The search for Nessie continues as the reimagined Loch Ness Centre opens

Brand new immersive Nessie experience opens its doors at the home of the Loch Ness story, following £1.5m investment by Continuum Attractions

From the 10th of June global visitors to the Highlands and wannabe monster spotters have been able to walk through 500 million years of history, delve deeper into ancient Scottish myths, and discover the scientific research behind the Nessie legend, as the reimagined Loch Ness Centre opened its doors to guests.

Located at the old Drumnadrochit Hotel, where 90 years ago Aldie Mackay reported seeing a ‘whale-like fish’ or ‘water beast’ in the waters of Loch Ness, Continuum Attractions has invested £1.5m in a full upgrade to enhance the visitor experience, allowing people to explore the legend and myths of Loch Ness through immersive tours and also via trips aboard the attraction’s famous research vessel, Deepscan.

The unique one-hour experience is truly immersive, allowing guests to become part of the legend and unearth real stories about Loch Ness along the way.

The entirely newly imagined attraction, at the site that sparked the global phenomenon of the Loch Ness Monster 90 years ago, has seven immersive rooms to explore. In ‘The Search for answers’ guests will delve deeper into some of the scientific research carried out by Adrian Shine of The Loch Ness Project, utilising scientific methodology, submarines, underwater cameras, sonar equipment and more in the quest to uncover the secrets of the 23 miles long and 754 feet deep Loch.

In ‘People and Stories, guests will explore some of the most famous sightings of Nessie, starting with Mrs Aldie Mackay – the manageress of the Drumnadrochit Hotel, and how one sighting from a historic village hotel located on the banks of Loch Ness changed history forever, and gave birth to a modern legend.

Guests’ hunt for the truth doesn’t end after the tour, tickets include an optional 12-month membership to The Loch Ness Quest, giving exclusive access to the latest Nessie sightings, news, and discounts for events. One upcoming event ‘Nessie or Nonsense?’ is an exciting live debate, where believers and non-believers will share their stories of Nessie in a lively discussion.

For those wanting to go one step further and explore the depths of the world’s most famous loch for themselves. Local skipper for The Loch Ness Project, Captain Alistair Matheson, is delighted to welcome you on board the vessel, Deepscan, named after the Operation Deepscan expedition famously carried out on the loch in 1987.

This one-of-a-kind experience takes up to 12 guests on a journey through the past 40 years of scientific research into the mysteries of Loch Ness. Witness the breath-taking beauty of Urquhart Castle and search the depths of the loch using world-class sonar equipment on board, whilst hearing the unparalleled perspective on famous sightings of the monster and the history of Scotland’s most mysterious loch from expert skippers who have dedicated their lives to uncovering the secrets of this remarkable body of water.

 

Paul Nixon and Juliana Delaney

Juliana Delaney, Continuum CEO, said: “We are thrilled to open the doors to the brand-new The Loch Ness Centre. We want to protect the story of this legend in a truly modern and immersive way and bring this incredible story to Nessie enthusiasts and the next generation of monster hunters. Nessie truly is one of Scotland’s best stories, so it was incredibly important to us at Continuum to get this right. We look forward to welcoming guests from all round the world to enjoy our unique one-hour experience and discover the legend, as well as giving them the chance to search the famous loch for themselves with our one-of-a-kind Deepscan cruises.”

www.lochness.com

The brand new ‘Coronation Street Experience’ opens and you can even sit inside Roy’s Rolls for the first time!

A group surrounds a display of coronation street

On 10th June the world’s longest-running soap opened its doors to the brand new ‘Coronation Street Experience’.

Coronation Street legend, Barbara Knox, took centre stage on a break from filming as she led fellow cast members in celebrating the opening of the new ‘Coronation Street Experience.’  The festivities kicked off with an unforgettable moment as Barbara sliced into a jaw-dropping 40-kilogram replica sponge cake of the iconic Rovers and Kabin.

The recently transformed visitor centre now serves as the ultimate destination for every Corrie fan, offering access to replica Rovers and Roy’s Rolls sets, iconic costumes, historic props and a dedicated Corrie shop.

Continuum Attractions CEO, Juliana Delaney, commented: “We can’t wait to continue working with ITV on this new experience, the support from the team, cast and crew has been awesome. The aim is to keep the exhibition refreshed so there is always something new to see. Costumes from the show’s most current and exciting storylines (such as Gemma’s fabulous orange wedding dress at the moment!) will shape the experience on an ongoing basis while preserving the show’s legacy with iconic main stays and blasts from the past. We are excited to open this weekend, and to be able to share this incredible experience with our guests.’

Neil Currie, Guest Experience Manager at the Coronation Street Experience said, “We know that fans of Coronation Street want to get up close to some of the props and sets that they see on screen, be it Deirdre’s infamous glasses, or inside The Rovers Return.

The new exhibition gives us the chance to not only extend the weekend tour experience as it will be included for every visitor.  It will also be open 7 days a week, giving everybody the opportunity to take a seat in ‘Roy’s Rolls’ or stand behind the bar at ‘The Rovers’ and see iconic costumes and props from over 60 years of drama.

“Having this kind of exhibition floor also gives us the chance to constantly update and change things alongside the programme’s on-air stories, once a storyline has played out on your TV screen, we’ll be updating the props and costumes along the way.

The award-winning 90-minute tour has been hugely popular since it launched in 2014, attracting fans not just from the UK but from all over the world. The new exhibition floor will complement the tour, alongside a cinema, café and retail space, creating the perfect ‘Coronation Street Experience’!

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer fans of Coronation Street an even more immersive experience with the launch of the Coronation Street Experience and can’t wait for our first guests to arrive,” said Neil Currie, Guest Experience Manager.
Tickets for the Coronation Street Experience are available now, and visitors are encouraged to book online to avoid disappointment – https://www.coronationstreetexperience.co.uk/book-now/