Performances run from Thursday through Wednesday at dusk, & there are no shows on Sunday.   You can make a full-day of your visit to Coventry with a look around the cathedral ruins, the new cathedral, the priory centre, & the transport museum.   To find out whether your group is eligible for discount admission ring the box office on 024 7655 3055.

In the heart of Staffordshire, Shugborough Hall is getting ready to turn back the clock, as well.   In the early-19th century the walled garden at Shugborough was a centre of horticultural excellence; gardeners came from all over the country to train at Shugborough's cutting-edge facility.  

For nearly 100 years the garden has lain derelict, but when it re-opens in April you'll get to experience the garden exactly as it was when it first opened.   Costumed characters will plant the garden from scratch, re-creating the beds precisely as they were in 1805.   To add to the effect, the characters will speak & act as they did in the early-19th century, & will work with historically-accurate replica tools & techniques.

The garden project at Shugborough Hall is set to be an incredible three-dimensional historical & horticultural experiment.   For the chance to do a bit of time travel this year, you should visit www.shugborough.org.uk or call 01889 881 388 for more information.

There's no better time to plan a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire.   From April 2006 to April 2007 the Royal Shakespeare Company will hold the Complete Works Festival - the biggest festival in the RSC's history - in conjunction with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.  

You'll have the chance to see every play, sonnet & poem written by Shakespeare performed - as well as visit the five period homes directly linked to the bard.

To coincide with the festival, admission to Nash's House & New Place will include entry to a special exhibition devoted to Shakespeare's Complete Works - one of the best-loved books in the English language.

For more information about the festival, group bookings & garden tours, ring 01789 201806 or email info@shakespeare.org.uk.

Between now & next year Birmingham Museum & Gallery has a number of exhibitions that cater to all sorts of interests.   From 8 April to 19 June you can see the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the 19th-century French artist who portrayed Parisian cafŽs & music halls in his paintings, lithographs & posters.   The exhibition includes some Art Nouveau programmes, including his large 1891 poster for the Moulin Rouge.

If paintings aren't quite your thing, from 21 October the Treasures of Today exhibit brings some fine examples of contemporary silver from the Goldsmiths Collection to the gallery.   For information about all the events & exhibits at the Birmingham Museum & Gallery go to www.bmag.org.uk.

For an exciting trip, Wolverhampton Racecourse at Dunstall Park is certainly worth a wager.   There'll be 98 fixtures at the track this year, & there are a few good admission packages that'll help you make the most of your visit.

The Grandstand Value Package consists of entrance to the grandstand enclosure, a race card with the runners & riders, two drinks, & a betting voucher worth two quid from Ladbrokes - all for £12 per person.   And if you've got between 16 & 64 members in your group, you might want to consider taking a hospitality box - you'll get a four-course meal in a private room, & your box will overlook the finishing straight.   For more   information ring 0870 220 2442.

Only minutes from the M5 you can be assured of an action-packed afternoon at Bridges Entertainment Venue near Worcester.   A family-run business, Bridges offers a daytime dinner-theatre experience: after tucking into a two-course carvery meal, main & sweet, you can ease your digestion with a few laughs during the show.   For more information & show times call 01905 757117.

Spanning more than 200 square miles across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire & Staffordshire, the National Forest is working hard to regenerate the Heart of England's forests.  

So what does this have to do with groups? Well, the National Forest offers a tremendous variety of activities to enjoy - & a load of wet-weather options too.   They've just put out the new National Forest & Beyond Group Visits Guide, which contains details on the area's attractions, as well as recommended itineraries for a great day out. There are loads of helpful hints, including suggestions for a morning visit, a lunch stop & an afternoon excursion - all of which cater to different age groups & interests. To order a copy of the guide ring 01283 551211 or email groups@nationalforest.org.