Partners' Programme

The partners' programme offers the chance to visit a variety of places of interests within the East Midlands, from ancient ruins and parklands to modern shopping areas, museums and galleries. The program includes visits to the following:

All transport will be included as part of the accompanying person’s fee, as will entry to Newstead Abbey and a trip on the Great Central Railway, additional entry fees will not be included, however a number of museums are free of charge.

Nottingham
Nottingham was originally called the city of caves, and is most renowned for Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Today Nottingham has been recommended as one of the Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2010 by Travel UK, for its multitude of architectural styles, museums, galleries and shopping.

The trip will start with a visit to Newstead Abbey, a beautiful historic house set in a glorious landscape of gardens and parkland which cover more than 300 acres in the heart of Nottinghamshire. The Abbey is best known as the former home of the poet Lord Byron, and was originally an Augustinian priory founded by Henry II in about 1170.
The tour will continue to the City of Nottingham where you will have time to enjoy the city’s great variety of architectural styles and spent the afternoon as you wish. There is a vast variety of shops to peruse, from the Independent Boutiques in the Hockley area and designer shops of Bridlesmith Gate to the high street stores that fill the streets between, not to mention the numerous department stores.

In addition to shopping, there are many museums and galleries that show the various stages of Nottingham’s history. You can find out about life in the city at the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard, or discover the history of lace at the lace museum housed in a lovely medieval 14th century building at the foot of Nottingham Castle. The Castle itself is positioned on a natural promontory known as "the castle rock", with 130 foot cliffs to the south and west; for centuries it served as one of the most important in England for nobles and royalty alike. The current castle was build around 1675, and was restored in 1795 when it was opened as the first municipal art gallery outside of London . Not far from the castle is ‘Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem’ England’s oldest pub, dating back to the crusades.

If history is not your thing then you might be interested in visiting the Nottingham Ice Arena and of course there are also the caves themselves to explore; descend into the dark depths of the original Anglo-Saxon tunnels which have been adapted over the Centuries by local people to escape and take refuge from the world above.

Leicester
Today Leicester is an eclectic and multi cultural city; it is also one of the oldest cities in England with a history going back at least 2000 years. The ruins of the Roman city can be seen at the Jewry Wall Museum; the New Walk museum and Gallery has a wide-ranging collection spanning the natural and cultural world and Newarke Houses and Gardens tell the story of 20th century Leicester and the history of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment.

There is a lot of choice when it comes to shopping in Leicester, including Leicester Lanes and St Martin’s Square, offering a range of designer and specialist shops along with many small cafes. In contrast, Highcross, the newest shopping centre in Leicester, opened in 2008 and contains 120 high street and designer shops and 15 restaurants, and was designed by the foreign Office Architects, dubbed as ‘the coolest architects in the world’.

A little further from the centre you’ll find Abbey Park, in which lie the ruins of Leicester Abbey, and the Golden Mile, whose name derives from the number of gold shops along this stretch of Belgrave Road and Melton Road. In addition to gold shops the street is renowned for authentic Indian restaurants, sari shops, and jewellers.

Leicester is also home to the space centre; one of the United Kingdom's leading visitor attractions devoted to space science and astronomy

Included as part of the trip to Leicester is a ride on The Great Central Railway, the UK's only double track, main line heritage steam railway. Enjoy the view as it rolls across the Charnwood countryside between Loughborough and Leicester. Depending on the time of day you might choose to enjoy a delicious English Clotted Cream Tea or English Breakfast on the train.

Loughborough
Loughborough is a market town dating back to before the 13th century, with something on offer for everyone. To take in as much as possible we can provide you with a guide of Loughborough, complete with map and details of what you will pass.

On the walking tour you will pass the old hospital, built in 1862, a parish church believed to be one of the oldest in the country and a Rectory, parts of which date back to the 1200’s. Other buildings you will pass include the Cinema, built in 1936, which despite numerous changes of ownership still retains many of its original Art deco features, including some original stained glass windows. During the tour you will also have time to wander around the market square, which on a Thursday and Saturday is bustling with traders and shoppers; surrounding the square are numerous shops and cafes. One of Loughborough’s most iconic buildings can be found in Queens Park, the 46 metre high Carillon houses 47 bells and if you choose to climb the 138 steps you will be afforded a spectacular panoramic view over Loughborough and beyond.

Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood
For those of you wanting to take the opportunity to discover some of England’s finest countryside you can spend the day exploring the 830 acres of Bradgate park and Swithland woods. Within the national forest you’ll find rolling hills covered in grass and bracken, craggy rock and herds of fallow and red deer roaming free. A lovely stream winds its way through the park past the ruined birth place of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for 9 days. Crowning the highest hill is Old John, a folly (a type of building, peculiar to the English, with no particular purpose!). There are a number of tales to explain the appearance of the folly, the most well known being that the ‘handle’ was added to the tower in memory of a beer loving family retainer. From the top of the hill at Old John you can see the nearby Cropston Reservoir and you also have a panoramic view of Leicestershire; on a clear day you can even see into its neighbouring counties.

The park is surrounded by a number of villages complete with tea shops and country pubs which you could visit for tea and cake or something a bit stronger and filling.

Burleigh Springs Health Spa

All delegates and partners can relax at Burleigh Court’s very own leisure and therapy centre. You can enjoy a range of treatments and therapies, take a swim in the warm pool, unwind in the whirlpool spa, sauna, and steam room, or work out in the well equipped fitness suite with the latest range in gym equipment. Or simply relax in the spacious lounge with television, newspapers and complimentary refreshments.

Spa treatments available include:

To find out more visit their website http://www.welcometoimago.com/health-spa/

Burleigh Springs Health Spa is offering a 20% discount to AVEC10 guests on selected spa treatments. Further information on how to claim your discount will be available soon.



 














Loughborough University
Newstead Abbey from Morris's Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen (1880).


Nottingham Council House
The Council House, Nottingham.










Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway.

Leicester Clock Tower
The Clock Tower, Leicester.


The Jewry Wall, Leicester





The Carillon in Queens Park Loughborough The Carillon in Queens Park Loughborough


Old John, Bradgate Park
Old John, Bradgate Park

Burleigh Springs Logo
Burleigh Springs