A Leicestershire medieval manor house with links to the Gunpowder Plot and witchcraft has received another top accolade from Visit England.
The 1620s House and Garden at Donington le Heath, which is managed by Leicestershire County Council, has just been given the national tourism body’s Welcome Award.
The awards celebrate excellence in the visitor attraction sector and showcasing attractions that go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.
The latest ward comes hot on the heels of a Visit England inspection earlier this year, where the inspector was so impressed with what the 1620s House and Garden had to offer that he gave it an 89 per cent score.
The inspector praised the quality of welcome and interpretation provided by staff and volunteers and gave a perfect score for cleanliness.
He also made particular mention of the website and social media, the extent of the information available to visitors, the impressive range of food available in the Barn tearoom and its excellent quality and presentation, and the depth of knowledge of the guides.
Councillor Christine Radford, cabinet member for heritage, leisure and arts, said:
We are immensely proud to receive the Visit England Welcome Award.
"The 1620s House and Garden is an important historical attraction for Leicestershire and the team prides themselves on creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for visitors.
“This award will hopefully encourage more visitors to come and experience all the site has to offer.
“The front of house team is passionate about creating a great visitor experience at the site, the garden volunteers work hard to create a garden that is reflective of the past, beautiful to look at and very informative and are always willing to share their passion and knowledge with visitors.
“The house volunteers guide visitors on a journey into the past to discover the medieval building’s rich history and the team are always on hand to answer any enquiries – and there is an amazing range of home-made cakes in our Old Barn coffee shop which are well worth a try.
Person:Councillor Christine Radford
More information about the 1620s House and Garden is available at www.1620sHouse.org.uk