VISIT England has named the best hidden gem attractions to visit in the country from a little-known London brewery and a Sussex vineyard to an aircraft museum.
Yesterday (October 22), the tourism board revealed the winners of its Visitor Attraction Accolades for 2023-2024.
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Visit England awarded accolades to 72 attractions across five categories, with seven being named as top hidden gems.
The awards were dished out based on scores obtained from Visit England‘s annual Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme Assessment.
Sambrook’s Heritage Centre in Battersea has been named as London’s hidden gem attraction.
Located on the oldest continuous brewing site in the UK, the London-based brewery has roots dating back to Henry VIII.
Visitors to Sambrook’s Heritage Centre will learn more about brewing techniques – but that’s not the best bit.
Heritage brewer and historian John Hatch runs guided tours on the weekend, explaining about the history of the site and sampling a selection of traditional ales.
Tours run at 1pm and 4pm every Saturday and cost £25 per person.
In addition to the tours, visitors can even become a brewer for the day.
An Oxfordshire brewery was also named in Visit England’s list of best hidden gem attraction.
The Hook Norton Brewery in Hook Norton is one of the few remaining Victorian tower breweries in England.
Just like Sambrook’s Heritage Centre, guided tours of Hook Norton Brewery also take place.
Other features of the family-run brewery include a visitor centre, a museum and a taproom where its award-winning ales can be sampled.
In addition to the two breweries, the Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex was also named one of the best hidden gem attractions in the country.
The vineyard, which has been running since the 1970s, also runs guided tours of its estate, explaining the wine-making process from vine to bottle.
The Sussex vineyard produces award-winning English wines and there’s also an on-site cafe.
Four museums were also named among England’s best hidden gem attractions, including Sheringham Museum in Sheringham, Norfolk.
The coastal museum explores Sheringham’s maritime history, featuring lifeboats, fishing heritage and local artefacts.
It’s best draw might be the views of the North Sea from its viewing tower.
The St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery in Lymington explores the history and the culture of the New Forest Coast, with exhibitions on maritime history, local art and photography.
Away from the coast, the Avro Heritage Museum was also among the winners.
Located in Stockport, the museum showcases iconic aircraft like the Lancaster Bomber.
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For £2 a pop, visitors can take tours of cockpits too, including an Avro Vulcan XM602 Cockpit and an Avro Lancaster ‘S Sugar’ Replica Cockpit.
The fighter jet museum also has a flight simulator and a virtual reality bombing raid.
Other features include interactive displays as well as memorabilia from the aviation industry.
There’s also the Green Howards Museum in Richmond.
Housed in the historic Trinity Church, the museum tells the story of the Green Howards Regiment.
Its collection of regimental artefacts and military history spans over 300 years of British Military history.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “These accolades highlight the wonderful visitor experiences provided by English attractions, from the warmest of welcomes to amazing food and drink, from great storytelling to outstanding customer service.
“Our tourism businesses are the bedrock of our industry and it is wonderful to highlight and celebrate the fantastic service and experiences they give visitors, time-after-time.
“From museums, gardens and nature reserves to farm attractions, estates and theme parks, these attractions go out of their way to make visits memorable.”
Five other unusual museums to visit in the UK
HERE are five other unusual museums to visit in the UK.
The Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle, Kent
This unique museum houses a fascinating collection of dog collars dating from the 15th century to the present day. The display includes ornate and practical collars, illustrating the changing relationship between humans and their canine companions.
The British Lawnmower Museum, Southport
Dedicated to the history and development of the lawnmower, this quirky museum features over 300 restored exhibits, including lawnmowers once owned by Princess Diana.
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall
This intriguing museum explores the history, folklore, and practices of witchcraft and magic, with a collection of over 3,000 objects. Visitors can delve into exhibits ranging from spell books and charms to tools and ceremonial items.
The Fan Museum, Greenwich, London
The only museum in the UK dedicated solely to fans and fan-making, it boasts an extensive collection of fans dating from the 11th century to the present day. The museum also features beautifully decorated rooms and a tranquil Japanese-style garden.
The Cumberland Pencil Museum, Keswick, Cumbria
Celebrating the humble pencil, this museum traces the history of pencil manufacturing in Keswick, home of the first pencil factory. Highlights include the world’s largest colouring pencil and a secret World War II pencil with hidden maps.
Meanwhile, this is town in the Lake District has been labelled a “party capital” because of its calendar of festivals.
And this little-known European town has its own pistachio festival every year.
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