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April 2023

VisitBritain/DanielaLuquini

Trophies for the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023. Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire.

VisitEngland has today 27 April announced the finalists who will go forward to compete for the tourism industry’s annual national Awards for Excellence.

The 48 finalists, announced following a rigorous judging process by handpicked tourism industry experts, now go on to compete in 16 core categories at the national awards, with the Caravan and Motorhome Club announced as headline sponsor. The awards’ categories range from ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ and ‘B&B and Guest House of the Year’ to ‘Business Events Venue of the Year’ and ‘Experience of the Year’.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence champion the very best of the country’s tourism industry celebrating quality, innovation, best practice and exceptional customer service.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:

“This impressive list of finalists demonstrates the innovation and excellence thriving across England’s tourism industry. The quality and number of applications also highlights the outstanding range of products and experiences on offer for both domestic and international visitors. We wish the finalists the very best of luck.”

Applications to the awards were put forward for judging from businesses including hotels, self-catering accommodation providers, B&Bs, glamping operators, visitor attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums.

In addition to the 16 core categories, four special awards are also being presented this year including an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award,’ a ‘Travel Content Award’, a ‘Tourism Superstar Award’ and a ‘TXGB Trailblazer’ Award.

All finalists are invited to attend the national awards ceremony, this year being held at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on 7 June, where Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced at the black tie event. The Family Holiday Charity is the chosen charity for this year’s event.

This year’s Awards aligned with 16 local competitions from across England with winners automatically put forward for the national awards.

Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, supporting hundreds of thousands of businesses, employing about 2.6 million people and, in 2019, generating £76 billion in domestic visitor spending.

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023 – List of Finalists:

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award:


B&B and Guest House of the Year:


Business Events Venue of the Year:


Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year:


Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award:


Experience of the Year:


Large Hotel of the Year:


Large Visitor Attraction of the Year:


New Tourism Business of the Year:


Pub of the Year:


Resilience and Innovation Award:


Self Catering Accommodation of the Year:


Small Hotel of the Year:


Small Visitor Attraction of the Year:


Taste of England Award:


Unsung Hero Award:

  • Michael Wilson, Official Guide to the Kent Estuary, Guide Over Sands Trust, Cumbria
  • Carol Adams, Head of Horticulture & Biodiversity, Trentham, Staffordshire
  • Marie Colgrave, Welcome Building Supervisor, Whitchurch Silk Mill, Hampshire

The TXGB Trailblazer Award:


Travel Content Award:

  • Paul Healy, Anywhere We Roam - ‘A wild getaway in Swaledale – the unspoilt valley in the Yorkshire Dales’
  • Ben Lerwill, National Geographic Traveller - ‘How art and ancient history collide on a hike through Deal, Dover and Folkestone’
  • Alicia Miller, The Independent - ‘How to do a classic Cotswolds weekend, car-free’

Press contact

Tracey Edginton

Chief of Staff and Head of News, London, UK