On 22 October 2024, VisitEngland revealed the winners of its Visitor Attraction Accolades for 2023- 2024, recognising excellence within the visitor attraction sector.
Accolades were awarded to 72 English attractions covering all aspects of what makes an outstanding visitor experience. The five categories include: ‘Welcome’; ‘Quality Food and Drink’; ‘Hidden Gem’; ‘Best Told Story’; and ‘Gold’ for overall excellence.
The accolades were awarded based on scores that attractions obtained following their annual VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessment.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:
“These accolades highlight the wonderful visitor experiences provided by English attractions, from the warmest of welcomes to amazing food and drink, from great storytelling to outstanding customer service.
“Our tourism businesses are the bedrock of our industry and it is wonderful to highlight and celebrate the fantastic service and experiences they give visitors, time-after-time. From
museums, gardens and nature reserves to farm attractions, estates and theme parks, these attractions go out of their way to make visits memorable.”
VisitEngland accolades are in their tenth year
Now in their tenth year, VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Accolades are available to participants of the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme across a range of tourism attractions from historic houses, gardens, country parks and farm attractions to galleries, museums, churches and cathedrals.
Participating attractions are supported by a network of highly trained and experienced assessors who advise them on improving and promoting the quality, accessibility and sustainability of their offer. Winning attractions can display the accolade logo at their attraction, online and in their marketing materials.
The VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Accolade is awarded in October, and this year one of the accolades went to the Avro Heritage Museum in Stockport, which was classed as a ‘little gem’ (where the latest Dambusters film had its premiere)
The full list of this year’s winners is here:
- Avro Heritage Museum , Stockport – Hidden Gem
- Chester Zoo , Chester – Best Told Story
- Levens Hall & Gardens , Kendal – Quality Food & Drink
- Mountain Goat Tours and Holidays , Windermere – Gold (Tour)
- The Beacon Museum , Whitehaven – Quality Food & Drink
- The Lakes Distillery , Cockermouth – Gold
- Whinlatter Forest , Keswick – Gold
This year’s celebration was in the British Motor Museum
The VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Accolades 2023-2024 were presented at a celebratory lunch at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire.
Tourism is one of England’s largest, most valuable industries, supporting more than 200,000 businesses, employing about 2.6 million people and, in 2023, generating £70.5bn in domestic visitor spending.
VisitEngland also hands out ‘Rose Awards’
The Rose Award, awarded yearly in September, is specifically for people or businesses who provide and maintain accommodation to visitors. They are awarded to those that provide outstanding experiences to their customers, irrespective of their star rating.
The winners this year in the North West are:
- Barley Store at Dickinson Place Holiday Cottages , Maryport (Self-Catering)
- Bessiestown Farm Country Guesthouse , Carlisle (Guest Accommodation)
- Cuthbert Hill Farm , Preston (Self-Catering)
- Netherbeck Holiday Park , Carnforth (Holiday Park)
- Pennine View Park , Kirkby Stephen (Holiday Park)
- San Ging , Keswick (Self-Catering)
- Stone Cottage , Patterdale (Self-Catering)
- Stone House Farm , St Bees (Guest Accommodation)
- The Cartford Inn , Preston (Guest Accommodation)
- The Jug and Bottle , Wirral (Guest Accommodation)
Find the full list of attractions to receive VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Accolades.
To find out more about the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme see here.
