England’s best places to eat, sleep and visit named in annual awards, from pubs and hotels to museums and zoos
- Winners of the 2020 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses
- This year, the prestigious gold medal in the Pub of the Year category went to The Baskerville in Oxfordshire
- The Ned won Large Hotel of the Year while Large Visitor Attraction of the Year was the Old Royal Naval College
England’s best places to stay, its most mouthwatering eateries and its most enthralling visitor attractions have been named in the 2020 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
The winners were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs, museums and conference centres – and 19 winners were announced during a virtual awards event on Monday evening hosted by Julia Bradbury from ‘The Outdoor Guide’.
One of the most eagerly anticipated categories is always Pub of the Year – and this year the gold medal went to The Baskerville in Oxfordshire, with the Three Horseshoes Pub & Kitchen in Dorset snaring silver and The Howard Arms in Warwickshire taking third place.
The gold medal in the Pub of the Year category at the 2020 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence went to The Baskerville in Oxfordshire
The top podium spot for Large Hotel of the Year was occupied by The Ned, located in the heart of the City of London
Wiltshire’s Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, which claimed the silver medal in the Large Hotel of the Year category
If you’re looking for glamorous staycation options, then take note of the gong-winners in the accommodation categories.
The top podium spot for Large Hotel of the Year was occupied by The Ned in London, with Wiltshire’s Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa claiming the silver medal and Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa coming third.
Small Hotel of the Year was named as Gray’s Court in York with Cary Arms & Spa in Devon in second place followed by County Durham’s Seaham Hall in third.
The gold medal for B&B and Guest House of the Year was claimed by The 25 Boutique B&B in Devon, with St Cuthbert’s House in Seahouses, Northumberland, scooping silver. The bronze award went to Haven Cottage in Ambleside, Cumbria.
The top award for Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year was snared by Landal Darwin Forest, Derbyshire, while the winner of Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year was named as North Hayne Farm Cottages, Devon.
In the Small Hotel of the Year category, Gray’s Court in York, pictured, was No1
Cary Arms and Spa in Devon, pictured, scooped the silver award in the Small Hotel of the Year category
The gold medal for B&B and Guest House of the Year was claimed by The 25 Boutique B&B in Devon, pictured
One of the rooms at St Cuthbert’s House in Seahouses, Northumberland, which won the B&B and Guest House of the Year silver award
The top award for Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year was snared by Landal Darwin Forest, Derbyshire, pictured
Swallowtail Hill in East Sussex, pictured, was runner-up in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year category
And England’s most accomplished restaurant?
The Dining Room, a Michelin-starred restaurant at Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa in Wiltshire, was handed the Taste of England Award gold medal.
Second prize went to John’s House, a Michelin-starred restaurant in a 16th-century cottage in Leicester, with Scandinavian-inspired eatery Restaurant Hjem in Hexham, Northumberland, securing third place.
The Experience of the Year was named as Wild Wookey – a three hour ‘adrenaline-fuelled, high-octane, exhilarating adventure caving experience’ in Somerset.
The Dining Room, a Michelin-starred restaurant at Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa in Wiltshire, pictured, was handed the Taste of England Award gold medal
Wild Wookey, which is a three hour ‘adrenaline-fuelled, high-octane, exhilarating adventure caving experience’ in Somerset, was named Experience of the Year
The silver prize went to Ezekial Bone’s Nottingham Robin Hood Town Tour and the bronze medal was given to ZSL London Zoo Lodges – which allow guests to spend the night amid the enclosures.
Claiming the title of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year was London’s Old Royal Naval College, with Bath’s Roman Baths & Pump Room runner-up and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, in Hertfordshire, grabbing the bronze award.
Top of the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year podium was the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Staffordshire, followed by the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Somerset in second place and Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorset, winning the bronze medal.
Meanwhile, the overall winner of the prestigious International Tourism Award was International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire.
Visit England said in a statement: ‘The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, now in its thirty-first year, celebrate and champion innovation, quality and best practice across the industry recognising businesses and individuals who raise the bar of England’s tourism offer.’
The title of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the awards was claimed by London’s Old Royal Naval College
Bath’s Roman Baths & Pump Room claimed the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year silver award. It also won a silver award in the International Tourism Award category
Top of the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year podium was the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Staffordshire
The winner of the prestigious International Tourism Award was the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire
Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said: ‘Not only does our tourism industry offer incredible experiences to those who holiday here, it supports millions of jobs up and down the country. I’m delighted to see so many great establishments, from major Lincolnshire attractions to boutique Yorkshire hotels, being celebrated.
‘This important sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus and we have helped with an unprecedented package of measures including the job retention scheme, a year’s business rates holiday and most recently a £4billion reduction in VAT benefitting the sector.
‘I would like to congratulate all the winners and businesses around England who are doing an outstanding job in showcasing the best in tourism. I encourage everyone to get out, enjoy summer safely, and experience everything England has to offer.’
VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe added: ‘These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding businesses and individuals in tourism across England who have delivered excellence. From a world-class boutique B&B in Devon to adventure-packed experiences in Somerset, from an accessible country park and national nature reserve in Dorset to a bespoke English wine tour in Kent, our award winners provide stand-out experiences of the highest calibre.
‘Millions of jobs and local economies depend on tourism and this year’s awards are also a timely reminder of the determination, innovation and commitment of businesses across the country who have been working extremely hard to reopen, to welcome visitors back safely and to continue to provide a first-class experience.’
VISITENGLAND TOURISM AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS 2020
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Gold: Durlston Country Park & National Nature Reserve, Dorset
Silver: Birmingham Hippodrome, West Midlands
Bronze: Mylor Sailing and Powerboat School, Cornwall
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Gold: The 25 Boutique B&B, Devon
Silver: St Cuthbert’s House, Northumberland
Bronze: Haven Cottage, Cumbria
Business Events Venue of the Year
Gold: The Brewery, Greater London
Silver: College Court Conference Centre and Hotel, Leicestershire
Bronze: NTU Events and Conferencing, Nottinghamshire
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Gold: Landal Darwin Forest, Derbyshire
Silver: Swallowtail Hill, East Sussex
Bronze: Eye Kettleby Lakes, Leicestershire
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Gold: The Hive Café and Bakery, West Midlands
Silver: The Quiet Site, Cumbria
Bronze: Hoe Grange Holidays, Derbyshire
Experience of the Year
Gold: Wild Wookey, Somerset
Silver: Ezekial Bone – Nottingham Robin Hood Town Tour, Nottinghamshire
Bronze: ZSL London Zoo Lodges, Greater London
International Tourism Award
Gold: International Bomber Command Centre, Lincolnshire
Silver: The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Somerset
Bronze: Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Large Hotel of the Year
Gold: The Ned, Greater London
Silver: Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire
Bronze: Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa, Hampshire
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold: Old Royal Naval College, Greater London
Silver: The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Somerset
Bronze: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire
New Tourism Business Award
Gold: Vine + Country Tours, Kent & East Sussex
Silver: Hotham’s Gin School and Distillery, East Yorkshire
Bronze: The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Lancashire
Pub of the Year
Gold: The Baskerville, Oxfordshire
Silver: Three Horseshoes Pub & Kitchen, Dorset
Bronze: The Howard Arms, Warwickshire
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Gold: North Hayne Farm Cottages, Devon
Silver: Wallops Wood Cottages, Hampshire
Bronze: Broadgate Farm Cottages, East Yorkshire
Small Hotel of the Year
Gold: Grays Court, North Yorkshire
Silver: Cary Arms & Spa, Devon
Bronze: Seaham Hall, County Durham
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Gold: Gladstone Pottery Museum, Staffordshire
Silver: Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Somerset
Bronze: Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorset
Taste of England Award
Gold: The Dining Room – Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Wiltshire
Silver: John’s House, Leicestershire
Bronze: Restaurant Hjem, Northumberland
SPECIAL AWARDS
International Distribution Award
Gold: Visit County Durham
Silver: Newcastle Gateshead Initiative
Bronze: Destination Bristol
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award
The business events industry for England’s Nightingale Hospitals
Source: VisitEngland
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