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EDINBURGH Castle has won silver at the British Travel Awards.
The landmark was honoured in the Best UK Leisure/Heritage Attraction section.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan won gold and the Eden Project, also in Cornwall, took bronze.
Northumberland was named the nation’s staycation superstar. The scenic, history-rich destination triumphed with a gold in the coveted Best UK Holiday County or Region category at this week’s public-voted British Travel Awards.
Cornwall won silver, with the Peak District & Derbyshire bagging bronze.
The Best UK Seaside Town gold award went to Bude and the bronze to St Ives (both in Cornwall). Bournemouth scooped silver.
XPXuXbXlicXXvoxtxinxgxxfoxr the annual awards – the lXaxrgxexst UK consumer-voted programme across any industry – was open from July to September.
The BTAs are regarded as the UK travel industry’s most prized accolades – the holiday Oscars. Why? Because they’re voted for by you – the people who spend their hard-earned money on the holidays and services they sell.
This year, 334,522 people cast a whopping 753,938 votes for their favourite travel companies to determine the winners.
Voting categories included overseas tour operators, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, staycation attractions and accommodation specialists, travel insurance, currency exchange, price comparison websites and airport parking.
Our sister paper the Daily Mirror is the lead media partner of the awards and the tie-up with parent company Reach plc includes the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, plus leading group regional titles.
Titan Travel triumphed once again at the event. The firm won seven golds, with Emirates Holidays and Newmarket Holidays hot on their heels on six and BY RECORD REPORTER James Villa Holidays taking five. Virgin Holidays won four golds and TUI, Mercury Holidays and Kuoni three each.
Sandals took the crown for Best All-Inclusive Hotel & Resort Brand.
A number of firms celebrated gold award longevity – both P&O Ferries, for Best Ferry/Mini Cruise Operator, and Viking, for Best River Cruise, totted up 10 years running; APH (Airport Parking & Hotels) nine years for Best Airport Parking Provider and Travelzoo seven years for Best Online Travel Deals Provider.
Silversea picked up Best Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line and Best Ultra Small/ Boutique Cruise Line, while P&O Cruises took Best Family Cruise Line.
In the skies, easyJet won Best Short Haul, Emirates got Best Long Haul and Virgin Atlantic landed Best Scheduled Economy Class.
Avis were named Best Car Hire Provider.
For a full list of 2018 British Travel Awards winners, go to britishtravelawards.com ● Flying from Glasgow from December 9 to 16, seven nights half-board, adults only at the 4* Labranda Hotel Marieta, Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, from £459pp. ● Flying from Glasgow on December 21, seven nights all-inclusive, adults only at the 4* Sunprime C-Lounge, Alanya, Turkey, from £539pp. ● Flying from Edinburgh on February 8, 2019, seven nights half-board at the 4* Mac Puerto Marina, Benalmadena, Costa del Sol, from £419pp. ● For these deals and more, visit stewarttravel.co.uk, your nearest Stewart Travel store or call 0800 091 2757.