Accompanying non-members programme
Accompanying non-members must pay a registration fee of £75. This includes the Opening Ceremony, the half-day tour on Tuesday 14 August, the BFWG Centenary Party, the Gala Dinner on Thursday 13 August and the Interdisciplinary Seminars.
In addition, registered accompanying non-members may pay for as many of the following tours as they wish. Unless otherwise stated, lunch and refreshments are not included.
For any inquiries related to accompanying non-member tours, please contact 2007accompanying@ifuw.org.
1. Liverpool Tour - Saturday, August 11
Liverpool, designated the 2008 European Capital of Culture, has the highest collection of museums and listed buildings in the country, plus a wealth of tourist attractions. The tour will begin with a visit to the Merseyside Maritime Museum in the Albert Dock, to explore the history of Liverpool's maritime tradition.
A tour guide will then accompanying participants on the Beatle Trail, pursuing the origins and haunts of the world famous pop group.
After lunch in one of the myriad of cafes and restaurants, the tour will visit the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, described by Betjeman as one of the world's greatest buildings. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the latest attraction "The Great Space" and to visit the famous Embroidery Gallery.
The day concludes with a visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral. The revolutionary design of this building was the result of an award-winning submission by Sir Frederick Gibberd (1908-1984).
Cost: £15.50 (excluding lunch)
2. Ironbridge - Sunday, August 12
 A view to the Ironbridge from the river bank |
Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, in the valley of the Severn River, spanned by the world's first iron bridge. The Ironbridge Gorge is a remarkable and beautiful place to visit. Nature has reclaimed most of the former industrial sites, but the Victorian-themed museums operated by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust give unique opportunities for appreciating and understanding the industrial heritage of the area.
The tour will start in Blists Hill Victorian Town. This large open-air museum allows visitors to experience life in a small Victorian town in the late 1800's. Attractions include authentic shops, inns, banks and workshops, as well as demonstrations of skills and crafts. Using Blists Hill's own Victorian legal currency visitors can spend in the shops and inns of the town.
After a group lunch, participants will visit the Coalport China Museum. Coalport was once one of the country's largest porcelain manufacturers. Today the award-winning museum includes a range of exhibits tracing the history of the factory and the lives and working conditions of its workforce. Participants have the opportunity to take part in a creative workshop for an additional charge of £6. All visitors can purchase examples of fine china from the museum shop.
Time permitting, there are plans to visit the nearby Jackfield Tile Museum. The charming Victorian gas-lit galleries and period room settings give a superb view of how these highly decorative tiles were made and sold to the Victorian gentry.
If possible, the day will conclude with a visit to the Tar Tunnel. Over 200 years ago natural bitumen trickled like treacle into pools. It was turned into pitch, lamp black and rheumatic remedies. Visitors can walk through this brick-lined tunnel and witness the bitumen still oozing through the walls.
Cost: £21.50 (Opportunity for group lunch at £9 per head)
3. 'Experiences of the North' - Monday, August 13
 The Yorkshire Dales |
'Come and see the sparks fly'. The opportunity to visit a working forge with demonstrations of traditional skills, exhibitions and information.
Our tour will take us through Kirkby Malham and the Yorkshire Dales to Skipton for lunch. This is a typical Yorkshire market town, complete with castle, English pubs and good places for lunch. The return journey will provide a tea stop at Haworth, the home of the Brontë family. The steep cobbled streets and the Old Vicarage are just some of the attractions.
Participants will be collected from and returned to hotels. Return expected around 17.30/18.00.
(Minimum number 20)
Cost: £25 (excluding lunch and afternoon tea)
Related website: www.rourkes.co.uk
4. Salford Quays - Wednesday, August 15
In it's heyday, Salford, at the head of the Manchester Ship Canal, was a major sea port. As the importance of sea transport waned most quays became abandoned. Today Salford Quays is a rejuvenated area of modern architecture, attractive waterways, museums and creative space.
Salford Quays
The tour will collect participants from hotels around 09.30 and an official guide will accompany the group around the notable areas of Manchester, to arrive at Salford Quays by midday. Lunch, at participant's own cost, can be taken in one of many attractive eating places and will be followed by the opportunity to explore the Lowry Centre, The Imperial War Museum (North) or even to experience the renowned shopping outlets in this area.
Return to hotels by Metrolink tram - participants can choose their time of return. Trams are frequent and the journey time to the area of the university is approximately 20 minutes.
(Minimum number 20)
Cost: £20 (excluding lunch, and refreshments)
Related website: Salford Quays