Tamworth Castle gets VisitEngland accolade for ‘Welcome’

Castle awarded VisitEngland Welcome accolade following quality accreditation Award rating reflects the hard work of staff, volunteers and castle improvements Castle staff achieve category top scores of 100%

VisitEngland offer a range of quality schemes for tourism businesses in England. Attractions including art galleries, historic houses and buildings, are independently visited by an experienced assessor and offered support and guidance to improve their visitor experience.

The castle was proud to announce back in June that they were awarded the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service accreditation, for the best small visitor attraction in Staffordshire. The castle was then further nominated for a VisitEngland Welcome accolade for its outstanding staff knowledge and enthusiasm and is delighted to confirm they have been successful.

During the assessor’s visit, feedback in his report detailed that the castle provides VisitEngland offer a range assessments for tourism businesses in England. Attractions including art galleries, historic houses and buildings, are independently visited by an experienced assessor and offered support and guidance to improve their visitor experience.

Following improvements to the castle over the past few years including the Battle and Tribute Exhibition, introducing an AR trail and plus new events including archaeology digs and renowned speakers; the assessor was happy to report an increase once again in their rating score of 91%, 2% up on last year, with the most notable score being 100% in the staff category.

The assessor commented in their report that the castle provides an “enjoyable and informative visitor experience, with visitors able to engage with some excellent and thought-provoking historic displays and interpretation.”

Adding: “A particular strength of this assessment visit was again the quality of welcome and interpretation provided by the staff, leading to a perfect score in this section. The website, with the commitment to engagement with social media was very impressive, with notable significant increases in followers on both Facebook and Instagram.

“A memorable and enjoyable assessment visit to a well-run historic attraction, where the enthusiasm and commitment of the staff continues to shine through.”

Andrew Barratt, Chief Executive for Tamworth Borough Council, said: “We’re proud to say that we have an absolute gem of a castle, and the high accreditation from VisitEngland received in June, along the additional Welcome accolade, is a well-deserved recognition of its value, importance and hard work of the staff and volunteers.

“Thanks to the huge amount of hard work and dedication which the whole team puts into making the castle so special, joined with the excellent interactions that visitors have at the castle, it continues to demonstrate that the castle is all about the people – our visitors, staff and volunteers.

““Receiving the Welcome accolade, will boost the profile of Tamworth further and hopefully attract even more visitors far and wide.”

Visitors can book tickets online via: www.tamworthcastle.co.uk.