Group-friendly Bath & Bristol at GLS 2024

Visit West, under the Bath & Bristol travel trade brand, is delighted to be exhibiting at the Group Leisure Show in Milton Keynes on 3 October 2024. There are a fantastic range of stand-sharers again this year, showcasing some great things to do and places to stay for groups. We shine a light on all the stand-sharers below. If you are attending GLS this year, do stop by stand 117 and chat to us for all the information you need to make a success of a group trip to the Bath and Bristol region. If you can't make the show itself, do get in touch to find out more about bringing your group on a multi-day trip to this beautiful area.

Aerospace Bristol

Aerospace Bristol gives groups the chance to step aboard the last Concorde ever to fly and journey through more than a century of fascinating aviation history, from the earliest powered flights to the modern day. 

Voted Best Museum for Groups by readers of Group Leisure & Travel Magazine two years running - 2020 & 2021 - Aerospace Bristol offers a first class group experience.

Starting in the early 1900s, your journey will take you through two world wars, before moving on to the stunning centrepiece of your visit, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot: the last of the iconic supersonic passenger jets to be built and the last to fly. Finally, get up-close to conservation projects in the Conservation in Action Workshop.

Hampton by Hilton Bath City

Hampton by Hilton Bath City is a modern, newly built hotel with 202 bedrooms, offering complimentary breakfast including their Signature Hampton Waffles to all its guests. Located just 7-minutes’ walk from Bath’s train station, Bath’s historic city is on the doorstep!

Their range of rooms mean they’re a great choice for the individual, family, and the tour group traveller. The hotel has 48 twin rooms and 52 queen sofa rooms allowing for multiple occupancy with group rates available. 

Berkeley Castle 

The beautiful and historic Berkeley Castle, situated on the edge of The Cotswolds, was built in 1153 and remains the home of the Berkeley family today. It's a great day-out for all the family, hosting special events during school holidays and throughout the year, and has been awarded TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence for nine consecutive years. 

 The Castle, which dominates the Vale of Berkeley, is steeped in over 860 years of British history. It is best known as the scene of the brutal murder of Edward II in 1327, and for being besieged by Parliamentary troops in 1645. Over 24 generations of the Berkeley family have gradually transformed a Norman fortress into the lovely family home it is today.

 The state apartments contain magnificent collections of furniture, rare paintings and English and continental tapestries. Some of the world-famous Berkeley silver is on display, and many other rooms including the Great Hall, Morning Room (the former medieval chapel, with its unique painted ceiling) and the kitchens are open to the public. 

Holiday Inn Filton 

Holiday Inn® Bristol - Filton hotel is just a 10-minute drive from the M4 / M5 interchange, with easy access to London, Birmingham, and South Wales. Regular services to London Paddington and Cardiff depart from Bristol Parkway train station, 10 minutes away by car. Bristol Airport is 15 miles away where you can connect with international flights. Currently being refurbished, the hotel is open for group bookings from April 2025.

The hotel's Academy Conference Centre has capacity for up to 280 delegates, spacious breakout areas and set in 16 acres of land which makes the ideal venue to host team building events. Serving energizing menus and Starbucks Coffee.

The Roman Baths 

Constructed in around 70AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex, the Roman Baths is one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world, where 1,170,000 litres of steaming spring water, reaching 46°C, still fills the bathing site every single day. 

The Roman Baths is the site of extensive ruins and an interactive museum filled with many treasures and visual snippets that transport you back to Roman times and the lives of the Aquae Sulis people. Walk on ancient pavements as the Romans did 2,000 years ago, and explore chambers historically housing changing rooms and tepid plunge pools. 

Audio guides in twelve languages, with a special one for children in English, German and French, are included in the admission price.

We will also be letting group organisers know about some special events happening in Bath and Bristol in 2025, including the celebrations for Austen250 (the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen), the Women's Rugby World Cup coming to Bristol in September and Gromit Unleashed arts trail acoss the summer - in addition to a packed calendar of regular events through the year, of course!

Follow 'Bath & Bristol Travel Trade' on LinkedIn for regular updates on our activity and ideas for your group visit.