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Lisa Cartwright

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VisitEngland announces Tourism Superstar finalists for 2026

Jimmy Durham's Tourism Superstar winner holding a trophy

VisitEngland has today, 15 December, revealed the 10 finalists to make the shortlist of its Tourism Superstar competition.

VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar competition, now in its 14th year, seeks out champions working in tourism who provide fantastic experiences for visitors, as well as showcasing the variety and quality of England’s tourism offer, businesses and destinations.  

The 10 finalists, individuals or teams, were selected from dozens of submissions from Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), destinations, employers and colleagues and cover all areas of tourism.

The finalists will now go on to compete for the title of Tourism Superstar 2026 decided by a public vote and run on VisitEngland’s website in February and March 2026.  

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:  

“Our Tourism Superstar competition truly showcases the diversity of roles in our wonderful industry with all those involved demonstrating their passion for their places of work and destinations. It is their commitment to making visitors leave with magical memories that we are celebrating, and I encourage the public to show their support by voting for their favourite superstar. 

“From volunteers, guides, leaders in astro-tourism to chefs, holiday park employees and events teams, these finalists are already superstars. They strive to continuously improve the visitor experience, and I wish them every success when the competition opens in February 2026. Please do cast your vote!” 

VisitEngland Tourism Superstar 2026 finalists are: 

  1. Jimmy Nicol, volunteer guide at Raby Castle, County Durham 
  2. Hull & East Yorkshire Volunteers (HEY! Volunteers), supporting culture, tourism and heritage, East Riding of Yorkshire 
  3. Dan Monk, Director of Astrophotography Kielder Observatory, Northumberland 
  4. Maurizio Bocchi, chef at La Locanda, Lancashire 
  5. Coast & Country Parks Holiday Connoisseurs, Coast & Country Parks – Somerset, Devon & Cornwall 
  6. Leicester’s Festivals and Events Team, Leicestershire 
  7. Mick Hurst, Battle of Evesham Historical Events and Reenactments, Worcestershire 
  8. Sheila Hannon, Show of Strength Theatre Walks, Bristol 
  9. Badger Hide Guides Volunteers at Wild Haweswater, the RSPB at Wild Haweswater, Cumbria 
  10. Cheryl Cade, Tour Guide, Norwich and Norfolk 

The public will be able to vote for their favourite superstar on VisitEngland’s website from early February when the competition officially opens. Short films of all the finalists, carrying out their duties in their tourism roles and promoting their local destinations, will be shown on VisitEngland’s website to support with voting. Voting will run until the end of English Tourism Week which in 2026 takes place from the 13-22 March.

The finalist with the highest number of votes is crowned winner at the end of the competition with the Tourism Superstar award handed out at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 event in the summer. 

For more information on VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar competition go VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Awards UK | VisitBritain.org

Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, delivering economic growth right across the country.   

For further information contact charlotte.sanders@visitengland.org or on 02075781428 or on 07583682901

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The Light offers a bright future for County Durham culture

Cllr Karen Allison, Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, and Cllr Joe Quinn, Cabinet member for planning, investments and assets, at The Light.

The name of a new cultural venue that will boost Durham City’s visitor offer and provide a home for creativity and innovation has been announced.

The Light will bring together art and science in an engaging space where visitors will be able to view internationally significant exhibitions; artists will be able to create and collaborate, and communities can gather.

The name of the Durham County Council-run venue has been inspired not just by the building’s history, but also its future use.

Once the site of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery, the building is undergoing significant works, which have seen it stripped down to its basic structure and almost completely rebuilt.

While it’s new design will transform The Light into a multipurpose cultural space, the venue’s links to military history will be retained through a dedicated DLI Gallery telling the story of the ‘Durhams’ through objects, documents and film footage from the DLI Collection.

The new name also reflects County Durham’s many associations with light – from the creation 1,300 years ago of Bede’s lunar calendar to Durham University’s involvement in the James Webb Space Telescope.

Housing the county’s only contemporary art gallery, The Light will also provide a beacon for creativity, arts and culture when it opens, with light art also set to play a prominent role.

More than just an exhibition space, The Light will also offer facilities to host private events and conferences, and a ground floor café will provide a place for visitors and passers-by to stop for refreshments. The stunning natural grounds will be an oasis in the centre of the city and a place for reflection.

Cllr Karen Allison, Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “The transformation of the site in the past few months has been amazing. It’s been fantastic to see the venue taking shape and, now that we’re able to announce its name, it really feels like we are getting closer to opening day.

“I’m sure The Light is going to provide a fantastic place for local residents, people in our wider communities and visitors from near and far to enjoy – all bringing a financial boost the city and county.

“County Durham has a long history of culture-based regeneration, and we are committed to building on its reputation as a culture county.”

Situated at the heart of Aykley Heads, The Light will be an anchor institution of Durham’s Innovation District, which took a major step forward just last month when Durham County Council signed a Collaboration Agreement with Muse and Durham University to accelerate its development as a hub for investment and innovation.

Acting as a meeting place and a creative hub, The Light will support the game-changing ambitions of the new district and play a key part in the sustainable growth of the site.

Cllr Allison added: “The innovation district will revitalise the Aykley Heads area, creating a new employment district and thousands of new jobs. To have a cultural venue such as The Light at its centre can only enhance its appeal.

“The café will be a great place for an informal meeting, while the opportunity to host a corporate event in the surroundings of a contemporary art gallery really is something pretty special.”

The Light, which is due to open next year, will be a sister venue to The Story, which provides the permanent home to the DLI Collection. The two venues will work together, along with other attractions across the county, to support a local, regional and national visitor offer that celebrates our heritage and highlights our ambition.

Col Ted Shields MBE, chair of the DLI trustees, said: “The trustees have been following closely the council’s plans to regenerate the former DLI Museum and Art Gallery site at Aykley Heads.

“The redesign of the building, including the dedicated DLI Gallery, is truly impressive and will surely put The Light – and The Story – at the very forefront of the culture and heritage sector.

“The branding is stunning – communicating vision and innovation as well as tradition. ‘Durham’ or civilian, young or old, local resident or visitor from afar – all will be inspired. Our congratulations and thanks to the council and all involved.”

It was a great opportunity to reflect on the work and impact of our organisation over the last ninety years, and to hear directly from community groups the difference we have made to them. 

DCA exists to help those working to support their communities by making sure voluntary and community organisations are recognised for the work they undertake and the impact they have in communities, on people’s health, their economic well-being and their ability to enjoy their lives in their places.

Thank you to everyone for your support. We hope to continue working alongside you all for another ninety years!”

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Durham Community Action celebrates turning 90!

A group of people in a conference hall

Durham Community Action, the voluntary sector infrastructure organisation for County Durham, celebrated it’s 90th birthday last week.

The organisation provides advice, support and assistance to frontline groups operating in the Voluntary and Community Sector and to various communities of interest across the county.

Back in the depression years of the 1930s, more than 30% of County Durham’s workforce was unemployed.  The National Council for Social Service (the Government Agency of the day) recognised a need to provide social support for the unemployed, and this led to the establishment of The Community Service Council for County Durham in 1935 (the Council).

The Council provided practical help and support for hard-pressed men and their families, by establishing a series of Service Clubs for men and women covering skills such as handicrafts, keep fit, education and drama.  

In 1984 the organisation changed its name to Durham Rural Community Council, reflecting the growing importance of the rural agenda, thanks in particular to financial support from the Rural Development Commission, and then in 2013 to embrace work in more urban areas became Durham Community Action.

To celebrate this historic occasion, over one hundred people gathered at Ushaw Historic House and Gardens to catch up, enjoy a selection of videos from groups that have received support from DCA and there was an opportunity to explore the Durham Community Action archive.

Kate Burrows, Executive Director of Durham Community Action, said:

“It was lovely to see so many people from across the County join us to celebrate this momentous milestone for Durham Community Action.

It was a great opportunity to reflect on the work and impact of our organisation over the last ninety years, and to hear directly from community groups the difference we have made to them. 

DCA exists to help those working to support their communities by making sure voluntary and community organisations are recognised for the work they undertake and the impact they have in communities, on people’s health, their economic well-being and their ability to enjoy their lives in their places.

Thank you to everyone for your support. We hope to continue working alongside you all for another ninety years!”

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Leading the way in groundbreaking research

A scientist in a lab

Durham University have been ranked third in the UK for interdisciplinary science research.

Our researchers work across traditional academic disciplines to address global challenges, transforming lives for the better.

That’s why we’re very pleased to have been placed third in the UK, and 128th globally, in the second annual Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.

Interdisciplinary research at Durham

The heart of interdisciplinary research at Durham is our 10 research institutes, where academics from often very different backgrounds are encouraged to collaborate, share ideas and approaches, and find innovative solutions.

Much of our interdisciplinary research focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – 17 goals to create a better world by 2030, from ending poverty to addressing climate change.

We rank 24th in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026. Recently, seven of our staff and students travelled to COP (Conference of Parties) 30, the recent global climate conference in Brazil.

Earlier this year, we launched the Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life, which brings together experts from across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are transforming society. This is led by Professor Louise Amoore, from our Department of Geography.

Earlier this month, six of our researchers, five from our Department of Physics and one from our Department of Engineering, were named in the 2025 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list.

A world top 100 university

Our ranking of third in the UK for interdisciplinary science adds to our status as a world top 100 university, and The Times and The Sunday Times UK University of the Year 2026. We have a best-ever 21 subjects in the world top 100 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, and we are in the top five for all three major UK university rankings.

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Durham Cricket partnership shortlisted for national award

A woman playing cricket

The inspiring partnership between the county’s new place brand, The Durham Story, and Durham Cricket’s first professional women’s team, has been recognised nationally after being named as a finalist in the ECB Business of Cricket Awards 2025.

To ensure long-term success, Durham Cricket needed the right partners, those who not only aligned with their values, but shared a vision for creating meaningful, sustainable change in sport and in the region. The Durham Story became the first-ever exclusive sponsor of the Durham Women’s team. It was a powerful message – a new team representing the future of women’s sport, supported by a new brand representing the future of the county.

Tom Seymour, Commercial Director at Durham Cricket said: “This partnership exemplifies the power of true alignment in sponsorship. In March 2025, as Durham Cricket was launching its first-ever Tier 1 professional women’s team, the Durham Story place brand was being launched – both representing bold new chapters for the county. And this shared moment of transformation created a perfect platform for collaboration. The sponsorship not only helped launch and sustain the women’s team, it strengthened the identity of a county committed to progress, and with the shared grit, determination and passion to succeed”.

The Durham Story partnership was brought to life through a multi-channel strategy that reached audiences locally, nationally, and globally, including kit branding, pitch presence, digital and broadcast exposure and events, with the women’s team also becoming Champions for the place brand, acting as ambassadors for the county.

Michelle Gorman, Managing Director of Visit County Durham added: “This partnership is about more than logos and advertising – it’s about identity, pride, and progress. Supporting Durham Cricket’s women’s team allows us to showcase our county’s commitment to equality, ambition, and excellence. The Durham Story is about celebrating what makes this place special, and our partnership with Durham Cricket brings that story to life on a national and international stage.”

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Durham Recognised by Which? as one of the UK’s Best Christmas Market Cities

People at Durham Christmas market

Durham has earned national recognition, being named one of the UK’s top Christmas market destinations by Which?. The listing highlights the city’s strong visitor appeal during the winter season and showcases Durham’s fantastic festive events. 

The annual Durham Christmas Market is a significant event for both visitors and businesses. It features over 30 high-quality stalls in Durham Market Place and a further 120 artisan producers in the ticketed marquee on Palace Green, which creates a significant retail and trading opportunity. The market attracts thousands of visitors into the city centre each year. 

This recognition also reflects the strength of Durham’s wider visitor experience. Which? highlighted the city’s cultural assets, walkability, and welcoming, uncrowded atmosphere. 

Durham’s inclusion alongside destinations such as Liverpool, Edinburgh, York, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow, Winchester and Wells positions the city within a competitive market and reinforces its reputation as a high-quality festive break destination.

Read the full article at Which.