Familiarisation Visits

Experience Wiltshire for yourself and join us on one of our familiarisation visits to see a variety of tourism products suitable for travel trade.

VisitWiltshire has an ongoing programme of educational familiarisation visits, designed to improve your product knowledge and give you a taste of what Wiltshire has to offer. Open to coach operators, tour operators, travel agents, group travel organisers and the trade press, they usually take place in the autumn and will introduce you to a variety of tourism products suitable for the travel trade, both groups and FIT. 

If you are interested in visiting Wiltshire for a self-drive familiarisation visit please contact flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk.

‘Wiltshire on the Great West Way®’ Familiarisation Visit

19 September-19 October 2022 (exclusions apply)
 

The ‘Wiltshire on the Great West Way® self-drive familiarisation visit this autumn, is an opportunity for group travel organisers, coach and tour operators to recce some of the amazing places to visit and things to do in Wiltshire, with a view to bringing your group in the future and/or packaging and selling the county to your customers.

VisitWiltshire has secured 2 x complimentary tickets per trade organisation (when agreed and pre-booked) to visit the following attractions:

• Iford Manor Gardens, Bradford on Avon (closed from 1 October)
• REME Museum, Lyneham (closed Mondays)
• Bowood House & Gardens, Calne
• Salisbury Cathedral*
• STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon
• Wiltshire Museum, Devizes
• Salisbury Museum*
• Stonehenge
• Old Sarum* 
• Bluestone Vineyard
• Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm
• Lydiard House Museum (closed Monday’s and Tuesday’s)
• Old Wardour Castle
• Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park

We also recommend trade visitors explore the beauitful Wiltshire market towns of Bradford on Avon, Corsham and Marlborough where pre-booked tours can be arranged.

For those who are interested in learning a new skill or studying a course you may like to consider a residential visit to Marlborough College Summer School - pre-booked appointments to recce are available.

There are a number of trade friendly accommodation providers in Wiltshire and the following will offer pre-booked show rounds and special rates^ for the trade.

• Holiday Inn Salisbury-Stonehenge* £130 Dinner, B&B per room up to 2 guests sharing, including a welcome drink.
• Legacy Rose & Crown*, Salisbury, from £65 B&B per person per night
• The Old Bell Hotel, Malmesbury, from £140 B&B per room per night
• Best Western Plus Angel Hotel, Chippenham, from £52 B&B per person per night

^Special rates are VAT inclusive, based on two people sharing a double room, dependent on date of visit and subject to availability. Dinner B&B rates are available on request.

*Within easy reach of the Great West Way

We also have secured a special food and drink offer from The Bridge Tea Rooms in Bradford on Avon. Buy one Princess of India Afternoon Tea for £19.50 each and get one free. Pre-book your visit to receive a selection of traditional sandwiches and a freshly baked organic sultana or plain scone with Dorset clotted cream and strawberry Jam, all beautifully presented on a traditional tiered cake stand.

We would encourage you to use your own transport for this self-drive familiarisation visit, however, if you require transport and/or a tour guide for your visit, we can obtain a quote for you from Salisbury, Stonehenge and Sarum Tours or Mad Max Tours.

If you’d like to visit this autumn then please register your interest by completing this form and sending it to flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk. We will confirm receipt of your registration and liaise with suppliers on your behalf to arrange a bespoke familiarisation visit for you. Your bespoke itinerary will be emailed to you approximately 2 weeks prior to your visit.

Please note the Terms and Conditions below:

• Valid between 19 September – 19 October 2022 only. Excludes weekends (24/25 Sept,1/2, 8/9 & 15/16 October) and some attraction exclusion dates.
  • REME – closed Mondays
  • Iford Manor Gardens – closed from 1 October
  • Lydiard House Museum – closed Monday’s and Tuesday’s 
• Attraction entrance tickets will be valid for 2 x persons per organisation only.
• All attraction entrance tickets are subject to availability and standard visitor entry terms and conditions apply
• Transport and daytime food and drink is not included.
• Accommodation rates are dependent on the chosen provider, date of visit, subject to availability and standard accommodation terms and conditions including cancellation policy.
• Payment must be made directly to the participating hotel at the agreed rate to confirm your visit, prior to the development of your bespoke itinerary.

Final Booking deadline: Friday 2 September 2022

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Contact:

For further information please contact Florence Wallace, Head of Travel Trade, VisitWiltshire and Great West Way flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk, M: 07436 588860.