Bishop Auckland has been awarded the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s ‘Coach Friendly’ accreditation, in recognition of the town’s commitment to coach tourism. The award was presented to the Mayor of Bishop Auckland, Cllr Mike Harker, in Bishop Auckland Market Place last month.

Bishop Auckland has become a popular destination for coach visits in recent years thanks to The Auckland Project, a unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries and gardens centred around the magnificent Auckland Castle, and Kynren, a spectacular live action show which takes place on Saturdays throughout the summer. By working together, partners and stakeholders in the town have ensured that coach drivers and their guests can enjoy a smooth visit to Bishop Auckland, thanks to convenient drop-off and pick-up locations, safe and secure coach parking, and additional benefits for groups and coach drivers.

The Coach Friendly accreditation also reflects Bishop Auckland’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism, by encouraging groups and day-trippers to visit the town via bus, coach or train. It is hoped that increasing the number of coach visits to Bishop Auckland will bring numerous benefits, including income for local shops, cafes and other local businesses.

Craig Wilson, Destination Project Manager at Visit County Durham, says: “Coach Friendly Accreditation is an important standard by which many coach companies and their customers measure a destination’s readiness and welcome for group visits. Through achieving Coach Friendly accreditation, Bishop Auckland can pledge that it can manage coach tourism professionally and deliver a good experience for visitors.”

For more information about group visits to Bishop Auckland and The Auckland Project visit www.aucklandproject.org/groups