VisitEngland Accolades for 2025
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 the VisitEngland 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 12 November 2025.
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.
Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire
Craven Cottage Stadium Tour, Fulham, Greater London
Dudley Zoo & Castle, Dudley, West Midlands
Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, Lancashire
Lincoln Guildhall, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lowry, Salford, Lancashire
Oxford Castle and Prison, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge, West Midlands
Royal Air Force Museum London, London NW9
Sambrook's Heritage Centre, London SW18
Gold Accolade
This accolade is given to those attractions that demonstrate excellence across all areas.
Beth Chatto Gardens, Colchester, Essex
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, West Midlands
The Cotswold Tour Guide, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Dalby Forest Park, Low Dalby, North Yorkshire
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway, Exbury, Hampshire
Fab 4 Taxi Tours, Bromborough, Merseyside
Hartlebury Castle, Hartlebury, Worcestershire
The Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
IWM London, London SE1
Jersey Museum and Art Gallery, St Helier, Jersey
The Lakes Distillery, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Let’s Go Punting and Traditional Punting Company, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Lincoln Castle, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, Merseyside
Mini Plant Oxford, Cowley, Oxfordshire
The National Gallery, London EC3
National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire
Roman Vindolanda, Hexham, Northumberland
RSPB Leighton Moss, Carnforth, Lancashire
RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve, Saxmundham, Suffolk
Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot, Merseyside
Triumph Factory Visitor Experience, Hinckley, Leicestershire
Whinlatter Forest, Keswick, Cumbria
Wild Shore Delamere, Delamere, Cheshire
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust - Slimbridge, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
Hidden Gem Accolade
The Hidden Gem Accolade is given to those smaller, specialised attractions that demonstrate excellence across all areas.
1620s House & Garden at Donington le Heath, Coalville, Leicestershire
Melton Carnegie Museum, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
The Cotswolds Distillery, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
The Hook Norton Brewery Co Ltd, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
Ipswich Town Football Club, Ipswich, Suffolk
Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre, Faversham, Kent
St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, Lymington, Hampshire
Wildshark Vineyard, Harrietsham, Kent
Mrs Smith's Cottage, Navenby, Lincolnshire
Celtic Harmony Camp, Hertford, Hertfordshire
Stourbridge Glass Museum, Stourbridge, West Midlands
Elizabeth Gaskell's House, Manchester
Bushey Museum & Art Gallery, Bushey, Hertfordshire
moviESCAPE, Stockport, Greater Manchester
Sherborne Museum, Sherborne, Dorset
Quality Food & Drink Accolade
This accolade is awarded to those attractions that offer visitors an outstanding food and drink experience.
Aerospace Bristol, Bristol
Balfour Winery, Staplehurst, Kent
Bishop's Palace and Gardens, Wells, Somerset
The Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney, West Sussex
Cannon Hall Farm, Cawthorne, South Yorkshire
Chapel Down, Tenterden, Kent
Compton Verney, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
Hergest Croft Gardens, Kington, Herefordshire
La Hougue Bie, Grouville, Jersey
Renishaw Hall & Gardens, Renishaw, Derbyshire
RSPB Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands, Neston, Cheshire
Sky Park Farm, West Harting, West Sussex
St Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry, West Midlands
Tittesworth Water, Meerbrook, Staffordshire
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.
Barley Hall, York, North Yorkshire
Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead, Surrey
Corinium Museum, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Eureka! The National Children's Museum, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Hopetown Darlington, Darlington, Co Durham
Maritime Museum and Occupation Tapestry Gallery, St Helier, Jersey
Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, Cheshire
REME Museum, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust - Welney, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
World of Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
