Award-Winning Destination

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 2025. 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

• The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent - Gold winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award and Silver winner of Active & Learning Experience of the Year.
• WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, West Sussex - Bronze winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
• Chiltern Open Air Museum, Buckinghamshire - Commended in Accessible and Inclusive Tourism 
• Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, Hampshire - Commended in Accessible and Inclusive Tourism 
• Kent Wildlife Trust, Maidstone, Kent - Gold winner of Ethical, Repsonsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire - Silver winner of Ethical, Repsonsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire - Gold winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• The Bodleian Libraries, Oxford - Silver winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Isle of Wight - Bronze winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Wellington Country Park, Berkshire - Bronze winner of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Globalls, East Sussex - Commended in Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Wakehurst, West Sussex - Commended in Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Sea Scrub Sauna, Margate, Kent - Silver winner of New Tourism Business Award
• Balfour Winery, Kent- Gold winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Army Flying Museum, Hampshire - Silver winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Chiddingstone Castle, Kent - Silver winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
• Amberley Museum, West Sussex - Bronze winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 
• Whitchurch Silk Mill, Hampshire  - Bronze winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 

Award-Winning Places to Stay

• Stubcroft Farm Campsite, West Sussex - Gold winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year, Silver winner of Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award, Bronze winner of Unsung Hero Awards (Michaela Rozborilova) and Bronze winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
• Hever Castle, Kent - Gold winner of B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
• Saddlers B&B, West Sussex - Silver winner of B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
• The Old Rectory, East Sussex -  Silver winner of B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
• Binstead Inn, Hampshire - Bronze winner of B&B and Guesthouse of the Year
• Hurley House Hotel, Berkshire - Gold winner of Business Events Venue of the Year
• Badgells Wood at Birling Estate, Kent - Silver winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
• Lytton Lawn Touring Park (Shorefield Holidays), New Forest - Bronze winner of Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year
• Wallops Wood Cottages, Hampshire - Gold winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year, Gold winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year and Bronze winner of Glamping Business of the Year
• Seabreeze Cottage, Kent - Silver winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year
• Rogue’s Cottage, Kent - Bronze winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year
• Shorefield Country Park (Shorefield Holidays), New Forest - Gold winner of Holiday Park of the Year, Gold winner of Future of Hospitality Award, Bronze winner of Dog Friendly Business of the Year and Commended in Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Tom's Eco Lodge at Tapnell Farm, Isle of Wight - Gold winner of Glamping Business of the Year
• Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts, Kent - Silver winner of Glamping Business of the Year
• Seal Bay Resort, West Sussex - Silver winner of Holiday Park of the Year
• Old Mill Holiday Park, Isle of Wight - Commended in Holiday Park of the Year
• Looking Glass Lodge, East Sussex - Commended in International Tourism Award
• Careys Manor Hotel & SensSpa, New Forest - Gold winner of Large Hotel of the Year
• Cave Hotel and Golf Resort, Kent - Silver winner of Large Hotel of the Year and Bronze winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
• Oakley Hall Hotel, Hampshire - Bronze winner of Large Hotel of the Year and Gold winner of Wedding Venue of the Year
• The Roseate, Berkshire - Bronze winner of Large Hotel of the Year
• Moxy & Residence Inn, Berkshire - Commended in Large Hotel of the Year
• Greyfriars Hidaway, Oxford - Silver winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• The Pump House at Wiston Estate, East Sussex - Silver winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Looking Glass Lodge, East Sussex - Bronze winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• The Chestnuts, Oxfordshire - Bronze winner of Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Coppertree at Shorefield Country Park, New Forest - Commended in Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Stable Oak Cottages, Kent - Commended in Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Frasers, Kent - Gold winner of Small Hotel of the Year and Silver winnner of Wedding Venue of the Year
• The Montagu Arms Hotel, New Forest - Silver winner of Small Hotel of the Year
• New Park Manor Hotel, New Forest - Bronze winner of Small Hotel of the Year

Award-Winning Places to Eat and Drink

• Whitchurch Silk Mill Riverside Café, Hampshire- Gold winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
• Wildheart Animal Sanctuary Café, Isle of Wight - Silver winner of Café/Tearoom of the Year
• MadHatters Tea Room & Gift Shop, Hampshire - Commended in Café/Tearoom of the Year
• Lemon and Jinja, Hampshire - Bronze winner of Ethical, Repsonsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• Canterbury Brewers and Distillers at The Foundry Brew Pub, Kent - Commended  in Ethical, Repsonsible & Sustainable Tourism Award
• No 9 Restaurant, Kent - Silver winner of New Tourism Business Award
• Firepit, Kent - Gold winner of Restaurant of the Year
• The Royal Hotel, Isle of Wight - Silver winner of Restaurant of the Year
• Glasshouse Restaurant, Hampshire - Bronze winner of Restaurant of the Year
• The Reading Room, Berkshire - Bronze winner of Restaurant of the Year
• Mark Hamblin, Powder Monkey Brewing Co, Hampshire - Gold Winner of Unsung Hero Award
• Andy Waterman, San Clu Hotel, Bar & Brasserie, Kent - Commended in Unsung Hero Award
• Dimitrios Lazaridis, Fresco DeliKaffessen,Surrey - Commended in Unsung Hero Award

Award-Winning Events and Experiences

• Brighton Centre, Brighton - Silver winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
• Mayflower Theatre, Southampton - Silver winner of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Awar
• Seven Sisters White Cliffs Tour, Brighton & Beyond Tours, Brighton - Gold winner of Active & Learning Experience of the Year
• Whisky Blending Experience, Copper Rivet Distillery, Chatham - Silver winner of Active & Learning Experience of the Year
• Wilder Holiday Club, Kent Wildlife Trust, Maidstone & Sevenoaks - Bronze winner of Active & Learning Experience of the Year
• Brighton & Beyond Tours, Brighton - Gold winner of International Tourism Award and Silver winner (Kevin Gorman) of Unsung Hero Award
• Pendragon Project Team Adventures, Lancing - Gold winner of New Tourism Business Award
• Oxford Magic Walking Tours, Oxford - Commended in New Tourism Business Award
• Wellbeing Spa Day at SenSpa, Brockenhurst - Gold winner of Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year
• Emerge Spa Day at eforea Spa – Hilton Southampton Utilita Bowl, Southampton - Silver winner of Spa & Wellbeing Experience of the Year
• Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas  – Light Up Trails, Romsey - Gold Winner of Tourism Event / Festival of the Year and Silver winner of Unsing Hero Award (Zane Meaby).
• Peace Doves – Chichester Cathedral, Chichester - Silver Winner of Tourism Event / Festival of the Year
• Isle of Wight Walking Festival  – Visit Isle of Wight, Newport - Silver Winner of Tourism Event / Festival of the Year
• Basingstoke Festival – Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council, Basingstoke - Bronze Winner of Tourism Event / Festival of the Year
• Autumn Show & Horse Trials – South of England Agricultural Society, Ardingly - Bronze Winner of Tourism Event / Festival of the Year
• Colours of Christmas at Petworth House – Petworth House National Trust, Petworth - Commended in Tourism Event / Festival of the Year
• Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, Winchester - Commended in Tourism Event / Festival of the Year

Congratulations to all the 2024/25 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.