Visit England announce Yorkshire's best visitor attractions of 2019

The accolades recognise outstanding visitor experiences based on an assessment scheme conducted by Visit England inspectors.

Awards are divided into six categories - Welcome; Hidden Gem; Quality Food & Drink, Best Told Story and Gold.

Welcome awards were handed to both Castle Howard and York City Cruises. Castle Howard is one of the largest stately homes in the country, and visitors can enjoy house tours, extensive grounds, an adventure playground, arboretum and a varied events calendar. York City Cruises run pleasure boat trips up and down the River Ouse, with informative talks about the city's history.

RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate was also given a Welcome accolade - the gardens, shop and cafe have a full events programme which includes horticultural workshops. Welcome awards were presented to Wakefield art gallery The Hepworth and the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery in Driffield, which offers guided tours of the distillery where the Filey Bay single malt whisky is made. On the coast, the Saltburn Cliff Tramway - a preserved Victorian funicular railway - was also given a Welcome award.

Kiplin Hall near Richmond, a Jacobean house which is run by a charitable trust, was named as a Hidden Gem. The attraction is developing its events offering, but still has limited opening hours.

Helmsley Walled Garden received a Quality Food & Drink award - the gardens' Victorian vine houses have been transformed into a licensed cafe with views of Helmsley Castle.

The prestigious Gold awards for all-round quality were presented to York Art Gallery and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield.