VisitEngland Accolades for 2024
Discover the best attractions in England
Since 2014, VisitEngland Accolades have been awarded to attractions that go above and beyond to deliver an exceptional visitor experience. To earn an Accolade, attractions must be part of our Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme and nominated by a VisitEngland assessor. This year’s top attractions were celebrated at a special event at the British Motor Museum on 22 October 2024.
Best Told Story Accolade
This accolade is awarded to those attractions that excel at interpretation and are the best at sharing their special stories with visitors.
Beth Chatto Gardens, Colchester, Essex
Chester Zoo, Chester, Cheshire
Cutty Sark, Greenwich, London
Hartlebury Castle, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
M&S Archive, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Raby Castle, Darlington, Co Durham
Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Silent Pool Distillery, Albury, Surrey
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust - Washington, Washington, Tyne & Wear
Gold Accolade
This accolade is given to those attractions that demonstrate excellence across all areas.
Adventure Island, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
The Auckland Project, Durham, Co Durham
Bransby Horses, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Canterbury Historic River Tours, Canterbury, Kent
Emma Bridgewater Factory, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Haynes Motor Museum, Yeovil, Somerset
The Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
Museum of Chelmsford, Chelmsford, Essex
The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Chatham, Kent
Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
The Lakes Distillery, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Let’s Go Punting and Traditional Punting Company, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Lincoln Sightseeing Tour Bus, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket, Suffolk
National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
Mountain Goat Tours and Holidays, Windermere, Cumbria
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
RSPB Sherwood Forest, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Sandringham Estate, Sandringham, Norfolk
Scampston Hall & Walled Garden, Malton, North Yorkshire
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, Hunmanby, North Yorkshire
Tower of London, London EC3
Whinlatter Forest, Keswick, Cumbria
Wildfowl & Wetland Trust – Slimbridge, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour, Wimbledon, London
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Hidden Gem Accolade
The Hidden Gem Accolade is given to those smaller, specialised attractions that demonstrate excellence across all areas.
Avro Heritage Museum, Stockport, Greater Manchester
The Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney, West Sussex
Green Howards Museum, Richmond, North Yorkshire
The Hook Norton Brewery Co Ltd, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
Sambrook's Heritage Centre, Wandsworth, London
Sheringham Museum, Sheringham, Norfolk
St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, Lymington, Hampshire
Quality Food & Drink Accolade
This accolade is awarded to those attractions that offer visitors an outstanding food and drink experience.
Aerospace Bristol, Bristol
The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, Cumbria
The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon
The Greenwich Foundation for The ORNC, Greenwich, London
Kensington Palace, Kensington, London
La Hougue Bie, Grouville, Jersey
Levens Hall & Gardens, Kendal, Cumbria
Odds Farm Park, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Renishaw Hall & Gardens, Renishaw, Derbyshire
Welcome Accolade
The Welcome Accolade is given to attractions that give visitors a genuinely warm welcome and ensure they get the most out of their visit.
1620s House & Garden at Donington le Heath, Coalville, Leicestershire
Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
The Commandery, Worcester, Worcestershire
Corinium Museum, Circencester, Gloucestershire
Hall Hill Farm, Durham, Co Durham
Hamptonne Country Life Museum, St Lawrence, Jersey
Hopetown Darlington, Darlington, Co Durham
Melton Carnegie Museum, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Museum of Cannock Chase, Cannock, Staffordshire
REME Museum, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Roman Army Museum, Greenhead, Northumberland
RSPB Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve, Thetford, Suffolk
RSPB Saltholme Nature Reserve, Middlesborough, North Yorkshire
Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre, Faversham, Kent
Tamworth Castle, Tamworth, Staffordshire
Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk
Tiny Steps Petting Farm, Thurlby, Lincolnshire
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust – Welney, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
World of Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
