at this time of year. Nights drawing in – cosy open fires - museum visits etc. • Winter - Off peak – late November/Early December – A traditional English Christmas at Stately homes, Events - Festivals of Light at Longleat and Westonbirt Arboretum; open ice skating, Christmas markets – Bath, floating one at Bradford On Avon, etc. Light switch-ons in market towns, Windsor is magical with choir singing in front of the castle; Christmas Lunches, parties, theatre shows/ pantos etc.

Slide 21 Staying along the Great West Way • Luxury Hotels – Royal Crescent & Spa, Roseate Hotels: Bath, Reading and London Paddington, Whatley Manor. • Historic Hubs - The Old Bell Hotel, Malmesbury is Grade 1 listed and England’s oldest hotel, Heritage Luxury B&B is perfectly placed on the Great West Way in Calne; it is opulent and elegant. • Family Friendly Hotels – Woolley Grange offers 2 hours free childcare as part of the accommodation package • Countryside B&Bs – Meadowbank House, Liddington, Wiltshire will provide all the local transport and packed lunches for walking breaks in North Wessex Downs AONB. • Pubs with Rooms - Red Lion, East Chisenbury, Wiltshire offers boutique accommodation in its guesthouse, Troutbeck. The Royal Oak, Yattendon, Berkshire - a beautiful traditional English country pub with Michelin rated food, roaring log fires and a quite beautiful walled beer garden. Award-winning, The Queens Arms, East Garston, is a pub, restaurant and hotel with its own private lodge. • Self-Catering in Country Cottages - Church Farm Country Cottages are on a working sheep farm between Bath and Bradford on Avon with indoor heated pool. Or Buttle Farm, a rare breed pig farm and charcuterie producer in the tranquil conservation village of Compton Bassett. Enjoy a charcuterie tasting session and tour of the farm (also offered independently for small groups not staying) • Group Friendly hotels - Abbey Hotel, Bath encompasses three townhouses on North Parade with quick access to Bath’s older quarters and Pulteney Bridge. Cricklade Hotel, Cricklade, stands in over 30 acres of peaceful, secluded grounds on the edge of the Cotswolds; Gin or Whisky tastings for groups available. Angel Hotel, Chippenham is a delightful 17th Century coaching inn overlooking the Market Place itself. It has been refurbished to offer 50 modern, contemporary style bedrooms. Holiday Inn Salisbury- Stonehenge has 103 bedrooms. The 171 bedroom, 4 star Doubletree by Hilton, Swindon is set near Junction 16 of the M4 motorway. Hampton by Hilton, Bristol Airport has 201 bedrooms.

Slide 22 Food & Drink Food & Drink – create tours – joining up product along the route and experiencing tasting sessions eg. • West Berkshire Brewery, new state-of-the-art brewhouse producing distinctive and award- winning real ales and craft beers. Take a tour, enjoy an arranged quiz night or book a meal. The kitchen specialises in homemade pizzas from a wood-fired oven and burgers from the charcoal grill. Contrast with a traditional brewery visit at Wadworth Brewery. The Victorian brewery is an iconic part of Wadworth’s history, a real landmark in the town and there’s an award-winning Visitor Centre. Book a brewery tour, check out brewing memorabilia in the free Brewseum and visit the Brewery Shop. • A Gin experience includes Bombay Sapphire Distillery the producer of all the world’s Bombay Sapphire gin, set in an historic paper mill in Hampshire. Experiences and tours showcase the ten botanicals that go into Bombay Sapphire gin, explain the history behind Bombay Sapphire and Laverstoke Mill, and include a complimentary cocktail. Or book a Gin Masterclass. The Newbury is an imposing grade II listed pub in the centre of Newbury. It’s a multi award-winning pub, offering an exciting British a la carte menu, a great selection of ales, extensive wine list and just opened a Gin distillery. Private dining room available. • A visit to Hungerford is not complete without stopping at Alder Ridge Vineyard and their Cobbs Farm Shop. Nestled into the chalky slopes of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this internationally award-winning vineyard specialises in producing exceptional English Sparkling Wines. Tours are available. For those exploring Hungerford town, book lunch at The Tutti Pole, a family run restaurant established in 1981 that offers quality homemade food from light snacks to full meals. Situated close to the K&A Canal in a Grade II Listed building. The family are involved in the Hocktide ceremonies and can offer brief talk on the history of Hocktide for groups. • Discover Bath’s food scene on a tasty tour with Savouring Bath – the “naughty but nice” tour is especially indulgent, focusing on treats and temptations. Slide 23 Itineraries • Highlights of the Great West Way • 6 Day Walking & Sightseeing Tour • Historic Houses & Gardens • Food & Drink • Exploring the North Wessex Downs AONB • History & Heritage by Rail • Film & TV Locations • The Luxury Tour • Delightful Detours

These are available as downloadable PDFs GreatWestWay.co.uk/traveltrade/itineraries There are other itineraries available on the consumer section GreatWestWay.co.uk/plan-your- way/suggested-itinerary

Slide 23 Detours Off the route Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire), Cheltenham (North Cotswolds), Salisbury Cathedral (Salisbury), Cheddar Gorge (Somerset)

Include in programmes but be clear in the narrative that the itinerary is detouring off the route or exploring beyond the Great West Way. Accommodation should be along the route.

Slide 24 Local ground Handlers / Guiding Services These are some of the providers who are Ambassadors and can offer off-the-shelf or bespoke packages. Around and about Bath / Alison Howells Foot Trails / Active England / Savouring Bath

Slide 25 Official Tour Operator Programme – How to sell Travel Trade Toolkit

Travel Trade Directory PDF The Story of the Great West Way Booklet – provides the narrative Great West Way Brand Toolkit Great West Way Marque Image Library Sample itineraries Bookable Product Travel Trade Portal www.GreatWestWay.co.uk/traveltrade

Slide 26 Online Travel Trade Directory Just available, interactive online version. https://indd.adobe.com/view/aef9c5d0-8659-42d7-977c-dddc880e2123 Slide 27 Project Update • New consumer website GreatWestWay.co.uk • Social media accounts – Facebook (www.facebook.com/GreatWestWay/), Instagram (www.instagram.com/greatwestway/), Twitter (twitter.com/thegreatwestway) • Ambassador Network – 200 Ambassadors signed up - 3 years • GWR Discoverer Ticket Global - integrated Rail and Bus ticket – 3, 5- and 7-day ticket - launching February. • Official Map with 125 Great Things to Do along the Great West Way – you can have copies for your clients. • Rough Guide to the Great West Way – end of March • Travel Magazine – end of March • PR - Press trips and subsequent media coverage targeting from May onwards • Local industry communications - Regular update via e-newsletters to industry stakeholders (over 870 contacts) • Travel Trade industry communications - e-newsletters to over 720 contacts • Travel Trade Training – VisitBritain rolling out their new resource - Taking England to the World and Great West Way is running a new 1:1 training programme for Ambassadors/supplier product who are keen to know more about how to work with the trade. • Signage and wayfinding - still in development

Slide 27 CONTACT DETAILS Slide 28 Thank you