The award is based on the experiences of an independent assessor, customer feedback, and online reviews, highlighting the castle’s rich and immersive visitor experience. The assessor described the standards of visitor care, engagement, presentation, and interaction as “exemplary”.
The castle’s staff and volunteers were particularly praised for their “standout strength”, delivering friendly, knowledgeable, and proactive service that significantly enhances the visitor experience. This accolade follows previous national recognitions, including VisitEngland’s Gold Award and the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award last year, which placed the castle among the top 10 per cent of global visitor destinations.
Cllr Natalie Oliver, executive councillor for culture, accepted the award alongside the castle team at an event held at The British Motor Museum. She stated, “Receiving VisitEngland’s coveted Welcome Award is a phenomenal achievement. They represent Lincoln Castle with such enthusiasm and dedication every single day, delivering an outstanding experience that ensures every visit is memorable for our visitors.”
Cllr Oliver also highlighted a successful year for the castle, noting ongoing multi-million-pound repairs to its medieval walls and the arrival of its largest dragon, Hastings. The landmark has seen record visitor numbers, including for the recent Live at Lincoln Castle concerts and a festive light extravaganza, with tickets for Lincoln Castle Illuminated now on sale.
Now in its 12th year, the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Accolades are part of the Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme. Andrew Stokes, VisitEngland Director, commented, “England’s visitor attractions are first-class, and these accolades highlight why they deserve this recognition. The recipients of these awards provide an outstanding welcome, unparalleled food and drink and magical storytelling making them integral to the high-quality tourism offer provided to domestic and international visitors.”
Further details on visiting Lincoln Castle can be found on their website.
