TAKE THE HEART OF THE FOREST TOUR AND HOP ON AND OFF AT NORTH WEST
LEICESTERSHIRE EVENTS THIS SUMMER!

Service runs every Saturday until 30 August 2008

Family tickets priced from as little as £14

Residents and visitors to Ashby de la Zouch and the surrounding district of North West Leicestershire will once again be able to explore the local area and popular family attractions via a very unique viewpoint - the iconic hop-on, hop-off Heart of the Forest open-top sightseeing tour bus. What's more, many of the attractions on this year's tour are hosting superb events throughout the summer - giving families the perfect opportunity to experience the tour and travel to events in style.

Key events taking place this summer at attractions on the tour include:

• Saturday 9 August 2008:  English Civil War Living History exhibition from 11:00 - 16:00 at Donington-le-Heath Manor House, small charge for some activities may apply (www.leics.gov.uk)
  Sports Day at Snibston, small charge for some activities (www.leics.gov.uk)
  Minibeast Hunting at Conkers, activities are charged at £1, all children must be accompanied by an adult (www.visitconkers.com) 
  Craft weekend at from 10:00 - 17:00 at Moira Furnace.  Visitors can also visit the furnace museum (www.moirafurnace.com)
  Big Weekend from 10:00 - 16:00 at Sence Valley Forest Park, weekend of displays, guided walks and craft demonstrations (www.leics.gov.uk)
• Saturday 16 August 2008: Perfect Pop-ups arts and crafts at Conkers for all the family, a small charge may be incurred for materials
• Saturday 23 August 2008: Bank Holiday Fun Crafts at Conkers, activities are charged at £1, all children must be accompanied by an adult, Summer Circus Workshops at Conkers Saturday 30 August 2008:  Crazy Creatures at Conkers (activities are charged at £1, children must be accompanied by an adult)

Complete with insightful on-board commentary, attractions on the tour include the award-winning Conkers, the beautiful Sence Valley Forest Park, the historical Moira Furnace and Donington-le-Heath Manor house, and the brand new National Forest Youth Hostel. Passengers can hop on and off at any of these attractions and events or stay on-board for a full tour.  

In partnership with North West Leicestershire District Council, Leicester Shire Promotions, Gold Events Management and Roberts Coaches, the Heart of the Forest Tour 2008 is sponsored by Conkers, Leicestershire County Council Road Safety, The National Forest, The National Forest Youth Hostel, Donington-le-Heath Manor House, Moira Furnace and Snibston. 

Tickets on the bus cost £7 for adults, £5 for children, £16 for a family, with under fives travelling free. Advance tickets at reduced rates can be purchased from Leicester Tourist Information Centre in Town Hall Square, Leicester (Tel: 0116 299 4444) or the Ashby Tourist Information on North Street, Ashby de la Zouch (Tel: 01530 411 767). Discounted advanced tickets can also be purchased on the Eshop facility at www.goleicestershire.com

Free travel on the Heart of the Forest Tour is available for concessionary bus pass holders - saving up to £7 per trip. Advanced concessionary tickets can be purchased from the Leicester or Ashby Tourist Information Centre.  

Note that the bus will leave for Ashby town centre from St Margaret's Bus Station in Leicester each morning when in operation and will return there at the end of day (around 5:30pm). Travel from and to St Margaret's Bus Station will incur an extra cost of £1 each way (£2 for a family ticket). These additional tickets will need to booked in advance using the Eshop facility on www.goleicestershire.com or from the Leicester Tourist Information Centre in Town Hall Square, Leicester (Tel: 0116 299 4444). These tickets are also available for concessionary travel from the Leicester Tourist Information Centre.      

About Leicester Shire Promotions:
Leicester Shire Promotions is a private, not-for-profit company formed in July 2003 as a partnership between Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. The company is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors and investors, based on a coordinated place marketing strategy that focuses on destination leadership and coordination, attracting investors and visitors, services for investors and visitors, and services for the tourism industry. For more information, please visit www.goleicestershire.com

For further media information, please contact:
Nimisha Mehta
Leicester Shire Promotions
T: 0116 225 4063
nimisha.mehta@l-p-l.com