26 Feb 2020
What's New in England in March 2020
There's a bounty of springtime goings-on in this month's round-up. A dazzling display of daffodils heralds William Wordsworth's 250th birthday, England's newest national park turns 10, and Beatrix Potter's favourite bunny runs away from the leafy McGregor garden in the new Peter Rabbit film. Meanwhile, pop-up pods mark 20 years of the London Eye and new helicopter flights make it even easier to reach the glorious Isles of Scilly, where spring always arrives early.
Please see below for more information, plus a round-up of other news from around the country.
Coming Soon…
A Celebration of Wordsworth, RHS Gardens
1 March – 30 April 2020 (dates and times vary)
The RHS will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth with 'a host of golden daffodils'. An exhibition and vast drifts of daffs will pay homage to the poet who penned I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud. Curious daffodil facts, DNA research and the role of daffodils in art, culture and religion – including Wordsworth's treasured contribution, of course – will be explored in a series of outdoor panels staged at all four (soon to be five) RHS Gardens.
Meanwhile, more than 70,000 daffs will trumpet their beauty at Harlow Carr, which has also planted a Golden Mile of narcissi. A new planting of 32,000 cyclamineus daffodils will spring up throughout Wisley's Pinetum, and Hyde Hall's famous daffodil spectacle promises to dazzle as usual. Rosemoor's new display of the Rosewarne daffodil collection and the garden's eponymous flower, Narcissus 'Rosemoor Gold', will ensure its place in the springtime celebrations too.
20th birthday celebrations at the London Eye
6 – 9 March 2020
A weekend of spectacular pod takeovers will mark the London Eye's 20th birthday. Twenty of the iconic landmark's 32 pods will be transformed along themes that celebrate – and elevate – uniquely London places and experiences. Five pods will be filled with permanent, immersive experiences such as West End-themed sing-alongs, pints served in quintessentially British boozer The King Vic, and sky-high selfies with Her Majesty The Queen (courtesy of Madame Tussauds). The other 15 pods will host pop-up activities, from sunrise yoga and spin classes to afternoon tea and cocktail masterclasses. There will also be live performances by a string quartet from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, up-and-coming music stars from Busk, and some of London's best drag acts.
www.londoneye.com #EyeTurns20
Houseplant Weekend, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex
7 – 8 March 2020
Guaranteed to further fuel the houseplant trend unfurling across Instafeeds everywhere is RHS Hyde Hall's weekend dedicated to orchids and indoor plants. Plant sales, displays and expert advice and talks from Curator Rob Brett will inspire even the least green-fingered to nurture their own urban jungle.
New helicopter service to St Mary's and Tresco, Isles of Scilly
17 March 2020
Helicopters will once again link the Isles of Scilly with Penzance, Cornwall. Penzance Heliport and Sloane Helicopters are partnering to provide regular flights from Penzance to both St Mary's and Tresco. It will be the only Isles of Scilly helicopter service to fly to both islands. There will be up to 17 flights per day, 6 days a week. The helicopter flights will take just 15 minutes and tend to be a more weather-resilient way of travelling to the islands than other options.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
27 March 2020
The follow-up to 2018's hit Peter Rabbit once again stars James Corden as the voice of the adventurous rabbit, with Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson and David Oyelowo in live action roles. Prompted by his unwanted reputation as a troublemaker, the blue-jacketed bunny runs away to explore beyond his Cumbrian garden home when the newly married McGregors go away. Queue mayhem in trains, farmers' markets and beyond! Peter Rabbit fans can explore the landscape that so inspired Beatrix Potter in Cumbria. Attractions with personal connections to the woman behind Peter Rabbit include Hill Top, a farm that's kept exactly as she left it in 1943, and The Beatrix Potter Gallery, which houses an annually changing exhibition of the writer's original drawings in what used to be her husband's offices.
www.imdb.com/title/tt8376234; www.golakes.co.uk
50th anniversary of Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
27 March and throughout 2020
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens marks its 50th anniversary in 2020. The Park first flung open its gates on Good Friday, 27 March 1970. Plans to celebrate 50 years since it first opened, complete with 341 animals from 94 different species, include an archive photography exhibition, a new skeleton museum – the 'Skeletorium' – and a new arboretum. Look out for George; the 85-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise was a star attraction on opening day and he's still going strong! Details of the full programme of events will be on the Park's website and social media channels first.
www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk
Luxury development at Andrew Shayes Holiday Park, Devon
27 March 2020
A brand-new development of 10 lodge-style caravans is paving the way for a new generation of visitors at Andrew Shayes Holiday Park. Phase one of The Orchard Retreat opened in July 2019. The second phase, which includes three more caravans and landscaping with more trees, is complete in time for the 2020 season. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, The Orchard Retreat has stunning countryside views from its glass-ended caravans. Some of the two- and three-bedroom luxury caravans have hot tubs and are dog-friendly. Hi-de-Hi this is not!
10th anniversary of the South Downs National Park
31 March and throughout 2020
2020 is a special year for the South Downs National Park. The South Downs became England's 10th national park on 31 March 2010, and celebrations to mark its 10th anniversary make this perfect time for visitors to explore the varied delights of what is still the country's newest national park. Expect the Park's Way in a Day event, Dark Skies status and an extended programme of Youth Action Days to be part of the festivities.
England's first chief spymaster turns 500, Lincolnshire
From March 2020
A series of special events at Burghley House will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of William Cecil. The first Lord Burghley was Queen Elizabeth I's most trusted minister and her first spymaster. High-profile speakers including David Starkey (20 March), Dr Anna Keay (14 May) and Dr Suzannah Lipscomb (9 October) will talk about all aspects of Cecil's life and legacy for the Lord Burghley 500th Anniversary Lecture Series, while a string of special exhibitions will delve deeper into his achievements (dates TBC). There will be activities for kids too.
And beyond…
The Secret Garden-inspired activities at RHS Gardens
April – July 2020
Forthcoming film The Secret Garden will be brought to life by a collaboration between The RHS and STUDIOCANAL. Due for release on 13 April, the movie is about the transformative effects a magical garden in Yorkshire has on three very different children. A series of workshops and trails at RHS Gardens will hone in on the film's themes of friendship, magic and wonder to show how gardens and gardening can help us connect with each other and improve our wellbeing.
Throughout the Easter holidays, the trail of six hidden keys will lead families to areas of the four RHS Gardens that they may never have explored before, and a series of workshops will encourage visitors to try gardening tasks and other creative activities. The Secret Garden-themed fun will continue at RHS Flower Shows and Festivals at Chatsworth, Hampton Court Palace and Tatton Park, where workshops will help families discover the magic of gardening.
www.rhs.org.uk ; www.thesecretgardenfilm.co.uk
New lodges and wine tastery at Ashling Park Estate, West Sussex
Early summer 2020
William Hardie, of TV's Amazing Spaces fame, has designed five luxury lodges set to open on Ashling Park Estate this summer. Made from local material, including wood sourced from the South Downs National Park, the lodges will bear Hardie's imaginative and creative stamp – think luxe-meets-hygge. There's even a helicopter pad. Day and overnight visitors can enjoy the experience of the new wine tasting rooms, also due to open this summer. Head to the tastery's balcony to sample award-winning sparkling while admiring glorious vineyard views that will impress even the most hardcore of provenance aficionados. In the winter a roaring fire will keep visitors cosy as they sip.
The Londoner, London
June 2020
Edwardian Hotels London will open its first purpose-built hotel in June. The Londoner is being billed as “the world's first super boutique hotel”. The landmark development near Leicester Square embraces the drama and heritage of its West End setting while offering five-star facilities and a pioneering approach to sustainable luxury design. The ambiance is boutique yet the scale is staggering, with 16 storeys, 350 guestrooms (including 35 suites and a tower penthouse each with cityscape views), six concept eateries, a state-of-the-art ballroom and a subterranean gym and spa. The two private screening rooms are an especially nice touch given the hotel's theatreland neighbourhood.
Pan Pacific London
Autumn 2020
The first foray into Europe by Pan Pacific Hotels Group will be in the new landmark tower at One Bishopgate Plaza, just across from Liverpool Street train station. Designed to appeal to “discerning well-heeled travellers who seek to find a balance in life,” the new Pan Pacific London hotel will have 237 guestrooms and suites designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the Square Mile's largest hotel ballroom, an 18-metre infinity pool with cityscape views, and more landscaped outdoor space than any other luxury hotel in the area. Spectacular views of The Gherkin from The Signature Suite on the hotel's 18th floor will be worth writing home about too.
New AR experience: Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up
Autumn 2020
Launching in autumn, Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up will combine the latest in augmented and mixed reality to create an all-new Wallace & Gromit story. The interactive adventure will reach a finale on the streets of Bristol, where the story will play out live in augmented reality, using smartphones as a 'window' into Wallace and Gromit's world.
For further press information please contact:
Louise Ferrall / Claire Kennan / Patrycja Woda
VisitEngland Press Office
Email: vepr@visitengland.org or visit media.visitengland.com
Notes to Editors:
About VisitEngland
- VisitEngland's focus is on the development and delivery of the new Discover England fund, for product development to ensure that bookable regional product is being sold in international markets. This activity will also benefit the domestic industry by building engagement and partnerships between and across regions and developing product that will be attractive to both domestic and international markets.
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