VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026
From memorable days out and places to stay to inspiring visitor experiences, the winners of the 2026 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence highlight some of the best tourism businesses in England.
Whether you’re planning your next short break, family adventure or foodie escape, discover the award-winning businesses that are setting the standard for tourism in England.
Read on to discover your new must-visits, from the pub of the year and the best hotels to first-class attractions across the country.
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
B&B and Guest House of the Year
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Experience of the Year
Large Hotel of the Year
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Regenerative Tourism Award
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Additional categories
Small Hotel of the Year
GOLD: The Tempus, Northumberland
Enjoy an award-winning slumber at The Tempus which is famed for its highly-instagrammable interiors. Each of the 41 rooms (choose from the main hotel, lake lodges, cottages or barn conversions) are packed with luxury touches such as free-standing baths and rich floral wallpapers. Enjoy dinner at The Orangery onsite which has an international inspired menu. You’ll want to leave room for dessert.
SILVER: Peak Edge Hotel, Derbyshire
Perched above Chesterfield, Peak Edge Hotel and its Red Lion Restaurant are made for evenings relaxing by the log-fire after a day in the Peak District. Rural views, cosy corners and locally sourced food set the tone, while historic houses including Hardwick Hall and Haddon Hall are within easy reach for slow, culture-filled days out.
BRONZE: Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant, Cumbria
Close to Hadrian’s Wall, Farlam Hall is a country-house hideaway of gardens, history and quietly polished luxury. This pet-friendly, four AA Red Star hotel holds a Michelin Key, while its Chef’s Table draws on the creativity of Michelin-starred Chef Patron Hrishi Desai, led in the kitchen by Head Chef Benhur Gaikwad.
Taste of England Award
GOLD: Carriages Restaurant, Herefordshire
At Carriages, Chef Nick Briggs turns carefully sourced British ingredients into fine dining rooted in the landscape, with local producers and suppliers at the heart of each menu. An in-house sommelier matches dishes with hand-selected wines and balanced cocktails, creating a Herefordshire meal that unfolds with the flavours of the season.
SILVER: Eight at Gazegill by Doug Crampton, Lancashire
Look across to Pendle Hill while Chef Patron Doug Crampton turns the farm and surrounding countryside into a seasonal meal. Set on organic Gazegill Farm in the Ribble Valley, the restaurant draws on slow-reared pork, raw milk and ingredients gathered from nearby hedgerows. Each dish makes the connection between food, land and season easy to taste.
BRONZE: Blackfriars Restaurant, Newcastle
Dine in a truly #blessed setting at Blackfriars Restaurant, housed within a 13th-century former Dominican friary. Established in 1239, the Priory even doubled up as King Henry III’s ‘hostel’ for a while. Hearty but elegant dishes include venison haunch with mini venison pie, fried quails’ egg and girolles. Henry would approve.
Pub of the Year
GOLD: The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest, Northumberland
On the Northumberland moors close to the Cumbrian border, this inn places its landscape firmly on the plate. Seasonal cooking champions local produce, matched with a thoughtful wine list. Stay overnight in one of its rooms, bring the dog, and wake ready for a day among the surrounding hills.
SILVER: The Tickled Trout, Derbyshire
The Tickled Trout is a place to linger over artisan ingredients, local ales and carefully chosen wines. Behind the menu is a close relationship with farmers, growers, bakers, fishermen and foragers, bringing seasonal local produce straight to the table. Families are welcome, while a private dining room creates space for smaller celebrations.
BRONZE: The Tollemache Arms, Northamptonshire
Linger over a Pimms as the light fades in the sprawling garden, and in colder months, settle beside the fire at this thatched 17th-century Northamptonshire pub. Revived through crowdfunding in 2015, ‘The Tolly’ has become a much-loved local for food, pints and lively evenings, with a calendar that runs from Fireside Feasts to Sip & Paint nights.
New Tourism Business Award
GOLD: One Acre Wood, Herefordshire
Sleep among the birds in one of two handcrafted treehouses hidden in the Herefordshire canopy. Fuggle and Bramling frame wide countryside views, with cosy interiors. Fuggle is step-free, with its deck, bedroom, living space, kitchen and bathroom on one level, making a night in the treetops accessible to guests with restricted mobility.
SILVER: The Story of Emily, Cornwall
Step inside the childhood home of Emily Hobhouse, the British activist and welfare campaigner whose life was shaped by the Anglo-Boer War. At this restored Grade II listed rectory near Liskeard, the War Rooms museum tells her story with emotional force, while the South African-inspired restaurant brings another layer of heritage to the experience.
BRONZE: Flora and Fauna Exmoor, Exmoor
Hidden on a small working farm near Exmoor National Park, two luxury safari lodges turn a countryside stay into something quietly special. Sink into a private hot tub and pick up local goods to cook on the outdoor BBQ from the honesty shop. After dark, look up: nearby Exmoor is an International Dark Sky Reserve, making Skilgate a beautiful base for stargazing.
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
GOLD: Morgan Experience, Worcestershire
For petrolheads, the Morgan Experience Centre is one of the very best things to do in Worcestershire – home to the British car brand for 110 years. You can take a factory tour and see how the cars are crafted, or treat yourself to a guided drive around the Malvern Hills.
SILVER:Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, Northumberland
History and whisky meet under one roof at England’s northernmost distillery. Step into Anglo-Saxon Northumberland in the interactive museum, then follow the making of Northumberland’s first single malt on an immersive whisky tour. Afterwards, take a seat in the tasting room, where panoramic screens flow with atmospheric art and music by local creatives.
BRONZE: National Justice Museum, Nottingham
Enter Nottingham’s 800-year-old gaol and discover the darker stories behind the city’s Lace Market. Across five floors, explore a grand Victorian courtroom, Georgian prison spaces and centuries-old cells; then put your nerve and puzzle-solving skills to the test in the escape room. Talks, tours and live-action events bring its notorious characters, and famous ghosts, vividly into view.
Additional awards categories
Additional award categories
Unsung Hero Award
GOLD: Jayne Chapman, Farm Manager, Tatton Park, Cheshire
SILVER: Viv Smith, Volunteer, National Stone Centre, Derbyshire
BRONZE: Andy Black, Café and Kitchen Manager, HAPPA, Lancashire
International Tourism Award
GOLD: The Beatles Story, Merseyside
SILVER: Castle Howard, York
BRONZE: Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, Devon
Travel Content Award
GOLD: ‘From farms to fork: a food-lover’s cycle tour of Herefordshire’ , Rhiannon Batten, The Guardian
SILVER: ‘North Yorkshire’s spa holidays are still the best – and cost less than £225’, Emily-Ann Elliott, The i Paper
BRONZE: ‘This charming Herefordshire town is the real star of Hamnet’, Chris Leadbeater, The Telegraph
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award
FAQs
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence shine a spotlight on some of the best places to visit, stay, eat and experience across England. They celebrate the businesses and people who go the extra mile to give visitors something special – whether that’s a brilliant day out, a memorable meal, or a welcoming place to stay. The awards help you discover experiences you can trust to be high quality, well run and genuinely enjoyable.
This award is all about great food and drink experiences across England. It celebrates places that serve up high quality food and drink – whether that’s a beautifully cooked local dish, a relaxed pub lunch or fine dining experience.
It’s a great way to find restaurants, pubs and food experiences that reflect great food across England.
Winners are selected through a detailed judging process where businesses are assessed on what really matters to visitors, including the quality of the experience, customer service, value and accessibility. Learn more about the judging process here.
Many of the finalists are already recognised locally or regionally before going forward to the national awards, where they’re reviewed by industry experts to find the very best in England.
The awards are designed to showcase the best experiences in England and help provide a brilliant day out for visitors. These businesses have been recognised for doing what they do exceptionally well and it’s an easy way to find places that consistently deliver great experiences.
If you’re looking for more sustainable ways to travel, the Regenerative Tourism Award winners are leading the way in responsible tourism.
At Eight at Gazegill in Lancashire, sustainability runs through everything - from renewable energy on the farm to seasonal, farm-grown ingredients served in its restaurant. Gladwins Farm Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Suffolk offer a low-impact countryside escape with solar-powered stays, local produce and a strong connection to the surrounding community. In Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre is a certified B Corp hotel focused on responsible business practices, combining heritage buildings with a more sustainable approach to hospitality.
If you’re planning your trip around great food, the Taste of England Award winners are a brilliant place to start. These restaurants celebrate the best of English dining, from farm-to-table cooking to historic settings and modern fine dining.
You can enjoy standout experiences like Eight at Gazegill in Lancashire, where dishes are created straight from the farm using organic, seasonal ingredients with views over Pendle Hill. In Newcastle, Blackfriars Restaurant offers dining inside a 13th-century former friary, serving hearty British dishes. Meanwhile, Carriages Restaurant in Herefordshire focuses on carefully sourced local ingredients, with seasonal menus paired with expertly chosen wines and cocktails.