WHEN you've got to go on a family outing, you could do worse than find yourself at Eastnor Castle.

The Herefordshire heritage attraction, near Ledbury, has won one of the prestigious 2017 Hudson’s Heritage Awards, which were announced last week.

Eastnor Castle, in fact, picked up the award in the category of 'Best Loos', and staff feel flushed with success.

David Littlewood, General Manager at Eastnor Castle said: “We are delighted to have won a 2017 Hudson’s Heritage Award.

"It demonstrates the high standards and commitment we offer our visitors to ensure their experience is the very best. We are delighted to have the acknowledgment and recognition that Eastnor Castle is amongst the elite of heritage attractions in the UK”.

Established in 2011, the awards are an independently judged, annual, national scheme open to historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites and celebrate the very best visitor experiences.

Penelope, Viscountess Cobham, CBE, Chairman of VisitEngland presented the awards at Goldsmiths Hall in London with invited guests including owners and managers of the winning entries, representatives of the heritage tourist industry and the media.

The lunch was hosted by an independent judging panel of heritage experts including Chairman Norman Hudson OBE, heritage consultant; Lucinda Lambton, writer and broadcaster; Jeremy Musson, architectural writer; Simon Foster, consultant to Channel 4’s Country House Rescue and Ken Robinson, CBE, tourism business consultant.

Of the winners Sarah Greenwood, director at Hudson’s and publisher of Hudson’s Historic Houses & Gardens said “The finalists in 2017 showcase an amazing range of experiences just waiting for us all to enjoy at Britain’s heritage places. This year they include three World Heritage Sites but also iconic castles, public buildings, unusual gardens and stunning country houses several of which are not well known.

"We at Hudson’s would like to congratulate them all on setting the standards for others to follow”.