Bath has once again proved itself as one of the country’s top visitor destinations in the tourism industry’s leading awards for excellence.
The Roman Baths & Pump Room collected two Silvers, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy landed one Silver and Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, on the city’s doorstep at Colerne, also won Silver in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence – a bigger haul than any other city.
The Roman Baths’ accolades came in the international tourism and large visitor attraction of the year categories, the Herschel Museum’s was for small visitor attraction of the year while Lucknam Park’s gong was for large hotel of the year.
The Roman Baths & Pump Room have reopened since the lockdown and are now welcoming a growing number of visitors. The Herschel Museum of Astronomy on New King St, pictured below – one the UK’ smallest museums – remains closed, although its garden is open for family solar and stargazing sessions over the summer holidays.
Five-star Lucknam Park, a former Palladian mansion set in 500 acres of parkland where rooms start at £295 a night, reopened to guests on July 13.
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, now in their 31st year, celebrate and champion innovation, quality and best practice across the tourism industry.
Winners are selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs, museums and conference centres.
They were staged ‘virtually’ for the first time this year and were streamed live via the VisitEngland website and YouTube channel on Monday evening.
Other West of England winners included Wild Wookey at Wookey Hole Caves, near Wells (gold – experience of the year) and The Dining Room – Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, (gold – Taste of England award).
Destination Bristol, which promotes the city as a world-class place to visit through its Visit Bristol brand, landed Bronze in the International Distribution category.
Robin Barker, from South West awards organisers Services for Tourism, said: “What an amazing evening and success for tourism across the South West. The passion, innovation and resilience of our winners has shone through yet again in what has been an extraordinary year, and I invite everyone to share in congratulating them as well as all those working in tourism who are continuing to ‘pull out all the stops’ to offer a fabulous experience to visitors.”
VisitEngland chief executive Sally Balcombe added: “Millions of jobs and local economies depend on tourism and this year’s awards are also a timely reminder of the determination, innovation and commitment of businesses across the country who have been working extremely hard to reopen, to welcome visitors back safely and to continue to provide a first-class experience.”
