2013-02-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Due to a phenomenal response to its “101 Things to do before you go abroad” campaign, VisitEngland has enlisted an elite team of fellow experts to help select the cream of the crop.
Wallace & Gromit, Bill Oddie, Sonali Shah, Clemency Burton-Hill, Skye Gyngell and a Yeoman Warder from the Tower of London will join VisitEngland’s Chairman, Lady Cobham to select the best 101 suggestions and create the ultimate bucket list of English experiences.
Each expert will select the top 20 experiences from their specialist category:
• Wildlife & Nature – Bill Oddie: Actor, bird-watcher and former presenter of BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch
• Health & Fitness – Sonali Shah: Host of World Triathlon series, Crufts reporter and part of the presentation team for the London 2012 Olympics, Sonali has also reported on Wimbledon, the Boat Race, the London Marathon, the Epsom Derby and the 2011 Cricket World Cup
• Arts & Culture – Clemency Burton-Hill: Regular face on BBC2’s Culture Show and The BBC Proms and a professional novelist, violinist and actress
• Food & Drink – Skye Gyngell: Michelin-starred chef, formerly of the Petersham Nurseries in Richmond and now culinary director at the soon-to-open country house hotel, Heckfield Place
• History & Heritage – Barney Chandler: a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London and guardian of the country’s culture and traditions
• Wallace & Gromit – last but no means least, national treasures and the world’s favourite inventors, Wallace & Gromit will be selecting one overall winner from the “Because it’s awesome category”. Their qualification? Their general all-round awesomeness, of course!
Rough Guide’s Publishing Director, Clare Currie, will complete the expert panel and lend her own substantial knowledge to ensure the shortlist is a mix of the best and most quintessentially English experiences.
Lady Cobham, VisitEngland’s Chairman said:
“With so many incredible and unique experiences in England, it was always going to be a challenge to choose a mere 101, so we’re thrilled to be working with such a knowledgeable panel. Between us, we will be able to choose the ultimate list of must-dos and must-sees which will inspire the nation to get out and explore this wonderful country of ours.”
Judging will take place on 1st March, so you have until then to upload your own suggestion. Just visit www.101thingstodoinengland.co.uk or see VisitEngland on Facebook. All entrants will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a weekend break.
An excerpt of the shortlist will be announced during English Tourism Week (16-24 March) and list will be revealed in full on St George’s Day (23 April).
Ends
For further press information please contact:
Laura Dewar / Mark McCulloch / Rebecca Holloway
VisitEngland Press Office
Tel: 020 7578 1437 / 020 7578 1447 / 020 7578 1429
Email: Laura.Dewar@visitengland.org / Mark.McCulloch@visitengland.org / Rebecca.Holloway@visitengland.org
Notes to Editors:
About England
• Historic yet contemporary, traditional yet cutting-edge, metropolitan yet wild: England is truly a unique destination and a real powerhouse in global tourism.
• With ancient Hadrian’s Wall straddling the wild north and the world’s biggest indoor tropical rainforest nestled in the far south, England really is the ultimate mix of old and new as well as being home to some of the most iconic sites in the world, including Stonehenge, the honey-hued Georgian terraces of Bath and the towering peaks and glistening meres of the Lake District.
• Did you know that in 2010 there were 96.4 million domestic overnight trips in England, 25.5 million inbound visits and 872 million tourism day trips?
More information can be found on www.visitengland.com
About 101 Things to Do Before You Go Abroad
Designed to inspire the nation to take more holidays in England, 101 Things to Do Before You Go Abroad will include the best of the very best English experiences. From star gazing in Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve in Exmoor’s National Park, to climbing England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike, the app will remind Britons of the fabulous range of experiences, only on offer here in England.
VisitEngland is inviting trade and consumers to nominate their favourite English experiences by uploading suggestions and pictures to the app. Nominations will fall into six categories: Food & Drink; Arts & Culture; Health & Fitness; History & Heritage; Wildlife & Nature; and Because it’s awesome! Once approved, the suggestions will be pinned onto a map of England so other visitors can view and then vote for their favourites. Anyone to nominate or vote will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a weekend break away.
The app will be live until 1 March and a selection of nominations will be announced during English Tourism Week (16-24 March), with the full 101 announced on St George’s Day (23 April).