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Feature: Accolades awarded to England's hidden gems

Xinhua, February 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Think of tourism in Britain and top destinations will include the Tower of London with its priceless crown jewels, Big Ben guarding over the Houses of Parliament and Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain.

Off the beaten track is a new list of destinations which have won accolades from the official tourism agency, VisitEngland.

The new list is made up of hidden gems, attractions that have won the stamp of approval from VisitEngland, but are not automatically on the itineraries of visitors and tourists.

Included is a gruesome "rogues" gallery that transports visitors to police and crime in Victorian England, a museum devoted to rum, and an exploration beneath the famous River Mersey.

The British Minister for Tourism Helen Grant said: "England has a huge number of world-class attractions to be enjoyed as part of a day trip, short weekend break or longer family holiday. This is a great way to show case attractions going the extra mile to deliver a high-quality and unique visitor experience."

James Berresford, CEO of VisitEngland, said: "These accolades recognize the wonderful and innovative ways attractions in England are going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure people enjoy their visit, from a friendly and warm welcome, to high-quality food and drink on offer, or capturing the imagination with creative experiences."

The accolades have been granted following visits by a network of highly trained assessors from VisitEngland.

Among the new attractions listed as England's hidden gems are: The Rum Story in Northern England's Cumbria. Set in an original 1785 shop with courtyards, cellars and bonded warehouses, the Rum Story has been authentically designed.

Greater Manchester Police Museum, showing how crime was tackled in the days of Sherlock Holmes, The Mersey Tunnel tour, taking visitors behind the scenes and beneath the river bed, enjoying the engineering marvel that is the 1930s tunnel linking Liverpool with neighboring Wirral.

Another gem is the Cambridgeshire home of Oliver Cromwell, born in 1599 who masterminded Britain's Civil War and was signatory to the death warrant for King Charles I who was beheaded in 1649.

Another is the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, birthplace in the Lancashire cotton town, of the modern co-operative movement in England in 1844.

For lovers of big vehicles, there is the British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Lancashire, housing a collection of old buses and fire engines (fire fighting appliances) and vehicles dating back to horse-drawn and steam-powered commercial wagons.

The stunning Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, built in the 1660s is also celebrated in the new list. It is home of official ceremonies of Oxford University, designed by Sir Christopher Wren whose other works include the St Paul's Cathedral in London. Endit