Factory Tours UK

What to do at the weekend, What's on at the weekend?

There are a number of traditional and modern British factories that open their doors to the public for official factory guided tours.

Joseph Dobson & Sons

Bushmills Distillery Tours | Jameson's Distillery Tours

If you want to see how it is made, the factory tour is a real eye opener. Chocolate and sweet lovers will marvel at Cadbury World, but take a spare carrier bag for all those freebies, otherwise you'll end up with melted chocolate bars in your pocket.

Joseph Dobson & Son's host regular tours of the factory where guests can see demonstrations of the traditional skills of the confectioner the old fashioned techniques of sweet making by hand.

Still looking at Sweet Factory Tours, a visit to Bridlington for John Bull's sweet factory will allow you experience manufacturing for yourself as you make your own chocolate lolly and personalise a stick of rock* (there is a nominal charge for this facility). Check first that this program is running.

Do you like a tipple? Jameson Whiskey Distillery tour in Ireland, Bushmills distillery is well worth a visit too. The smell of the whiskey alone is worth the tour. When in Dublin, visit the Guinness plant; no free samples and probably a little too much like a commercial break.

Famous Grouse Experience (Scotland's oldest distillery) near Crieff, Scotland, offers a very entertaining and interactive factory tour, bring the kids too, they have a tasting room after the tour for those who wish to partake in a wee dram.

For motorcycle enthusiasts there is the Triumph factory tour. Triumph organises nine tours a week with all bookings coordinated through Triumph's UK dealer network. The majority of dealers have bookings in place. If you would like a tour of Triumph's manufacturing facility all you need to do is contact your local Triumph dealer.

Official factory tours of MINI production at Plant Oxford have started. Visitors will be given a chance to see at first hand the key steps in MINI production, and trained tour guides will provide commentary and safe stewardship through the Plant.

If you love china you need to make the trip to Stoke-on-Trent in England. The Wedgewood tour is the best and you see every step in the amazing process of creating fine bone china. Also worth visiting is Spode. Both have excellent dining facilities and gift shops for purchasing items at below retail prices.

It is all in Stoke; from Doulton, Aynsley, Spode and Royal Crown Derby.

Kangol outdoor clothing also offer factory tours.

Bushmills Distillery Tours | Jameson's Distillery Tours

Diesel Pusher—What You Can Learn on a Factory Tour
By Margarette Tustle

If you are in the market for a new diesel pusher, or you already own one, have you considered touring the factory where they are built? Why would you want to do this? Because it will give you a better insight into the type of construction that goes into each diesel pusher, but also you will get a better feel for the company’s commitment to customer service and satisfaction. Although some of the bigger manufacturers can produce hundreds and hundreds of diesel pusher models and other RVs in a year, you would like to think that they take the time to make each one top quality. Here is your chance to take a look for yourself at your future diesel pusher.

Call, write or e-mail the diesel pusher manufacturer to see if and when they offer tours. Some offer one a week while others offer more than one tour a day. This may be one of your first indications of how committed they are to the customer. Then, find out if they have overnight facilities for their guests. Many do-although some reserve the spots for owners of their make of diesel pusher or RV first (which is fair.)

Once you get to the factory, do they make you feel welcome? Are you able to see the factory workers doing their jobs? What is the “feel” of the operation? Is it a spirit of cooperation or just getting the job done? What type of quality control do they practice? How do they test the RVs for quality? Some manufacturers drive each RV more than 100 miles to ensure that it is ready for service.

How do they handle questions? Do they find answers if they don’t know them? Are they respectful and patient?

Some people even bring their RVs to the plant for service. Do the technicians keep customers up to date on what they are doing and how long it will take?

Talk to other owners to see what their feelings and experiences are to compare and get a more personalized opinion.

Margarette Tustle writes articles about Recreational Vehicles of all kinds as well as RV financing. For more information about diesel pushers as well as other RV topics, visit rvinfoarena.com