VisitEngland announced the winners of its Awards for Excellence
on June 3, 2026, at Aerospace Bristol.
Gold, silver and bronze awards covered 17 categories from 21
local wards. Running for over 35 years, the Awards for Excellence showcase
quality and innovation, best practice and exceptional service of England’s
tourism industry. The awards recognize hotels, self-catering accommodations,
B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums and
individuals raising the bar across the sector.
Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said in a statement, “I
am delighted to see so many businesses across England being recognized for
their outstanding work, helping to make people’s stays as enjoyable and
memorable as possible.”
She added, “From
hotels and pubs to glamping, museums and experiences, these awards are a
real testament to those striving to ensure our tourism industry remains
outstanding. Our upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will provide a clear,
long-term plan to unlock investment, back businesses and showcase more of our
great destinations to the world.”
In addition to the16 core category winners, three special
awards were presented for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award’, the
‘Tourism Superstar Award’ and the ‘Travel Content Award.’ The Family Holiday
Charity was the chosen charity for the 2026 event.
A full list of VisitEngland Awards for Excellence includes:
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award
- Gold: Hoe Grange Holidays, Peak District,
Derbyshire
- Silver: Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
- Bronze: Attwell Farm Park, Worcestershire
B&B and Guest House of the Year
- Gold: MonkBridge House, York
- Silver: One Drake Road and Apartments, Devon
- Bronze: Holly Lodge Boutique Bed &
Breakfast, Norfolk
Business Events Venue of the Year
- Gold: Warwick Conferences, Warwick
- Silver: Nottingham Venues, Nottingham
- Bronze: The Catalyst, Newcastle
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
- Gold: Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Devon
- Silver: Bredon View Glamping Retreats,
Worcestershire
- Bronze: Kaya at Blackhill Farm, Herefordshire
Experience of the Year
- Gold: Blacksmithing Experience Days, Oldfield
Forge, Herefordshire
- Silver: The Wizard Walk of York, York
- Bronze: Make Your Own Distilled Spirit, Shed One
Distillery, Cumbria
International Tourism Award
- Gold: The Beatles Story, Liverpool
- Silver: Castle Howard, York
- Bronze: Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Devon
Large Hotel of the Year
- Gold: Bovey Castle, Devon
- Silver: Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall
- Bronze: The Grand Brighton, Brighton
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Gold: Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Suffolk
- Silver: Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire
- Bronze: Attwell Farm Park, Worcestershire
New
Tourism Business of the Year
- Gold: One Acre Wood, Herefordshire
- Silver: The Story of Emily, Cornwall
- Bronze: Flora and Fauna Exmoor, Somerset
Pub of the Year
- Gold: The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest,
Northumberland
- Silver: The Tickled Trout, Barlow, Derbyshire
- Bronze: The Tollemache Arms, Northamptonshire
Regenerative Tourism Award
- Gold: Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton,
Lancashire
- Silver: Gladwins Farm - Self Catering Holiday
Cottages, Suffolk
- Bronze: Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference
Centre, Birmingham
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
- Gold: Bosinver Farm Cottages, Cornwall
- Silver: Cedar Hollow @ The Oaks, Oxfordshire
- Bronze: Rowley Farm Holidays, Worcestershire
Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Booking.com
- Gold: The Tempus, Northumberland
- Silver: Peak Edge Hotel, Derbyshire
- Bronze: Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant,
Cumbria
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Gold: Morgan Experience, Worcestershire
- Silver: Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum &
Whisky Distillery, Northumberland
- Bronze: National Justice Museum, Nottinghamshire
Taste of England Award
- Gold: Carriages Restaurant, Herefordshire
- Silver: Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton,
Lancashire
- Bronze: Blackfriars Restaurant, Newcastle
Unsung Hero Award
- Gold: Jayne Chapman - Tatton Park, Cheshire
- Silver: Viv Smith - National Stone Centre,
Derbyshire
- Bronze: Andy Black - Horses and Ponies
Protection Association, Lancashire
Travel Content Award
- Gold: Rhiannon Batten, The Guardian – “From
farms to fork: a food-lover’s cycle tour of Herefordshire”
- Silver: Emily-Ann Elliott, The i Paper – “North
Yorkshire’s spa holidays are still the best – and cost less than £225.”
- Bronze: Chris Leadbeater, The Telegraph – “This
charming Herefordshire town is the real star of Hamnet”
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award went to Butlin’s Book
Family Holidays and Short Breaks at UK Holiday Parks and the Tourism Superstar
Award to Mick Hurst, CEO and founder of The Battle of Evesham historical events
and re-enactments - Mick Hurst – Battle of Evesham Shop.
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