Two heritage sites managed by Leicestershire County Council have been given awards from Visit England.
1620s House and Garden in Donington le Heath and Melton Carnegie Museum have both been awarded the “Hidden Gem” honour after their most recent Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme assessments earlier this year.
Both sites scored highly, with 1620s House and Garden getting 95%, a two percent increase from last year and being praised for having an “an outstanding visitor experience” and beautifully maintained gardens. Melton Museum, which scored 94%, was hailed for it’s “exceptional” visitor welcome.
The inspections, carried by VisitEngland as part of its national Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS), assesses a range of visitor experience elements including interpretation, customer service, site presentation and online presence.
Three other heritage sites managed by the county council also received record ratings from the VisitEngland scheme this year.
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre scored 91%, with the site described as “a fascinating and emotionally moving portrayal of one of the key moments in English history”.
Harborough Museum improved it’s score by 2%, up to 82%, with the museum highlighted by inspectors as museum “a perfect example of what can be achieved when a museum service is understood to be front-line public service and is valued, supported, and invested in by its local authority”.
Meanwhile, Charnwood Museum in Loughborough increased its score by 7% on this year’s inspection, up to 92%. The site’s huge increase was recognised by the assessor, who praised the museum for offering: “a wealth of exhibits with broad appeal, captivating young visitors… and resonating with Loughborough residents who are part of the town’s story.”
Councillor Kevin Crook, deputy leader and cabinet member for heritage, said: “These are outstanding achievements, and I want to congratulate the staff at all of our heritage sites for the hard work they’ve put in to see this success.
“We are so proud of Leicestershire’s history and heritage and I’m delighted that VisitEngland have recognised how valuable our sites are in protecting and educating people on this county’s history.
“There are more exhibitions and events to come next year and I’d encourage everyone to look out for what we have on offer and take a trip to our museums and heritage centres.”
Find out more about each site by visiting our museums page.