(Image: Lestocq / Wikimedia Commons)
The only Greater Manchester attraction lauded in major national awards
by Liv Clarke · Manchester Evening NewsA museum in Greater Manchester has been named the north west’s best ‘hidden gem’. The Avro Heritage Museum in Stockport was awarded a Visitor Attraction Accolade by VisitEngland and recognised for its “excellence“ within the visitors' attraction sector.
A total of 72 accolades were awarded to attractions across the country, covering all aspects of an “outstanding visitor experience”. The awards spanned five categories: welcome, quality food and drink, hidden gem, best told story and gold for overall excellence.
The awards for 2023-2024 were presented at a celebratory lunch at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. They were awarded based on scores that attractions obtained following their annual VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessment. Stockport’s Avro Heritage Museum, which is dedicated to the story of Manchester’s aviation history, was awarded the ‘hidden gem’ accolade.
READ MORE: The Manchester park tucked behind a main road with amazing autumn displays
The Woodford-based site is where the Avro aircraft company opened 100 years ago, building some of the world’s most famous aircraft, including the Lancaster Bomber. Today the museum contains several aircraft, including the Avro Vulcan B2 XM603 and a replica Avro Type F, which was the first aircraft in the world with a fully enclosed cockpit.
It also features a WWII Blitz virtual reality simulator and offers cockpit tours of its aircraft. The Avro factory, which became BAE Systems, closed in 2011, but the museum opened at the site in 2015. According to the BBC, the museum has announced plans to expand as part of the centenary anniversary of the site.
(Image: Lestocq / Wikimedia Commons)
It was the only Greater Manchester attraction to be recognised. Other winners across the north west included Chester Zoo for best told story, and Windermere’s Mountain Goat Tours and Holidays.
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.”
The accolades are available to participants of the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme across a range of tourism attractions from historic houses, gardens, country parks and farm attractions to galleries, museums, churches and cathedrals. Participating attractions are supported by a network of highly trained and experienced assessors who advise them on improving and promoting the quality, accessibility and sustainability of their offer.
The north west winners of the Visit England Visitor Attraction Accolades
- Avro Heritage Museum, Stockport - Hidden gem
- Chester Zoo, Chester - Best told story
- Levens Hall & Gardens, Kendal - Quality Food & Drink
- Mountain Goat Tours and Holidays, Windermere - Gold (Tour)
- The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven - Quality Food & Drink
- The Lakes Distillery, Cockermouth - Gold
- Whinlatter Forest, Keswick - Gold