News

The Visit England Awards for Excellence 2017

Last updated 27th April 2017

The winners of the Visit England Awards for Excellence 2017 were announced during a quintessentially English afternoon tea at the Waldorf Hilton in the heart of London. Aptly the event was hosted by comedian Sue Perkins, former host of The Great British Bake Off, whose fruity humour infused the occasion with jokes about what you can get up to in a static caravan and how a pub can be a tourist attraction in its own right!

For the first time, the awards included three family-friendly categories sponsored by Family Traveller. Congratulations to all the winners!

Family-Friendly Accommodation WINNER: Bosinver Farm Cottages

Coliza-cottage

Bosinver Farm Cottages make a great Cornish family holiday

Bosinver Farm Cottages is a family run business comprising 20 stylish, detached cottages in 30 acres of meadows in South Cornwall. The owners pride themselves on their helpfulness, friendliness, local knowledge and passion for giving families opportunity to relax away from hectic lives. They provide everything for stress-free holidays -cots, highchairs, strollers, blackout blinds, beach equipment and lots more. On site is a heated pool, soft play, gym, tennis court and therapy room. Frozen meals and private chef give Mums a break, the village pub is walking distance and beaches 3 miles away.

Activities include Forest School, animal feeding, pony rides and other pop-up events. In the words of a guest “I loved the fact that although Bosinver caters extremely well for children, there’s an emphasis on luxury and comfort for adults in the accommodation – a lot of other “family friendly” places think the two things are mutually exclusive!”

Family-friendly Attraction WINNER: Thames Rockets

Thames-rockets-1

Kids will adore the high adrenaline Thames Rockets ride

Thames Rockets, London’s No1 boat tour, operating for over 10 years from the London Eye Pier and St Katharine Pier, allowing unrivalled coverage both South and North banks. Handpicked guides are actors, comics, closet history buffs and London aficionados, bring together their passion with the fantastic history of the Thames.

A wide selection of trips offer the ideal choice of experience for families of varying ages, each one tailored with bespoke music and entertainment with our charismatic guides and highly experienced skippers. Oh… and not forgetting the cutting edge, superfast, and VERY red fleet ‘Thames Rockets’ propelling you and your nearest and dearest at a thrilling 35mph along the iconic waterway as you take in over 30 amazing landmarks.

Family-friendly Food & Drink Business WINNER: Chester Zoo

Chester-Zoo

Little ones encounter big creatures at Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo  is home to 15,000 exotic and endangered animals, based in 125 acres of award-winning gardens. But it is not just a zoo. It comprises a team of talented, expert staff dedicated to providing the highest standards of care for the animals, as well as discovering new conservation initiatives and giving the 1.9million visitors an inspirational day out. Chester Zoo has an ambitious development programme insuring that it continuously provides world class experiences for its visitors. But for the staff, the animals and their wellbeing come first. They are the driving force behind everything to Zoo does, like working to protect UK and international wildlife. It creates and supports hundreds of conservation projects all over the planet and is a charity too!

There are lot of places around the zoo to eat. Whether you want a quick snack on the go, or a family feast you’ll find great value options. Once you’ve refuelled the kids can burn off some energy at the various themed children’s play areas! Kids and grown-ups will love the Zoofari Monorail, allowing you to see the animals from a different perspective or find out a new favourite fact at one of our many animal talks. Chester Zoo is fully accessible with buggy and wheelchair hire, baby changing and baby feeding facilities, and is open every day.

Check out all the other Visit England Awards for Excellence categories and winners

See more family-friendly holiday ideas in England