VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Accolades 2025-2026: Three Yorkshire venues win Gold in tourist attraction awards
VisitEngland has announced its 2025-2026 Visitor Attraction Accolades winners - and three tourist attractions in Yorkshire have won Gold.
The accolades, presented to 73 attractions across England, recognise all aspects of the visitor experience and are awarded in five categories including ‘Hidden Gem’, ‘Best Told Story’, ‘Quality Food and Drink’, ‘Welcome’, as well as ‘Gold’ for customer experience excellence.
VisitEngland’s Accolades honour ‘excellence’ within the visitor attraction sector and showcase those businesses in its VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme that go that extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.
This could be through a warm welcome, an engaging story, an appetising lunch or the overall visitor experience.
VisitEngland director, Andrew Stokes, said: “England’s visitor attractions are first-class, and these accolades highlight why they deserve this recognition.
“The recipients of these awards provide an outstanding welcome, unparalleled food and drink offer and magical storytelling making them integral to the high-quality tourism offer provided to domestic and international visitors.
“From stadium tours and water parks, castles, cathedrals and museums to wildlife reserves and wetlands these attractions provide outstanding customer service, going above and beyond to make visitor experiences extra special and spreading the economic benefits of tourism across communities in England.”
VisitEngland’s Attraction Accolades 2025-2026 - Yorkshire venues
- Castle Howard, York - Gold
- Dalby Forest Park, Pickering - Gold
- Jorvik Viking Centre, York - Gold
- National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield - Food and Drink
- RSPB Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve, Bridlington - Welcome
- Streetlife Museum, Hull - Welcome
- Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield - Gold
Attractions have received accolades based on the scores they obtained following their annual VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessment.
Now in its 12th year, VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Accolades are awarded to participants of the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme across a range of tourism attractions from historic houses, gardens, country parks, and farm attractions to galleries, museums, churches and cathedrals.
Participating attractions are supported by a network of trained and experienced independent assessors who deliver advice and guidance on improving and promoting the quality, accessibility and sustainability of their offer.
Winners can display the Accolade logo at their attraction, online and in their marketing materials.