THE dockyard which is home to Nelson's flagship Victory has won a prestigious tourism 'Oscar' to enhance its celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard was joint winner of the Large Visitor Attraction category in the Enjoy England Excellence Awards, presented in London.
The dockyard, which is also home to 19th century vessel HMS Warrior and Tudor warship Mary Rose, shared the prize with Beamish North of England Open Air Museum in County Durham.
The museum recreates life in the north of England in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Small Visitor Attraction of the Year award went to 18th century country house Holkham Hall in Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk, while the top bed and breakfast establishment was Holly Lodge in Thursford, Norfolk.
Self-catering Holiday of the Year winner was The Olde Rectory in Whitbourne, Worcestershire. The Samling in Windermere, Cumbria, took the Hotel of the Year prize.
The Business Tourism Award was won by the Cotswold Conference Centre in Broadway, Worcestershire, and the Top Caravan Holiday Park Prize went to Shardaroba Caravan Park, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Chesterfield in Derbyshire was voted top tourism information centre. The Tourism Website prize went to the website of luxury B&B Lyth Hill House in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
The Outstanding Customer Service Award went to former headmistress Ann Stamper, 71, a gallery assistant at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, south London.
The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award went to the Duchess of Northumberland for her work in the development of the 40-acre Alnwick Garden in Northumberland.
The awards were presented by broadcaster Sandi Toksvig; sponsored by The Caravan Club and run by the VisitBritain organisation.
VisitBritain's England Marketing Advisory Board chairman Hugh Taylor said: "As these awards demonstrate, England has some of the best hotels, attractions and holiday experiences in the world.
"We are proud to honour the people behind those outstanding tourism businesses who play a vital role in encouraging visitors to holiday in England."
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