Familarisation Weekend

In conjunction with Visit Richmond and it's partner’s we are excited to invite group organisers and travel trade itinerary planners to join us on our Excursions familiarisation weekend to accompany the show.

Find out more below, and express your interest using the booking form at the bottom. We will be in touch to confirm your place and arrange payment. Places are limited and a waiting list will be in operation.

Single Room £238
Double/Twin £340
 

Cancellation terms:

Free cancellation until 7 days before arrival. Non-refundable if cancelled inside 7 days of arrival.  However, in the event you did have to cancel within 7 days, we would do our best to fill your space from a waiting list and to refund at least some costs.

Friday 21st January

Arrive at the delightful Richmond Hill Hotel - This stunning 144 bedroom Georgian townhouse property is Richmond’s destination hotel, waiting atop the hill, moments from the world-famous Royal Richmond Park. This hotel is your home for the weekend. Inside you'll find recently refurbished bedrooms and an award-winning restaurant, bar, and terrace, an ideal base for your group to explore the area. Join us for a meet & greet at 2pm with refreshments before taking a short 20- minute walk* to the Remembrance Poppy factory.

The Poppy Factory has been an integral part of Richmond since the 1920s. You will be inspired by its work as part of a guided tour of the new visitor centre, where you will discover more about how the charity supports veterans with health conditions as they get back into employment, and how a small production team still makes thousands of Remembrance wreaths each year. Their expert hosts will bring the new exhibition to life, and you will spend some self-guided time in the exhibition to discover fascinating stories, videos, and artefacts. You will enjoy refreshments and cake and see how you get on making your own poppy.

In the evening you will return to the hotel to rest, and enjoy a private three-course dinner hosted by Richmond Hill Hotel and our colleagues from
Visit Richmond.

*taxi available on request 

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Saturday 22nd January

After a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day, you will be collected by our partner coach company Stewarts Coaches and will head off for an early-access mini guided tour of Twickenham Stadium with pitch-side views and exclusive access to the England Dressing Room, aswell as entry to the award-winning World Rugby Museum where you can take a look at the 2003 Webb Ellis Trophy, the Calcutta Cup, the world’s oldest international football jersey and enjoy the fully interactive Games Zone where you can test your sporting ability.  

You will then have 3.5 hours to explore Excursions 2022, catch up with contacts, talk to new exhibitors, and plan your future adventures.

With a host of new ideas in your mind, it still isn’t over!  You will travel to Strawberry Hill House - Britain’s finest example of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture for a guided tour. Here you will discover how it has been meticulously restored to ensure visitors enjoy the theatrical experience Horace Walpole intended.

On your final stop of the day you will take in the views of Marble Hill Landscape. A short guided tour here will highlight the original features including grottos and ice houses and explain why Henrietta Howard really was a remarkable woman.

On return to the hotel, your evening is your own to enjoy.
Dine in the bar or restaurant at your leisure with your 3-course meal credit voucher, included in the cost of your ticket.

Sunday 23rd January

After breakfast and check out, you will be collected by our coach for a final morning of discovery.

This itinerary is still being finalized - however will include a visit to Eel Pie Island. This little island played a key role in the Blues explosion of the 1960s and helped superstars such as the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton kick start their musical careers. 

The Eel Pie Island Museum brings this fantastic music history to life, you will have a guided tour before a lunch stop to ensure you are refuelled and returned to the hotel for your onward journey.

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