Sustainable Tourism in South East England

We know that the majority of visitors want to travel and holiday in a sustainable way.  Our latest visitor research showed that 62% of visitors agreed that sustainability would influence their booking over price. The aim of sustainable tourism is to reduce the negative impacts and increase the benefits on the most precious things in our destination, the stunning landscapes, the beautiful wildlife, the rich history and culture. 

Green Tourism Awards

Many of the tourism and hospitality businesses in South East England are working in more sustainable ways, from sourcing local ingredients, reducing waste and energy usage, carbon off setting and more.  All of the places to stay, places to eat, and places to visit highlighted on this page have been accredited with either the 'Green Tourism Award' or another recognised environmental award.  The Green Tourism certification programme recognises the commitment of tourism businesses around the region who are actively working to become more sustainable. The Bronze/Silver/Gold awards are acknowledged worldwide, as an indicator of good environmentally-friendly practice.

Take a look and see which businesses are embracing planet-friendly tourism in South East England.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Attractions in South East England

Visit England finalist and Gold winner of The Beautiful South Awards for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, Chichester Festival Theatre in West Sussex, plant trees and support local planting initiatives in place of traditional opening night cards and gifts. You can carbon-offset the impact of your journey to the Theatre through their partnership with Ecologi. As of the beginning of 2023, over 30,000 trees have been planted internationally, in addition to offsetting almost 900 tonnes of CO2.

Marwell Wildlife which owns and operates Hampshire's Marwell Zoo has been given the royal seal of approval for their environmental commitments with a coveted award; The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development. Step into paradise at the ‘Energy for Life’ Tropical House where the innovative and sustainable exhibit shows off a stunning environment where summer is eternal, and colourful birds are free to fly overhead. This building is sustainably powered by zoo poo! 

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, near Winchester was the first distillery to be awarded the BREEAM Award for Industrial Design. BREEAM, is the world leader and sets the standard for sustainable design. The Bombay Sapphire Distillery buildings uses sustainable methods such as rainwater harvesting, provide heating and lighting from a biomass boiler, producing renewable and low carbon energy via a hydro-electric turbine in the River Test.

Hampshire Culture Trust believes that culture can play a key role in tackling one of the biggest issues facing our planet: climate change. The trust is taking steps to increase education and awareness of climate change for their staff, volunteers and visitors, as well as actively seeking ways to protect the environment across the trust, both at their venues and on an individual level.

Winchester Science Centre has recently been awarded gold at the Green South Downs Sustainability Certification Awards in partnership with Green Tourism. Recognised for the progress it has already made including the introduction of dedicated waste stations, reducing oil consumption by 25% and reducing the Centre’s carbon footprint, the centre is also working hard to ensure young people use science to understand the world better.

Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour has just been awarded with the The Yacht Harbour Association’s ‘International Clean Marina’ accreditation, in recognition of its efforts to help protect the UK’s oceans and waterways. The accreditation criteria and assessment includes blackwater capture and treatment, correct management of hazardous waste, spill prevention and treatment, washdown capture and filtration, drain interception, the use of sustainable products and preventing plastic pollution. 

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Accommodation in South East England

Stubcroft Farm Campsite in Chichester, West Sussex, has won several awards including a prestigious Green Tourism Silver Award and Silver at The Beautiful South Awards for Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism. Wherever possible the campsite uses Fairtrade and Organic produce and the staff work hard to keep the grounds and the surrounding fields a suitable habitat for wildlife. The farm prides on a wealth of wildlife on the farm with over 72 species of birds identified, along with deer, hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits, rare butterflies & moths and much more.

Tom's Eco Lodge based in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, has Safari Tents, Eco Pods, Modulogs, Wood Cabins and Geodesic Domes.  Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do.  Water is taken from their own bore hole, solar panels provide electricity for hundreds of homes, a biomass boiler is used for heating and 30 acres of new woodland and hedgerows have been grown.  Their aim is to ensure that the farm is 'in better environmental and productive health than it was at the beginning of their tenure'.   There latest addition is electric car hire. 

Palace Farm Hostel in Faversham, Kent nestles in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Gold Green Tourism Award holders the bedrooms use mostly low energy lighting, thermostatic radiators and installed solar water heating.  They encourage all their guests to recycle as much as possible and as a working farm, free range chicken eggs are available during the season - if you can find the chickens.

Travelling by train?

Travel sustainably and experience comfort and ease while hopping on board a South Western Railway (SWR) . Operating over 1,500 services each weekday across the network, SWR provides commuter inter-urban, regional and long distance services to passengers in South West London and southern counties of England and Island Line services on the Isle of Wight.