Less than a 5 hour flight direct from the UK

Towering icebergs & the world's largest concentration of humpback whales

02 January 2019 - UK: The Canadian Province of Newfoundland & Labrador and the provincial capital of St. John's hopes hit Broadway musical 'Come From Away' which will hit London's West End on 30th January 2019 will entice people to the lesser-known Canadian destination just a 4.5 hour flight direct from London Heathrow.

'Come from away' -  a term used in Canada's Atlantic provinces for someone who has moved to the area from somewhere else - was written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein and is based on the real-life events that followed the 9/11 attacks on America, when 38 planes were forced to land unexpectedly in the small town of Gander on the island of Newfoundland  as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon.

This Tony Award-winning musical has been hailed as 'A Celebration of the Best of Humankind' as it tells the story of how one Newfoundland small town - just a 3.5 hour drive from the city of St. John's - came together as a community to house, feed and look after the 7,000 stranded visitors (doubling the town's population) following the tragedy in the US.

Applauded for its heart-warming story of the triumph of good over evil and the capacity for human kindness, even in the most difficult times, 'Come From Away' is still as poignant in today's often divided society.

With New York Times critic Ben Brantley calling it a 'big bear hug of a musical', 'Come From Away' really does capture the kindness that Newfoundlanders are famous for. Sankoff and Hein travelled to the Newfoundland town on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and experienced the town's generosity, compassion and friendliness first-hand and felt moved to create a musical to celebrate the residents.

The musical is set to arrive in London at the Phoenix Theatre on 30th January 2019 and Destination St. John's and Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism hope to see a surge in UK tourism to the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially its capital St. John's, as theatre-goers learn of the touching and inspiring story.

Rhonda Hutton - Director of Marketing for Destination St. John's said: Our nation's warmth and hospitality is something that 'Come From Away' really manages to capture perfectly. 'Come as a stranger - leave as a friend' is a popular saying for us. We are a unique nation underpinned by our warmth and hospitality, extended to all who visit us - and this is one of many reasons to do just that in 2019".

Lyndsey Thomas - UK Account Director for Destination St. John's said: "This quirky, captivating and colourful little Canadian city is an urban base camp for Mother Nature's theatre. Visitors can encounter 10,000 year old icebergs and the world's largest concentration of humpback whales from the city of St. John's. Fascinating historic sites, award-winning dining, electric nightlife and creative arts all just a 4.5 hour flight from London make St. John's a great city for anyone who wants to really experience a taste of Canada in just a few days".

For visitors with more time to spare - stay a few days in St. John's and then venture out into the Province for even more breathtaking encounters to include the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of L'Anse aux Meadows - the only Viking settlement in North America, and Gros Morne National Park boasting awe-inspiring mountains, waterfalls and glacial fjords.

Gander is just a 3.5 hour drive from downtown St. John's so visitors can literally visit the set as part of their cross-island itinerary.

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For more information and high resolution images please contact:-

Lyndsey Thomas       

07568 488 474  |   Lyndsey@allaboutthestory.co.uk 

Notes to Editor:

Newfoundland and Labrador form the most easterly province of Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador is the 10th-largest Canadian province / territory by total area (405,212 sq. km) and has a population of 528,817. Labrador forms part of mainland Canada. The island of Newfoundland is roughly triangular - Each side is about 400 km (250 miles) long, and its area is 108,860 km2 (42,030 sq miles). The province boasts amazing scenery, (including four UNESCO World Heritage Sites), the world's largest concentration of humpback whales,10,000-year-old giant icebergs, archaeological sites dating back 9,000 years. L'Anse aux Meadows is the reputed settlement of Viking explorer Leif Erikson. Gros Morne National Park, on the Gulf of St Lawrence, has cliffs, waterfalls and glacial fjords.

The city of St. John's spans 446.04 square kilometres (172.22 sq miles) and is North America's easternmost city with a flight time of less than 5 hours direct from London Heathrow daily between May and October. St. John's sits along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, on the northeast of the Avalon Peninsula in southeast Newfoundland. This incredibly colourful, quaint little city is a boiling pot of wildlife, award-winning fine dining, exciting nightlife and creative arts. The city has a rich history, having played a role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in St. John's. A mix of Irish and European descent, this Canadian city holds fast its traditions but boasts a uniquely Canadian energy that stems from the warmth and hospitality that emanates from everyone who calls St. John's and beyond their home.