Embedded Files
The nominations in this category are shown below. Review each nomination carefully and then click on the link to cast your votes.
Yorkshire
Access the Dales (ATD) is a pioneering tourism initiative operating across North Yorkshire and Lancashire, deserving recognition for its exceptional social impact, sustainability, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Founded by Debbie North, the Disabled Access Ambassador for the Countryside, the charity has national influence in transforming how disabled people experience rural landscapes. Through the provision of free-to-use all-terrain mobility vehicles, stile-free walking routes, and inclusive events, ATD removes barriers that have historically excluded disabled individuals—particularly those from hard-to-reach or marginalised communities—from accessing the countryside.
With funding from programmes such as Awards for All, the initiative supports grassroots community projects that enable outdoor access, improve wellbeing, and build confidence among participants. It also stimulates local job creation through partnerships with accommodation providers, hub hosts, and local guides. Guided by a strong environmental ethos, ATD promotes responsible, low-impact tourism that protects the natural environment while remaining accessible to all. Its sustainable model, based on collaboration and community involvement, ensures long-term impact.
By challenging outdated perceptions and fostering a culture of equity in rural tourism, ATD is setting a powerful example of inclusive, ethical, and community-driven travel—making it a standout candidate for the award for Best UK Tourism Project.
Wooler, Northumberland
Ad Gefrin is a dual-purpose tourist attraction in Wooler, Northumberland. Telling the story of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria it hosts the county’s first legal whisky distillery for more than 200 years. The distillery helps sustain the site’s museum, which celebrates the region's Anglo-Saxon history and heritage, fostering community engagement and a sense of pride.
The museum displays artefacts from Anglo-Saxon Northumbria. It conveys the importance of the seventh-century royal court at the foot of Yeavering Bell, a hill that was known as Ad Gefrin in Saxon times. The court had connections with courts across Europe and beyond.
Ad Gefrin is having a significant positive impact on the local community. It has created 50 jobs and attracts tens of thousands of visitors, helping sustain local businesses and the community in the small town located 17 miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Committed to sustainability, Ad Gefrin makes use of local suppliers, has renewable energy sources and recycles materials.
The site is designed to be accessible and has a café and restaurant on its ground floor.
The project was funded by local businesspeople wanting to give back to their locality. The business model is self-sustaining.
It is an engaging and beautifully designed tourist attraction.
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
You might think that a well established visitor attraction such as Blenheim Palace would have little opportunity to develop new tourism projects. But you’d be wrong. 2025 has brought not one, but three new tourism projects that can be combined under the heading ‘Blenheim Stories Revealed’. Together, they are generating new interest and bringing an economic boost to the visitor economy of both Blenheim and Oxfordshire.
A major £10m restoration of the Palace roof, started earlier this year, has enabled Blenheim to introduce the ‘Rooftop View Experience‘. Taking 109 steps (or a lift) allows visitors to get up close and personal with the architecture and statues that have previously only been seen from ground level, as well as giving magnificent views over the Estate.
The second element of the tourism project is ‘Life Below Stairs’, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the original working Victorian Palace kitchens, dressed as they would have been for the six-day visit of the Prince of Wales in 1896. A specially recorded soundscape offers a hint at what life was like at the time.
The third element is ‘Family Treasures’. Five of the Palace’s hitherto ‘off-limits’ private and arguably the most opulent apartments have been added to the walking tour of the Palace.
All three elements of this new tourism project are included in the standard admission ticket.
Bristol
CANADIAN HOSPITALITY EXPERT SHOWS UK HOW IT'S DONE – with brilliant customer service, as he promotes independent companies in Bristol:
After meeting his English wife in his home city of Vancouver, Miguel Alzugaray moved to Bristol – just as the global pandemic shut everything down! Since then, Miguel has created his ‘Gourmet Food Tour’, showcasing top quality independent restaurants along Bristol’s harbourside.
As well as English, he’s fluent in both French and Spanish – making the tour (which takes guests to sample food at six different locations) accessible to international tourists.
But it’s his passion for food and his infectious enthusiasm that is making his tour such a success, so much so that he’s now taking on two extra guides to help.
In Canada, Miguel was a guide for ‘Vancouver Foodie Tours’. In the UK he started at the bottom, working first as a waiter, then manager, at a top independent pizza restaurant.
Getting to know the chefs at nearby Michelin Bib Gourmet locations, and with their support, he created his company. Miguel insists on paying for samples provided by the restaurant (so they are not out of pocket) and arranges his tours during their afternoon ‘lull’. They gain extra custom and free publicity – it’s a ‘win win’ situation.
Chester Zoo, Cheshire
Heart of Africa is an incredible addition to Chester Zoo offering itsvisitors a magical sight – a mix of African animals, zebras, giraffes and ostriches, grazing in its newly created Savannah.
Circled by boardwalks this new and largest area of the zoo is accessible to all and a wonderful way to showcase its work in the conservation of wildlife and protection of their natural habitats.
Without facilities such as the Heart of Africa many endangered species would disappear and future generations would never have the opportunity to see them anywhere. This new facility is a great example of a habitat that gives priority to the well-being of the animals at the same time creating good viewing opportunities to visitors.
Chester Zoo is a charity and non-profit making organisation and therefore reliant on funding to develop new facilities. The money raised include a green loan and revolving credit facility from Santander plus funding from various trusts and foundations and an on-going Heart of Africa appeal to the public.
In August 2025 Heart of Africa was augmented by the opening of The Reserve offering a unique experience – to stay in a luxury lodge alongside the animals! More jobs too.
County Durham
Opened in 2024, Hopetown Darlington tells the story of railways. It's an important site in terms of rail history - the first passenger-carrying train journey on a public railway went through Darlington in 1825 and the museum is adjacent to North Road Station.
For the railway's 200th year anniversary in 2025, Hopetown is hosting a range of exhibitions and events such as an anniversary journey on 27th September, involvement in the S&DR200 festival and STEAM to the future exhibition that focuses on the legacy and future of the railway.
Staff are recruited locally wherever possible and local suppliers are used for retail, food and beverages.
Hopetown has a dedicated webpage addressing its environmental efforts. Some of its initiatives include no single-use plastic and reduction in paper use, sensor lights, recycling, encouraging staff to cycle or walk to work and energy-efficient electric and water systems.
The main exhibition is free to enter and is nearly all wheelchair accessible, with lifts and ramps where needed. Development works also made Darlington’s North Road Station accessible for the first time.
Located in the heart of The O2, iFLY London offers indoor skydiving that’s perfect for both beginners and seasoned flyers. It uses a vertical wind tunnel to simulate the sensation of free-fall. With wind speeds reaching up to 120 mph, participants can experience the thrill of flight in a safe and controlled environment.
You’re provided with a flight suit, helmet, and goggles. A team of instructors are your partners in this incredible journey. Each session, lasting up to 60 minutes, includes a pre-flight briefing and expert training,.
You’re helped inside the wind tunnel and then experience the basics of skydiving as you feel the powerful rush of air lift you into the sky, giving you the sensation of true free-fall. It’s a slightly uncomfortable but exhilarating experience.
An exhilarating optional extra is the Hi-Flight experience. Depending on how well you’ve performed on your initial flight, the instructor may be able to fly you higher. You’re guided up and down the tunnel while spinning as you go - only for serious adrenaline junkies
Cameras record your entire flight, perfect for showing friends and family who don’t believe you’ve done it. And for those who prefer to watch the action from a safe distance, there’s a 360-degree free viewing gallery.
I came across Vaishali Patel’s Immersive India tour through social enterprise Women In Travel (WIT). I was familiar with Ealing Road, Wembley where it takes place – a shopping street for decades for London’s Gujarati community – and was intrigued how something so ‘ordinary’ could be a tour!
What Vaishali and WIT have done is fantastic, showing one community’s ‘normal’ to a wider audience and celebrating the London on your doorstep. With nearly 200 bookings since November 2023, guests have purchased materials from BL Joshi sari shop, felt confident to buy unfamiliar Indian sweets, and comfortable visiting an Indian temple, down to Vaishali’s introduction to Ealing Road’s history and heritage.
Easy to reach via public transport (Alperton tube), the tour champions the family-run, independent stores that keep London going. Accessibility-wise, there’s a lift at the Shri Sanatan Hindu Temple, and street/store wheelchair access, bar the narrower festival shop.
When Vaishali’s tour started, she was one of two Tour Guiding Academy women; now there are six, with two more this autumn. The programme is part-funded by WIT’s partners including Google and TUI Futureshapers Programme. A percentage of sales goes to WIT’s mission to connect underserved, diverse female talent to enterprising opportunities in tourism.
Caithness
The iconic landmark, John O’Groats, in Caithenss, is the most northerly point of mainland Scotland. A fishing and croft-farm community, oatmeal, corn, bere (barley) was milled for 1,000 years until the last water-powered mill, run by the Houston family since 1750, closed in 2001.
The John O’ Groats Mill Trust of enthusiasts began fundraising and after a £4.9 million refurbishment project, the 18th-century, B listed Watermill opened as a Heritage Museum and valuable, vibrant community venue. Guided tours showcase the original waterwheel, kiln, quern-stone, hoists, tools, Interpretation displays, vintage photographs, oral histories and the renovation timeline.
The Watermill is back in full working order, grinding locally-harvested bere again. The small team of full time/seasonal staff are trained in artisan skills for demonstrations, hands-on workshops, kids’ activities. The attraction is wheelchair accessible, there's sustainable underfloor heating, and a Grasscrete car/coach/cycle park. The cafe overlooks the mill pond, burn and seashore, There's a gift shop selling local arts and crafts.
Caithness mills were, for centuries, a sensory symbol of daily sustenance:
‘The smell of corn was the breath of living.’ Neil Gunn, ‘Highland River’ (1937).
The meticulous architectural reconstruction of the Watermill preserves the tradition and legacy of Scottish rural heritage – moreover, an inspiring visitor attraction in this remote wee corner of the tourist map.
Pendine, Carmarthenshire
The Museum of Land Speed in Pendine, Carmarthenshire is far more than a celebration of vintage racing. It’s a bold, forward-thinking visitor attraction with international appeal. Showcasing legendary land-speed record breakers that once thundered across Pendine Sands, the museum combines rich heritage with modern, interactive exhibits that resonate with global motorsport fans and families alike.
This is no temporary or nostalgia-driven project. Designed to last, it is a tribute to the past and forms a key part of Carmarthenshire’s long-term tourism strategy. It delivers year-round value by boosting footfall to the region, supporting local hospitality businesses, and creating full-time jobs for local people.
Its environmental credentials are equally impressive. Built with sustainability in mind, the structure incorporates renewable energy features and promotes local biodiversity with dune-friendly landscaping. Importantly, it’s fully accessible, with inclusive design ensuring visitors of all abilities can engage with the exhibits.
The museum’s renovation was made possible through a blend of public funding and private donations. Support came from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, local council grants, and enthusiastic community sponsors.
By preserving Pendine’s heritage, creating jobs, and championing sustainability and local engagement, the Museum of Land Speed delivers a powerful visitor experience and drives meaningful impact in South Wales.
Edinburgh
In our uncertain times, this wonderful wee museum located in the heart of Edinburgh is dedicated to amplify Palestinian voices through contemporary artistic expression, providing a permanent space to showcase the works of both emerging and established Palestinian artists.
It's the only one in Europe, a satellite of the USA museum, and was launched to co-incide with the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, a pivotal moment in Palestinian history when nearly a million Palestinians were forced out of their homes to pave the way for the establishment of the state of Israel.
It's on one of the most famous streets in Edinburgh for art and galleries.
This simple museum has everything from powerful art to Palestine jenga, with wooden and bronze cast pieces reflecting famous proverbs - a fascinating place.
Blackpool
Blackpool's new all-singing, all-dancing museum is proudly located just off the Prom. It tells the extraordinary stories of the UK’s first mass seaside resort and its unrivalled role in the development of British popular entertainment. Celebrating the town, its social history and the performers, it offers visitors an immersive experience, using a superb collection of objects, ephemera and stories.
Six themed galleries explore the elements that make Blackpool so special: Seaside, Magic, Circus, Illuminations, Shows, and Dance. Each gallery is a mixture of objects, including original costumes, props, puppets, posters, programmes, disco booths and dance floors. Here the visitor will hear the words of entertainers (real and imagined) through the museum’s audio-visual displays, giving behind the scenes hints, tips and gossip.
This is a museum not just to be seen, but to be experienced close up. It’s full of fun, taking visitors behind the scenes and offering them the opportunity to have a go. And if you want something more serious. Showtown also looks after the History Centre; a living archive through which everyone can discover the untold stories of the town and its people.
“Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax.” H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.
For 44 years, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip sailed the world on Britannia for State visits and family holidays. In 1998 the decommissioned Royal Yacht became a floating palace, berthed at the Port of Leith, just north of Edinburgh city centre. Now, and two years in development, a new tourism project and visitor attraction creates an immersive journey to relate the ship's maritime heritage from the first British Royal Yacht in 1660.
The imaginatively designed exhibition of maps, charts, vintage artefacts and films illustrate Britannia’s 968 official visits, 600 ports, 138 countries, one million nautical miles and 50 global voyages. Visitors can see the ornate gold-plated binnacle and Royal Navy uniforms along with a photographic gallery of Royal tours, State Dinners and daily life on board.
Expect a grand sense of arrival when embarking the iconic yacht, touring five decks with audio commentary (30 languages, braille, sign language). Original furnishings have been preserved as you tour the bedrooms, drawing and dining rooms, sun-lounge. You get to see the galley, laundry, the Admiral/officer/crew quarters, the engines, and a 1966 Rolls Royce.
Welcoming 350,000 international visitors each year, this majestic visitor centre completely enhances the 5-star Britannia tour.
The Story of Emily which opened in July 2024 brings long overdue recognition to the welfare campaigner and pacifist whose exposure of the appalling conditions in the British concentration camps of the Boer War led to changes that saved thousands of lives, white and black.
Although Emily Hobhouse is revered as a heroine in South Africa she is almost unknown here: the government of the day and the press branded her a traitor. In their terms she had picked the 'wrong' side.
Her life and achievement are now celebrated in a new museum in St. Ive [correct] near Liskeard. It comes in two sections: the Victorian rectory that had been her childhood home, now painstakingly restored, and the War Rooms which tell her extraordinary tale.
Cutting edge technology including animation, installations, film and virtual reality combines with information displays, period photos, documents, artefacts and tableaux, domestic and military, to create an immersive experience, both powerful and moving.
The museum, which has created 36 new full or part-time jobs, has various green features including solar energy, best-in-class insulation and heating and EV charging points. The rectory is listed so it does not have a lift but other parts including the garden and restaurant are wheelchair accessible.
Carers and residents within 2.5 miles go free.
Unseen Tours unveiled its latest walking tour in London in February 2025, offering a fresh perspective on West India Quay. Titled 'Untold Stories of London’s Docklands,' the tour is created and led by Stefan, a local guide with experience of homelessness. Stefan’s tour delves into the fascinating past of West India Quay, uncovering the stories of the dockworkers and their masters, and the harrowing legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Interwoven with these historical narratives is Stefan’s own lived experience of homelessness and contract work, offering a deeply personal and thought-provoking perspective on social issues and different living conditions. As a social enterprise, Unseen Tours is dedicated to empowering marginalised individuals with lived experience of homelessness, helping them develop, curate, and lead their own walking tours across London. Through training provided by Sama Sama International, tour guides gain the confidence to share their personal experiences and earn an income, whilst challenging stereotypes about homelessness. In London, the scheme has supported 29 people with lived experience of homelessness, to co-create their own walking tours. The scheme has also supported survivors of human trafficking, modern slavery and refugees to do the same. The experience fosters meaningful social impact, not only raising awareness but also directly supporting Stefan. 60% of ticket sales go to him as a source of income.
London
On the site of the 2012 Olympics in London, V&A East Storehouse is an enormous four-level storage facility that’s larger in size than 30 basketball courts. It houses over half a million works from every creative discipline, from Roman frescos and samurai swords to Elton John’s costumes and mid-century furniture. The storehouse also contains over 100 curated mini-displays.
Most items are displayed on pallets and within crates for protection, but the storehouse’s 'Order an Object' experience means that visitors can pre-arrange to see any object they like.
The Weston Collections Hall is the centrepiece reaching a height of over 20 metres. Here there’s a section of glass flooring with a view of the Agra Colonnade and working store below. Each level has public walkways enabling you to explore more of the collection and see the museum at work. On level three, you can watch conservators at work in the conservation studio via a glass overlook balcony and live feed screen.
V&A East Storehouse is a working museum store that’s open for everyone to explore. The building has been designed to get you closer than ever before to objects in the V&A collection and the behind-the-scenes work of the museum.
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Did you know that there were once over 200 chair factories in Wycombe? And that Wycombe Museum in Buckinghamshire holds an archive of chairs and tools that are nationally significant to the chair industry?
Though High Wycombe is one of the most deprived and diverse areas in Buckinghamshire, the Wycombe Museum, which is partially funded by the Arts Council of England, uses its collection to engage local people and a wider audience to tell lost stories of its history through the lens of the chair. The recent redevelopment of its galleries in 2024 highlight women and minority chair makers, and its family events allow exploration and preservation of its grounds.
For a museum that welcomed over 20,000 people last year, it is still one of the very few free cultural spaces in Buckinghamshire. Despite having limited resources, the museum deserves recognition for building community engagement, supporting local regeneration and developing local pride in the remarkable story of a local industry.
Now select one of the other categories to review...
Now select one of the other categories to review...
Best Europe Tourism Project
Best Wider World Tourism Project
Page updated
Report abuse