Grand UK Holidays reports rising trade sales as festive brochure launches

Mature travel specialist Grand UK Holidays has five new autumn and Christmas coach trips to its new Autumn & Festive Brochure, with many other itineraries seeing fresh additions.

The escorted holidays range also features an expanded range of river and ocean cruises, holidays by rail and a preview of 2026 holidays, plus a wider choice of solo traveller options.

Kirsty Laifa, sales and marketing manager, said agent bookings are currently up 25% year on year, thanks to trade training and visits to agencies.

“Our aim is to get more tours on sale earlier this year due to customer demand, along with increased cruise products for 2026,” she said.

“We know our festive tours are popular, so we have expanded our Turkey & Tinsel range and added other festive fun breaks incorporating UK and European Christmas markets.”

New holidays include the York Christmas Market and RHS Glow, from £499 for five days. Clients will visit Christmas markets in Leeds and York, plus the RHS Glow outdoor illuminations at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate.

The Plymouth Gold Christmas Market and Eden Project is a new five-day holiday from £539. As well as Plymouth and the Eden Project, the itinerary includes visits to Exeter Christmas market and Tavistock.

The new Manchester and Spirit of Christmas tour costs £499 for five days, including the Spirit of Christmas show and festive markets in Manchester and Liverpool.

Also new are Blenheim Palace at Christmas, with a visit to Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas market, from £459, and Turkey & Tinsel at Alvaston Hall in Cheshire, from £539.

The operator offers 230 departure points across southern and eastern England.

Pictured: Lyn Arnold, travel trade manager, with the new festive brochure.