10 hours Ago By [email protected] (Lorna Hughes)
A visit to Cornwall's Eden Project has been named the top UK spring experience. The tourist site, famous for its biomes and gardens in what used to be an abandoned clay pit, was ranked above other popular tourist destinations like Portmeirion in North Wales and the family home of Sir Winston Churchill in Kent. The "bucket list" of experiences was compiled by UK travel expert and author Richard Madden in partnership with holiday cottage firm Sykes.
It surveyed 2,000 UK adults to produce a travel tick list for the season. Watching otters play in the Avalon Marches in Somerset came in second place, with a visit to Portmeirion Village third. Visiting Lindisfarne & the Farne Islands in Northumbria was fourth and walking the Seven Sisters coast path in East Sussex fifth.
The eco visitor attraction in Bodelva has consistently topped lists of must-do experiences since it first opened its doors in 2001. Upon opening, The Times called it "the eighth wonder of the world" - and millions of people from all over the world have since graced its sprawling grounds. Visitors can trek through the world's largest indoor rainforest, see huge cacti and sweet smelling fruits and herbs in the Mediterranean biome and explore extensive outdoor gardens with over 20 plant-based exhibits.
The site is also now home to the Eden Sessions series of summer music concerts and a 5k parkrun every Saturday morning. Sykes said of the : "Home to a breathtaking global garden in a year-round bloom, we aren’t surprised that you voted this as the best thing to do during springtime in the UK. "Nestled on the plot of a barren, former clay mine, the Eden Project welcomes visitors from around the globe to marvel at the largest indoor rainforest in the UK, along with educational biomes, outdoor gardens and an array of contemporary artworks.
Stretching over 30 acres, you can spend the whole day exploring this magnificent attraction. "If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience that the whole family will love this spring, then the Eden Project is perfect for you." As part of the research, Sykes Holiday Cottages also suggested some places to stay near the top-ranked tourist spots.
For the Eden Project its pick is , a luxury two-bedroom Georgian-style manor in Charlestown. But it doesn't come cheap, with seven nights starting from £1,695 Find out more ..
