VisitEngland’s 24 Responsible Travel Experiences to mark World Environment Day 2024
ShareMay 2024 – Ahead of World Environment Day (5 June 2024), VisitEngland is highlighting some of the country’s top responsible tourism experiences, including new low-impact dining, conscious festivals and sustainable stays. With responsible tourism becoming more of a priority for holidaymakers, VisitEngland has curated the following eco-friendly ideas to help Brits connect with the natural world on their travels.
Eco-Conscious Retreats, Festivals & Events
NEW: Wild and Mindful Retreats at Michelin-starred Askham Hall, Lake District
March – December 2024
VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 Small Hotel of the Year Gold winner, Askham Hall in the Lake District, is set to host a number of wellness retreats in 2024 (2 June, 13 October, 1 December) with a focus on reconnecting with nature and mindfulness. Led by ex-SAS Mountaineer Krish Thapa, these three-night retreats will feature guided meditations, forest bathing, hiking and award-winning food, all within the setting of the historic country home. The food offering includes home-reared and grown produce in the form of hearty breakfasts, wild picnics, Michelin-starred tasting menus at the hotel’s Allium restaurant (VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 Taste of England finalist) and a cosy dinner at the hall’s sister pub. Askham Hall is committed to reducing its impact on the environment with strategies including removing single use plastics, sourcing from local suppliers and composting kitchen waste.
NEW: Wild Weekends at 42 Acres, Somerset
Launched spring 2024
42 Acres is a regenerative estate, retreat centre and nature reserve in Witham Friary, Somerset – known to be a place of pioneering agri-wilding projects. New for spring 2024, 42 Acres has launched ‘wild weekends’ – a series of life-affirming retreat packages which invite guests to disconnect from technology and everyday pressures. Guests can choose from three themed retreats – Rewild, Renourish or Restore. Each offers ensuite accommodation in wild surroundings, nourishing meals and immersive experiences to help guests consciously slow down and deepen their connection with the natural world. 42 Acres offers a range of accommodation options including barn conversions, cottages, bell tents and even a tiny boat.
SustFest, St Albans, Hertfordshire
7 – 16 June 2024
The award-winning SustFest festival takes place annually to provide inspiration on how to live more sustainably through engaging events and activities. Brand new for 2024, the SustFest Expo (7 – 9 June) at the Alban Arena will be a fun, informative and thought-provoking weekend with talks and workshops from leading figures in sustainability.
www.sustainablestalbans.org/sustfest
NEW: Wild Sleeping Escapes at Tudor Farmhouse, Gloucestershire
21 June – 14 July 2024
New for summer 2024, Tudor Farmhouse in the heart of Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean is launching special two-night stays (available 21 June – 14 July) designed to make the most of the spectacular night sky. Aimed at adventure seekers wishing to experience wild sleeping with the comforts of a hotel stay, night one will be spent in a luxury bell tent located in prime dark sky countryside, complete with a gourmet hamper of goodies to cook over fire. The second evening will be spent in one of the hotel’s suites with a roll top bath, followed by dinner in the two AA Rosette restaurant and breakfast to round off the break. Activities on offer include exploring the ancient woodland by foot, mountain biking and kayaking. In terms of sustainability, Tudor Farmhouse grows their own vegetables in the Kitchen Garden and has recently re-planted 50 new trees in the old orchard.
Timber Festival in the National Forest, Derbyshire
5 – 7 July 2024
Timber Festival returns to the heart of the National Forest this summer for another immersive and revitalising weekend. The festival celebrates our relationship with trees and woods through carefully curated musical performances, installations, debates and workshops. Festivalgoers are invited to join a community of action and optimism at Feanedock Woodland, with highlights including a diverse live music lineup, and a creative wellbeing, movement and mindfulness offering.
www.timberfestival.org.uk
50 Years of the Gay Outdoor Club, Nationwide
26 – 29 July 2024 (Northampton event)
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Gay Outdoor Club (GOC) is the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ adventure in the UK, founded in 1974 from casual campsite beginnings. The GOC now offers over 500 events a year with activities and social outings themed around walking, cycling, swimming, boating, camping, arts and culture and history and heritage. With various nationwide celebrations planned in 2024 to mark the milestone anniversary, the biggest event will be the Annual Outdoor Gathering (26 – 29 July), taking place at the Waterside Campus at the University of Northampton and will involve a mixture of outdoor activities.
NEW: Wild Fields Festival in Norwich, Norfolk
16 – 17 August 2024
Wild Fields Festival from Norwich-based multi-venue festival Wild Paths is a new socially conscious two-day festival. The event will pair live music, highlighting groundbreaking new acts alongside established names, with industry talks and climate discussions. The eclectic festival line-up will feature Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective, esteemed Brit Award winner Kae Tempest and a rare live band performance from established producer and artist SBTRKT. There'll also be plenty of regional food offerings, cocktails, local beers and other beverages and an exclusive festival afterparty yet to be announced.
Responsible Restaurants & Dining Experiences
NEW: Louie on the Sea at Turner Contemporary in Margate, Kent
Launched January 2024
Looking out over the beautiful seascapes of Margate, café-by-day and restaurant-by-night Louie on the Sea at the Turner Contemporary art gallery offers locally and responsibly sourced dishes. Coming from the nearby Westgate-on-Sea, the hugely popular Louie Louie is now taking on Margate, bringing new flavours and regular supper clubs to the town’s burgeoning food scene. Turner Contemporary and Louie On Sea are committed to ensuring that produce is locally sourced and operations are as sustainable as possible.
www.turnercontemporary.org/cafe
NEW: Eight at Gazegill, Lancashire
Launched 9 March 2024
Eight at Gazegill is a new eco-restaurant poised to become a Lancashire culinary gem, catering to up to 100 guests and fuelled by sustainable energy. Located within Gazegill Organics, the restaurant prioritises locally sourced ingredients, with produce primarily sourced from the 250-acre farm and nearby Lancashire suppliers. Crafted from sustainable green oak and glass, the restaurant offers panoramic views of the Ribble Valley, with additional outdoor seating for diners who want to be more immersed in the surrounding countryside.
NEW: Roe Restaurant, London
Launched 22 April 2024
This spring Canary Wharf welcomed a new zero waste restaurant from the team behind Fallow and FOUL. Roe stretches across three floors and includes a stunning terrace space overlooking the South Dock Canal. The restaurant serves English inspired plates like black pudding and pork belly skewers while following a nose to tail and root to stem ethos. This ethos transfers to the thoughtful décor too including the first known plant-based and compostable 3D printed interiors, such as a tree in the middle of the restaurant, and a living wall of plants where the restaurant grows herbs and greens for use in their dishes. They even have a full-time, on-site gardener whose job is to tend the vegetable wall.
NEW: Outdoor Cinema & Pre-Show Dinner at the Eden Project, Cornwall
25 – 27 May 2024
Since its launch in 2001, Cornwall’s Eden Project has blossomed into a botanical paradise and world-renowned environmental education attraction. The Eden Project proudly states that sustainability underpins everything they do, from restoring natural habitats to building an on-site groundbreaking geothermal energy plant. New for 2024, this green oasis will become a backdrop for a weekend of cinema evenings under the stars. The classic movies to be shown across the late May bank holiday will be Mamma Mia (25 May), Jurassic Park (26 May), and Pretty Woman (27 May). While cinema-goers are encouraged to bring along a picnic or enjoy the hot food on sale across all evenings, for an extra touch of luxury, those attending the Jurassic Park showing can upgrade to a pre-show two-course dinner in the balmy Mediterranean Biome. The menu will be crafted from seasonal locally sourced and Eden-grown produce, with many of the menu’s ingredients found in the geothermal-powered plant nursery, just metres away from the dining area. This is an accessible event.
www.edenproject.com/visit/whats-on/outdoor-cinema-pre-show-dinner
NEW: Vegandale Festival, London & Manchester
6 July (Manchester) & 13 – 14 July (London) 2024
North America’s iconic Vegandale festival is coming to the UK this summer, with events in both Manchester and London. The inaugural Manchester event will take place on Saturday 6 July and the London event will be held over two days on Clapham Common the following weekend (13 – 14 July). The line-up is yet to be announced however the festival is well-known for its live music and food.
Eco-Friendly Experiences & Attractions
Relaunch of We The Curious, Bristol
Opening 2 July 2024
We The Curious science museum is undergoing major works to restore it to its former glory – plus lots of new improvements – after closing over two years ago due to a fire. Back in 2019, We The Curious became the world’s first science centre to declare a climate emergency; with a pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030. The aim of the declaration was to inspire both organisations and individuals to take action. The museum will reopen in July with over 300 exhibits, all designed to spark visitors’ curiosity about the world: from anatomy to robots, and food to flight. Also new for 2024, it will feature the UK’s only 3D planetarium with full surround sound, revealing extraordinary vistas from around the universe.
Grey Seals and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Tours, Northumberland – VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 Experience of the Year finalist
The Farne Islands, just off the Northumberland coastal village of Seahouses, are an important wildlife reserve, home to many different seabirds including puffin, eider and razorbill, as well as Atlantic grey seals. Along with their award-winning Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours offers sunset cruises and visits to the recently re-opened Inner Farne and the nearby Holy Island. The islands witness mass gatherings of puffins between April and July, where they breed and hunt for fish from the North Sea, whilst in the autumn and winter months they are a hotspot for grey seal pupping. Serenity Farne Island Tours plays a role in protecting the local seabird and seal population by educating visitors on the habitats of these species and their contribution to the wider marine environment.
Beekeeping Experience at Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire
Hatfield Park’s beekeeping experiences offer the chance to get up close to honeybees and learn about the secret lives of these important creatures. Guests will don protective beekeeping suits to meet these busy friends as they inspect the hive and learn about their lifecycle and their roles in the hive and the wider ecosystem. This is a perfect starter experience for anyone hoping to start keeping their own bees to help contribute to the welfare of the planet.
www.hatfield-house.co.uk/events/category/experiences-in-the-park
Wilder Kent Safaris, Kent – VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award finalist
Wilder Kent’s mission is to ensure that the county’s wildlife and nature areas are protected and restored for years to come. Keen nature lovers can dust off their walking boots and breathe in the fresh country air on a Wilder Kent Safari, joining expert guides as they showcase ambitious rewilding projects and vital conservation work. Safaris run throughout the year on selected dates and include a Bison Ranger experience to learn about the positive impacts these ‘ecosystem engineers’ have on the local environment. Beyond conversation and education projects, Wilder Kent promotes wellbeing through nature immersion, working with communities and organisations to offer socialising, volunteering and exercise opportunities in wildlife-rich natural places.
www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/safaris
Whitby Marine Discovery Centre, North Yorkshire
Opened October 2023
This exciting new Marine Discovery Centre, which champions the local fishing industry, is helping make lobster production more sustainable. The centre is focused on educating visitors on the UK’s fragile marine ecosystem and the conservation work they do. Their lobster hatchery is replenishing wild lobster stocks with the aim to release 100,000 lobsters into the sea annually.
www.marinediscoverywhitby.co.uk
Pure Outdoor, Peak District – VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 Experience of the Year finalist
Pure Outdoor won the Visit England Awards for Excellence Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism 2023 Gold Award and the outdoor activity centre’s Mountain Bike Taster Day has been named as an Experience of the Year finalist for 2024. Based in the Peak District, Pure Outdoor offers a wealth of experiences from hillwalking and climbing to caving and mountain biking, all in the unrivalled natural surroundings of the Hope Valley. The centre is proud to leave no trace on the natural environment, which is formally committed to donate the equivalent of 5% of annual revenues to social and environmental causes through The Pure Outdoor Foundation (including in-kind donations).
Camping, Glamping & Sustainable Stays
NEW: Himley Hall Glamping, Staffordshire
Launched April 2024
A new novel camping venture in South Staffordshire has pitched up with the debut of Himley Glamping within the picturesque Himley Hall and Park. Nestled in the historic kitchen garden, the site offers diverse accommodations, including a two-bedroom apartment with park views. With stylish communal areas and private bathrooms, up to 14 guests can enjoy this tranquil retreat. Occupants can immerse themselves in tailored experiences or explore hidden gems independently, with special packages available. Amenities include private BBQs and fire pits.
NEW: Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Nottingham
Opening 7 June 2024
Pitched as a haven for nature lovers’, the new Camping and Caravanning Club site in Nottingham is located just six miles from a city best known throughout the world as the ‘home’ of the legendary Robin Hood. The 13.5-acre campsite will offer modern and eco-friendly bathrooms with spacious showers, underfloor heating, a family room, and laundry facilities. This new site is ideal for exploring Nottingham city centre, as well as the surrounding countryside which is accessible directly from the campsite via the old railroad path. Here, visitors can discover 200 acres of landscapes, woodlands, lakes, grasslands and wetlands.
NEW: Treedwellers, Cornbury Park Estate, Cotswolds
Opening July 2024
Nestled within ancient woodland on the Cornbury Park Estate guests will find seven new eco-minded treehouses, each designed to offer an escape from the everyday and a reconnection with nature. The accommodation is intended to blend into the spectacular Cotswolds landscape, and the stylish interiors feature soothing colours, soft fabrics and tactile textures to encourage relaxation.
NEW: Garden Rooms to Launch at Moor Hall, Lancashire
Opening June 2024
This summer, Moor Hall Restaurant will launch seven new rooms located in a woodland setting that surrounds the property’s gardens. Designed by KOTO, the rooms have been crafted with biophilic living and sustainability in mind. Each room is named after botanicals chosen by Chef Mark Birchall and features a hot tub and private decking. Committed to eco-standards, the rooms feature sustainable timber and off-site prefabrication with an overall look and feel that celebrates modest luxury with muted palettes inspired by nature.
NEW: Nights in Nature, Pensthorpe, Norfolk
From July – August 2024
For the first time, Pensthorpe near Norfolk is opening a glamping and camping site from July to August 2024. Pensthorpe’s unique camping means guests are even closer to the diverse wildlife found on the 700-acre reserve. Guests will be under the stars on clear nights and sent to sleep by the sights and sounds of nature. In the daytime, the reserve’s five gardens, bird hides and family attractions, including award-winning play areas Wild Rootz and Hootz House are all on hand. For a luxury camping experience, there are six high-quality bell-style tents.
Sleepy Owl, Devon – VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year finalist
Luxury treehouses and hot-tub retreats greet guests at Sleepy Owl, located on the Devon and Cornwall border, where the coast and countryside meet. Accommodation options include The Nest treehouse with a private courtyard, hot tub, luxury gold bath inside or double bath under the stars; The Hideout treehouse, the UK’s only treehouse with a moving bath as well as a drawbridge to a hot tub in the woods; and The Cosy Cowshed with boutique-style interior and sun-terrace with hot tub. From conception to completion, sustainability is at the heart of the designs at Sleepy Owl, with a focus on bringing nature into the retreat experience. Pooches are also catered for, with dog beds and a doggy spa available.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- VisitEngland’s comprehensive What’s New in England 2024 overview can be downloaded here. The password is England2024
- Registration to the VisitBritain asset library is required to download images. Register here.
For more responsible travel ideas head to www.VisitEngland.com