The Visit York Tourism Awards 2025 celebrate excellence across a diverse range of categories, recognising the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals within York’s vibrant tourism sector.
Each category honoured those who demonstrated exceptional quality, innovation and dedication in providing memorable experiences for visitors. From inclusive tourism to sustainable practices, and from the best in accommodation to extraordinary events, these awards recognised the very best that York has to offer.
The prestigious awards ceremony took place on 20th March 2025 at the historic York Racecourse, where winners were announced and applauded for their contributions in making York a world-class destination. The event was an inspiring evening filled with celebration and recognition of excellence in York’s tourism and culture.
Find below the details of each award category, including the winners, highly commended and finalists.
Visit York Tourism Awards – Winners & Finalists
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Award sponsored by The Grand, York
⭐Winner⭐ Castle Howard
Highly commended: Sutton Bank National Park Centre
This award recognises tourism businesses that excel in providing an inclusive customer experience, particularly for those with accessibility requirements.
Camping, Glamping, Holiday Park and Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Award sponsored by Yorwaste
⭐Winner⭐Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges
Finalists
Celebration Holiday Homes
Griffon Forest Holiday Lodges
High Oaks Grange
This award recognises self catering accommodation, holiday parks, sites and villages that provide exceptional guest experiences across properties for let, static vans, touring pitches, shepherd's huts and more.
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Award sponsored by First Bus
⭐Winner⭐York Gin
Highly commended: Host & Stay
This award recognises tourism businesses committed to being sustainable, responsible and ethical in how they operate and interact with customers, the wider community and the environment.
Event, Festival or Cultural Experience of the Year
Award sponsored by Buttercrumble
⭐Winner⭐National Treasures: Monet in York 'The Water-Lily Pond'
Highly commended
York Pride
York Proms
Finalists
The Hocus Pocus Witches' Coven
Hallowscream at York Maze
This award recognises
organisers of truly memorable and immersive events and
festivals for visitors to enjoy.
Experience of the Year
Award sponsored by LNER
⭐Winner⭐The Wizard Walk of York
Finalists
City Cruises York
The Bloody Tour of York
This award recognises providers of truly memorable and immersive activities for visitors to participate in.
Independent Business of the Year
Award sponsored by Latimer by Clarion Housing Group
⭐Winner⭐The Bloody Tour of York
Finalists
The Wizard Walk of York
Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel
The Potions Cauldron Group
For businesses directly involved in tourism, with a unique selling point that might be a retail offering, theme or entertainment and with no more than 5 branches.
Large Hotel of the Year
Award sponsored by Streamline Taxis
⭐Winner⭐Sandburn Hall
Finalists
Middletons Hotel - part of Daniel Thwaites
Aldwark Manor Estate
This award recognises full service hotels providing truly memorable guest experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Award sponsored by NFU Mutual - Vale of York Agency
⭐Winner⭐Castle Howard
Finalists
York's Chocolate Story
The York Dungeon
Web Adventure Park
This award recognises large visitor attraction businesses providing truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
New Tourism Business Award
Award sponsored by Your Creative Sauce
⭐Winner⭐The Riverfront York
Finalists
The Old Liquor Store Restaurant & Bar
Ampleforth Abbey
This award recognises high performing new tourism businesses, demonstrating excellent understanding of their market, exceeding the expectations of their customers with clear plans for future development.
Pub of the Year
Award sponsored by Hunter Gee Holroyd
Finalists
Plonkers Wine Bar & Bistro
This award recognises pubs that make a significant contribution to tourism in their area, with a food and drink offering that includes quality locally sourced produce.
Retailer of the Year
Award sponsored by York BID
⭐Winner⭐Avorium
Finalists
York Gin
The Cat Gallery
The Potions Cauldron
This award recognises businesses that make a significant contribution to tourism in their area, with a retail offering.
Small Serviced Accomodation Provider of the Year
Award sponsored by Booking.com
⭐Winner⭐MonkBridge House
Highly commended: The Pheasant Hotel
Finalists
Stone House Hotel
Galtres Lodge
This award recognises small serviced accommodation businesses providing truly memorable guest experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Award sponsored by Shambles Market
⭐Winner⭐Stump Cross Caverns
Finalists
Mother Shipton's Cave
York Army Museum
Yorkshire Heart Vineyard
This award recognises small visitor attraction businesses providing truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
Taste of England Award
Award sponsored by Fowlers of York
⭐Winner⭐The Whippet Inn
Finalists
The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub
Forest
This award recognises businesses within the tourism industry that offer food, beverage and service innovation and excellence.
The Best of York Award
Award sponsored by York St John University
⭐Winner⭐City Cruises York
Finalists
York's Chocolate Story
The Wizard Walk of York
Mad Alice
This
award recognises the very best that York has to offer, be it a business, a
team or an individual.
Hospitality Hero Award
The ‘Hospitality Hero’ award recognises the contributions of an individual who plays an integral role within a hospitality business, and the vital part they play within their team and in welcoming guests. Nominations are welcome from Visit York and Hospitality Association York (HAY) members.
⭐Winner⭐Juliana Ene, Delta Hotels by Marriott York
Finalists
Sarah Simpson, The Milner York
Karl Horton, Novotel York Centre