Every year, the best of the North East’s tourism industry are recognised in the North East Tourism Awards.
Northumberland stole the show in the North East England Tourism Awards 2025, achieving gold in an amazing nine of the available fourteen categories, with Northumberland College Zoo at Kirkley Hall winning Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, making the Zoo the best small visitor attraction in the North East.
Northumberland College Zoo boasts over 150 species of animals including lemurs, marmosets, meerkats, Asian leopard cats and more, as well as a wide range of domestic, exotic and avian species.
Visitors can meet the keepers and learn about the animals and their habitats, and there is also a myriad of activities, garden walks, picnic areas and a zoo kiosk with a selection of hot and cold drinks and food.
Steven Sykes Resource Manager at the Zoo said: “I am so proud to win this award. The team have worked so hard to create a wonderful zoo for both our students and our guests.
“It’s a wonderful accolade to show how much effort and enthusiasm they show the animals, students and guests every day.”
Animal Management student Lacey Gallagher added: “The win was such a great achievement for the Zoo.
“I’m so pleased that I study at this amazing award-winning attraction in Northumberland.”
Judging is carried out by a panel of judges, overseen by a facilitator, however the visits will be judged differently depending on the category. The judges decide on a shortlist and these shortlisted applicants will then be visited either by the same judges and facilitator at a pre-arranged date and time or by an unannounced mystery shopper.
The pre-arranged judges visit allows time for the judges to be shown why each attraction should win gold in their category. Shortlisted businesses will have the chance to win Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended in each award category.
Destination North East England runs the awards and has a collective ambition to double the size of the region’s visitor economy in ten years.
By developing a 10-year strategy which aims to double the size of the region’s visitor economy by 2033. This could support the provision of more than 25,000 new jobs in the sector and is an incredible opportunity to grow the visitor economy in the North East of England.
The work of Destination North East England provides cross-regional support to all seven local authority areas, giving the visitor economy a voice, national influence and international amplification.
We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.
Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.
Our extensive re-development programme will create outstanding new facilities.
Northumberland College, as part of college group EPNE, receives an Outstanding rating across the board in its latest Ofsted inspection.
November 26, 2024
Northumberland College students recently attended Society Matters Foundation ‘Generation 2035’ conference in Gateshead.
November 21, 2025
Northumberland College Higher Education students recently celebrated their achievements at an inspirational graduation ceremony.
October 27, 2025
