25 June, 2013 -  TripAdvisor^®, the world’s largest travel site*, announces the winners of its Travellers’ Choice Attractions awards. In its inaugural year, the awards honour the top attractions worldwide, in the categories of landmarks, parks, museums and amusement and water parks. TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winners are based on millions of reviews and opinions from travellers around the world.

The UK has cause to celebrate with winners featured in the Europe list for all four categories. Parks and museums are categories that the UK does particularly well with winners in both the European and world lists.

Angus Struthers, TripAdvisor spokesperson, commented: “These awards honour the world’s best attractions as decided by those who matter most - travellers themselves. With schools about to break for the summer holidays in a matter of weeks, these Travellers’ Choice Attractions winners are sure to be on the to do list.”

Landmarks: Delight for Durham

Durham Cathedral has been crowned the number one landmark in the UK. One of Britain’s first World Heritage Sites, the cathedral has also placed 20^th in the Europe list.

Runner up is Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura and World of Illusions which offers its visitors optical experiences and unrivalled views of Edinburgh's skyline while third place goes to North Yorkshire’s gothic cathedral, York Minster.

Museums: Scottish museum snaps up the top spot

While it’s London that dominates the UK museums list with six in the top 10, it’s Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland which is crowned number one. The Scottish museum also ranks sixth in Europe and 18^th in the world.

Dr. Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland, commented, “We are absolutely delighted that not only has the National Museum of Scotland been voted the number one museum in the UK in TripAdvisor’s inaugural Travellers’ Choice Awards, but is also considered one of the top 10 museums in Europe and top 20 in the world.  The fact that this award is reflective of the views and experiences of our visitors, pays great credit to the hard-work of our whole team and reinforces our standing as a world class visitor attraction.”

The British Museum is runner up but is top in London – the museum which is dedicated to human history and culture also comes seventh in Europe and 19^th in the world list. London’s National Gallery comes out in third position in the UK.

Parks: London reigns supreme

The results of these awards prove that the UK and in particular London, is home to some of the best parks in the world and six of the UK’s top 10 are located in the city. St James’ Park is the UK’s number one and also scoops fourth place in Europe and 13^th in the world – and it’s easy to see why. The 23 hectares park is the oldest of the capital's eight Royal Parks and includes The Mall and Horse Guards Parade and is at the heart of ceremonial London, providing the setting for spectacular pageants including the annual Trooping the Colour.

The Princes’ Street Gardens in Edinburgh follows closely behind in second place as well as taking the ninth spot in Europe and 24^th in the world. While London’s world famous Hyde Park comes in at third place in the UK and 10^th in Europe.

Water & Amusement Parks: Peppa Pig pips famous Pleasure Beach to the post

Hampshire’s Paultons Park, the family theme park which includes Peppa Pig World – the popular children’s cartoon character –  takes the top spot in the UK Water & Amusement Parks category as well as placing 11^th in Europe. Blackpool is home to the second and third place winners. The famous Pleasure Beach which includes the roller coaster The Pepsi Max Big One, (which when it opened in 1994 was the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coaster of any park in the world) comes in close second on the UK list and 14^th in Europe while Sandcastle Waterpark takes third position and 15^th in Europe.

For the complete list of 2013 Travellers’ Choice Attractions winners, sponsored by The Post Office, go tohttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Attractions.

(please note this link will be live with the results on Tuesday 25^th June)

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For more information please contact Hayley Coleman: 077 398 27951 / hcoleman@tripadvisor.com 

2013 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards Highlights:

UK’s Top 10 Landmarks

1. Durham Cathedral – Durham, County Durham

2. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions – Edinburgh

3. York Minster – York, North Yorkshire

4. Tower of London – London

5. Edinburgh Castle – Edinburgh

6. Royal Yacht Britannia – Edinburgh

7. House of Parliament – London

8. Windsor Castle – Windsor, Berkshire

9. Chatsworth – Bakewell, Derbyshire

10. The Shambles – York, North Yorkshire

UK’s Top 10 Museums

1. National Museum of Scotland – Edinburgh

2. British Museum – London

3. National Gallery – London

4. Roman Baths Museum – Bath, Somerset

5. National Railway Museum – York, North Yorkshire

6. Victoria and Albert Museum – London

7. Churchill War Rooms – London

8. Natural History Museum – London

9. Imperial War Museum – London

10. St. Fagans: National History Museum – Cardiff

UK’s Top 10 Parks

1. St. James’ Park – London

2. Princes Street Gardens – Edinburgh

3. Hyde Park – London

4. Holyrood Park – Edinburgh

5. Regent’s Park – London

6. Peasholm Park – Scarborough, Yorkshire

7. Richmond Park – London

8. Hampstead Heath – London

9. Windsor Great Park – Windsor, Berkshire

10. Kensington Gardens – London

UK’s Top 10 Water & Amusement Parks

1. Paultons Park, Home of Peppa Pig World – Romsey, The New Forest, Hampshire

2. Pleasure Beach – Blackpool, Lancashire

3. Sandcastle Waterpark – Blackpool, Lancashire

4. Thorpe Park – Chertsey, Surrey

5. Drayton Manor Park – Tamworth, Staffordshire

6. Alton Towers – Farley, Staffordshire

7. Sundown Adventureland – Retford, Nottinghamshire

8. Alton Towers Waterpark – Farley, Staffordshire

9. Adventure Island – Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10. Twinlakes Park – Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire