Group Leisure & Travel – May 2019

Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol showcases some of

the UK’s engineering feats. The ship and museum offer

groups the chance to discover all three decks of the SS Great

Britain, the Dry Dock and Dockyard Museum. Discounted

group rates have entry to all parts of Brunel’s SS Great

Britain, including ‘Being Brunel’. This new museum takes

visitors on a journey through Brunel’s extraordinary life

and achievements as well as recreations of three historic

settings; the Brunels’ dining room, the Great Western

Steamship Company boardroom and Brunel’s London Duke

Street office. Pre-booked groups of 15 or more can receive

discounted rates. Bespoke guided tours and behind-the-

scenes sessions with curatorial staff can be pre-booked.

While you’re in the city, why not pop along to Bristol

Cathedral too? It’s only a 10-minute walk from the SS

Great Britain and showcases some spectacular stained glass

windows. Guided tours can also be organised.

The Churnet Railway in Staffordshire hosts a number of

events throughout the year to get its visitors immersed in

the world of trains and more. Its annual Anything Goes

gala on the 5th and 6th October will see the home fleet

operate an intensive service along the Churnet Valley line,

welcoming some of the older trains that don’t usually get

out that much. Shed tours are new to this year’s event giving

a small look into how the railway maintains its engines

and carriages.

Drink anyone? Consider visiting the home of British

beer, the National Brewery Centre in Burton. The Whole

Hogshead Tour includes a full guided tour of the museum,

followed by a six-course meal. Each course is accompanied

with a different beer which has been expertly chosen to suit

the food served. Other options available include the Full

Flagon Tour which offers beer tasting tests.

The great

‘British’ outdoors

If you’re looking for a tranquil retreat, the Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew in Richmond, London,

displays some of the world’s rarest plants in the

Temperate House, the largest Victorian glass

house in the world. It was designed and built

by Decimus Burton, originally opening in 1863

and then reopened in 2018 following a major

restoration project. This exemplary piece of

British architecture now houses 1,500 species

of plants from Africa, Australia, New Zealand,

the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Discounted rates as well as private guided

walking tours are available for groups.

Brilliant Brunel

In a television poll of the Greatest

ever Britons in 2002, Brunel was

voted 2nd, after Sir Winston

Churchill, for his efforts in the

engineering world.

• Left: Kew is home to the largest Victorian
  glass house in the world. Above: The
  National Brewery Centre in Burton.

Photo credit: Jon Rowley.

Photo credit: RBG Kew.

Iconic Britain

66 May 2019 groupleisureandtravel.com