National Memorial Arboretum awarded top Tripadvisor award
It is a national focus for commemoration, and hosted the official service to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.
Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum is also a destination for tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Now the attraction, in Alrewas, has been awarded a 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award.
It is the latest in a series of accolades for the 150-acre woodland and garden site, which has been previously named VisitEngland's Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.
Each year, the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards are bestowed on locations that consistently receive exceptional feedback from visitors, and the National Memorial Arboretum is now considered in the top 10 per cent of visitor attractions around the globe.
The attraction has been reviewed 3,500 times, with 97 per cent of contributors awarding four or five stars, alongside glowing comments about their visit.
Mark Ellis, head of visitor at the National Memorial Arboretum, said: "This award is a testament to our incredible team of staff and volunteers, who are always ready to go the extra mile in providing a first-class experience for all of our visitors.
"Since we reopened to pre-booked visitors in June we have continued to offer our customary high standard of customer service, while introducing a programme of additional measures to support the national response to Covid-19.
"Over the summer we have continued to expand our offering when permissible, safe and sensible, including expanding our food and drink services, re-introducing our Land Train and the opening of two new Second World War-themed outdoor escape challenges.”
Kanika Soni, chief commercial officer at Tripadvisor, added: “Winners of the 2020 Travellers’ Choice Awards should be proud of this distinguished recognition. Although it’s been a challenging year for travel and hospitality, we want to celebrate our partners' achievements.
Exceptional
"Award winners are beloved for their exceptional service and quality. Not only are these winners well deserving, they are also a great source of inspiration for travellers as the world begins to venture out again.”
Prince Charles last month led the UK's commemorations on the anniversary of VJ Day.
He attended a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Veterans of the Second World War were also invited to an intimate event, which was reduced in size because of social distancing measures.
They sat on benches within a glade as they remembered those who fought in the Far East in the final months of the war.
