The Mill, Batley has over 40 retail stores under one huge roof. Customers can enjoy an eclectic mix of independent stores and outlet shopping in a department store environment.The extensive range of furniture, homewares and gifts supports a wide fashion offer of favourite brands at outlet prices; Klass, Alexon, Planet and Jacques Vert all enjoy a permanent and minimum 30% discount off recommended retail price. Other offerings include sweets, stationery, luggage, wholefoods, outdoor gear, sportswear, leisure and footwear. The Mill’s shopping experience is enhanced by a choice of four restaurants – two of which are licensed and have outdoor terraces. Group visitors enjoy a 20% discount on all food purchased in their restaurants. The restaurants are:
The Mill’s group benefits package includes a meet and greet service, exclusive offers for group visitors with extra discounts at many stores throughout the centre and a £15 cash payment and meal voucher for the coach driver. The centre is an all-weather covered site and is accessible to all.
The Deep is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world and is home to 3,500 fish and water creatures, including sharks and rays, a colony of Gentoo penguins (new for 2014) and Europe’s only pair of green sawfish. Located in Hull, The Deep tells the story of the world’s oceans through the marine life on display and interactive and audio- visual presentations. As an education and conservation charity, The Deep is dedicated to informing visitors about the world’s oceans and the challenges they face.
The Deep offers a group booking discount for parties of 10 or more paying visitors (a saving of £3 per ticket). Essential carers are admitted free of charge on a 1:1 basis for visitors who have additional needs. The Deep can be busy, both in term time and during the school holidays, so large groups are advised to consider visiting later in the day (from 1300hrs onwards). As well as discounted entry, groups can also benefit from fast track entry, free coach parking, free coach driver entry and a free coach driver lunch. Bookings must be made two weeks in advance. The Deep offers special packages for school groups, welcoming over 30,000 primary and secondary school pupils annually to its purpose built learning centre. A visit including an educational workshop relevant to pupils' key stage costs just £6 per pupil.
The National Coal Mining Museum provides a great day out with a unique opportunity to travel 140m underground down one of Britain’s oldest working mines. Situated in a rural setting, it provides a genuine insight into the hard- working lives of miners through the ages. The Museum is open daily from 1000 until 1700hrs. Admission to the museum and underground tours is free, with tours running regularly from 1000 until 1515hrs. A highlight for many visitors is the chance to go back in time, deep underground to discover the hidden world of mining through the centuries. There are various options for a group visit to the Museum. You may wish to explore the galleries, displays and buildings independently, some or all of the group might like to go on an underground tour. You could choose one of the museum’s themed visits, which include a talk or a tour by one of the curators, guides or living history interpreters, or if you have a special interest (or limited time) the museum can design a bespoke visit. Groups are advised to allow around three hours for their visit.
The Underground Tour takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes, although shorter tours can be pre-arranged. Familiarisation visits by group organisers are welcomed. For pre-booked groups a ‘meet & greet’ service is available. Coach drivers receive a free drinks voucher and, if a catering package is booked for a minimum of 10 people, a free meal voucher for the driver is also available. The National Coal Mining Museum offers a number of tailored talks, tours and demonstrations for pre-booked groups, a great way to delve deeper into an area of special interest. Underground tours are in parties of up to 19 people plus a guide. Staff will divide the party at the Museum. If your party consists mainly of children there should be at least two adults with each group of 17. Children under five years old are not permitted underground. Underground tour notes are available in English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Urdu. Special catering packages/menus can be arranged for morning coffee, afternoon tea, hot and cold lunches and out-of-hours visits. The Café seats up to 80 people. Function rooms are available for bigger groups or private dining.
York’s Chocolate Story, located in the heart of the city, offers groups an engaging and informative guided tour through the history of York’s most famous confectioners. Some of the world’s favourite products are developed by York’s renowned chocolate-making families, including Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s. Groups can learn all about chocolate’s origins, how to taste it like an expert and even try their hand at creating a chocolate treat to take home and enjoy. There is so much for groups to do all year round at Chocolate Story, includingchocolate-making demonstrations from skilled chocolatiers in the Chocolate Kitchen and a host of fascinating chocolate artefacts to see. Once groups have explored chocolate-making and its history, they can shop and indulge in the attraction’s café and shop. Throughout December, groups can immerse themselves in all things Christmas at Chocolate Story. Stock up at the delicious festive fayre in the shop – perfect for filling stockings, or enjoy a warming glass of mulled wine in the café and get acquainted with characters from Christmas past. The attraction is also working with Castle Howard to offer groups an unforgettable day out at two award winning Yorkshire destinations with a 15% package saving. This festive tour is available from November 22.
Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England. Visitors can explore every corner of the castle, which withstood a three-year siege from 1643-5 during the English Civil War. Even now, historic finds are being discovered. Recently, an ancient well was uncovered, helping to explain how the castle garrison survived the siege. Every visitor to the Castle is given a comprehensive Tour Sheet (available in 10 languages) with 40 drawings and descriptions of interesting features. Skipton Castle offers National Curriculum related activities and worksheets for History, Science, Technology and Geography and a Teachers’ Resource Pack. School parties of all ages can visit from £4.50 per head, with one free supervising teacher per five children. Guides are available for pre-booked parties of 15 or more at no extra cost.
York Archaeological Trust’s attractions; Jorvik, DIG, Barley Hall and The Richard III & Henry VII Experiences uniquely bring all of York’s rich history together to create a distinctive day out in the city – all at an exclusive price. York Archaelogical Trust’s attractions have undergone a series of major refurbishments over the last few years to ensure groups are properly catered for. All of the attractions now offer guaranteed entry time with pre-booking, as well as free familiarisation visits for group organisers, free admission for group leaders and coach drivers and group discounts for groups of 15 or more. Jorvik is the most famous of the attractions. The centre is built on the site of one of the most famous discoveries from modern archaeology – a series of houses, workshops and backyards from the Viking-age city of Jorvik as it stood1,000 years ago. As a special incentive for groups, Jorvik can offer groups their very own Viking tour guide for an extra £1 per head, or give access to the ‘set’ of Jorvik, guided by a host, to see up-close details which enabled the city to be recreated. This experience costs an additional £5 per head.
DIG is an interactive experience where visitors can grab a trowel and excavate a replica dig site. This is followed by a 3D audiovisual tour of what life would have been like in the Roman, Viking, Medieval and Victorian periods investigated. Micklegate Bar Museum allows visitors to delve into York’s bloody past, looking at the battles which have taken place within the city and the surrounding countryside, from the Viking invasion to the English Civil War. Barley Hill is a stunning medieval townhouse once home to the Priors of Nostell and Mayor of York. The building was restored in the 1980s and has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like as the Snawsell home in 1483. Exclusive offers for groups include a mead reception in the great hall for £1 per person, along with the same group discounts and entry offers as the Archaeological Trust’s other attractions.
Nestled just a short distance from the M1 and A1 motorway in Leeds, Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall both offer enchanting days out with historic houses, picturesque parkland and gardens, evocative collections, bespoke tours, gift shops and cafes. Often described as the ‘Hampton Court of the North,’ Temple Newsam House and Estate is a truly impressive Tudor- Jacobean mansion set within a Capability Brown landscape. It is home to one of the most important collections of decorative art and has 40 beautifully restored rooms open to view. Explore the treasures of silver, ceramics, fine art, Chippendale furniture and original wallpaper and discover the stories of the people who lived there. Next door is Home Farm where you can see a variety of rare breed animals, then explore the stunning lakes and designated collections of plants with delphiniums, phlox and rhododendrons and lastly take time to visit the gift shops and Stable Courtyard Tea room.
At the charming Edwardian country estate of Lotherton Hall, groups can explore the Edwardian house once owned by the Gascoigne family, with a treasure trove of fine art collections, 52 hectares of grounds, including a red deer park, elegant formal gardens, medieval chapel, an award winning bird garden with 150 species, historic stables and carriage displays, café and gift shop. Two exhibitions are also on display including ‘Duty Calls’ (until Dec), which looks at the theme of Family Duty and Honour and tells the story of members of the Gascoigne family of Lotherton and the war that touched their lives. Running alongside this is ‘Dressed for Battle’ which explores how clothes and style have been affected by war. This exhibition will close in September in order for the space to be completely refurbished and from March 2015 it will be the home to the Leeds Fashion Galleries with a debut exhibition titled ‘Fabulous Fifties Fashions.’ At both attractions, dedicated teams are available to discuss group needs and tailor bespoke visits. Admission charges are reduced for pre-booked groups of 15 people or more.