Outside Oxford Castle and Prison

Oxford Castle & Prison, Oxford

Gold Award-Winning

Award Winning Destination

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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 2023.  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!

On the 7th June 2023 the Visit England national awards took place 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. 

Blenheim Palace, Gold Winner of Large Visitor Attraction Award

Best Places to Visit

  • Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester - Gold winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year and Commended winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • Blenheim Palace, Oxford - Gold winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year - Silver Winner at Visit England national awards for excellence.
  • Oxford Castle & Prison, Oxford - Gold winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • Thanet Visitor Information Service, Margate - Gold winner of Visitor Information Service of the Year
  • Drusillas Park, Alfriston - Silver winner of Accessible, Inclusive Tourism Award and Silver winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and Gemma Romanis - Silver winner of Unsung Hero Award
  • Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover - Silver winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • Ascot Racecourse, Ascot -  Silver winner of Business Events of the Year
  • Eton Information Centre, Eton - Silver winner of Visitor Information Service of the Year
  • Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth - Bronze winner of  Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • Wellington Country Park, Riseley - Bronze winner of  Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch - Bronze winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year and Marie Colgrave - Gold winner of Unsung Hero Award - Silver at the Visit England national awards for excellence.
  • Febrica, Brighton - Bronze winner of Wedding Venue of the Year and Commended winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
  • White Cliffs Country Visitor Information Centre, Dover - Bronze winner of Visitor Information Service of the Year
  • Winchester Science Centre, Winchester - Commended winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Oakley Hall Hotel, Gold winner of Hotel 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 Bronze winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
  • Mill Rythe Coastal Village, Hayling Island - Gold winner of Holiday Park of the Year
  • Kits Coty Glamping, Aylesford - Gold winner of Glamping Business of the Year,  Silver winner of Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award and Sarah Anderson - Bronze winner of Unsung Hero Award
  • Shorefield Holidays, Lymington - Gold winner of Future of Hospitality Award, Gold winner of Resilience and Innovation Award and Bronze winner of Holiday Park of the Year
  • Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke - Gold winner of Hotel of the Year and Gold winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
  • Greyfriars Hideaway, Oxford - Gold winner of  New Tourism Business Award and Gold winner of Self Catering Accommodation 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 Business Events of the Year, Silver winner of Hotel of the Year and Silver winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
  • Lincoln Farm Park, Witnet - Gold winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
  • Hurley House Hotel, Hurley - Silver winner of Business Events of the Year
  • Eco Chic Cottages – The Chestnuts, Shilton - Silver winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
  • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, Bembridge - Sillver winner of Holiday Park of the Year
  • Sumners Ponds Fishery and Campsite, Barns Green - Silver winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
  • Hampton By Hilton, High Wycombe - Silver winner of Resilience and Innovation Award
  • Haviland Cottage, Ventnor - Silver winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year and Silver winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
  • Sandy Balls Holiday Village,  Fordingbridge - Bronze winner of Holiday Park of the Year
  • Solent Hotel & Spa, Fareham - Bronze winner of Hotel of the Year
  • Art Deco House UK, Shanklin - Bronze winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
  • Richmond Hill Hotel, Richmond Upon Thames -  Bromze winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year
  • The Clifton, Shanklin - Commended winner of B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
  • Away Resorts in the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Dorset - Commended winner of Future of Hospitality Award
  • Worth Forest Glamping, Balcombe - Commended winner of Glamping Business of the Year

The Vineyard, Newbury, Gold award winning Restaurant of the Year

Best Places to Eat and Drink

  • The Vineyard, Newbury - Gold winner of Restaurant of the Year
  • The Glasshouse Restaurant at Oakley Hall Hotel, Basingstoke - Gold winner of Restaurant of the Year - Bronze Winner at the Visit England national awards for excellence.
  • MadHatter Tea Room & Gift Shop, Hayling Island - Gold winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
  • The Stag Inn, Hastings Old Town - Gold winner of Pub of the Year
  • Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch - Silver winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
  • The Shoe, Exton - Silver winner of Pub of the Year - Silver at the Visit England national awards for excellence.
  • The Gallivant, Camber, Silver winner of Restaurant of the Year
  • Fresco DeliKafessen, Guildford - Bronze winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year and Dimitrios Lazaridis - Commended winner of Unsung Hero Award
  • The Purefoy Arms, Basingstoke - Bronze winner of Pub of the Year
  • The Royal Hotel, Ventnor, Bronze winner of Restaurant of the Year

SenSpa, New Forest, Gold Award Winning Spa

Best Events and Experiences

  • SenSpa, Brockenhurst - Gold winner of Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year
  • Experience Christmas at Kent Life, Maidstone - Gold winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
  • Vine + Country Wine Tours, Bexhill on Sea - Gold winner of Experience of the Year (Axtive or Learning)
  • Dr Choc’s – Windsor Chocolate Factory, Windsor - Silver winner of Experience of the Year (Axtive or Learning)
  • Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa, Newbury - Silver winner of Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year
  • Christmas at Cowdray – Light Up Trails, Midhurst - Silver winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
  • Easter Festival at Plumpton Racecourse, Plumpton - Bronze winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
  • Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Bronze winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year

Congratulations to all the 2023 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.  

Number of results:

Number of results: 31

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Mill Rythe Holiday Village

    Type

    Type:

    Holiday Village

    Hayling Island

    This well-known, quality resort offers catered Adult Only and Family breaks with a superb range of facilities and services in an attractive and secluded location.

  2. The Solent Hotel & Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Hotel

    Fareham

    Adjacent to M27 jct 9, equidistant from Portsmouth and Southampton. Extensive leisure facilities and excellent conference and banqueting facilities.

  3. Thanet Visitor Information Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Tourist Information Centres

    Margate

    The Information Centre is located at the start of the Harbour Arm next to the Turner Contemporary art gallery

  4. Kits Coty Glamping

    Type

    Type:

    Glamping

    Aylesford

    Ideally located close to both Maidstone and the Medway Towns our Shepherds Hut,Festival Tent and themed Bell Tents are perfect for short breaks,romantic getaways, or longer self-catering holidays in the Kent countryside.

  5. Plumpton Racecourse

    Type

    Type:

    Sports Ground

    Lewes

    Plumpton Racecourse is one of the most successful smaller jump racecourses in the country, staging sixteen National Hunt meetings from September to May.

  6. Shorefield Country Park

    Type

    Type:

    Camping & Caravan Site

    Lymington

    Shorefield Country Park is set in a fabulous location 800 metres from the coast with the New Forest just 2 miles inland.

  7. Blenheim Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Historic House / Palace

    Woodstock

    Birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and home to the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, one of the finest baroque houses in England, is set in over 2,000 acres of landscaped gardens

  8. Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium

    Type

    Type:

    Science Centre

    Morn Hill, Winchester

    Winchester Science Centre is more than a day out. It’s a chance to spark your children’s curiosity in science which could lead them on an exciting journey for life! Situated in the stunning South Downs National Park, this exciting family destination…

  9. Whitchurch Silk Mill

    Type

    Type:

    Water Mill

    WHITCHURCH

    A gem of industrial heritage in beautiful, rural Hampshire, Whitchurch Silk Mill is a 19th century water mill that weaves English silk fabrics using 19th century machinery. The Mill is open to the public and is one of Hampshire's hidden gems.

  10. Drusillas Park

    Type

    Type:

    Animal Collection / Zoo

    Alfriston

    Widely known as the best small zoo in Europe, Drusillas Park offers a fun-tastic day out that includes hundreds of exotic animals, from monkeys and meerkats to penguins and pandas.

  11. Eastbourne Visitor Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Tourist Information Centres

    EASTBOURNE

    The helpful staff at the town's Tourist Information Centre are eagerly awaiting your enquiries about sunny Eastbourne and the county of Sussex.

  12. Wellington Country Park

    Type

    Type:

    Country / Royal Park

    Riseley, Reading

    Wellington Country Park, ‘The Biggest Outdoor play in Berkshire’, was established in 1974 by the Eighth Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Set in 350 acres of beautiful parklands off the A33 between Basingstoke and Reading, Wellington Country Park…

  13. Sandy Balls Holiday Village

    Type

    Type:

    Holiday Village

    Fordingbridge

    Five-star, award-winning facilities and the breathtaking forest on your doorstep - the ideal combination for a long weekend, midweek break or longer holiday.

  14. Oakley Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Civil Licensed Venues

    Basingstoke

    Oakley Hall offers 47 elegant bedrooms in both the main house and the converted 19th century stable block. Bedrooms have been individually designed and furnished to a very high standard complete with every modern convenience.

  15. Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park

    Type

    Type:

    Holiday Village

    Bembridge

    Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, is perfectly perched next to its own beautiful beach with easy access to everything that makes the Isle of Wight gorgeous.

  16. The Clifton

    Type

    Type:

    Hotel

    SHANKLIN

    The Clifton’s privileged location on the clifftop offers an amazing sea view and makes it an ideal retreat for those in search for tranquillity. Stunning sea views can be enjoyed from the lounge and the lovely garden offering the perfect visual…

  17. Stubcroft Farm Campsite Ltd.

    Type

    Type:

    Camping & Caravan Site

    CHICHESTER

    Award winning, friendly, family run campsite with helpful staff, respect for the environment and our modern facilities near to some of the South Coast’s best sandy beaches & dunes makes Stubcroft a unique holiday destination.

  18. Oakley Hall Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Country House Hotel

    Basingstoke

    Oakley Hall offers 47 elegant bedrooms in both the main house and the converted 19th century stable block. Bedrooms have been individually designed and furnished to a very high standard complete with every modern convenience.

  19. Greyfriars Hideaway

    Type

    Type:

    Self-Catering

    Oxford

    Greyfriars Hideaway comprises two exclusive 17th Century, private & secure 5 Star Gold luxury self catering properties in the very heart of Oxford just minutes walk from all the tourist attractions.

  20. Eton Information Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Tourist Information Centres

    Eton's Information Centre can provide you with up to date and relevant information for your stay in Eton and around the surrounding area. Pick up your free Eton walkway brochure and browse our shop for souvenirs.