Cornwall was the clear winner in the biggest destination categories at the British Travel Awards, but travel bible Lonely Planet named Yorkshire as the UK’s top region.
Cornwall sweeps British Travel destination prizes
With more than 1.2m votes cast, the British Travel Awards are the travel industry’s Oscars and Cornwall carried away the prize for best UK holiday region for an amazing fifth consecutive year. The Lake District came second and Devon, third.
There was more good news for Cornwall in the category of best UK coastal resort, with the seaside town of Looe taking second prize, behind Bournemouth in Dorset and Tenby, on the Welsh coast in Pembrokeshire.
And the Eden Project, Cornwall’s world renowned environmental attraction, was named the UK’s best leisure attraction, beating Longleat Safari and Adventure Park and Legoland Windsor. This is the third year in a row Eden’s biomes has collected the award.
There was also a prize for the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, which collected a silver award for the best UK heritage attraction, behind Edinburgh Castle and ahead of Titanic Belfast.
Malcolm Bell, head of the Visit Cornwall tourist board said: “Cornwall manages to find a special place in the heart of anybody that visits and this award symbolises all that it great about our treasured county.”
Yorkshire named one of world’s best places to visit
Yet travel experts at Lonely Planet could find no place for Cornwall in their round up of best destinations in 2014, instead naming Yorkshire as one of the top places in the world.
Yorkshire came third in Lonely Planet’s top 10 world regions for 2014, behind destinations in India and Australia, and was praised for its “rugged moorlands, heritage homes and cosy pubs.”
Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Endorsements rarely come much better than this from a guide that has a worldwide reputation.
“We have worked hard to put Yorkshire on the map because we know how amazing and unique our county is.”
Do you agree? Tell us which is your favourite UK holiday region?