A Golden Summer for VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 Winners
The annual VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrates tourism businesses across the country who have gone above and beyond to deliver the very best travel experiences in England. The gold accommodation winners for 2026 were named as; ‘B&B and Guest House of the Year’, MonkBridge House, York; ‘Large Hotel of the Year’, Bovey Castle, Devon; ‘Small Hotel of the Year’, The Tempus, Northumberland; ‘Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year’, Bosinver Farm Cottages, Cornwall; and ‘Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year’, Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Devon. In the all-important food and drink categories, The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest, Northumberland won ‘Pub of the Year’ and Carriages Restaurant, Herefordshire won the ‘Taste of England Award’. The ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award’ went to Hoe Grange Holidays, Peak District and the ‘Regenerative Tourism Award’ went to Eight at Gazegill Restaurant by Doug Crampton, Lancashire. England’s diverse array of tourism experiences were also celebrated, with Oldfield Forge’s Blacksmithing Experience Days in Herefordshire, winning ‘Experience of the Year’; Herefordshire’s One Acre Wood being named ‘New Tourism Business of the Year’; Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Suffolk winning the ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year; and Morgan Experience, Worcestershire winning ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’. The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award went to Butlin’s, who are celebrating 90 years of delivering fantastic family fun on the coast at their iconic holiday resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
A Summer of Cultural & Sporty Celebrations
Pride, Nationwide
Throughout Summer 2026
This summer marks 20 years of Leeds Pride (18 & 19 July), one of the biggest LGBTQ+ festivals in England. In Nottingham, Pride month (June) will see the official launch of the city’s new LGBTQ+ district, ‘Rainbow Quarter’ situated in Nottingham’s creative hub, covering Broad Street, Carlton Street and Heathcote Street. Brighton & Hove Pride offers a stella line-up annually and this year is no different, the event will close the summer season with the likes of RAYE and Diana Ross (1 & 2 August) taking to the stage. In Manchester, the birthplace of UK Pride, the Pride Village Parade will take place over the August bank holiday weekend (29 August) and will be themed around The Wizard of Oz, celebrating ‘homecoming’, plus the return of the LGBTQ+ film and TV festival, SCENE, from 20 to 27 August. Meanwhile on the south coast, a new exhibition, Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors at the Hastings Museum & Art Gallery (now until 30 August) is inviting audiences to discover the LGBTQ+ history of the South East of England, featuring stories of joy, defiance, community and survival told through fashion, sound and multimedia art. In Southampton (29 & 30 August) the city will be flying the rainbow flag whilst staging a two-day celebration as part of its Pride 10th year anniversary. Festival goers can expect talks, music, entertainment and market stalls that support the LGBTQ+ community.
International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Nationwide
12 June – 5 July 2026
England is set to host the world’s biggest biennial celebration of women’s T20 cricket this summer. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will take place across six cities in England, with 12 teams competing for the trophy. The host cities are Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, London and Southampton with the nationwide format offering plenty of opportunities to see and support this elite women’s cricket tournament on home soil.
Aardman, Celebrating 50 years of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Friends, Nationwide
Various dates
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Aardman animation studio, and audiences across the country will be able to book cinematic performances with a live orchestral accompaniment as part of the “Aardman in Concert” series (until 26 October). In Bristol, the studio’s hometown, M Shed will host a new exhibition titled “Cracking Exhibition Gromit: 50 Years of Aardman in Bristol” (20 June – 13 September), whilst Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will present a ‘mini museum treasure hunt’ (until 13 September) with tiny Aardman artefacts hidden around the museum for visitors to discover. The Young V&A, London is also hosting an “Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends” exhibition (until 15 November), going behind the scenes of stop-motion animation and exploring how Aardman’s iconic characters are brought to life.
European Athletics Championships, Birmingham
10 – 16 August 2026
Birmingham will host the European Athletics Championships this summer, which will be the first time it is held in the UK. The event will take place primarily at the Alexander Stadium, one of the continent’s biggest and best sporting facilities, and will draw elite athletes with a full programme of track and field events.
10th Anniversary of inclusivity festival Parallel Windsor, Berkshire
5 July 2026
Parallel Windsor is a festival of inclusivity featuring challenge events for all ages, health conditions and abilities, set in the scenic Windsor Great Park. The festival marks its 10-year anniversary in 2026 and offers a wide range of accessible activities and entertainment such as arts and crafts, cookery, live music and comedy. Participants can also choose from 100m, 1K, 5K, 10K races, or the innovative SuperSensory 1K, designed to engage the senses for those with neurodiversity and learning disabilities. The inclusive facilities include on-site parking, accessible toilets, medical support, sensory and quiet zones.
Out of Hours Yoga at the Natural History Museum, London
Various dates in summer 2026
The chance to explore the Natural History Museum out of hours is an unmissable opportunity. This summer the museum is continuing its programme of wellness events, from morning runs to yoga sessions in Hintze Hall with the impressive Blue Whale skeleton for company, followed by a gong bath and exclusive gallery access while it is closed to the public. This could include the current Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? and Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibitions.
Disability Awareness Day, Warrington, Cheshire
12 July 2026
Cheshire’s Walton Hall hosts a Disability Awareness Day each summer, the largest event of its kind in the world. Visitors to the free experience can discover over 200 exhibitors, including equipment suppliers, support groups and services. There will also be a sports zone, scuba diving, a performing arts marquee, arts and crafts, a silent disco, plus family entertainment.
A Summer of New Experiences & Attractions
New theme park: Kynren: The Storied Lands, Bishop Auckland, Durham
Launching 18 July 2026
The multi-award-winning Kynren production will open a new live-action theme park this summer, featuring thrilling stunts, immersive storytelling, music and technology. You’ll travel in time from Neolithic Britain through to the Vikings, medieval period and Victorian era. Rather than rides, the park will offer live entertainment and immersive experiences allowing visitors to step into the history books with enormous sets and extraordinary special effects. Alongside this, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England will continue its show on Saturday nights throughout summer, featuring a 1,000-strong cast and crew.
New theatre production: ‘Game of Thrones: The Mad King’, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
20 July – 5 September 2026
Game of Thrones fans have a new play to look forward to this summer to satisfy their George R.R Martin fantasy-fix. Game of Thrones: The Mad King, adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, will debut at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, and tell the tale of a dramatic chapter in Westerosi’s history, spanning the final years before the events of the novels. Audiences can expect to come face to face with familiar characters from the houses Targaryen, Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Martell.
New heritage experience: Sudeley Castle History Weekend, Gloucestershire
26 – 28 June 2026
Sudeley Castle will host its first ever History Weekend this summer, a three-day celebration of heritage, discovery and living history set within one of the region’s most iconic landmarks. Visitors can expect immersive storytelling from renowned historians, fascinating tours and hands-on experiences in castle’s beautiful gardens and historic ruins.
New RHS Flower Shows: Gloucestershire and Norfolk
8 – 12 July & 22 – 26 July 2026
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will debut two new flower shows this year; RHS Badminton Flower Show in Gloucestershire and RHS Sandringham Flower Show in Norfolk. Set within historic grounds in the South Gloucestershire countryside, the former will feature pocket planting techniques, artisan stalls, street food, live music and a celebration of roses. Meanwhile, the Sandringham show will take place in the grounds of the royal family-owned Norfolk estate, with cutting-edge design in the Show Gardens and specialist growers and artists in the Floral Marquee.
Attraction expansion: Wake The Tiger, Bristol
June 2026
Bristol’s popular immersive art experience, Wake The Tiger, is expanding this summer with a new outdoor dining, socialising and events space called Junkyard. It will host live music, family-friendly craft sessions, entertainment and DJs, alongside a street food menu. Meanwhile the team will also launch Wake the Tiger London at Westfield in White City later this year. The second outpost promises a series of immersive worlds spanning over 80,000 sq. ft – which will make it the largest attraction of its kind in Europe. As with Wake The Tiger Bristol, visitors can expect to spend several hours exploring the otherworldly industrial spaces on a self-guided tour.
Andy Warhol Artist Rooms, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, West Midlands
Now – 4 October 2026
17 years after first displaying Andy Warhol Artist Rooms, Wolverhampton Art Gallery will revisit the collection on loan from Tate and National Galleries of Scotland with a much larger exhibition across three of its galleries. Works will date from the 1960s to the last years of Warhol’s life in the late 1980s, including screenprints, drawings, paintings and photographs by the internationally renowned American Pop artist.
New raised park: Salford Rise, Greater Manchester
Summer 2026
In the style of New York’s High Line and Manchester’s Castlefield Viaduct, the new Salford Rise will be an elevated walkway and cycleway combining connectivity with green space. Covering five acres, the Rise will form part of the £2.5bn Crescent Salford regeneration project and will provide traffic-free connections across the University of Salford, Salford Museum and Art Gallery and the Working Class Movement Library.
New cultural hub: The Light, Durham
Summer 2026
This summer Durham will become home to a new cultural, creative and visitor destination in the heart of the city. Designed as a vibrant hub for culture, The Light will bring together major performance, entertainment, events and immersive experiences in one central space. Located in the Durham Innovation District, in the former Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery, The Light will present an ambitious programme of temporary and touring exhibitions that showcase world class art from the North East, the UK and across the globe. Set within beautiful natural grounds, the venue will also offer spaces for visitors to explore and play, alongside quieter areas designed for reflection.
Museum transformation: Lincoln Museum, Lincolnshire
Summer 2026
Formerly known as The Collection, Lincoln’s flagship museum will reopen as the Lincoln Museum after a two-year £1m transformation. The reimagined venue – which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025 – will debut a major Viking exhibition alongside a redesigned archaeology gallery, displaying treasures including a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age coffin and axe discovered on a Lincolnshire golf course.
Reopening: Kielder Castle, Northumberland
Late summer 2026
Kielder Castle is set to reopen after extensive refurbishment works, after closing in 2020. The 18th Century hunting lodge, which was built by the Duke of Northumberland in the 1770s, will return as a visitor gateway to Kielder Forest’s natural and cultural heritage – featuring a refreshed café, a more accessible entrance and a wheelchair-friendly lift to the first floor. Kielder Forest also marks its 100th anniversary throughout 2026, including a Centenary Celebration Weekend (4 - 6 September) featuring live music and a tree-planting ceremony.
A Summer of Food, Wine and Overnight Escapes
Raise a glass to English wine in summer 2026
Just in time to celebrate English Wine Week 2026 (20 – 28 June), where vineyards will open their doors for special events, the UK Vineyard Guide app has launched to help wine-lovers discover and plan visits to over 1,100 vineyards across England. The app aims to bring together vineyard listings, along with interactive maps to assist visitors with finding tours, tastings, cafés and seasonal experiences in one place. This summer there are plenty of opportunities to taste England-native flavours, including as part of a new Yorkshire Wine Trail, (launched spring 2026) which takes in 10 Yorkshire vineyards, including Bay Vineyard in Robin Hood’s Bay which offers a 1.5-hour vineyard and wine tasting tour with sea views. Norwich is once again playing host to its own wine week as part of the nationwide celebrations (19 – 28 June) encouraging visitors to explore the city and try a new pairing. Meanwhile Kent remains a vineyard hotspot thanks to Domaine Evremond’s cellar door which opened last year, serving English fizz. No need to cross the channel, especially as Sussex vineyards has a packed programme this summer, from yoga and Pilates in the vines to vineyard picnics, farm feasts, music celebrations and stargazing nights.
New alfresco dining experience: Long Table Feasting at The Fire Club in Cobham, Surrey
Launching 19 June 2026
Summer is the season for al fresco dining and The Fire Club at The Walled Garden is preparing for its first summer of outdoor feasting. This wild dining experience is set within a restored two-acre Victorian walled garden in Cobham where every other week up to 70 guests will be welcomed with a complimentary drink before meandering through The Walled Garden and into The Fire Garden. Log burners, fire pits and large grills will set the scene for a seasonal feast cooked entirely over live fire. On alternate weekends, Fire Club Unplugged will offer a more relaxed evening of live music, drinks and unlimited flame-baked pizzettas with seasonal toppings.
New food hall: Manchester Street Food, Ducie Street Warehouse, Manchester
Summer 2026
Manchester Street Food will open a major new food hall on the ground floor of Ducie Street Warehouse, near Piccadilly Station. The space, which will sit alongside the Native Manchester aparthotel, is being transformed with 10 kitchens, two bar areas, seating for 500 and an outdoor terrace, while retaining the building’s 36-seat cinema.
Back by popular demand: Pop-up Sunday lunches at The Lazy T, North Yorkshire
Stylish glamping site The Lazy T, near the North Yorkshire market town of Helmsley, is running a summer-long series of pop-up open fire Sunday lunches. Held under canvas in a hidden valley surrounded by woodland and a stream, diners will gather and enjoy seasonal canapes while sitting outside before being served a two-course lunch in a communal dining setting – including a roast cooked on an open fire.
New al fresco bar: The Duke’s Summer garden at Bicester Village, The Cotswolds
26 June – 31 August
Guests are invited to gather at The Duke’s Summer Garden, a brand-new entertainment space created by Bicester Village, in partnership with The Double Red Duke. Located on the lawns beside the Village’s newest restaurant, The Duke’s Summer Garden will feature a drinks bar – in the form of a converted Land Rover Defender car – with a specially curated menu and an outdoor screen showing the season’s key sporting moments, including Wimbledon, Formula 1® and more.
New heritage stay: Chatsworth Regency Escape, Derbyshire
Launching 14 June 2026
A new two-night luxury escape is coming to the Peak District, inspired by Jane Austen and Chatsworth’s long-standing connection to Pride and Prejudice. The immersive package invites guests to step into the world of “Pemberley” through a curated Regency-themed tour, house and garden access, afternoon tea and a candlelit dinner. Guests will stay at the multi-award-winning Cavendish Hotel overlooking the Chatsworth Parkland. The experience celebrates literary and cinematic heritage while tapping into growing demand for immersive literary travel experiences. Chatsworth House is widely believed to have inspired Austen’s Pemberley, and was also the filming location for the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen.
New treehouses: Calcot Manor, The Cotswolds
Opening June 2026
Calcot Manor and Spa in the Cotswolds is launching two new luxury treehouses, named The Hides, offering secluded, two-bedroom escapes within 220 acres of rewilded meadowland. Designed for families or couples, these elevated, sustainably built units feature woodland-inspired interiors, private decks, and a wild luxury experience, with bookings now open.
New stay: Parade Hotel, Bath
Opening August 2026
Set within Bath’s historic city centre, the new Parade Hotel by Parade Gardens is being lovingly restored with every room being thoughtfully redesigned.. The redevelopment includes the addition of a tranquil Courtyard Spa and new restaurant.
A Summer of Live Music
New music festival: Folk by the Castle at Muncaster Castle, Cumbria
19 – 21 June 2026
This brand new ‘Folk by the Castle’ festival during the summer solstice, will celebrate folk music and the arrival of a new season with a weekend of performances and activities. Visitors can choose from day, weekend and weekend camping tickets.
New music and arts festival: Blenheim Palace Festival, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
27 June – 3 July 2026
The UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill will launch a new six-day music festival this summer with Katy Perry, Teddy Swims, Pete Tong, Alanis Morissette, Neil Young and Michael Bublé announced as headliners. The Blenheim Palace Festival will combine music with performance and art, staged throughout its grounds. This summer, Blenheim Palace will also host the Blenheim Palace Flower Show (19 – 21 June), bringing together breathtaking floral displays and world-class horticultural talent, along with Life Through a Royal Lens (12 July – 27 September), a striking photography exhibition capturing the monarchy from Queen Victoria to the present day.
New music festival: Roundhay Festival, Roundhay Park, Leeds
3 – 4 July 2026
This all-new music festival will open with headline performances by Pitbull and Kesha on 3 July, and Lewis Capaldi on 4 July, with a full line-up of musical talents also taking to the stage. It will be set amid the 700 acres of grassy fields and woodlands of Roundhay Park, with tickets providing both day and full weekend access.
Free music and arts festival: First Light Festival, Suffolk
20 – 21 June 2026
First Light Festival, a free arts festival, in Suffolk will be the first place in the UK to see the sunrise and mark the summer solstice (Sunday 21 June). An international line up of music, comedy, spoken word and performance is on offer along with a series talks, workshops and activities. Highlights include a 4am yoga practice, followed by a free fish feast, the festival’s annual dawn breakfast, accompanied by a live musical performance combining shell sounds and ships bells. The free festival offers the chance to wild camp on Lowestoft’s South Beach during the festival – only possible that weekend.
Summer Block Party on NewcastleGateshead quayside, Newcastle
4 July 2026
Two iconic North East arts venues have joined forces to stage a huge Summer Block Party on the NewcastleGateshead quayside this summer. Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music will host a full day of live music, artist and makers markets, talks, tours and drop-in sessions both inside and outside the two venues.