Area Focus: Coventry - Mid Warks - North Warks - South Warks - City centre venue announced as a finalist in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025

Coventry’s historic St Mary’s Guildhall has been named among the elite visitor attractions in the country.

The city centre venue has been announced as a finalist in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, where it will compete alongside some of the country’s most celebrated visitor attractions.

The 700-year-old landmark has been shortlisted in the International Tourism Award category – one of three finalists alongside The Beatles Story in Liverpool and World of Wedgwood in Staffordshire – after developing new international travel trade partnerships and travel itineraries to increase visitors to the city.

The prestigious awards, which celebrate the best of England’s tourism industry, received more than 1,800 entries through 21 regional competitions. Just 52 businesses made it through to the national final across 16 categories.

St Mary’s Guildhall, which is operated by No Ordinary Hospitality, will be awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze at the national ceremony at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange on Wednesday, June 4, showcasing the city’s rising profile as a destination for international tourism.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence are the highest accolade in English tourism, championing innovation, quality, and outstanding customer experiences for over three decades.

It comes after the guildhall earned a spectacular 92% in its VisitEngland Quality

Assured Visitor Attraction assessment earlier this year, one point up on 2023’s score.

The report called the guildhall “a captivating visitor attraction combining history, architecture, and storytelling,” stating “the building itself is a marvel, showcasing stunning medieval craftsmanship and impressive stained glass… the star attraction is the magnificent 15th-century Coventry tapestry, a rare and remarkable piece of art”.

Since reopening in 2022 under the new management operation of No Ordinary Hospitality, St Mary’s Guildhall has welcomed visitors from around the world to explore its medieval architecture, royal connections and immersive digital experiences – making it one of the most important heritage attractions in the region.

Abi Moore, heritage and venue manager at St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “We’re honoured to be recognised on the international stage alongside such iconic attractions. This is a huge milestone for Coventry, and for everyone who has worked so hard to transform St Mary’s Guildhall into a worldclass heritage destination for all.”

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “England’s tourism industry has good reason to celebrate. As the finalists demonstrate, businesses across every region provide outstanding customer service along with high quality experiences while constantly innovating to find new ways to give more to visitors and the communities they serve.

“The applications to this year’s awards and the list of finalists are a testament to the range of first-class products on offer to both domestic and international visitors. I congratulate all the finalists who are already winners, and I wish them the very best of luck.”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “This is a real achievement for St Mary’s Guildhall and to be recognised in such distinguished company is great news.