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 2026. 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.
Award-Winning Places to Visit
- Drusillas Park, Alfriston - Bronze winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
- WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, Arundel - Gold winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
- Windsor Tourist Guides, Windsor - Gold winner of International Tourism Award
- The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary - Bronze winner of Regenerative Tourism Award
- Eton Information Centre, Gold winner of Visitor Information Service of the Year
- Gusbourne - The Nest, Appledore - Bronxe winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Oxford Castle & Prison, Oxford - Silver winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- The D-Day Story, Portsmouth - Gold winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Hever Castle, Edenbridge - Silver winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
Award-Winning Places to Eat and Drink
- The Bow at Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury - Silver winner of New Tourism Business of the Year
- No. 124 by Guesthouse, Brighton - Gold winner of New Tourism Business of the Year
- Lordington Park, Chichester - Gold winner of Cafe/Tearoom of the Year and Silver winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year
- Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden - Bronze winner of Restaurant of the Year
- The Royal Hotel, Isle of Wight, Ventnor - Bronze winner of Restaurant of the Year
- TERRA Restaurant at Tottington Manor, Henfield - Silver winner of Restaurant of the Year
- The Reading Room, Reading - Silver winner of Restaurant of the Year
- Chalk at Wiston Estate, Brighton - Gold winner of Restaurant of the Year
- Henry's Pub at The Master Buillder's, Beaulieu, Bromze winner of Pub of the Year
- The Hinds Head, Bray - Silver winner of Pub of the Year
- The Mutton at Hazeley Heath, Hook - Silver winner of Pub of the Year
- The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling, Windsor - Gold winner of Pub of the Year
- Dimitrios Lazaridis with Fresco DeliKafessen, Guildford - Bronze Unsung Hero Award
Award-Winning Events and Experiences
- Zoo Keeper for the Day at Drusillas Park, Alfriston - Bronze winner of Active & Learning Esxperience of the Year
- High Ropes Experience at Go Ape! Leeds Castle, Maidstone - Silver winner of Active & Learning Esxperience of the Year
- Let's Glow 2025, Love Basingstoke, Basingstoke - Bronze winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
- New Forest and Hampshire County Show 2025, New Forest Agricultural Society, Brockenhurst - Bronze winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
- Wallop Wheels annd Wings at Army Flying Museum, Stockbridge - Silver winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
- The Dwarves of the Steam Gala 2025 at The Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden - Gold winner of Tourism Event/Festival of the Year
- Chichester Cathedral, Chichester - Bronze winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Drusillas Park, Alfriton - Bronze winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Hever Castle & Gardens - Silver winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes - Gold winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Congratulations to all the 2025/26 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.
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