Industry News

Durham has scooped the award as Best UK Destination as Beamish Museum is named Best UK Attraction at the Group Leisure & Travel Awards 2025.

The county was voted for by readers of Group Leisure and Travel magazine following a shortlisting of other top UK locations, including the Isle of Wight, London, Wiltshire and Liverpool.

Kynren, An Epic Tale of England was also a winner taking the award as Best Event for Groups.

Members of the Visit County Durham team attended the event in London on Thursday evening alongside representative from Beamish Museum, Kynren, as well as The Auckland Project and Raby Castle with both attractions also being shortlisted.

Michelle Gorman, managing director, Visit County Durham said: ‘It is an honour for Durham to be named Best UK Destination. I am thrilled as this really goes to show the fantastic tourism offer in the county.

Coach and group travel is a vital part of our visitor economy, and we have worked hard to make Durham accessible to group travellers.  

Visit County Durham works alongside partners throughout the year representing Durham at key trade show making sure that the area remains on group travel organiser’s itineraries.

Congratulations to Kynren and Beamish on their awards, it is brilliant to see Durham and its attractions getting the recognition they deserve.”