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Top 10 Travel & Tourism Trade Shows in the UK

Travel and tourism are one of the most successful and innovative sectors of the UK economy. Despite the pandemic, the industry has bounced back and is expected to be worth over £275 billion to the UK economy by 2025.

There’s no shortage of growth opportunities in the travel and tourism sector, which supports nearly 4 million jobs. Leisure spending continues to increase and the outlook for foreign travel and domestic staycations is bright.

Whether you’re a travel industry professional or new to this exciting industry, attending the top travel and tourism trade shows will help you make useful connections and keep you up to speed on all the latest trends.

Business Travel Show Europe

If you specialise in business travel, head for ExCel, London. This is the show if you want to connect with other industry professionals and explore new ways of working.

Attracting bookers, procurement and travel buyers, this show brings together the innovation and knowledge in the corporate travel industry under one roof. Hear from industry leaders, discover the latest business travel trends and find the innovations to improve your corporate traveller’s experience.

Motorhome & Caravan Show

For all the best in camping and leisure vehicles, the Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC is the place to be.

The UK’s largest exhibition of all things camping and caravanning, the show attracts seasoned travellers and newcomers to the leisure holiday scene alike. With over 1,000 vehicles on display, plus destination exhibitors from across the UK and Europe, there’s something for everyone who enjoys the motorhome and caravanning lifestyle.

The Luxury Travel Fair

Upmarket travel specialists Condé Nast Traveller host the Luxury Travel Fair at Olympia London. Showcasing the pick of bespoke travel experiences, the fair attracts the elite of the luxury travel scene including travel personalities, agents and experts.

The opportunity to connect with insider know-how and get the lowdown on the next luxury destination hotspots makes this an unmissable show for anyone in the bespoke travel industry.

Destinations: The Travel & Holiday Show

In association with The Times and Sunday Times, this is an essential event for anyone seeking travel inspiration. Bringing together travel operators, brands and tourist boards from across the world, this event brings destinations and expertise together under one roof.

This is the leading consumer event in the travel and tourism sector, so exhibiting at the show puts you in touch with affluent travellers looking to book their journeys for the year ahead.

Travel Tech Show

If you work at the cutting edge where travel and technology collide, this show’s for you. Travel technology leaders meet at ExCel, London to connect with decision-makers and start conversations with over 100 leading travel tech brands.

Meet game-changing suppliers, reconnect with your peers and stay ahead of the trends with a series of hot button focus sessions. With exhibitors from 82 countries, this is the leading travel tech show on the calendar.

British Tourism & Travel Show

Birmingham’s NEC plays host to Britain and Ireland’s leading travel and tourism event. Attracting more exhibitors than any comparable event, the show is packed with travel inspiration.

Featuring a packed programme of speakers from across the industry, the show offers a unique opportunity to increase awareness of your business, grow your professional network and capture new leads.

Inviting you to reconnect, rebuild and innovate, the WTM show at the ExCel gives you the opportunity to position your travel brand as an industry forerunner.

With a focus on sustainable tourism and travel tech, the World Travel Market show has a packed programme of conferences and seminars, with speed networking groups and insight from some of the biggest players in the travel sector.

Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show

Start the season at one of the UK’s biggest leisure vehicle shows. Over 350 exhibitors bring all the latest innovations and trends to the Birmingham NEC, showcasing the best in campervans, motorhomes and caravans.

Be the first to spot the latest trends in the leisure vehicle lifestyle, and see over 700 new models from UK and European manufacturers.

Adventure Travel Show

If you operate in the fast-growing and exciting world of adventure travel, head for London’s ExCel for this market leading event.

Showcasing all the best in travel off the beaten track, the event features show talks from prominent personalities, seminars and the Adventure Film Festival.

Discover the hottest new trends and destinations, and connect with the biggest collection of adventure travel companies in the UK.

More than just an exhibition, the Hotel 360 show is an experience.

With plenty of space to exhibit and engage with attendees, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and make connections with other professionals from the hospitality sector in a relaxed atmosphere. Build potential partnerships and learn about the latest developments in the hotel industry

Exhibit in Style at a Travel & Tourism Show in the UK

For businesses in the travel and tourism sector, these trade shows are a great opportunity to showcase your products and services to a wider audience.

If you choose to exhibit at one of these events and require an exhibition stand, Display Wizard can help. We offer a wide variety of display stands from popular self-build solutions such as portable fabric displays and  pop up displays right through to bespoke exhibition stands . 

Get in touch today to see how we can help.

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Travel inspiration for group tours and packages across the British Isles and beyond

The show bought together all the inspiration needed to give groups a truly unique and memorable experience. With over 200 exhibitors showcasing the best of group tourism, an informative keynote programme, inspirational talks from the Blue Badge Guides, life-size superheros and much more!

Nothing compared to the atmosphere of the tourism industry coming together. The energy left visitors buzzing to plan their next trip!

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British Tourism & Travel Show

Latest show news.

Where can you find a Hornblower, a Town Crier and a Storm Trooper in one place? At the British Tourism & Travel Show

The British Tourism & Travel Show is back this week (20-21 March) and will be bursting with attractions, destinations and hotels ready to tempt group travel organisers and coach tour operators with a group welcome. There’s much to discover and do among the expanse of 200+ exhibitors. Don’t miss these highlights: Sample culinary delights on…

Discover Herefordshire on Stand A41

Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire (ESL), the area’s award-winning destination marketing company, is leading a vibrant Herefordshire stand to present a host of regional group attractions, accommodation and experiences. Herefordshire has world class attractions The impressive Herefordshire stand will be partnered by a lively mix of cultural and immersive destinations including: Hereford Cathedral Famous as the…

Castle Howard to present first major exhibition by contemporary artist

Internationally renowned sculptor Tony Cragg will present a landmark exhibition of works at Castle Howard this summer. Tony Cragg at Castle Howard (3 May to 22 September 2024) will be the first major exhibition by a leading contemporary artist to be held across the house and grounds of the historic estate. Castle Howard is Britain’s…

Meet the Brand: Castle Howard

We caught up with Ammie Jones from Castle Howard to find out more about their company and exhibiting at the British Tourism & Travel Show. Tell us a bit about your organisation: Castle Howard is a world class attraction set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only 15 miles north of York. It…

Gardens of the Cotswolds

Here in the Cotswolds we’re home to a fantastic number of world-class gardens, bringing colour, interest and floral inspiration throughout much of the year which we will be promoting this year at the British Tourism & travel show. Explore the stunning Rococo Gardens where five million snowdrops carpet the garden from late January – a…

Guided Pilgrimages along the Augustine Camino

The popular pilgrimage route to the Shrine of St Augustine which has featured on Radio 4 and in the National and Specialist Press is now open to the travel trade with bespoke group tours by coach or on foot. US visitors particularly appreciate the history and culture of this special corner of England. Highlights include the…

Meet the Brand: Thursford

We caught up with Ben Allen from Thursford to find out more about their company and exhibiting at the British Tourism & Travel Show. Tell us a bit about your organisation: Located in North Norfolk, Thursford offers truly unique experiences all year round and is perfect for groups and individuals. In the summer, the attraction…

Meet the Brand: Eastwood Whelpton Sailing Holidays

We caught up with Anne Hamilton from Eastwood Whelpton Sailing Holidays to find out more about their company and exhibiting at the British Tourism & Travel Show. Tell us a bit about your organisation: Welcome to Eastwood Whelpton: a family-run, sailing holiday specialist since 1959 situated in the network of rivers that make up the…

British Tourism & Travel Show 2024 Unveils Keynote Programme and Over 50 New Exhibitors

Premier Group Travel Trade Show Returns to NEC Birmingham on 20-21 March The British Tourism & Travel Show, the group travel sector’s largest annual event, is set to make a triumphant return to the NEC Birmingham on 20 – 21 March. With an emphasis on inspiring memory-making group travel itineraries, this year’s edition boasts an…

Meet the Brand: Golden Tours

We caught up with Beatrice Formenton from Golden Tours to find out more about their company and exhibiting at the British Tourism & Travel Show. Tell us a bit about your organisation: Golden Tours has been established since 1984 and is London’s leading sightseeing company and also part of the GRAY LINE ASSOCIATION, providing top…

Meet the Brand: Department for Tourism of Samarkand Region

We caught up with Dilshod Narzikulov from the Department for Tourism of Samarkand Region to find out more about their company and exhibiting at the British Tourism & Travel Show. Tell us a bit about your organisation: Samarkand, Uzbekistan has an invaluable treasury of culture of the Central Asian nations. You can visit the greatest…

Meet the brand: Yarn Market Hotel/Dunster in Exmoor

We caught up with Antony Brunt from Yarn Market Hotel/Dunster in Exmoor to find out more about their company and exhibiting at the British Tourism & Travel Show. Tell us a bit about your organisation: The Yarn Market Hotel is ideally located in the centre of the medieval village of Dunster in Exmoor National Park…

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Please be aware that the British Tourism & Travel Show has been targeted by groups trying to take advantage of the event’s size and success. Some exhibitors are receiving numerous phone calls and e-mail messages from individuals offering various services from fake exhibition directories and show data, to travel/hotel arrangements and transportation services.

British Tourism & Travel Show and its official suppliers NEVER sell their visitor lists . Organisations offering attendee lists, or other services, are not affiliated with the exhibition in any way. Please do not enter into any agreements with these companies as they are usually scams, and do not represent the British Tourism & Travel Show.

Please contact Pippa Allsop for details of our confirmed suppliers: [email protected]

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30 Jan - 2 Feb 2025, Olympia London

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Olympia london, 30 january - 2 february 2025.

Over 600 Leading and Specialist Travel Brands Over 90 Tourist Boards Unlimited Travel Ideas | Expert Advice | Exclusive Offers

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From activity and adventure to culture, cruise and more ...

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Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show in association with The Times and The Sunday Times, is the UK's largest and longest-running travel event.

Showcasing the limitless diversity of sights, cultures, landscapes, wildlife, people and experiences that the world has to offer , the 600 travel brands featuring at Destinations will have your wanderlust go into overdrive. 

It's a unique opportunity to tap into the in-depth knowledge of the hundreds of experts present to tailor-make and book your ideal getaway. A climb to the gravity-defying Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan? A expedition cruise through Patagonian waterways? Relaxing by the turquoise lagoons of French Polynesia? Whatever’s on your bucket list, you'll find it at Destinations.

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What's On For 2024

The Travel Stage

Travel smarter and explore further! Explorers, broadcasters and travel journalists provide all the insight and inspiration you need to maximise your next journey. Plus, Stanford’s lineup of TV personalities and the very best travel writers entertain with their tales of travel.

Click here for the full 2024 timetable...

Meet The Experts Theatre

Gain in-depth knowledge from our travel experts who will introduce you to new destinations, new experiences and new ways to see the world. Meet the Experts Theatre is sponsored by The Times and Sunday Times 

Wanderlust Best of Travel Photo of the Year

Visit USA Pavillion

LATA Latin America Pavilion

The Small Cruise Ship Pavilion

The Small Cruise Ship Collection Pavilion showcases the best of small ship cruising around the world. Whether it is luxury small ship cruises through the Greek Islands, expedition cruises to the Polar Regions, or traditional wooden gulets in Montenegro, small ship cruises are the best, and often the only way, to visit many corners of the world.

Simon Calder

Simon reeve, michel roux, kate humble, victoria hislop, nicky kelvin, the points guy, claire irvin, exhibitors 2024 by regions.

Arctic and Antarctica

Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean

North America and Caribbean

Central and South America

Africa and North Africa

Middle East

Europe and UK

Australasia

Dedicated travel pavilions.

The Visit USA Pavilion

The LATA Pavilion

The AITO Pavilion

• I enjoyed meeting exhibitors from smaller independent companies who were very knowledgable and passionate about what they do. Visitor
• All the exhibitors were very helpful in planning future breaks and showed passion and interests in the places they promoted and were very knowledgeable in there fields. Visitor
• I spoke to a number of stands and gained an interest in visiting other parts of the world I had not considered, for example Israel, and driving overland in South America Visitor
• Really good to meet hosts of travel companies for ideas and inspiration of the world and the opportunities for all ages, abilities with something to suit everyone. Visitor
• Fantastic event. Great opportunity to learn more about the destinations from the experts face to face. As a result we booked a tour we had hardly considered before going to the show. Visitor
• Gives you a great opportunity to talk to people who have first hand experience of where you want to travel too, they always have great passion and enthusiasm

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19 - 20 June 2024  •  London ExCeL

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The two-day exhibition and conference have, for 30 years, helped buyers improve, benchmark and establish their travel programmes, and 2024 will be no different!

You can discover what's new in the industry, uncover the latest innovations, meet the broadest range of industry suppliers , learn from the experts and reconnect with colleagues across the show. And have a little fun while you're doing it.

So, what are you waiting for? Celebrate! #ForTheLoveOfTravel

Why should you attend this year's show?

Get inspired.

Learn about the latest industry trends from experts and innovators. Discover solutions to your biggest challenges as you gain actionable and practical takeaways to implement in your own business.

Discover innovations

Meet the widest range of innovative, disruptive, up-and-coming and leading suppliers as you discover better value for your business and uncover the newest services and technologies in the industry.

Be with your community

Expand your professional network and reconnect with the corporate travel industry as you create long-lasting connections with old colleagues and new acquaintances.  

Trailblazing exhibitors

Discover the widest range of innovative, disruptive, and leading suppliers as they showcase the latest tools and services to help you deliver better value for your business and travellers.

DISCOVER THE EXHIBITORS ATTENDING

Industry experts

Celebrating industry visionaries, disruptors, and innovators as they share their industry insight, expertise and knowledge on the most pressing industry issues.

MEET THE 2024 SPEAKERS

Inspiring conference programme

Covering the entire business travel sphere in just 2 days our conference programme has been curated by business travel experts at The BTN Group who have been part of the industry for over 37 years.

SEE THE NEW AGENDA

    Business Travel Innovation Faceoff Europe

Showcasing cutting-edge products, technologies and services developed by startups and suppliers to address industry challenges and support the corporate travel industry. You, the audience can cheer on these new innovations that impress you most and help the esteemed judges come to a decision for a new winner.

FIND OUT MORE

Take a look at the 2023 highlights video to get a feel of the buzz at Business Travel Show Europe

Want to register?

Register for the correct ticket type here  

Check out the excitement from last year's show

2024 will be the biggest celebration yet, but for now  

SHOW ME 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

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2023 exhibitors.

The Luxury Travel Fair is   the UK's only travel show for discerning consumers looking for the ultimate unique travel experiences.

Here you can start your journey with over 80 of our luxury tour operators, exclusive resorts and boutique boltholes, safari specialists and a host of original once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. Our specialists will take you to the very heart of the experience and tailor your desired trip exactly the way you want it!

Please see the 2023 exhibitors below:

2BY2 Holidays

Abercrombie & Kent

African and Oriental Ltd

Ama Waterways

Audley Travel Ltd

Authentic India Tours

Azulik Lodge Mozambique

EAST AFRICA SAFARI GUIDES

Explora Journeys

Go Touch Down Travel and Tours

GoCruise & Travel

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hebridean Island Cruises

Hidden Iceland

Humboldt Travel

Maisons Marques et Domaines Ltd

Mundy Cruising

Mysteries of India

NG Phaselis Bay LifeStyle Resort

Destinations London

30 Jan. - 02 Feb. 2025 | Holiday and Travel Show | regional Fair

Organized by Clarion Events Ltd., the fair has established itself as a significant event in the travel industry. It offers a wide array of themes and products, ranging from adventure and cruise holidays to cultural and guided tours, as well as exclusive resorts, hotels, family vacations, and culinary journeys. Visitors gain insights into various forms of travel, including caravan and city trips, overlanding, rail journeys, relaxation and beach holidays, safaris, ski trips, solo travel, spa offerings, and hiking.

A special highlight of the fair is the "Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Show" section, which presents a variety of models and accessories for traveling with motorhomes and caravans. In the Food and Travel Zone, experienced chefs and TV personalities share their international favorite dishes and provide insights into their preparation. The Expert Theatre Zone offers a platform for travel experts to introduce new destinations and exceptional experiences.

The fair maintains a close connection to London and the whole of the UK by highlighting leading British travel companies and independent specialists. It is particularly popular among visitors from the tourism industry, including tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, and tourism associations.

A special event is the Wanderlust competition for the best travel photo of the year, which ignites creativity and wanderlust. Furthermore, "Destinations" is part of a series of fairs held in various locations, underscoring the significance and reach of this event in the tourism industry.

The Olympia Exhibition Center in London, a historic and easily accessible convention center in the heart of London, provides the ideal backdrop for this multifaceted and inspiring event. Thanks to good public transport connections, the journey is easily manageable for visitors from both home and abroad.

The Destinations will take place on 4 days from Thursday, 30. January to Sunday, 02. February 2025 in London.

Audience: publicly accessible

Cycle: annually

Local time: 01:50 h (UTC +01:00)

Fair location:

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• < 1000 interested persons
• 01. - 04. February 2024
• 02. - 05. February 2023
• 26. - 27. March 2022
• 30 Jan. - 02 Feb. 2020
• 50945 visitors
• 01. - 04. February 2018
• 02. - 05. February 2017
• 04. - 07. February 2016
• 29 Jan. - 01 Feb. 2015

Downtown London: 6.28 km in a straight line

Trade Fairs in London

Product groups: cruises, flights, package tours, Travel, travel destinations, vacation deals, …

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Disclaimer: No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information. Errors and alterations excepted! Fair dates and exhibition sites are subject to change by the respective trade fair organiser.

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Where does the Destinations taking place? The Destinations fair takes place in London, at the Olympia Exhibition Center.

When is the Destinations taking place? Visit the Destinations from 30 Jan. - 02 Feb. 2025.

How often does the Destinations take place? The Destinations takes place annually.

What kind of fair is the Destinations? The Destinations is an exhibition for Holiday, Tourist Industry and Tourism.

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Top travel-trade events to attend for 2022

Friday, September 24, 2021 Favorite

Travel-trade events are the major platform to connect with global travel and tourism industry leaders. These travel-trade fairs or conferences exhibit the products offered by the tourism organisations, Destination Management Companies, government tourism bodies and travel agents to the global travellers to grow their market. These b2b travel-trade shows or events in 2022 not only communicate with tourism industry leaders, but also help to build a wide network for the future growth of the brand.

The year 2020 was the most difficult year for the travel industry. This industry has suffered record losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not surprisingly most of the planned tourism events and conferences have been cancelled or postponed. But in 2021, most of the events have been scheduled at different times as the countries have reopened their borders 

To get travel-trade business on the path to recovery you need to be proactive and come up with innovative approaches and ideas. The travel-trade fairs and events are the best way to meet with other travel professionals and expand your knowledge of the latest trends and challenges facing the industry.

Travel And Tour World listed some of the top travel and tourism trade fairs till now the dates released for 2022 tourism year.

ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2022

Date: 16-22 January 2022

Place: Cambodia

ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a supportive travel-trade event that will promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as one tourist destination. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member states of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Fitur   

Date: 19-23 January 2022

Place: Madrid, Spain

The international travel- trade fair, Fitur, takes place annually in the Ifema trade fair centre of Madrid. This travel-trade fair has become one of the biggest tourism fairs worldwide and the first on the Iberian Peninsula.

Emitt Istanbul                       

Date: 9-12 February 2022

Place: Istanbul, Turkey

25th East Mediterranean International Tourism & Travel Exhibition (EMITT) annually attracts around 45,000 industry professionals and tourists looking for new and exciting travel opportunities from destinations and travel service companies from across the globe.

AIME Australia

Date: 21-23 March

Place: Melbourne, Australia

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME 2022) is the leading trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region. AIME is where industry decision-makers connect, create and do business.    

Aviation Festival Asia 2022

Date: 22-23 March , 2022

Place: Singapore

Aviation Festival Asia 2022 will return to a physical format hosting the most forward-thinking airlines and airports from across the region along with travel technology companies from across the world. From crisis comes change, and from change comes progress.

ITB Berlin                 

Date: 9-13 March 2022

Place: Berlin, Germany

ITB Berlin 2022 is scheduled to take place again as a live event at the Berlin ExpoCenter City from 9 to 13 March. The first press conference opening and ceremony are planned for 8 March 2022. The ITB Berlin Convention will run from 9 to 12 March 2022 in conjunction with the trade show.

Date: 7-8 April 2022

Place: Mumbai, Maharashtra

ITB India is an annual three-day b2b travel-trade show and convention curated to connect all the industry leaders to the Indian Travel Market. ITB India 2022 brings together key travel industry leaders and international exhibitors from various segments of MICE, Leisure, Corporate and Travel & Technology. Leverage ITB India to capture the fast-growing Indian and South Asian Markets, to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing business relations with the most important players in India.

Routes Europe 2022

Date: 18-20 May 2022

Place: Bergen, Norway

15 th Routes Europe event will be hosted by Avinor and will take place in the breathtaking city of Bergen in Norway. Located in the heart of Norway’s fjord region, the city is home to a variety of UNESCO World Heritage sites and endless opportunities for adventure.

Arabian Travel Market             

Date: 8-11 May 2022

Place: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE

Arabian Travel Market (ATM), is the leading global travel-trade event for the Middle East inbound and outbound travel industry. This travel-trade event is a great place for connecting with a global network of decision-makers, executives or simply book a vacation trip in the travel industry and focusing on the Middle East inbound and outbound travel.

IMEX Frankfurt                  

Date: 26-28 April 2022

Place: Messe Frankfurt, Germany

IMEX Frankfurt is the most important travel-trade exhibition in Germany for meetings, conventions, events and incentive travel. This travel-trade event attracts all types of travel industry service providers who have something to offer for events such as hotels, incentive and event agencies, convention centres, meeting and conference planners, event companies and many more. Among visitors are primarily event planners from agencies, various companies and associations as well as business travel managers and marketing managers that are responsible for the planning of events.

ITE Hong Kong 2022 Date: 18-21 August 2022 Place: HKCEC Hall 1, Hong Kong

Held successfully in July 2021 with some 30000 trade and public visitors and more overseas exhibitors than from locally, ITE which Hong Kong’s only travel fair, will next be held from June 9 to 12, 2022! Hong Kong as market is big (2019 outbound spending totaled US$26.9 billion and world’s 12th largest) and safe (confirmed cases now total fewer than 12100)! It is also part of China’s Greater Bay Area with GDP of US$1.67 trillion in 2020, as compared to Canada with GDP of US$1.60 trillion which ranked world’s 9th largest economy!

World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo 2022

Date: 14-16 June, 2022

Place: Hamburg, Germany

World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo 2022 is prominent in B2B travel- trade market as it is providing a unique platform for innovative suppliers to showcase the latest products and services in passenger comfort, catering and travel retail to help create the ultimate passenger experience. Organised by RX Global Events, this travel-trade event appeals global B2B travel delegates to share their experience and paving a path to generate revenue.

ILTM Asia Pacific 2022

Date: 20-13 June, 2022

Place: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

ILTM Asia Pacific is a travel-trade marketing event drives an ultimate sales and marketing opportunity for those targeting or providing for this ever-expanding market. It is highly curated meetings platform with the region’s most exclusive and sought after travel designers, who’s who in luxury media and the world’s finest hospitality brands.

Travel Tech Europe 2022

Date: 29-30 June, 2022

Place: ExCeL, London

Travel Technology Europe 2022 is a face-to-face B2B travel technology related exhibition based in various venues around London, UK. Over this time, the event has established a niche platform to provide European marketing, digital and commercial technology specialists in the travel industry with the relevant software to enhance business efficiency and improve business performance.

IBTM AMERICA 2022

Date: 18-19 August, 2022

Place: Centro Citibanamex, Mexico

IBTM Americas is the leading trade show for incentives, congress and conventions in Latin America where the industry’s suppliers and buyers meet for 2 days of high quality business, networking and education. The B2B Hosted Buyer Program guarantees the attendance of top level buyers and one-on-one business appointments for exhibitors.

World Travel Market Latin America 2022

Date: 5-7 April, 2022

Place: Sao Paulo, Brazil

WTM Latin America will introduce you to a new way of doing business, improving your networking and learning even more about the tourism industry. This B2B travel-trade event carries with it all the experience of RX, a world leader in the fair sector, which allowed us to develop a simple platform focused on the experience of our exhibitors and visitors and that is effective for you to reach your goals.

OTDYKH LEISURE 2022

Date: 13-15 September, 2022

Place: Moscow, Russia

OTDYKH Leisure 2022 is a popular travel trade show for inbound and outbound markets. The annually occurring travel event in Moscow provides a perfect opportunity learn about innovations and new market trends as well as to evaluate the past season and get ready for the upcoming one.

ILTM AMERICAS 2022

Date: 19 – 22 September 2022

Place:  Riviera Maya, Mexico

ILTM North America might just be our most visually stunning show. Fresh new itineraries, bold new ventures and lifelong bonds are the norms for the finest travel brands, advisors and media in this idyllic location. The travel new advisors, perfect diaries and perfect parties sum up the legendary ILTM North America experience.

Date: 5-6 October 2022

Place: Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukraine International Travel Market (UITTM) unites hundreds of participating companies, hotel delegates, resorts, airlines and airports, as well as representatives of international and national tourism organizations, diplomats, government ministries and agencies, agents of related industries from Ukraine and 20 countries. Usually, the event is attended by more thousands of В2В audience from all regions of Ukraine and other countries.

ITB ASIA 2022

Date: 19-21 October, 2022

ITB Asia is co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia covering the key verticals in the travel industry such as Leisure, MICE, Corporate, and Travel Technology. With three shows in one event, it has become Asia’s largest travel showcase.

World Travel Market 2022

Date: 7-9 November, 2022

WTM London provides the platform for millions of meetings and business connections, which over the years have generated deals worth £billions. The marketing reaches further and deeper: if you have a game-changing travel product or service, this is where you tell the world.

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Tags: AIME Australia , Arabian Travel Market , Aviation Festival Asia 2022 , Emitt Istanbul , fitur , IMEX Frankfrut , ITB Berlin , ITB India , MICE News , Routes Europe 2022 , Tourism , travel trade events

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Welcome to our UK exhibition calendar which is packed full of events, exhibitions and trade shows across the UK. You can discover upcoming exhibitions at each of the UK's leading exhibition venues with details about the exhibition itself, places to stay, how to get there as well as our top products for exhibition stands.

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Upcoming exhibitions

• The Offsite Show 07 - 09 May 2024 ExCeL London Learn more
• UK Construction Week London 07 - 09 May 2024 ExCeL London Learn more
• Concrete Expo 08 - 09 May 2024 ExCeL London Learn more
• Bio Technology Show 08 - 09 May 2024 Olympia London Learn more
• Aesthetic Medicine Live 10 - 11 May 2024 Olympia London Learn more
• The Vaper Expo 10 - 12 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• The Baby Show NEC 10 - 12 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• The Advanced Materials Show 15 - 16 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• CHEMUK 15 - 16 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Vehicle Electrification Expo (VE Expo) 15 - 16 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Museums & Heritage Show 15 - 16 May 2024 Olympia London Learn more
• The Media Production & Technology Show 15 - 16 May 2024 Olympia London Learn more
• The Advance Ceramics Show (Ceramics UK) 15 - 16 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Accountex 15 - 16 May 2024 ExCeL London Learn more
• Battery Cells & Systems Expo 15 - 16 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Dental Technology Showcase 17 - 18 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 17 - 18 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Makers Central 18 - 19 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• The Fertility Show 18 - 19 May 2024 Olympia London Learn more
• Materials and Finishes Show 19 - 22 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Utility Week Live 21 - 22 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Oncology Professional Care 21 - 22 May 2024 ExCeL London Learn more
• IRX & eDX 22 - 23 May 2024 National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Learn more
• Parkex 22 - 23 May 2024 Coventry Building Society Arena Learn more
• Traffex 22 - 23 May 2024 Coventry Building Society Arena Learn more
• Submarine Networks EMEA 29 - 30 May 2024 Business Design Centre Learn more

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30+ of Britain’s Top Outdoor Festivals and Events

by Carolyn Ray | Apr 18, 2022

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Last updated on March 27th, 2024

Curated outdoor festivals and events this summer

by Carolyn Ray, Editor, JourneyWoman

The United Kingdom is one of those places that I always enjoy and love returning to. I will never forget my first trip through England as a student en route to Europe, the excitement of Heathrow, travelling overland through Canterbury, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford, and taking the hovercraft from Dover across the English Channel.

I’ve always felt safe in the UK as a solo traveller, whether I’m stopping over or spending a few weeks. I love England’s history, style and energy.

Our readers feel the same way: the UK and Ireland have been consistently at the top of our surveys as one of the first places to go post-pandemic, and the nation has been a frequent subject of discussion on our private Solo Travel Wisdom Facebook group .  At the bottom of this article, I’ve included some recommendations from women in our group on places to stay and transportation.

Tourism statistics show that women are finally returning to Britain but it will take a few years to return to pre-COVID levels of 2019. Visit Britain estimates that by the summer, half of pre-COVID inbound visitor volume will have returned. By the end of 2022, the forecast is expected to be two-thirds of pre-COVID levels. (Source: Visit Britain).

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

To mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, events and celebrations are taking place across the nations.  The Platinum Jubilee Weekend starts on June 2 with the Trooping the Colour ceremony to officially mark the monarch’s birthday, accompanied by a flypast by the Royal Air Force. Otherwise known as The Queen’s Birthday Parade, this colourful display of military pageantry features officers in ceremonial uniform, as well as horses and musicians. The Queen always attends the ceremony, which takes place on Horse Guards Parade behind Whitehall, London.

There’s also a huge party at the Queen’s official London residence and everyone is invited – a massive concert featuring international performers will rock Buckingham Palace and will be beamed to big screens across the nations. There’s a special Platinum Jubilee Pageant and clusters of events around Britain for visitors to enjoy, including giant picnics , parades, exhibitions and more. Efforts are already underway to plant a great floral river that will lap around the moat of the Tower of London .

The Stonehenge Summer Solstice in Wiltshire runs from June 1 8–21. The Summer Solstice is the most important day of the year at Stonehenge and a truly magical time to visit. There’s a four-day festival to mark the occasion, with the celebration bringing together England’s New Age Tribes (neo-druids, neo-pagans and Wiccans) with the curious.

A Woman’s Travel Guide to England: The Best Places to Stay, Eat, and Explore from a Former Local

“England is one of my heart places. It’s where I grew up, have moved back to twice, and have spent many holidays. I will never get tired of visiting. Here are a few tips for you if you decide to go.” – Joy Fox, JourneyWoman Advisory Coumcil

Literary festivals, music, arts and more

From literary festivals to music and hot air balloon adventures, here is a selection of outdoor festivals and events happening this summer.

Flower Shows

For those who love flowers, the Chelsea Flower Show , in London on May 24-28 is one of the best-known Royal Horticultural Shows. There’s also the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in Surrey, the world’s largest annual flower show, which runs from July 4-10. Hampton Court is one of my favorite places to visit; I can almost imagine Henry VIII strolling the grounds.

Art and Literature Lovers

From May 26 to June 5, the renowned Hay Festival of Literature and Arts is held annually in a tented village on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, bringing together some of the greatest contemporary authors and the most exciting new voices in literature and the arts. Past speakers and performers have included Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Chelsea Clinton, Michael Woolf, Jake Bugg, Laura Mvula, David Walliams, Simon Schama, David Olusoga, Rose McGowan, Dara O’Briain and many more.

In August, the Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from August 13 to 19, with more than 800 events featuring everyone from the rising stars of fiction to Nobel Prize-winners, plus events for children and young adults showcasing the finest writers and illustrators for young people.

Jane Austen Regency Week runs  from June 18-26 in Hampshire, south England. This nine-day festival is packed with all things Austen and takes place in and around the market town of Alton and nearby Chawton, the home of Jane Austen’s House & Museum.

If you need more Austen, from September 9 to 18, Bath hosts the Jane Austen Festival, where you can join other Jane Austen fans in the Grand Regency Costumed Promenade. Past events have included elegant guided walks and day trips, intriguing talks, music recitals and concerts, as well as workshops and dance classes.

For fans of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Oxford hosts Alice’s Day on July 2. Each year on the first Saturday of July, Mad Hatters can join the annual festivities. Visitors can dress up as favourite characters at The Story Museum, take a walk through the story’s history and explore the highlights of the city that inspired Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s tale.

Not to be outdone, there’s also  Roald Dahl Day in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, south-east England on the storyteller’s birthday, September 13 at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in his home village of Great Missenden.

Musical interludes

Music lovers should check out Last Night of the Proms  &  BBC Proms in the Park at Royal Albert Hall & Hyde Park, London. While dates are being confirmed for 2022, the BBC Proms is the biggest classical music festival on earth. The legendary Last Night of the Proms is the culmination of an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral and classical music concerts taking place across London. Last Night of the Proms tickets are very popular, so music fans should plan ahead. The celebrations include BBC Proms in the Park, which take place in London’s Hyde Park.

The Isle of Wight Festival runs from June 16-19 on the famous island situated off the south coast of England. The Isle of Wight has an impressive musical heritage stretching back to Bob Dylan (who performed here in 1969) and Jimi Hendrix (who took to the stage in 1970). Recent headliners have included Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, George Ezra and Biffy Clyro. The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival runs from July 15-24 and plays host to some of the finest jazz and blues talent from all corners of the globe.

While in Edinburgh

Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is the world’s oldest continually running film festival and runs from August 12-20. In July, the Edinburgh Art Festival runs from July 28 – August 28  and is Britain’s largest annual celebration of visual art. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe , from August 5 – 29 is the world’s largest arts festival, transforming Scotland’s capital as thousands of performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows of all kinds and for every taste. The work on show ranges from huge names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers.

Pride in Britain

Pride is celebrated across England, with Pride in London , Bristol Pride , a week-long series of events dedicated to the city’s LGBTQI+ community ­to spread the message of love and equality for all, and Brighton Pride in August. The party in Brighton carries on with Fabuloso in the Park, featuring main stage entertainment from major artists, with previous years hosting acts including Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Jess Glynne. Other entertainment has included dance tents, cabaret, a funfair, a family area and a market.

On the water

For those who love being on the water, the Round the Island Race on the Isle of Wight on June 25 is an annual one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, usually attracting more than 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. Competitors come from all over the world and follow the 50 nautical mile course, which starts and finishes in Cowes.

Active Adventuresses

Eroica Britannia , Goodwood is a unique two-day vintage cycling festival on August 6-7, which sees cyclists from all over the world don retro gear and hop on pre-1987 bikes for this special race. 2022 is the first year the event will take place at its new home in Goodwood, in the heart of Sussex. Competitors will glide past lush vineyards, golden shores and through chocolate-box villages on this new route, while the festival hub promises entertainment including track races and competitions.

I had my first-ever hot air balloon ride in San Miguel de Allende last November – it’s definitely an experience worth doing. With more than 100 balloons taking off, the four-day Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is the city’s largest outdoor event, held annually at the city’s Ashton Court Estate, and the largest fiesta of its kind in Europe.

Explore the Magic of the UK

For foodies.

The Taste of London Festival in London transforms Regent’s Park into a foodie wonderland for four days of summer eating, drinking and entertainment. Past years saw around 40 of the city’s best restaurants dish up their finest dishes for the ultimate alfresco feast, while 200 producers provide a bounty of the best food and beverages from Britain and around the world.

Unique restaurant experiences in London

Cahoots: Five years ago, abandoned Kingly Court Underground Station beneath London’s bustling Soho was discovered and turned into Cahoots, a 1940s-themed underground bar.

Bustronome: A high-end double decker bus invites visitors to explore London and savour the finest seasonal cuisine during a real gourmet escapade.

Alice at The Franklin Afternoon Tea :  Inspired by the Alice: Curiouser and curiouser exhibition at the Victoria & Albert museum, The Franklin, a boutique hotel, offers an Alice in Wonderland themed experience in the heart of Knightsbridge.

Romeo & Juliet Afternoon Tea : With a menu inspired by the great romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the Swan serves Mr Falstaff’s Afternoon Tea which includes special treats such as cheese scones and a Welsh rarebit.

Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at the Aqua Shard: Situated on the 31st floor of Europe’s tallest building, the restaurant Aqua Shard offers magnificent views of the London skyline through its floor-to-ceiling glass can be enjoyed while indulging in the Peter Pan themed afternoon which brings the magic of the classic children’s fairy tale to life.

Supperclub Tube : Three times a week an old 1967 Victoria Line tube carriage is transformed into a restaurant serving a six course Latin American-inspired menu at the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum.

Below Stone Nest:   A hidden candlelit cocktail bar with a subterranean touch is located in the cellar of an old chapel in Covent Garden .

Places to Stay, recommended by JourneyWomen:

When you book these, please let these business owners know you heard it through JourneyWoman!

Bath: Diane K recommends “The Old Stables”, saying “Ally will take care of you. You will love the energy, her kindness…” Learn more here

London:  Kathy W. recommends the Ashburn Hotel , a small boutique hotel in Kensington. “Love the area. Short walk to tube station.” Check rates now!

London : Melissa recommends the Citizen M : ”A London friend recommended the Citizen M to me. I stayed at the Citizen M in NYC and it was just what I needed. Tiny room. Great hotel services. Decent price.” Book CitizenM right here

London : Charley recommends a Premier Inn in London; “nothing special but it was clean, had very helpful staff and a full breakfast. Our itinerary was sleep, breakfast, TOUR! We were just off Leicestershire Square – easy walk to theatres and the tube.” Book it now

London: Michelle recommends the Nadler in Kensington: “The Nadler Kensington near Victoria and Albert Museum (perfect for 1 person with cute tiny kitchenette) recently renovated and super clean.” Book it here

Michelle also recommends the Strand Palace : “A large hotel where I stayed the last time is the Strand Palace in Westminster Borough very near Covent Garden Market very near Tube station not as quaint as others but way more practical (for a short stay.)” Book your stay now

Transportation

Getting around England is best done by rental car, according to Fiona. She recommends renting a car to get to less-travelled places and using the Underground and bus system in London. Find a Rental Car Fiona says: “Train will not be cheaper in the UK and Scotland – but may save a lot of time and be a more pleasant option for distance covered. It depends if you are sticking to cities or planning to get out in the highlands. With Ireland, would definitely say hire a car with a sense of humour option – being stuck behind sheep for a good hour is its own joy but it’s part of the charm.”

Donna says: “I used the train/tube in London and out to Bath where I rented a car to travel around Devon and Cornwall. It did take me 2-3 times longer to drive most anywhere in Devon and Cornwall than it would take me for a comparable distance in the States, although this was long before GPS.”

Plan Your Trip

Get started with resources recommended by the JourneyWoman community

Book Your Flights

Use tools like Expedia or Google Flights to look up the best flight prices. Being flexible with dates can save you even more money.

Find Somewhere to Stay

Find a hotel on Expedia and earn points towards free stays. Hotels.com offers a free night stay for every 10 nights booked.

Looking for an apartment or something more long-term? Check out VRBO .

Insure Your Trip

Travel insurance is more important than ever. Compare plans and policies for the best coverage for your trip using Insure My Trip .

Traveling for an extended amount of time? SafetyWing offers ongoing coverage on a month-to-month basis, and World Nomads offers coverage for extended trips.

Looking for a Tour?

Head to the Women’s Travel Directory to find a woman-friendly tour around the world.

Travel Extras

Why not brush up on a new language before your trip with Babbel .

Don’t forget your JourneyWoman branded accessories while you’re on the go!

Explore More From the UK

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Scotland’s Hidden Gems: Travel to Dornoch, Scotland With Cynthia Dale

by Kathy Buckworth | Mar 13, 2024

Television and theatre star Cynthia Dale shares her hometown travel tips for Dornoch, Scotland, with hidden gems for women over 50 to explore.

Canterbury for the Curious: Martyrs, Miracles and Myths

by Carolyn Ray | Feb 26, 2024

With its ancient history and famous Cathedral, Canterbury, in Kent, has inspired pilgrimages, myths and stories for centuries.

Carolyn Ray

As the CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for women's travel and living the life of your dreams. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council and Women's Speaker's Bureau. She has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Zoomer as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. In March 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse and was the recipient of a SATW travel writing award in September 2023. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member Women's Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.

We always strive to use real photos from our own adventures, provided by the guest writer or from our personal travels. However, in some cases, due to photo quality, we must use stock photography. If you have any questions about the photography please let us know. Disclaimer: We are so happy that you are checking out this page right now! We only recommend things that are suggested by our community, or through our own experience, that we believe will be helpful and practical for you. Some of our pages contain links, which means we’re part of an affiliate program for the product being mentioned. Should you decide to purchase a product using a link from on our site, JourneyWoman may earn a small commission from the retailer, which helps us maintain our beautiful website. JourneyWoman is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you! We want to hear what you think about this article, and we welcome any updates or changes to improve it. You can comment below, or send an email to us at [email protected] .

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10 of the UK’s best country shows

These brilliant late-summer rural fairs combine centuries of tradition with plenty of fun – from falconry to food and crafts

Ferret racing and giant marrows: how UK country shows keep rural traditions alive

Lochaber Agricultural Show , Highlands

Held on a farm in Happy Valley in the Highlands, this scenic show has Ben Nevis as a backdrop. As well as agriculture and horses, there is an emphasis on handicrafts, with contests in scores of categories across baking, preserving, knitting, crafting, growing and more. This is the 124th annual show, but categories have moved with the times, with prizes for the best sourdough bread, kombucha and hummus. The show field has sheep-shearing demos, a children’s pet parade, pipers and Highland dancers, and there is a children’s tent and a food and craft marquee. 26 August , adults £8, under-18s free , lochaberagriculturalshow.co.uk

Countess of Warwick Country Show , Essex

Based on a 19th-century flower show held at Little Easton Manor, this country show was revived in the same location in 1990. It still has a horticultural marquee, but these days the programme also includes a classic car show with Rolls-Royce rides; a ploughing match; an animal tent and dog show; and an art exhibition. Lots of audience-participation events take place in the main arena, from egg-and-spoon and sack races to a game of canine musical sit. There is a hog roast and bar near the arena, and another food area by the manor house, where visitors can sip Pimm’s or prosecco and listen to live music by the lake. 27 and 28 August , adults £8, under-12s free , countessofwarwickshow.org

Widecombe Fair , Devon

Widecombe Fair began as a rural market for sheep, cattle and ponies in the early 1800s and still takes place in the Dartmoor village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor on the second Tuesday in September. These days there is no buying and selling of livestock and it is more of a social occasion, but it’s still widely attended by local farmers. As well as sheep and horse judging, visitors can expect tug-of-war and bale-tossing contests, children’s races and the infamous Uncle Tom Cobley downhill race – competitors are driven to an undisclosed location in the hills and get back to the fair as fast as possible. There is live music on a main stage, on the village green and in the garden of the Rugglestone Inn, plus a beer tent and Devon food producers. 12 September , adults £ 10, under-16s free, widecombefair.com

Aylsham Show , Norfolk

The first modern Aylsham Show was held on the town’s recreation ground in 1946, and it moved to its current home, the National Trust’s nearby Blickling Estate, in 1955. Today it is a dramatic show, with displays in the main ring by one of the army’s leading parachute teams, plus motorcycle stunts, Cossack trick riding and mounted games. Bloodhounds will be baying in the countryside ring and chainsaw artists revving up the rural crafts area. There are more sedate charms too, from livestock competitions to food traders and classic cars. 28 August , adults £25, under-16s free , theaylshamshow.co.uk

Bellingham Show, Northumberland

This festival in the village of Bellingham, on the edge of Northumberland national park and half an hour from popular Hexham, is celebrated in Philip Larkin’s 1973 poem Show Saturday . It still features the dogs, ponies and sheep mentioned by Larkin, his beer marquee (which is now called the Reivers Return), the “long high tent of growing and making” and his Cumberland wrestling event. Other longstanding traditions include the Northumbrian piping competition and the fell race, while more novel attractions include the Biking Vikings, a group of motorcycle-riding, stilt-walking, pipe- and drum-playing charity Vikings. As Larkin said of the show, “Let it always be there.” 26 August , adults £10, children £5, bellinghamshow.co.uk

Wolsingham Show , County Durham

Wolsingham, a market town near Bishop Auckland in Weardale hosts what is believed to be England’s oldest extant agricultural show. This year is the 243rd Wolsingham Show, which began in 1763. Eighteenth-century visitors would probably have been familiar with the livestock parades, farriery competitions, falconry displays and ferret shows. They might be surprised by this year’s giant tortoises and alpacas, strongmen and strongwomen contests, global street food, and upcycled and handmade gifts. Saturday is agricultural day and includes sheepdog trials; Sunday is country fair day, with a line-dancing hoedown. Both days feature showjumping competitions. 2 and 3 September , adults £12, children over five £5, wolsinghamshow.co.uk

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Usk Show , Monmouthshire

Since the first event in 1844, the Usk Show has grown to be one of the UK’s biggest one-day agricultural shows, with 11 sections across a 40-hectare (100-acre) showground and more than 300 food and craft traders. Farmers bring their cattle, pigs and sheep to compete in the livestock section; there is a horse show and showjumping competitions; contests for goats, rabbits and pet dogs; horticulture and handicraft areas; a steam engine corner and vintage tractors. The countryside ring has displays of sheepdogs, working horses, falcons and more, and the main ring has a daring freestyle motocross display. 9 September , adults £ 16 , under-16s free , uskshow.co.uk

Romsey Show , Hampshire

Horses are the stars of this show in Romsey’s Broadlands Park, with a host of equine events featuring everything from heavy horses to donkey foals. The livestock grand parade at 3pm has been a highlight since the 1930s. More unusual animal attraction include angora goats, rabbits and guinea pigs, a reptile zone and an educational show about moles. The food zone has stands selling local produce, a skills kitchen with Hampshire chefs, ice-cream carts, a honey tent and a Beggars Fair picnic area with live performers. 9 September , adults £ 20, children over 12 £ 14, romseyshow.co.uk

Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show , Somerset

This show, at the West Woodlands Showground near Frome, is a real cheese-fest. There are more than 1,500 entrants in the global cheese awards (with an auction of some of the prize winners), stalls with great cheesy deals and a cheese bar serving ploughman’s lunches and other dairy delights. Cheese is not the only attraction, however. Entertainment across four arenas includes: horse riding – a highlight is the shetland pony display team; the Hogg Show, with rare-breed pigs; the family dog show; and entertainment including falconry, terrier racing and an “extreme bike battle”. Country pursuits include fly-fishing demos, archery, free laser clay pigeon shooting and a free climbing wall. Kids can try circus skills, cuddle babies in the animal nursery and play on the inflatable and fun fair. 9 September , adult £16s, children over five £5, fromecheeseshow.co.uk

Penistone Agricultural Show , South Yorkshire

Penistone, a market town near Barnsley in South Yorkshire, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its agricultural show this year. To mark the occasion, there will be a “scarecrow extravaganza”, with entries judged by the town mayor. The show is always a competitive affair: some of the many other contests include best mounted fancy dress, scruffiest fowl, cutest puppy and waggiest tail, plus bake-offs and photography competitions. The Sheep and Lettuce tearoom serves afternoon tea (£18) and a two-course lunch (£23) – perhaps roast beef and yorkshire pudding followed by eton mess. 9 September , adults £15, children over five £3 , penistoneshow.com

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2024 Summer Release: Airbnb introduces Icons—extraordinary experiences from the world’s greatest icons

Plus new features that make planning group trips easier than ever

Airbnb is introducing Icons, a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more. Icons let you step into worlds you’ve only ever dreamed of. Drift off in the Up house. Spend the night in the Ferrari Museum. Hang out with Kevin Hart. Today, we’re unveiling the first 11 Icons on Airbnb, with new experiences dropping around the world throughout the year.

“Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination—until now,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.”

Here are the first 11 Icons we are unveiling:

• Drift off in the Up house – Sleep inside one of Disney and Pixar’s most iconic homes—and yes, it floats. You’ll explore Carl’s world in this detailed re-creation of his home, complete with more than 8,000 balloons, and located in the scenic red rocks of Abiquiu, New Mexico.
• Spend the night in the Ferrari Museum – Immerse yourself in the world of racing with a stay at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy. You’ll sleep on a bed crafted from the same leather as Ferrari seats, take a lap with Scuderia Ferrari ambassador driver Marc Gené, and head to Emilia-Romagna’s premier race as a VIP. 
• Step into X-Men ‘97 – Live like the X-Men as you stay in a 2D animated re-creation of Marvel Animation’s X-Mansion in Westchester, New York. You’ll discover your mutant abilities and even train in the Danger Room. 
• Go VIP with Kevin Hart – Kevin Hart is taking you inside his members-only Coramino Live Lounge for an A-list evening. You’ll join Kevin and his friends in this secret speakeasy, where they’ll treat you to a tequila tasting and live stand-up by the best comedians in the game.
• Wake up in the Musée d’Orsay – Stay in the Paris art museum’s iconic clock room, which has been transformed into a luxurious bedroom by Mathieu Lehanneur, designer of the Paris 2024 Games torch and cauldron. From the terrace, you’ll witness the historic Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games along the River Seine.
• Join a living room session with Doja Cat -Fresh off a tour performing on the world’s biggest stages, Doja is hosting you for a much more intimate experience. You’ll enjoy an unforgettable living room performance from the Grammy-winning artist, including her favourite songs and tracks from her latest album.
• Stay in Prince’s Purple Rain house – Prince purchased the Minneapolis, Minnesota home featured in the legendary film Purple Rain, but it’s never been available to the public until now. Explore the home and go crazy for rare and special tracks from Prince’s world in an exclusive studio session.
• Game with Khaby Lame – TikTok sensation Khaby Lame invites you to his hometown of Milan, Italy for an epic, overnight gaming experience. You’ll stay in a one-of-a-kind gaming loft that Khaby designed himself, where you’ll #learnfromkhaby and face off with him in a Fortnite Battle Royale. 
• Go on tour with Feid – Join the reggaeton superstar on his FERXXOCALIPSIS World Tour for an entire week. You’ll join the crew for rehearsals, ride along on the tour bus, and get backstage access for every show.
• Live like Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor – Janhvi Kapoor is inviting you into the legendary, never-before-seen Kapoor family home in Chennai, India. From learning her Bollywood beauty secrets to tasting her favourite southern Indian dishes, Janhvi will host you personally on this ultimate overnight stay.
• Make core memories with Inside Out 2 – In anticipation of the June 14 release of Disney and Pixar’s new movie Inside Out 2, you’re invited to an overnight stay at Headquarters, the control centre of Riley’s emotions. Your host, Joy, will welcome you into her vibrant world to witness the emotions in action and help keep things in balance. 

Icons are featured in their own category right on the homepage. Most Icons are free, and all are priced under $100 USD per guest. A countdown displays the time until each Icon goes live, and guests can request to book through the app. The lucky guests who are selected will receive a digital golden ticket, and more than 4,000 tickets will be available in 2024 1 . 

New features for group trips

More than 80% of bookings on Airbnb are group trips, but the app wasn’t designed for groups. That’s why we’re introducing new features that make planning group trips easier than ever:

Shared wishlists

You can now easily share your wishlists with others on your trip, inviting them to add homes, write notes and vote on listings. When you share listings with others, the app creates a wishlist with these homes.

New Messages tab

A redesigned Messages tab now allows everyone on a trip to message with the host in a group thread. The simplified design consolidates all guest, host, and customer support messages in one place, making it easy to search across messages. Reactions allow guests and hosts to respond with emojis, and AI-suggested quick replies help hosts instantly answer common questions.

Trip invitations

Once you book a trip, you can invite others to join you with digital postcards of your destination, illustrated by artists from around the world. Everyone joining the trip will get all reservation details including the full address, Wi-Fi password, and check-in instructions.

Upgrades for Hosts

The 2024 Summer Release also includes upgrades for hosts based on their feedback. We’ve expanded the earnings dashboard with interactive performance charts and automated earnings reports. Our updated Listings tab gives hosts more control when creating and editing a photo tour to showcase their space. We’ve also added a simple way to quickly switch between the guest and host sides of the app.

Worldwide rollout starting today

Icons and new features for group trips are available starting today. Upgrades for hosts are available today by enrolling in Airbnb Early Access in the app.

For more information on the the latest upgrades, please visit  www.airbnb.com/release , and  check out all of the 2024 Summer Release highlights .

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Weekend Money: 10 biggest mistakes people make in job interviews

From handshakes to how you dress, recruiters and business owners have shared the most common mistakes they see in job interviews. Read this and our other Weekend Money features - and tell us your job interview mistakes/stories in the box below.

Sunday 5 May 2024 21:38, UK

Weekend Money

• 10 biggest mistakes people make in job interviews I Tell us your job interview mistakes/stories/tips in the comments box
• Cinema first is back - so should movie lovers unsubscribe? 
• Brexit rule changes, disability vouchers and manifestation cynicism: What readers have said this week 
• Interest rates, inflation and fuel prices: What you need to know about economy this week

Best of the week

• It turns out Sainsbury’s boss was right about self-checkouts 
• State pensions 'could be in doubt for future generations'
• New ISA rules were supposed to help savers - they've just made everything more complicated 
• Money Problem: 'A company won't fix dodgy building work - what can I do?' 
• Gameboys, designer shoes, 1950s furniture: Items in your attic that could be worth small fortune 
• Train strikes in May - everything you need to know

Ask a question or make a comment

You filled out the job application, got the call (they're interested, phew!), but now... it's interview day.

If the thought of selling yourself to a stranger brings you out in a cold sweat, you're not alone - but you can help yourself by not making the following common mistakes...

1. Not dressing app ropriately

Paul Webley, managing director of Blaze Media Digital Marketing Agency in Merseyside, says: "If you are coming for an interview in a marketing agency, dress smart. No need to be in a suit. It's cute if you are but just dress how you would expect to dress in the job and, if in doubt, err on the side of being slightly smarter.

"With us, there are loads of photos of the team in the office on the website and socials (which you should have looked at) so there is no excuse."

Tell us your interview mistakes/stories/tips in the comments box

2. Handshake mishaps

Paul's second interview mistake is: "This one is a real pet hate and probably doesn't matter as much in the current world but... learn how to shake a person's hand. You have to do this within every job from time to time.

"There is nothing more off-putting than a limp shake. Having a firm, polite handshake is a basic human skill in business and beyond."

3. Complaining

This is another one from Paul: "We had someone a few months ago tell us that they didn't think they should have to come into the office for an interview. This was for an office-based role. If they don't think it's worth coming in then the job is not going to be for them."

4. Not checking your tech

Tas Ravenscroft, senior consultant at recruitment firm Cherry Pick People , says: "Overlooking details like the interview location or the platform being used (such as Teams), and not testing your tech beforehand, can disrupt the interview process. This is especially crucial as most first interviews are now conducted via video conferencing."

5. Bad mouthing previous employers

Tas says: "We see that candidates sometimes feel too comfortable on interview and decide to talk about their past experiences (if aggrieved) negatively, which is a big NO. Instead, my advice is to focus on the lessons learned and how you've grown from challenges in your career."

6. Not asking questions - or asking about benefits or sick pay policy

Tas says: "There are no right or wrong answers to this, but asking questions at the end of the interview is a big YES. It shows you're interested, engaged and would like the opportunity to either progress or land the role.

"I'd say in your first interview, ask about company culture, day to day tasks, expectations of this role, who's the best performer and why? 

"Questions I'd stay away from are benefit-related questions, or I recently had someone ask what the sick pay policy was like in the first interview… Safe to say they didn't get invited back. If you work with a recruiter, you will have salary and benefits info before, so no need to ask on interview."

7. Not showing enthusiasm

For Mike Carlucci, managing director of Reading-based Italian-food importer  Tenuta Marmorelle , this is a big one: "A lot of people at the moment are applying for everything and anything. They apply for hundreds of jobs.

"The result is that you get applicants who are not enthusiastic or passionate about the role or sector as they see it just as a job. There are few people looking for actual careers at the moment. In our industry, the food industry, you need to have passion and enthusiasm."

8. Talking too much

Andrew MacAskill, founder of Executive Career Jump , says: "Sometimes this is down to nerves, other times it is down to overthinking and often it is due to the questions being too broad, which leads to them saying lots and hoping the right answer is in there somewhere."

Ian Nicholas, global managing director at Reed , says a common slip-up people make is to carry on talking after giving their answer.

"Some interviewers may purposely leave a pause just to see how the interviewee will react under the pressure - so be confident in what you've said and know when you've finished."

9. Under-preparation

Habiba Khatoon, director of Robert Walters UK , says: "This means they haven't researched the company, are unaware of the key aspects of the role they are interviewing for and can't make connections between their CV and experience and the role.

"Most interviewers can easily catch on when a candidate has turned up unprepared and when they do, they can lose interest in that candidate quite quickly."

Italian food importer Mike agrees: "It is so important to spend five minutes to go on to the website, see what the company does, how they started and any general information you can get. This really makes someone stand out from the 100s of applicants."

10. Being late - or too early

James Rowe, managing director of the Recruitment Experts , says: "I would suggest arriving 20 minutes early to give you time to prepare, but don't walk through the door too soon! Turning up five to 10 minutes prior to your interview start time shows you're punctual but won't rush the hiring manager… they need breaks too!"

By Brad Young , Money team

Almost half of Britons (45%) subscribe to two or more streaming services, according to comparison website Finder, but box office figures show the theatre-going experience is making a comeback. 

The pendulum is swinging back from streaming-first to theatre-first releases, and streaming platforms like Amazon and Apple are making moves on to the big screen with the likes of Saltburn and American Fiction, or Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon. 

That means movie-lovers are facing a conundrum, according to a senior media analyst: should they prioritise spending cash on trips to the cinema or on streaming if they want to see the biggest and best movies? 

"People are making decisions on 'what am I going to allocate to the movie theatre experience, what am I going to allocate to streaming?'" Paul Dergarabedian, of Comscore, told the Money blog.

Cinema's revival is real, according to Philip Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association. 

"Certainly the major US studios see the theatrical experience, the big screen experience, as where they want their major films to be and then benefitting from the promotional buzz that comes from that," Mr Clapp said. 

Disney chief executive Bob Iger said last year that theatrically released films were "great sub drivers".

"We benefit greatly from the power of our great films, they drive so much engagement and so much interest in our platforms," he said, pointing to Moana, Marvel, Star Wars and Avatar.

Mr Clapp added this year was a "key stepping stone" to an offering similar to before the pandemic, but cinema wouldn't be back to full strength until next year.

In the pandemic, studios experimented with straight-to-streaming releases, which continued even after restrictions fell away.

Mr Dergarabedian said: "When the pandemic hit it was a real stress test on the industry because a lot of people thought theatrical was dying on the vine and that it would be going away at some point in the near future - and then the pandemic accelerated that demise in the minds of some."

But audiences have voted with their feet and instructed studios they want more variety: international films, stadium concert films, videogame adaptations, prestige films and horrors.

Smile, a Paramount horror movie on a $17m budget that could have been straight-to-streaming, had a "great result" at the box office, said Mr Dergarabedian, as did Five Nights at Freddy's. 

Low and mid-budget movies have been the slowest to recover but are returning to the big screen, making the theatre offering more diverse this year, Mr Clapp added.

Mr Dergarabedian said Universal's "diverse portfolio" was the one to beat: it spent the last year putting out everything from action films like Fast X, prestige movies like Oppenheimer, animations like Migration and some spookier offerings too.

Going theatrical still comes with a risk, the analyst said. A flop on the big screen leaves studios with a big hit to their bottom line, having spent large amounts on distribution and marketing. 

But films "tend to have more value" once they arrive on a streaming platform if they were released in cinemas first, including lower budget movies.

Each week, Money blog readers share their thoughts on the subjects we've been covering, and over the past seven days your correspondence has been dominated by these topics...

Brexit rule changes

• Our feature on manifesting
• The prospect of disability payments becoming vouchers

Britons could face higher food prices, and even empty supermarket shelves, as new post-Brexit border fees were introduced this week, industry figures warned.

These comments - while perhaps not representative of the whole country - are definitely reflective of the majority view in our inbox...

It's almost like Brexit was a terrible idea… To think our politicians would do anything but make things worse was beyond naive. People let their prejudice override common sense that most politicians look out for themselves and not the country's best interests… Joe

Others suggested the government should be turning its eyes to the issue rather than elsewhere...

Food prices rise even though they told us they would fall and yet the priority is sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. Isn't it about time the UK started to listen to people's problems rather than a very loud minority? Lee

Several people suggested the solution was growing all our own food - which is often talked about, but producers and importers point out the UK climate makes it less achievable to mass produce certain foods at a low cost than in southern Europe.

Disability vouchers?

Reports this week suggested disabled people could receive vouchers instead of monthly payments under proposed government changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The story resulted in a backlash among our commenters... 

Absolutely barking mad. Disabilities aren't an option. Can't be fixed with words. And can happen to anyone at anytime. Time to get a grip. Rob

Others suggested it was a symptom of a wider failure within the system...

I don't know how the government can take away vital PIP money and say they can replace it with better mental health support. My daughter is waiting for a PIP assessment and also an assessment for ADHD - the latter's wait time is currently four years. Matmac33

Can you 'manifest' financial success? 

Moving to our manifesting feature, which prompted a lot of cynicism. If you haven't read it yet, you can do so  here ... 

Some of our readers are believers... 

I manifest things in my life. Be it money, people or events I've had dreams about, there's more magic in the universe than most people know of. Steve

I believe in manifestation in terms of positive thinking. You'll never get anywhere if you're always assuming the worst. But you do have to put the leg work in for what you want, it won't fall in to your lap. Jim Carrey didn't get that £10m acting job sitting under a tree! Caroline D

Others, well, not so much...

Why are you giving space to this specious guff manifestation? Does it work for the poverty-stricken, starving millions without basic infrastructure and education, or those suffering in warzones across the world? I wonder what they want "manifesting" in their lives? FM1

"Manifesting", what a load of rubbish! I can't believe this is one of the top stories on Sky News. David

And finally, in our weekly round-up of your comments...

This comment section is a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. Sky NEVER publishes its readers' views. John Hammond

The next week in Money is likely to be dominated by interest rates - with the Bank of England's latest base rate decision coming on Thursday .

A cut from the current 16-year high of 5.25% is extremely unlikely, as inflation is yet to reach the Bank's 2% target.

Markets had forecast a first cut in June but are now pricing in August, with only two cuts now expected in 2024 rather than three.

There had been hope the base rate would dip to 3% next year - but again, these forecasts are now on ice.

As we outlined in our new weekly mortgage update yesterday, high street lenders have responded by moving their rates upwards ...

Mortgage approvals rose to 61,300 in March - the highest number since September 2022. But while on the face of it this looks positive for the housing market, industry experts are reporting that uncertainty over the direction of interest rates is prompting renewed caution.

Hina Bhudia, partner at Knight Frank Finance, said: "The sun is out and buyers are returning from their Easter break, so we'd usually expect these to be the busy weeks before the summer; however, the uncertain outlook for mortgage rates will undoubtedly weigh on activity.

"It's not just buyers that are frustrated. The lenders are eager to rebuild their businesses after a subdued 2023; however, they are constrained by stubborn inflation and the resulting impact on their cost of funding."

The influential OECD this week said now was not the time for the UK to be considering cutting rates - which is bad news for mortgage holders, but may be positive for savers.

The organisation anticipates inflation will be "elevated" at 3.3% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025 - above the Bank's 2% target.

And it claims the UK will grow more slowly next year than any other major advanced economy.

It puts this down to stealth taxes and high interest rates squeezing the economy.

The organisation, which is based in Paris, downgraded its forecasts for GDP to 0.4% this year and 1% in 2025.

In February, the UK had been in the middle of the rankings with forecast growth of 0.7% this year and 1.2% next.

Away from the economy, RAC has put out figures today showing that both petrol and diesel have gone up by 10p per litre so far this year, adding £5.50 to the price of filling up a car.

Oil prices rose during April, sending an average litre of unleaded up 3p to 149.95p, while diesel rose by 2p to 157.76p.

The lowest prices for petrol and diesel so far this year were both recorded on 16 January – 139.7p and 147.6p respectively.

The good news is that, as tensions between Israel and Iran have defused, the oil price has crept back down, meaning some of the recent hikes may soon be reversed.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

A cash ISA offering an interest rate of 4.5% has been launched today by Melton Building Society .

The interest is paid annually on 31 March and can be added to the account, transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton savings account.

Here's what you need to know...

How do you open an account?

• You must be a UK resident and be aged 16; 
• Accounts can be opened with a minimum amount of £25 and the maximum that can be held in this account is £500,000.

Can you withdraw money?

Yes, you can withdraw money as long as you give the bank 180 days' notice in branch, by post or phone

Once you have done this, all or part of the investments in the ISA, including any interest earned, will be transferred to you.

You can also access your money without giving notice, but you will be charged 180 days' interest on the amount you withdraw. 

A lack of demand for new electric cars has led some brands to begin slashing prices. 

Even some of the UK's best-selling electric cars are thousands of pounds cheaper than a year ago, according to Auto Trader figures shared with The Times . 

Among the most heavily discounted vehicles are the Honda E, down 20% versus a year ago at £29,600, and the Peugeot E-2008, which has fallen in price by 15% to £30,000. 

The Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e are both being advertised at a 20% off sale price, while the MG ZS and MG5 are discounted by 15%. 

Meanwhile, Ford's flagship electric car, the Mustang Mach-E, has fallen in price by 14%. 

Ian Plummer, Auto Trader's commercial director, said lower prices are good news for car buyers and that it was "encouraging" to see more affordable electric cars on the market. 

He said the discounts had been "driven by a softening in consumer demand, coupled with the introduction of the zero-emissions vehicle mandate, which is putting pressure on manufacturers to comply with the new regulations or face heavy fines". 

The government's zero-emission vehicle ( ZEV ) mandate requirers manufacturers to produce a certain percentage of zero-emission cars and vans each year.

It started when comedian Peter Kay, who was supposed to be the first official act for the new Manchester Co-op Live on 23 April, had his performances rescheduled.

Rick Astley's performance on 20 April was a "test event" for the venue but ticket capacity was slashed just hours before his gig was due to begin.

Astley fans who had their tickets cancelled were instead offered seats to see US rock band The Black Keys play - but their show has also been affected.

And to add to the chaos, this week Olivia Rodrigo's concerts, scheduled for 3 and 4 May, were postponed.

Then, Take That announced they were moving their shows from the venue to the AO Arena in Manchester.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie concert was also postponed just over an hour before the rapper was set to perform.

Today, Barry Manilow also said he had a "back-up plan" to move his Manchester performance from the beleaguered venue. 

The ongoing mayhem has left disgruntled concert-goers voicing their frustration, with some calling for travel and accommodation to be reimbursed and others calling the situation "embarrassing".

"There will be countless people who would've booked travel and hotels just for you to stitch them up because you couldn't meet assured deadlines," one person wrote on X.

Another person said the music venue should "at the very minimum" be "looking at refunding travel/hotel costs for people that can prove they paid for cancelled dates".

And another person asked: "How do I get a refund for parking? There's no info on your site or app."

Organisers at Co-op Live said the venue would be taking "a short pause to events" before welcoming members of the public to the arena from 14 May.

A Co-op Live statement said: "At this time, we do not expect further impact on our opening season. We are aware our actions have frustrated and angered ticketholders."

Tim Leiweke, chairman and chief executive of Oak View Group, which developed Co-op Live in partnership with the City Football Group, has said they cannot run any event until it is "absolutely safe to do so".

A Co-op Group spokesperson said: "As naming rights sponsor for Co-op Live we are disappointed with these further schedule changes.

"Co-op is a sponsor and does not own or run the venue, and we have made it clear to Oak View Group, who are responsible for the building, that the impact on ticketholders must be addressed as a priority."

An Itsu freezer product is being urgently recalled over fears it could contain plastic. 

Customers are being told not to eat Itsu's sizzling pork gyoza, which is sold at Asda and Sainsbury's.

The 240g packs with a best before date of 8 March 2025 are those affected by the recall.

A 200-year-old Edinburgh attraction is reopening this month after being closed for four years. 

The Nelson Monument is a 150ft tower overlooking the city, and was built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

It has been shut for essential works for years, but visitors will soon be able to climb its 143 steps again.

An official opening date has not yet been given.

HMRC's Welsh-language app is only being used by two in every 100 native speakers, according to a new report by The Telegraph .

A freedom of information request by the paper found that 13,831 Welsh speakers have used the app since its launch in June 2022.

That equates to 1.5% of the nearly 900,000 people who say they speak the language.

Jonathan Eida, researcher at the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, told the newspaper he thought the move was a "gimmick".

Gig ticket prices may be eye-wateringly high at the moment (just like everything else, let's face it) but a big sale next week will see tens of thousands of tickets at discounted prices. 

LiveNation is holding a sale for 24 hours from noon on Thursday until noon on Friday, with prices starting from £25. 

Artists who you can get discounted tickets to see include Doja Cat, Meghan Thee Stallion, Shania Twain, Becky Hill, Avril Lavigne, Eric Prydz, Giggs, Glass Animals, James Arthur, JLS, Jungle, Kaiser Chiefs, Limp Bizkit, Offset, McFly, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith, Placebo, Tom Jones, Tiesto and The Streets. 

You can find the full line-up of artists and venues with discounted tickets  on the LiveNation website here .

The company will also be holding promotions and competitions throughout next week. 

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