England’s Best-Kept Secrets…

…(Now Officially Not So Secret): Your 2025 Adventure Map

Each year, the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence lift the curtain on the country’s most enchanting places—the kind of spots that feel whispered rather than shouted, yet leave unforgettable imprints. This isn’t your average “top 10” list. It’s a map of England’s soul—told through glamping nights under star-slick skies, silent moments with cows, and spoons dipped into the creamiest custards of Derbyshire.

Welcome to the new essentials of English travel. Here’s where 2025 is calling you to go…

The Field Where You Can Hug a Highland Cow

📍 Dumble Farm, East Riding of Yorkshire
🏆 Experience of the Year – Gold

Ever needed a hug from a cow? At Dumble Farm, it’s a reality. Highland cows—shaggy, serene, soulful—stand patiently for gentle snuggles in the Yorkshire air. It’s restorative, oddly profound, and adorably photogenic.

Go for: Animal therapy, slow travel, and countryside daydreams.

Camp with a Cornish View

📍 Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall
🏆 Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park – Gold

Overlooking St Ives, Polmanter is everything glamping should be: sea air, luxury pods, clean showers, and skies so clear you’ll count stars until you sleep. Family-friendly but escapist enough for romantic weekends.

Go for: Seaside mornings, cliff-top hikes, and s’mores by firelight.

Stay in a Storybook Country House

📍 Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa, Warwickshire
🏆 Large Hotel of the Year – Gold

Imagine ivy-draped walls, lush gardens, and a suite where everything feels handwritten. Mallory Court is polished, peaceful, and palpably posh—an English manor where the service knows your name before you do.

Go for: Decadent downtime, garden strolls, and spa days with heritage chic.

Raise a Pint Where Rustic Meets Refined

📍 The Farmers Arms, Woolsery, Devon
🏆 Pub of the Year – Gold

Devon’s most delicious secret: a village pub reimagined by visionaries. Think low beams, local ale, and a menu that marries comfort with culinary craft. Sit by the fire and let the slow, satisfying pace of Devon swallow your stress.

Go for: Award-winning roasts, coastal rambles, and pints with purpose.

Unplug in Countryside Serenity

📍 Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorset
🏆 Small Hotel of the Year – Gold

Tucked away in Hardy country, Summer Lodge is all soft light, walled gardens, and whispers of yesteryear. It’s the kind of place where books read better, wine tastes fuller, and silence is something you keep listening to.

Go for: Romantic retreats, gourmet evenings, and boutique English calm..

Ready to Follow the Map?

These 2025 winners don’t just invite you to visit—they urge you to feel. To slow down, tune in, and travel deeper.

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