Our unique Charabanc was chosen as the mode of transport for a recent 60th Birthday celebration in Leicestershire.  The day was a distinct contrast of old and new.

The day started with a surprise, and lots of amazed looks as the Charabanc approached.  Then it was off to Foxton Locks for a coffee and a short ride on the canal aboard the small boat shown in the picture above. Then it was back on the Chara for short ride to a traditional country pub for lunch - a pub which had a notice outside the front door saying no mobile phones, no swearing, no children, no dogs!  But it  had a lovely outside seating area, a cosy old fashioned pub feel, 1950's and 1960's music playing, and excellent tasty meals all well presented.  A good location for this vehicle - we'll certainly make a return visit soon.

From the Lunch stop, we then went on a ride around the lanes, then had a very interesting tour of the new wind turbines near Ashby Magna - a new and interesting experience for everyone aboard.  Then it was back to the start address where everyone  partied into the evening.

Please discuss your individual ideas for Private Hire outings in our Charabanc ..... we will certainly give you a very different day out !

Do you want something very different ?
Your guests will love this 
A BUS DRIVER EXPERIENCE DAY

  Was it a childhood memory to want to be a Bus Driver, or to sit behind the driver watching him steer and change gear ?  Well now you can relive those memories when you join us on our special Bus Driver Experience Days.  They are held at the famous Mallory Park Circuit in Leicestershire, and we can advise and suggest overnight accommodation if you are travelling some distance to get to us.

We have Red and Gold courses available throughout the year and we can take individual participating drivers and their guests.  We also have corporate and business Bus Driver Experience Days which are great for Team Building, or as staff reward days etc.

We have all-day refreshments (as a bus driver would expect), a hearty lunch taken off-site, lots of interaction, historical talk, safety briefings, instruction, and of course time  in the cab it put into practice the knowledge you have gained.  The vehicles you will drive are the vehicles we use for our special occasions private hire duties, weddings, private hires and day trips, so you will get instruction to enable you to take good care of these classic buses and coaches.

Please book early to ensure your place on our Bus Driver Experience Days.
*Guests must be booked in advance,  The day is fully inclusive for both participating Drivers and their guests, includes all day refreshments, lunch, services of Driving Instructor and use of vehicle(s)....  A Great Day Out !

Please see our Bus Driver Experiences webpage for full details and booking form.

What's a Bus Conductor, Miss ?

Nursery School pupils see how we used to go to school !

In winter time we enjoy some of the different types of work that we can't fit in during the Summer months.  In February our famous Midland Red D9 double decker bus called in at The Ashleigh Private Nursery in Atherstone, Warwickshire on a familiarisation trip.

Teachers, minders and pupils climbed aboard to experience what it was like to be on a Midland Red bus which was in its heyday in they days before even the pupils' parents were born!   A Bus Conductor - who's that?  And a Driver who has to climb in to his cab from outside and where he sits beside the engine!

All of this was of great interest, and everyone enjoyed climbing the stairs and being so high-up on the top deck. This was also a useful day as a History topic as well as for projects on Transportation. 

DOUBLE DECK - TO THE VALE OF BELVOIR !

We have just been sent some photographs and a note from Nick Hynes of Nottingham  who hired the Midland Red D9  in July to celebrate a special Birthday of Sarah - his other half!  

The day was long and started in Nottingham shortly after 9am with a freshly prepared breakfast for the bus crew - very welcome after a long journey from Hinckley.   Friends arrived until the house was full, then a departure in the red double decker led us into The Vale of Belvoir and to a rural Micro Brewery near Old Dalby.  A detailed conducted tour of this cottage industry was followed by Lunch and a sample!    Then it was off again to two other Country Inns, and then to a Country Park for Afternoon Tea and an evening arrival back into Nottingham.

It was a great day with some really relaxed and friendly people.   Sarah had time to mingle and celebrate with all of her friends and colleagues during the day.  It was an unusual day out to celebrate a Birthday - but it often is the unusual days which end up being the best !

Have a Great Day Out with Midland Red Coaches
....and we can arrange similar Tours for your family and friends, private groups or Residential homes and Sheltered housing complexes too - just ask us.

Our Christmas 2009 Stately Home Day Trip
This year was to the amazing and private  
ROCKINGHAM CASTLE

This festive trip was a great success.

Midland Red passengers this year joined us for Lunch  followed by a costumed and guided tour of the Castle. There was time for viewing the grounds, church, shop and marquee after the tour of the castle.

Rockingham Castle was built under William the Conquerer and was used as a Royal Hunting Lodge for 450 years, then it became a private home of the Watson family - also for 450 years!    It is situated on the top of a hill, the castle tower gives views over five counties - and with grounds and gardens and shop it really is a great place to visit. We will be returning and we are grateful to the professional and friendly staff at the castle who always personally welcome our passengers.

Please book early to ensure your seats on all of our day trips.
*Viewing the Church may not be possible in bad weather.
See our Excursion, Tours and Events page for our latest destinations.

Our Unique Charabanc comes out to play
on our South Warwickshire Tours

In June we operated one of our rare Charabanc Tours of South Warwickshire. These are special trips giving a chance for excursion passengers and Travel Club members to take a ride on this truly unique vehicle.  It's not comparable to anything currently available, and having no windows it certainly gives passengers new experiences of smells as we drive through the area.  Approaching Coventry is was the smells of spices as we past through Foleshill, then not so nice smells as we hurried past the Sewerage Plant at Finham,  and then freshly mown grass and countryside smells of South Warwickshire.  On the way it was time for a cup of fresh coffee at Stoneleigh Abbey (a super high quality venue for Weddings too), then it was off to Warwick to see the castle, Lord Leycester Hospital and Warwick Boys School. Then we paraded Leamington Spa's shopping streets with waves from onlookers, had a look around the Art Gallery in the Pump Rooms, and then on for Lunch at Hill Top Farm at Hunningham Hill - fabulous home cooked and locally produced food and a chance to visit the farm shop.  We returned home via Kenilworth Castle and Little Virginia after a most enjoyable and exhiliarating Day Trip.

Please discuss your individual ideas for Private Hire outings in our Charabanc..... we will certainly give you a different day out !

Our late-season Stately Home Day Trips
The Winter Seasons Stately Home visits were to Thoresby Hall, and to Shugborough Hall.

At the beginning of December 2008, Midland Red passengers went to a treasure in north Nottinghamshire, now operated by Warners Leisure for a three course Lunch and a look around this wonderful house which is now a Character Hotel and a Leisure Spa.  Although it was a cold crisp day the sun shone in the afternoon making the extensive grounds an ideal place for an after-dinner walk.

Our more local Stately Home destination was to Staffordshire's Shugborough Hall where characters Lord and Lady Anson met our Midland Red Coach and led passengers to the Grand Hall where light Lunch was served. 

Later, our passengers were led on a conducted tour of the house by Lord and Lady Anson who told us the history of the house and its occupants, dotted with humour and scandal.  A great day out.

Please discuss your individual Private Hire ideas with us..... we can usually make it happen !

NEW DAY TRIP PLANS ANNOUNCED!

WHEELS/Midland Red Coaches hosted a gathering of customers in Coventry on Thursday 6th November to launch the new Day Trip leaflet.

The new leaflet is now generally available - to get one print one off from the Excursions, Tours and Events page on this website or pick one up from our Agents.

There are a lot of new destinations, with a Double Deck repeat trip on the famous 144 route to The Malverns. But of course we have retained the good old favourites like The Blossom Trail, Stoke Bruerne for canal history, Pershore, and lots of other trips out for the Gardeners too, Tewkesbury for the Abbey, the RAF museum at Cosford with their new and spectacular displays, and lots more. Check them out and book your seat soon! 

We are also shortly to announce some new departure areas and other destinations too - so do look back regularly.

Have a Day Out with Midland Red Coaches
....and we can arrange similar Tours for your Private Groups or Residential homes and Sheltered housing complexes too - just ask.

A Wedding Journey or a Day Trip
just a selection from our vast portfolio
(also see our Weddings and Partnership Page)

Midland Red is a name that conjures up a particular place in time.

We make that time just go on ... and on. 

Our heritage fleet of classic British made buses and coaches and our experienced staff with uniformed Drivers, all go to make a trip out with Midland Red a memorable day.


We can now offer you the most extensive range of vehicles for any special occasion in the area. So if you are planning anything special, do talk to us about your transport requirements.
Please discuss your individual ideas with us..... we can usually make it happen !

If you are planning a Wedding and really want to attract attention, or  a Civil Partnership to take special guests along with you, talk to us about using one of our vintage buses or coaches, perhaps decorated with ribbons and floral decorations of your choice (or plain if you prefer).  We have a number of Wedding Packages involving just the Bride or Groom, or for Guest Transport, or a combination of both. There are so many opportunities these days for a Wedding or Civil Partnership Ceremony venue - be it a traditional church wedding or perhaps you choose to enjoy the ceremony at a particular favourite venue, Stately Home or Hotel. Or maybe go for something completely unconventional - a preserved steam railway, a football club, or ....?   In the majority of cases you will need to consider getting the guests to the ceremony on time, and transport by WHEELS / Midland Red will ensure they all arrive together. We can personalise the front destination board or blinds of the bus to show the first names of the couple - this is a great 'extra' if you plan to use the bus as a backdrop to some of your ceremony photographs. We can even arrange for a traditional Chimney Sweep to attend your ceremony too,  or how about a horse drawn carriage to lead our Charabanc - a wonderful sight!

PRIVATE HIRE

We welcome your enquiries for hiring our vehicles - Here are some tips:

When you email us with your enquiry, please give us as much detailed information as you can. At this stage your enquiry is just that, and we do not act upon any information at this stage - apart from accurately costing your requirements.

Please give us the following information - it helps us to get costings and details worked out accurately for you without having to get back to you for more information.      We do  also appreciate that the need for your particular hire to be smooth running and planned using our best experience we do need all the information available.  Its rather like a Jigsaw - we need to know all the peices so that we know where we fit in !

1. Date of your event,
2. Start Location,
3. Start Time,
4. What you plan for the bus to do during your hire - include all planned stops with times
   e.g.:  If your hire is for  Wedding or Civil Partnership transport, then pick up point, ceremony location, reception location.
   Include postcodes if you have them.
5. Time the bus will be finished with and free to return back to our depot - or go onto its next hire.
   The above information is needed for us to cost and plan mileage, drivers hours, fuel usage, etc.
6. Any other information you have which may help us.
   

Remember at this stage there is no obligation. When we have the details of your date, and the itinerary of the day, we will then send to you our Email of Costing document, this will detail your requirements, show costings for each vehicle available at the time, and give you information on How to Make a Reservation.  It is a very comprehensive document which will give you all of the information you need to ensure that you and your guests are equipped with the information and detail to ensure that you have a trouble free and enjoyable day out.   If you decide to go ahead with your exciting plans, you return the documents signed, along with a vehicle holding deposit, and then when your booking is accepted, your chosen vehicle is held against your booking date and times.  A straightforward, easy, and fail-safe system.      Pick a vehicle that you like best - we dont expect you to fill every seat - in fact we restrict some of our vehicles to best suit them in their retirement.  We have operated our double deckers regularly with a dozen or so passengers and have even run with just two passengers - its the bus they wanted to have to suit the occasion or theme.

Before you email us with an enquiry or booking,  please check our fleet list (see button above "our vehicles")  and try to have a couple of choices of vehicle in mind.   Email: buses@wheels.co.uk

BUSES FOR PLEASURE - some customer comments

Anniversaries,  Birthdays, Retirements, and special reasons to Party!

WHEELS/Midland Red Coaches will help you have a great day out or event.
Your day starts as soon as one of our classic buses or coaches pulls up.

You probably went to school or work on one of our vintage buses,
the double deckers have Bus Conductors too.

Choose a Midland Red Bus
for your Private Hire

Funerals  and Transport for Remembrance Ceremonies

Please see our Funerals Page for full information on our special services.

WHEELS/Midland Red Coaches have an almost endless publicity file and have suggestions for destinations to suit the needs of your group travel.  We are located in the heart of the country and have everything from Stately Homes to Living Museums, Breweries to unique towns. And within twenty miles we have the Second City, Birmingham, with its tradition of "City of a thousand Trades". There are many exciting places to visit too,  with Jewellery, Balti, Canals, Art, and of course fantastic shopping in the newly opened central area.  Birmingham is within easy travelling distance and is well worth considering for your next day out.  If you hire a vehicle from us, we'll help you plan an exciting day.  Oh... and Birthday Parties are good for organising a Champagne Picnic too! 
On our doorstep we have of course Coventry with its fabulous Transport Museum, its world renowned Cathedral and the adjacent ruins; and Lady Godiva, George Eliot and Shakespeare all have connections here. We can arrange expert Guide Roger Bailey to show you Coventry and all its secrets.
EMAIL US OR PHONE TO DISCUSS YOUR PLANS
buses@wheels.co.uk
Telephone us on   077 3388 4914  or 02476 633624

Steam Railways are always a popular location, giving pleasure to thousands every year and oozing nostalgia.  We are fortunate in the Midlands in having two of the country's best preserved railways: the Great Central near Leicester which is the only preserved main line railway, and the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster. Both give great opportunities for Day Excursions and we can also arrange special days for Dining on board train, and Corporate events where Train Driving Tuition can be given too.  You can also link another venue if you are looking for an action packed day out.  Severn Valley Railway can be combined with either Cadbury World or Safari Park.  Great Central Railway can be combined with the local Bell Foundry for a great 'heritage' day out.

And, what about the good old Mystery Tour ?  Include a meal too.  The possibilities are endless.

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