Cumbria Tourism

12/06/2026

Couldn’t make it to our AGM and Member Meeting?

Watch our short film from The Daffodil Hotel, Grasmere, where more than 150 delegates joined us for a morning focused on the Road to the Tour de France.

Hear from our speakers and attendees about the scale of the opportunity, what it could mean for Cumbria’s visitor economy and why now is the time for businesses to start thinking ahead.

Watch below 👇

For the 2026 Cumbria Tourism AGM, the theme was the Tour de France ...

12/06/2026

Good food is a huge part of the Cumbria experience, from forest cafes to lakeside venues and local kitchens.

This year’s finalists in the Taste of Cumbria, Casual Dining Award, sponsored by Dodd & Co, are:

Cafe Ambio, Grizedale Forest
Baha Bowness
Levens kitchen , near Kendal

Three very different places, all helping showcase the quality and variety of Cumbria’s food and drink offer.

Good luck to all three finalists.

11/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Daffodil Hotel & Spa Hotel, Grasmere, for today’s Cumbria Tourism Member meeting and AGM.

It was a great morning, with more than 150 delegates coming together to look ahead to the Road to the Tour de France and what it could mean for Cumbria’s visitor economy.

A big thank you to our speakers, attendees and hosts at The Daffodil Hotel for making the event such a success.

11/06/2026

Good morning from The Daffodil Hotel, Grasmere, where we’re welcoming members to today’s Cumbria Tourism Member meeting and AGM.

This morning’s event is focused on the Road to the Tour de France, looking ahead to what the race could mean for Cumbria’s visitor economy and how businesses can build momentum, reach new audiences and make the most of the opportunity.

10/06/2026

More good news ahead of the Cumbria Tourism Awards.

We’re pleased to confirm three more category sponsors for this year’s ceremony:

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Northern
Self Catering Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by United Utilities
Makers and Producers Award, sponsored by Grasmere Gingerbread

Thank you to all three for supporting the awards and helping us celebrate the businesses, teams and individuals who make Cumbria’s visitor economy what it is.

We look forward to seeing our sponsors, finalists and guests at the awards celebration on Wednesday 8 July at Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, where the winners will be revealed at a glittering black tie finale.

08/06/2026

The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival returns from 23 October to 20 November, celebrating the county’s night skies during half term and into the quieter autumn period.

Businesses are invited to get involved by submitting events, from guided stargazing walks and pop up planetariums to dark skies dinners, night time canoeing and more.

Free resources are also available, including the Dark Skies Cumbria Toolkit and a self accreditation scheme to register as a dark sky friendly business.

Events submitted as part of the festival will benefit from promotion on VisitLakeDistrict, the Dark Skies page and across Cumbria Tourism’s marketing activity.

Find out more and get involved 👇
https://www.cumbriatourism.org/campaigns/dark-skies/

06/06/2026

Small hotels play a big part in Cumbria’s visitor offer, bringing together personal service, character and memorable places to stay.

This year’s finalists for Small Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Colliers, are:

Rothay Manor Hotel, Ambleside
Borrowdale Gates Hotel, Keswick
The Pennington Hotel, Ravenglass

Three very different hotels, all helping showcase the quality and variety of hospitality across the county.

Good luck to all three finalists.

04/06/2026

The hospitality sector has come together to launch , a national campaign calling for VAT for hospitality to be reduced from 20% to 10%.

Cumbria Tourism has been calling for a reduced rate of VAT for tourism and hospitality for a number of years, recognising the pressure businesses are under from rising costs, tighter margins and cautious consumer spending.

A lower rate of VAT would help improve the UK’s competitiveness as a visitor destination, support local venues and give businesses more room to invest in their teams, communities and customer experience.

Businesses are encouraged to sign the petition and share the campaign with their own networks.

Find out more and sign the petition below 👇
https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/

04/06/2026

Next in our Cumbria Tourism Awards category spotlight is Self Catering Accommodation of the Year.

This category celebrates businesses offering high quality self catering stays, from countryside cottages to distinctive places to switch off and explore more of Cumbria.

Congratulations to this year’s finalists:

Dandelion & Hoglet Holiday Cottages, Dalston
Scenery Hill Hideaways, The Coach House, Branthwaite
The Waterfall Retreat, Tebay

Good luck to all three finalists.

04/06/2026

National recognition for two Cumbrian businesses!

Congratulations to Shed One, Ulverston and Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant, who were both recognised at last night’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

Following their success at the 2025 Cumbria Tourism Awards, Shed One Distillery went on to take Bronze in Experience of the Year, with Farlam Hall Hotel and Restaurant taking Bronze in Small Hotel of the Year.

To be recognised among the best tourism businesses in England is a major achievement, and a strong reflection of the quality, creativity and hospitality we have here in Cumbria.