Looking for a staycation spot, pub for Sunday lunch, or just a day out? The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 have picked some of the best of English hospitality up and down the country – see who won awards near you
11:03, 15 Jun 2026Updated 11:03, 15 Jun 2026
Historic sites such as Bletchly Park picked up awards(Image: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A new interactive map will let you search for some of England’s best pubs and days out near you – as well as those in different parts of the country and the best hotels in the regions if you’re planning a staycation.
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 took place earlier this month, showcasing the best of what England has to offer whether that’s family-friendly attractions, brilliant days out, or even just the best restaurants and pubs not to be missed.
We’ve put together an interactive map showcasing the big winners, so you can discover some of the best of English hospitality on your own doorstep. Simply use the map and zoom in on your local region to find the best of the best.
England’s tourism industry is worth around £127 billion a year, and employs around two million people in a huge variety of jobs. At VisitEngland’s awards, winners included both small and large hotels, B&Bs, glamping operators, tourist attractions, restaurants, and pubs.
Among the winners of the awards were MonkBridge House in York, who scooped Gold in the coveted BandB and Guest House of the Year. This property has just eight individually designed rooms, some with four-poster beds, and is full of historic elegance.
Larger properties that won awards included Bovey Castle in Devon, which is set on 275 acres of countryside including a golf course, spa, and restaurant. While those who enjoy the great outdoors may want to head to nearby Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa which won Gold in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year category.
Visit England’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year went to Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk. The wildlife park is owned by TV star and conservationist Jimmy Doherty, who has presented programmes on both Channel 4 and the BBC.
Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, came in second place, where visitors can learn about the code-breaking geniuses who were instrumental in helping the Allied Forces win WWII.
The Morgan Experience Centre in Worcestershire won Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. Set on the historic site of Morgan Motor Company, you can see the extraordinary skill put into making these classic cars with a factory tour. The Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum & Whisky Distillery won Silver in this category, promising an “immersive journey into Northumbria’s Golden Age”. It has a fascinating interactive museum where you can see how the Anglo-Saxons really lived.
Other businesses who won awards include Butlin’s. The holiday park operator, that just celebrated its 90th anniversary, picked up an Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “The awards are a celebration of England’s outstanding tourism industry and an opportunity to highlight the excellence that makes it world leading.
“From a hands-on, traditional blacksmith’s visitor experience in the Midlands and a castle hotel and spa set in one of our national parks to accessible and inclusive holidays, these awards showcase the exceptional quality, unparalleled customer service and innovation that drive our industry.”
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THE upcoming Eden Project Morecambe has unveiled its biggest attraction yet – a £4.5million immersive experience.
Called ‘The Elder Tree’ it will guide visitors through a unique journey when it opens in 2028.
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Eden Project Morecambe will have ‘The Elder Tree’ as its focal pointCredit: Eden ProjectThe new Eden Project will consist of two domes in Morecambe BayCredit: Eden Project
The £100million garden attraction set to be built on Morecambe Bay has revealed its centrepiece called ‘The Elder Tree’.
It has been described as “one of the most significant elements” of the attraction.
It’s being built at the cost of £4.5million, which was donated from a charity lottery.
The 65 foot tree will guide visitors on a journey from its roots to the trunk hollows in a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
It is set to show people how to “reconnect” with and “restore nature”.
The Eden Project in Morecambe will be the newest of its kind in 25 years with the only other attraction being in Cornwall.
Inside the new attraction will be two very different experiences called The Realm of the Sun and The Realm of the Moon.
The Realm of the Sun has been described as “a bright, lush landscape of the near future — a place where humanity has rediscovered how to repair and re-engage with the broken rhythms of the natural world”.
The Realm of the Moon is as an immersive but “darker” space with a hyper-real rockpool which will have sped-up cycles of tides.
Also inside the domes will be 1.5 acres of landscaped gardens, which will open earlier than the other exhibits in 2027.
The garden attraction will have a light and a dark realmCredit: Eden Project
Other details that have been previously mentioned include hanging plants, mini gardens, a multi-sensory area, a waterfall and a ‘Town Square’.
Between the two realms, there is expected to be an area called Metronome, where visitors will buy their entry tickets.
There will be a 750-capacity Tidal Theatre, a 300-capacity restaurant and a shop at the attraction as well.
Once open, Eden Project Morecambe is expected to bring in around £80million to the local area.
Andy Jasper, Eden Project CEO, said: “The funding has specifically secured The Elder Tree – which will sit at the heart of the experience for visitors.
“More than a striking landmark, it will help tell the story of our changing relationship with the natural world and inspire people to imagine what an incredibly positive future could look like.”
VISIT England has announced this year’s Awards For Excellence, highlighting the best accommodation and attractions.
The honours have been handed out annually for 35 years now, celebrating quality, innovation and customer service, so those choosing staycations can ensure they pick a great place for a great time.
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Fans of fancy, old-fashioned motors won’t want to miss the Morgan Experience in WorcestershireCredit: MorganKids can have fun meeting birds at Bovey CastleCredit: Handout
Sophie Swietochowski has the lowdown on ten category winners.
ACCOMMODATION
B&B/Guest House Of The Year
The glorious York Minster cathedralCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Taking home gold in the B&B category, MonkBridge House is slap bang in the centre of York, within walking distance of top attractions including the glorious York Minster cathedral.
The home was built in 1864 and is bursting with character, although all eight of its bedrooms have been given a sophisticated makeover since then.
The award-winning breakfasts are whipped up with locally sourced goods and home-made jams, marmalades and granola are among the morning spread.
Immersed in 98 acres of glorious, wildlife-rich landscape, Clawford Lakes is glamping done properly.
The campsite is set within a rugged valley close to the Cornish holiday spot of Bude and features stylish floating lodges and lakeside pods, both overlooking the water, as well as luxury apartments, lodges and cocoons with a safari-tent look to them.
The lake is ideal for keen anglers and the site is pet-friendly, too.
Three-night weekend breaks cost from £299 for a family of four.
If countryside charm and rugged hillsides sound like your cup of tea, you may want to swing by this year’s large hotel winner.
The 5* Bovey Castle in Devon is an elegant space filled with plump cushions, grand headboards and dangling chandeliers.
There is a large on-site spa offering massages from £80, as well as an 18-hole golf course, plus activities including archery, tennis, rifle shooting, pottery throwing and deer walks.
Kids will love the pony rides and the chance to feed the animals at Bosinver, buried deep in rural CornwallCredit: instagram.com/bosinver/
Kids will love the pony rides and the chance to feed the animals at Bosinver, buried deep in rural Cornwall.
With a whole host of cosy cottages on its roster, varying in size from two to six bedrooms and with dog-friendly options, it’s no surprise this spot came out on top for self-catering accommodation.
These are more than just holiday homes — there’s a play barn, sauna, tennis, swimming pool, Gruffalo trail and games room, all on site.
A three-night stay for four people costs from £569.
This Blacksmith experience at Oldfield Forge in Herefordshire will help you do just that.
Available for anyone aged seven-plus, the attraction teaches punters the tricks of the trade and how to forge practical items and decorative goods such as knives, garden tools and even swords.
The events last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days and cost from £62.
Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk gives guests the chance to get properly up close and personal with animals.
Little ones will be keen on the Farmyard Friends Experience, where they’ll get to feed sheep, goats, pigs or cattle, while polar bear fans will be desperate to get stuck in to The Lost Lands of the Tundra, the polar bear enclosure.
Day tickets cost from £25 per adult and £20 per child. Under twos go free.
There are guided factory tours where visitors can get a good look at Morgan Motor Company vehicles, plus driving experiences that let you get behind the wheel of a heritage car.
Those that don’t feel confident steering themselves can opt to be a passenger while being driven by a trusty professional.
Fine fare on offer at Carriages in HerefordshireCredit: Carriages
Crowned top dog for fine dining, Carriages in Herefordshire will knock your socks off.
Save this for a special occasion, as it’s fancy — think classic British grub that relies on seasonal and local ingredients.
The tasting menu costs a reasonable £80pp and features classy dishes such as asparagus salad with white crab, wild garlic emulsion and chervil vinaigrette, as well as honey-glazed duck breast.
Ask an incoming tourist what the country’s big visitor draws are, and they may well say Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Stonehenge, Thorpe Park or even Legoland
Jimmy Doherty runs England’s best large visitor attraction(Image: BBC)
The best attractions in England this year have been crowned, and the winners may come as something of a surprise.
Ask an incoming tourist what the country’s big visitor draws are, and they may well say Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Stonehenge or even Legoland.
The victory comes off the back of a win at the Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 2026 Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism Awards, so Jimmy’s is clearly having a good year.
The wildlife park is owned by TV star and conservationist Jimmy Doherty, who has presented programmes on both Channel 4 and the BBC. He is best known for the show Jimmy’s Farm, which details the operation of the Essex Pig Company that he and his wife Michaela Furney own in Suffolk.
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The park aims to be a centre of excellence for British rare breeds while also housing animals like camels, primates, tapirs and crocodiles. Lions and a tiger were added as recently as October 2025.
The real draw that put the place on the map was the acquisition of polar bears. Jimmy’s Farm built Europe’s largest facility for the species, called “the Lost Lands of the Tundra,” housing rescue polar bears alongside brown bears, Arctic foxes, grey wolves, reindeer and red-breasted geese. The bears are even visible from the train window on the London–Ipswich line.
Getting from London to Ipswich by train takes about an hour from Liverpool Street, but the lack of a bus from Ipswich station to the park is an issue some have confronted. Most visitors end up getting a taxi, which costs around £13 each way. The zoo itself is only part of the site; there are also shops and a restaurant in the farm area, and you can leave and re-enter the zoo with your receipt.
Jimmy’s Farm has 1,800 five star reviews on Tripadvisor, out of 2,400 in total.
“What a great day out, a well thought out place, extremely conducive and focused on giving the animals the best possible environment to flourish and feel comfortable in their habitat,” one happy customer wrote.
“Some beautiful woodland walks, plenty of things to do for children aside from seeing the animals, beautifully situated in the centre of the park, away from the majority of animals. Plenty of choice around the park for eating, whether you want a snack or something more substantial, as well as numerous picnic areas if you bring your own food.”
The winners were announced at the annual event hosted by journalist and broadcaster Sean Fletcher on 3 June at Aerospace Bristol.
Coming in second place in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year rankings was Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, where visitors can learn about the code-breaking geniuses who were instrumental in helping the Allied Forces win WWII.
It is clearly a year for farms. The bronze award was handed to Attwell Farm Park in Worcestershire, a family-run petting farm where Pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and ducks are all ready to nibble some feed from your hand.
Gold, Silver and Bronze were awarded in 17 categories selected from 21 local awards. They ranged from ‘Regenerative Tourism Award’ to ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award’ and from ‘New Tourism Business of the Year’ to ‘Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year’.
Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “I am delighted to see so many businesses across England being recognised for their outstanding work, helping to make people’s stays as enjoyable and memorable as possible.
“From hotels and pubs to glamping, museums and experiences, these awards are a real testament to those striving to ensure our tourism industry remains outstanding. Our upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will provide a clear, long-term plan to unlock investment, back businesses and showcase more of our great destinations to the world.”
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes added: “The awards are a celebration of England’s outstanding tourism industry and an opportunity to highlight the excellence that makes it world-leading.
“From a hands-on, traditional blacksmith’s visitor experience in the Midlands and a castle hotel and spa set in one of our national parks to accessible and inclusive holidays, these awards showcase the exceptional quality, unparalleled customer service and innovation that drive our industry.
“I congratulate the wonderful range of first-class award recipients, all of whom are so passionate about tourism. They are all deserving winners.”
THE biggest theme park in Spain is getting two exciting new family zones – and some are the first in Europe.
PortAventura World is home to more than just a theme park as it also has the Caribbean-themed waterpark Caribe Aquatic Park.
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Coral Bay is the new water attraction opening at PortAventura World this summerCredit: Portaventura ParkMakamanu Jungle will be an aerial themed attractionCredit: Portaventura Park
Or head to the main PortAdventura Park where there are six themed lands – Mediterranean, Polynesia, China, Mexico, the Far West, and SésamoAventura – and 40 rides to choose from.
To get to the park, the easiest way is to fly to Barcelona Reus Airport which as Ryanair flights, as it is around 15 minutes from there.
One mum who recently visited told Sun Travel: “Even my too-cool-for-school teens were wowed.
“While the big thrill rides understandably grab the headlines, younger families are well provided for with a huge schedule of themed entertainment shows at the park, tea cup rides, log flumes, and mini rollercoasters.
“By staying in one of the park hotels, we also got unlimited access to the park and a day at Ferrari Land.
“So unlike Disneyland which generally closes at 9pm, PortAventura stays open until 11pm so you really can wring the maximum out of your stay.”
THE UK’s warm weather might seem like a thing of the past, but the rain doesn’t don’t mean you have to miss out on theme parks and amusement attractions.
And as the weather takes a turn for the worse across the UK the rest of this week and into the weekend, what better way to spend it than heading to one of these spots?
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Babylon Park in Camden is an indoor theme park and even has a rollercoasterCredit: Babylon Park
The UK is home to several, with most catering to the different age groups – even adults – so here are some of the best to check out.
Babylon Park in Camden, London
Theme parks are a lot of fun, but when it is rainy and all the rides are outside it can quickly become less fun.
However in Camden, London, you can head to Babylon Park which is a space-themed indoor amusement park with its own indoor rollercoaster.
Across different levels, there are a number of rides including a drop tower and there is also a soft play area from smaller kids.
There are several retro arcade games too including dance challenge machines and you can have a go at hooking a duck – though it is actually a hybrid unicorn-duck.
For adults, there’s a restaurant and bar to grab a drink in while the kids play.
The attraction is free to enter, but you will need to buy a £1 Babylon Card to pay for the attractions.
You then load credit onto the card via an app or at the attraction’s kiosk.
For reference, £15 will get you around 144 game coins and the attractions cost different amounts of game coins – for example, the rollercoaster costs 48 game coins.
Gravity Max in Liverpool, Cardiff and London
At Gravity Max, kids can get competitive with e-kartingCredit: Gravity MAX
For kids who love adrenaline and competitive fun, take them to Gravity Max either in Liverpool, Cardiff or a couple spots in London.
The parks feature e-karting across huge tracks that leave visitors feeling as if they have stepped into a real lifeMario Kart game.
The venues also have augmented reality bowling and immersive gaming zones.
Fancy a tipple? Don’t worry they have a bar as well.
Adult karting (visitors aged 14 or older) costs from £16 per person and junior karting (kids aged eight or older) costs from £15.25.
The Playhive, Stockeld Park in North Yorkshire
The Playhive in North Yorkshire is one of the biggest indoor playgrounds in the UKCredit: Refer to Source
The Playhive in North Yorkshire is thought to be one of the biggest indoor playgrounds in the UK with a “journey through four interconnected worlds of space, air, the jungle, and sea”, according to the attraction’s website.
Inside visitors will find spaceships, planes and submarines, which are all different play structures.
There are even jungle-themed climbing walls for kids to let out their inner Tarzan.
Toddlers get their own areas too with smaller climbing features and swings.
Parents who feel like chilling can hang out in the Playhive Pizzeria, where a variety of snacks, pizzas and drinks are served.
Sessions at the attraction allow visitors an hour-and-a-half of play time costing from £13.50.
Woodlands Family Theme Park, Devon
Woodlands theme park in Devon has a huge indoor soft playCredit: Alamy
Woodlands theme park in Devon is home to the county’s largest soft play area with drop slides, ball pits, climbing frames and obstacle course sections.
Dedicated to children over 90cm tall, it’s the ideal place to let your kids run around and burn some energy for hours on end.
There are two other areas for smaller kids – one for toddlers under 95cm and another for children up to 125cm tall.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Circus Dome Zone has more soft play and in another area – Big Top Soft Play – you’ll find stacking cubes and games for younger children.
Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding grew up nearby and visited many times – she said: “Woodlands is a great day out, especially when the weather takes a turn.
“After stepping foot inside the play area, my family knew they wouldn’t see me for hours on end and they only time they would is when I was worn out or wanting a drink after running around.”
Tickets to Woodlands cost from £23.31 per person.
Play Factore, Manchester
Play Factore in Manchester claims to be the biggest indoor family entertainment arena in the UKCredit: Play Factore
Claiming to be the biggest indoor family entertainment arena in the UK, Play Factore boasts the tallest standing indoor slide in the UK as well as a huge laser tag arena.
Little ones aren’t left out though, as there are two floors for kids under five-ears-old which include a soft play area and obstacle courses.
There’s even a football pitch and basketball court inside as well.
For six to 11-month-olds, it costs £3.95 each and then for one to four-year-old’s, it’s £12.95 each.
Kids aged between five and 16 years old cost £13.95 each and parents cost £5.25 each.
Riverside Hub, Northampton
Riverside Hub in Northampton has a number of different zones for different age groupsCredit: facbook
In Northampton, you could head to the Riverside Hub which has a number of zones including Role Play Villages where kids can explore an imaginary world with its own cafe, shop, witch’s house and tooth fairy dentist.
Older kids on the other hand can venture on a number of climbing activities, including a 10-metre beanstalk.
Toddlers can also test out a number of ball pits and activity walls.
And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a giant play frame with slides, games and even a football pitch.
There is even a fake mini village for kids to role play iCredit: facbook
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse said: “There’s so much to do here that it’s a struggle to fit it into the two and a half hours that each session is allocated.
“We could have happily spent the whole day and still have gone back for more.
“With three boys aged between five and 12, it can sometimes be difficult to find somewhere that has enough to keep all ages happy as the older two are getting a bit big for soft play, but that certainly wasn’t a problem here.”
Tickets cost £8.50 per adult, £14.50 per child aged one to three-ears-old and £17.50 for kids between four and 17-years-old
Flip Out, various locations
Flip Out has a number of venues across the UKCredit: Flipout
Flip Out has several locations across the UK including Bradford, Doncaster, Chichester and Coventry.
Each Flip Out boasts an indoor adventure and trampoline park, where visitors can bounce into foam pits and off of stunt walls.
In some of the more recent venues, such as Flip Out Canary Wharf, you can also have a go at laser quest or bumper cars.
And for football fans, some venues have interactive football.
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse headed to Flip Out Coventry with her three children.
Inside each, there are usually slides, trampolines and a number of obstaclesCredit: Supplied
She said: “The dark space and graffiti vibe of the upper floor really appealed to my 11-year-old and 13-year-old, feeling a bit more grown-up than the bright lights and primary colours of soft plays aimed at younger children.
“But there was still lots to love for primary aged children here too – my six-year-old enjoyed the inflatables, roller rink and football zone.
“For little ones, there’s a dedicated toddler soft play next to the cafe area, so they can play in safety while tired parents have a rest nearby, hot drink in hand.”
Prices vary depending on destination and session length.
A HUGE water attraction launching in the UK for the first time has revealed plans for five more attractions across the country.
Therme Manchester – a giant water attraction with pools, saunas and beaches – is currently under construction and now new plans have been revealed to build more Therme attractions in the UK.
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Therme Manchester is set to open in 2028Credit: Therme ManchesterInside, there will be a number of different pools, a beach and adult-only spacesCredit: Therme Group
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According to Spa Business, David Russell, CEO of Therme UK explained that new locations under consideration include Glasgow in Scotland; Cardiff in Wales,Bristol; London and possibly Birmingham.
The first of these to open would be Glasgow, where the site would be around the same size as Therme’s attraction in Bucharest, Romania, spanning 2,787sqm.
The site would be between the Kelvin and Clyde rivers, opposite Glasgow’s Transport Museum.
The site is only in the early stages with Therme currently working on the lease for the location.
The plans are part of Therme’s ’90:90′ aim – 90 per cent of the UK public being within 90 minutes of a Therme attraction.
There are plans to launch five new sites across the UK as wellCredit: Therme Manchester
Therme also has a number of other attractions planned for the rest of the world, such as in Toronto, Canada; Washington and Dallas, America; Seoul, Korea; Singapore; Dubai, UAE and Frankfurt, Germany.
It comes as more details have been revealed about Therme Manchester which is currently under construction and is set to open in late 2028.
The £500million attraction is set to host up to 2.8million people each year, with a maximum of 6,500 to 7,000 at the attraction at any one time.
Inside visitors can expect a large-scale waterpark split into three zones (Play, Relax and Restore) heated to 33C, with numerous spa and wellness facilities.
In the Play zone, visitors will find ‘next-generation’ water slides, as well as a wave pool, warm water pool, steam rooms, saunas and lounging and family dining experiences.
This zone will boast an outdoor beach too.
Locations include Bristol or Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham and LondonCredit: Therme Manchester
In the Relax zone – which will be adults-only – there will be a “focus on premium wellbeing experiences”, which includes indoor and outdoor pools, waterfall showers, mineral baths, steam rooms, saunas and casual dining.
In the Restore Zone – which is also an adults-only area – there will be “industry leading health, nutrition and wellbeing therapies”, “sauna rituals”, experience showers, wellbeing consultations and dining.
Therme Manchester will also have some of the latest technology including robots that will take guests’ belongings and store them away.
Guests will get a wristband which they scan each time they want paid-for experiences inside Therme, as well as food.
Once Therme Manchester opens, admission is expected to be £48 per personCredit: Therme Manchester
Russell even shared that visitors will be able to get a discount if they arrive at Therme by public transport.
Visiting the new attraction is set to cost £48 per person.
Russell said: “There won’t be anywhere in this country that has the facilities we have in terms of slides, pools, thermal pools, cryotherapy, snow rooms, heat rooms – like 30 saunas.
“We want to do it through volume and that’s brave because it’s a challenge. But it’s a leap of faith.”
WE ARE just six weeks away from the start of the World Cup and the UK’s capital is getting THREE fan attractions for watching the matches.
Launching across three London venues, Kick Off Club will open three new World Cup fanzones.
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Kick Off Club will have three fanzones across LondonCredit: Kick off club
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One will be at the Outernet on Tottenham Court Road, another will be at Electric Brixton in South London and the third will be at Colour Factory in Hackney Wick.
Each fanzone won’t have food for sale, but you will be able to get drinks, including drinks packages.
Outernet fanzone
At the Outernet fanzone, fans will find London’s largest indoor screen.
Forget Big Ben or Buckingham Palace, the UK is home to two of the world’s top attractions according to real-life reviews and experiences – and they’re both in the same city
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Two of the world’s best attractions are in the same UK city(Image: Getty Images)
While everybody has world-famous attractions at the top of their bucket list, sometimes the experience isn’t always what you were hoping for.
Several years ago, unhappy visitor to London took to Tripadvisor to lament ‘it’s just a really big clock’ in a damning review of the Elizabeth Tower.
Had that reviewer checked TripAdvisor beforehand, disappointment could’ve been avoided. Nothing will give you the god’s honest truth quite like TripAdvisor reviews, from the best of the best experiences to the nitty-gritty details of what made something not worthwhile.
Based on millions of reviews and ratings, the website has compiled the ultimate list of the top 10 attractions in the world – and the answers may not be what you’d expect.
According to real-life people who have had an experience travelling and shared their honest experience, there was one clear winner for TripAdvisor in 2026. This year, as more and more reviews gathered on the world-famous site, Edinburgh‘s Royal Yacht Britannia has been named the number one attraction in the world.
The best attraction in the world
After receiving this impressive title, Franck Bruyère, chief executive of the Royal Yacht Britannia, said: “We are incredibly proud of The Royal Yacht Britannia’s success and wish to thank our visitors for taking the time to share their gift of feedback. Being number 1 in the world is a tremendous achievement and a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional visitor experience.”
The ship draws in visitors from all over the world thanks to its grandeur and history as the former floating palace and temporary home to the royals. Queen Elizabeth II travelled for over 44 years on the ship, clocking up over a million miles.
The royal yacht served as the ideal residence for the royals, whether it was utilised for state visits, official receptions, royal honeymoons or simple family holiday escapes.
A recent visitor that explored the docked ship, wrote: “Staff are exceptional, from entering the royal yacht to the shop. The tour is informative, brilliant and relaxed. We would 109% recommend it. Also, a must-do is to take your time, take lots of pictures, and definitely visit the tea room.”
The sixth-best attraction in the world
Making Edinburgh the place to be for culture, history and all-round fun things to do is another attraction based in the capital city that earned its rightful place on TripAdvisor’s worldwide attraction list.
At an admirable number six, ranking itself above the likes of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, is The Real Mary King’s Close.
In the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, beneath the bustling street known as the ‘Royal Mile’, is an attraction bursting with history and stories. The underground experience showcases a warren of hidden roads where people once lived, worked and died.
According to TripAdvisor, the site lay forgotten and abandoned for centuries before opening up for the public to discover. Reviews on the site claim that it’s a “fantastic experience”, while somebody wrote: “Absolutely brilliant, the tour was informative and most importantly fun.”
Scotland’s capital is home to a breathtaking castle, charming cobbled streets, quirky bookshops and endless cafes, but it’s these experiences that seem to stand out amongst them all. If it wasn’t already, Edinburgh should be at the very top of your must-see lists this year before the rest of the world finds out about its top-rated attractions.
