Award Winning Destination

In South East England we love to celebrate tourism excellence. On one hand it's very easy to do, as we have such an outstanding array of businesses that fit the bill! On the other hand, there are too many amazing businesses across the destination to acknowledge them all!

Each year the Beautiful South Awards celebrates the cream of the South East’s tourism industry, celebrating the top places to stay, visit and enjoy across the region, awarding Gold, Silver, Bronze and Commended in recognition for the work undertaken over the past year.  These awards celebrate the tourism businesses that go that extra mile, creating visitor experiences that customers enjoy time and time again.  They celebrate great places to stay with an extra special warm South East welcome and places to eat that champion local producers and seasonal produce. They also honour some of the top events happening within the destination that you just shouldn't miss and those businesses within the industry that are bringing about change in sustainability, inclusivity, staff training and development.

Take a look and discover this years award-winning hotels, top places to visit and events that will be pulling in the visitors for 2024.  See what an award-winning destination South East England is. Why not include some of them in your holiday and days out plans, using the list below or at the bottom of the page, you'll find a host of accommodation choices, attractions to visit, places to eat and even to get married in!

The Visit England national awards takes place in June annually with most gold winners below going forward to these awards. Take a look and discover how the regional award-winners faired at the national awards.  A massive congratulation to them, choosen from hundreds of tourism businesses across England. 

Best Places to Visit

• Oxford Castle & Prison, Oxford - Bronze winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
• WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, Arundel - Silver winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
• Wellington Country Park, Riseley - Bronze winner of  Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Winchester Visitor Information Centre, Winchester - Gold winner of Visitor Information Service of the Year
• White Cliffs Country Visitor Information Centre, Dover - Silver winner of Visitor Information Service of the Year
• Winchester Science Centre, Winchester - Bronze winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• See Southampton Tour Guides, Southampton - Bronze winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
• Kent Event Centre, Maidstone - Bronze winner of Business Events Venue of the Year
• Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth - Bronze winner of Business Events Venue of the Year
• Kent Wildlife Trust, Maidstone - Silver winner of the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• Ridgeview WIne Estate, Ditchling Common - Bronze winner of the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• Emily Anderson, Powell-Cotton Museum, Birchington - Bronze winner of the Unsunf Hero Award
• Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes - Gold winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Leeds Castle, Maidstone - Silver winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Wakehurst, Haywards Heath - Silver winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Bodleian Libraries, Oxford - Commended winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Electra, Milton Keynes - Silver winner of New Tourism Business Award
• Battle of Briatain Memorial, Folkestone - Gold winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
• The Brickworks Museum, Southamopton - Commended winner of  Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Chapel House Estate. Ramsgate - Gold winner of Wedding Venue of the Year

Best Places to Stay

• Stubcroft Farm Campsite, Chichester - Gold winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, Gold winner of Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award and Gold winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
• Mill Rythe Coastal Village, Hayling Island - Bronze winner of Holiday Park of the Year
• Kits Coty Glamping, Aylesford - Gold winner of Glamping Business of the Year
• Rebel Farmer Tipi, Ashford - Bronze winner of Glamping Business of the Year
• Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts, Ashford - Silver winner of Glamping Business of the Year
• Shorefield Holidays, Lymington - Silver winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year
• Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke - Silver winner of Large Hotel of the Year and Silver winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
• The Bosham Boathouse B&B, Bosham - Gold winner of B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
• The Gallivant, Camber - Gold winner of Small Hotel of the Year, Silver winner of Business Events Venue of the Year, Silver Winner of Restaurant of the Year
• Hurley House Hotel, Hurley - Gold winner of Business Events of the Year
• Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, Bembridge - Bronze winner of Holiday Park of the Year
• Hoburne Naish, New Milton - Commended winner of Holiday Park of the Year
• Seal Bay Resort, Selsey - Commended winner of Holiday Park of the Year
• Sandy Balls Holiday Village,  Fordingbridge - Gold winner of Holiday Park of the Year
• Crowhurst Park, Battle - Silver winner of Holiday Park of the Year and Brett Hawkes - Gold winner of the Unsung Hero Award
• Solent Hotel & Spa, Fareham - Commended winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
• Art Deco House UK, Shanklin - Silver winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• The Loch & the Tyne, Windsor - Commended winner of B&B Guesthouse of the Year and Bronze winner of the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• Lytton Lawn Touring Park, Lymington - Silver winner of Camping and Caravanning of the Year
• Badgells Wood, Birling Estate, Meopham - Bronze winner of Camping and Caravanning of the Year
• Frasers, Ashford - Silver winner of the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, Bronze winner of Small Hotel of the Year and Bronze winner of  Wedding Venue of the Year
• Rogue's Cottage, Keepers Cottage, Kent - Bronze winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year
• New Place Hotel, Southampton - Gold winner of the Future of Hospitality Award
• Kevin Cockram, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Goudhurst - Silver winner of the Unsung Hero Award
• Cave Hotel and Golf Resort, Faversham - Gold winner of Large Hotel of the Year
• Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, Brockenhurst - Silver winner of Large Hotel of the Year
• The Castle Hotel, Windsor - Commended winner of Large Hotel of the Year
• Boys Hall, Ashford - Gold winner of New Tourism Business Award
• Heath Farm Holiday Cottages, Oxford - Gold winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Coldharbour Log Cabin, Tenterden - Bronze winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Stable Oak Cottages, Maidstone - Bronze winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Sussex Luxury Accommodation, Wellness Retreats & Fine Dining, Horsham - Commended winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• The Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu - Silver winner of Small Hotel of the Year
• Beachcroft Hotel, Bognor Regis - Commended winner of Small Hotel of the Year
• The Star, Polegate - Commended winner of Small Hotel of the Year
• Tottington Manor Hotel, Henfield - Commended winner of Small Hotel of the Year and Bronze winner of Wedding Venue of the Year

Best Places to Eat and Drink

• The Vineyard, Newbury - Bronze winner of Restaurant of the Year
• The Glasshouse Restaurant at Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke - Gold winner of Restaurant of the Year 
• MadHatter Tea Room & Gift Shop, Hayling Island - Gold winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
• The Gallivant, Camber, Silver winner of Restaurant of the Year
• Fresco DeliKafessen, Guildford - Bronze winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
• The Royal Hotel, Ventnor - Silver winner of Restaurant of the Year
• Wiston Estate, Washington - Commended winner of Restaurant of the Year
• The Apple Orchard, West Wycombe - Silver winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
• The Castle, Farnham - Gold winner of the Casual Dining Award
• The Gomshall Mill, Gomshall - Gold winner of Pub of the Year
• The Loch & the Tyne, Windsor - Silver winner of Pub of the Year
• The Cricketers Inn, Southampton - Bronze winner of Pub of the Year

Best Events and Experiences

• SenSpa, Brockenhurst - Gold winner of Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year
• Tour & Tasting at Wiston Estate, Washington - Gold winner of Experience of the Year (Active or Learning)
• Distillery Tour and Tutored Tasting – Maidstone Distillery, Maidstone - Silver winner of Experience of the Year (Active or Learning) and Silver winner of Small Visitor of the Year
• Distillery Tour – Copper Rivet Distillery, Chatham - Bronze winner of Experience of the Year (Active or Learning)
• Isle of Wight Walking Festival, Newport, - Gold winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
• A Tree-mendous Christmas at Petworth, Petworth - Silver winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
• The Santa Specials, Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden - Bronze winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
• Illuminated – Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens - Commended winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year

Congratulations to all the 2024 award-winners, a massive thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to make the South East an award-winning destination to work in, visit and holiday in.