Northumberland wins 'Best UK Region for Families' 2016

Northumberland has triumphed in the 2016 Family Traveller Awards, winning ‘Best UK Region for Families’ at the awards ceremony at The White Company’s flagship store in London last night. 

From over 1600 nominations across the 25 award categories, a shortlist of just over 300 was drawn up by the Family Traveller team before going to a public vote and expert judging from a panel including the Family Traveller editor Jane Anderson, broadcaster and writer Mariella Frostrup, BBC's Simon Reeve, travel editor of The Times Jane Knight, and Elle magazine’s travel & lifestyle director Sue Ward Davies.

There was also joy for accommodation providers Coastal Retreats, who came runner-up in the ‘Best UK Accommodation - Group’.

It is a good omen for the 2016 British Travel Awards next month, in which Northumberland is the only North East county in England to be nominated for ‘Best UK Holiday County/Destination’. 

Jude Leitch, director of Northumberland Tourism, said: “We are thrilled with this award. We were up against strong competition in the category so to be recognised as the best by both the judges and the public shows Northumberland has something really great to offer visitors of all ages, including families.

From the wilds of Northumberland National Park, Kielder Water & Forest Park and the North Pennines, to the beautiful sandy beaches and seaside towns on our coast, there is something for everyone. We hope this will inspire travellers young and old to discover Northumberland for themselves.”