ALL ABOARD FOR ARMAGH’S PACKED SUMMER PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

New guided tours, a free hop-on/hop-off bus tourist service and visitor discounts in Armagh!

School may be out, but Armagh is definitely ‘in’ as THE place for tourists to visit this summer.

Three new tours have been created to complement Armagh’s existing award-winning attractions, plus a new discount booklet unveiled this week means that visitors to the City and the surrounding areas will get even more value for money.

As part of a hectic programme of summer events and activities, from 24th July until 12th September, locals and tourists alike will get the chance to avail of two guided tours taking place on Thursdays to Sundays. As the Ecclesiastical Capital of Ireland, there are many fascinating sites to be found in Armagh. For those who want to explore everything the City has to offer, a Guided City Walking Tour is a must. On the tour you will hear anecdotes about the area and unearth some of the City’s hidden gems along the way. Visitors can also have an exclusive look in and around one of Armagh’s finest buildings with Guided Palace Demesne Tours also taking place.

From 1st August, Armagh’s famous Gaol will also be opening its doors each Friday and Saturday to offer everyone a trip back in time through the landmark building’s history.

Visitors can now also get even more value for money with a specially-produced ArmaghPass visitor discount booklet offering the best deals on over 40 attractions, restaurants and shops in the area – and with three of Armagh’s attractions recently winning major awards, this summer looks set to be one of the busiest ever.

Emain Macha – Navan Centre & Fort was recently crowned NI4kids Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, as voted for by the public, while Loughgall Country Park  scooped top prize in the prestigious Netmums Outdoor Play Awards. Armagh’s Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre recently achieved The Government Standard Charter Mark for Customer Service Excellence, underlining the city and district’s reputation as a customer focused and must-visit destination.

This summer visitors to the City can avail of a free hop-on/hop-off bus service which will run from 9am-5pm on Wednesdays to Saturdays; the service will call at over ten of Armagh’s key attractions and hidden gems, helping tourists make the most of their visit to the City.

Lord Mayor of Armagh Cathy Rafferty says there’s never been a better time to visit:

“With the Brian Ború Festival and Giro d’Italia in Armagh, 2014 has already been an incredible year for the City and we’re looking forward to welcoming more visitors than ever before to the area this summer to enjoy what’s on offer.

“There are already so many great things to see and do in Armagh – now our visitors have even more choice for planning a day out here, and we can’t wait to show off our historical heritage with the new tours that have been created.”

“Our world-class facilities are now even more accessible with the production of the Armagh Visitor Discount Booklet, which can be used at 42 restaurants, shops and attractions to get a great deal,” she added.

Guided Tours of Armagh City and The Palace Demesne cost £3.00 and can be booked online at www.armagh.co.uk/guidedtours or by calling Armagh Visitor Information Centre on +44 [0] 28 3752 1800. Guided Tours of Armagh Gaol can be booked online at www.armaghgaol.com or by calling +44 [0] 28 9035 7527. For more information on all that’s on offer in Armagh City & District this summer visit www.armagh.co.uk for more information.