So what are the best hotels, B&Bs, pubs and attractions in England? The winners of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015 were announced last night at a ceremony at the Sage Gateshead.
Two special awards celebrating individual excellence – Outstanding Contribution to Tourism and Tourism Superstar were among the winners.
VisitEngland Chairman, Lady Cobham CBE, said: “The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrate the very best in English tourism. It is the highest accolade and recognises the true champions of our industry, as well as the top quality visitor experiences we are fortunate to have on offer in England.”
This year 15 Gold winners, 15 Silver winners, 15 bronze winners and 30 highly commended were selected from a total of 345 entries. And here are the winners:
2015 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence – Gold Winners
Tourism Event of the Year
Bournemouth Air Festival 2014 (above)
Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year
Bosinver Farm Cottages, St Austell, Cornwall
Visitor Information Provider of the Year
City of London Information Centre, London
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford, Shropshire
Small Hotel of the Year
Brockencote Hall Hotel, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire
Business Tourism Award
Woodland Grange Conference & Meeting Venue, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Taste of England Award
Hotel Maiyango, Leicester, Leicestershire
Holiday Park/Holiday Village of the Year
Poston Mill Park, Hereford, Herefordshire
Tourism Pub of the Year
The Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Tourism Experience of the Year
Treetop Trek Ltd, Windermere, Cumbria
Bed & Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year
Colton House, Colton, Staffordshire (above)
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
The World of James Herriot Ltd, Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Large Hotel of the Year
Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa, Matfen, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sustainable Tourism Award
Wheatland Farm Eco Lodges, Winkleigh, Devon
Access for All Tourism Award
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Tourism Superstar special award
Matthew Henderson from Beamish Museum in County Durham
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism 2015
The Chefs of England
For the full list of winners, see VisitEngland Excellence Awards