The best activity you can do in England this year? Cow cuddling at a farm in Yorkshire The best activity you can do in England this year? Cow cuddling at a farm in Yorkshire

VisitEngland has just announced the winners of the 2025 Awards for Excellence – and the best experience in the country is cow cuddling at a farm in East Yorkshire.

Dumble Farm offers visitors the chance to cuddle some of their retired dairy cows, Highland cross calves and Highland cows, who enjoy being brushed, stroked, and, well, cuddled.

The experience is meant to have a calming effect, and you’ll also get to ask the farmers any questions you have about cows and conservation afterwards. Dumble Farm use the money raised from their Highland Cow sponsorship programme to fund the creation of new habitats to support biodiversity in East Yorkshire.

Other top experiences include the Wizard Walk of York and the Mylor Sailing School’s Introduction to Sailing Course.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said, “These annual Awards are an opportunity to applaud and showcase the businesses and individuals who provide outstanding customer service and continuously improve their products and offer for visitors.

“From a captivating science museum in Merseyside to a fully accessible hotel in Bournemouth, from cow cuddling on a farm in Yorkshire to fine dining in Lancashire, this year’s winners show just how varied and diverse our industry is and what makes it great.”

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence were handed out across 17 categories, including New Tourism Business of the Year, Pub of the Year, and Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year.

Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum & Whisky Distillery in Northumberland was given the gold award for New Tourism Business of the Year, with Eureka! Science + Discovery in Merseyside taking home silver, and Eight at Gazegill, a farm-to-fork restaurant in Lancashire, received the bronze award.

The West Midlands’ Black Country Living Museum was named the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, alongside Leicester’s National Space Centre and Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences.

The Small Visitor Attraction of the Year gongs went to Bath’s No.1 Royal Crescent, followed by the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester and Sculpture by the Lakes, a sculpture park in Dorset.

More information: visitbritain.org / dumblefarm.com