The Story of Emily Wins Visit England Silver Award

It has been a strange kind of year for a small museum in St Ive. First Orlando, then Bristol. Now The Story of Emily, the Cornish attraction built around the life of war heroine Emily Hobhouse, has been named Silver New Tourism Business of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026.

A national stamp of approval

The award recognises tourism businesses across England that have shown excellence, innovation and outstanding visitor experiences within their first years of operation. The Story of Emily was picked from finalists drawn from the whole of the country’s tourism industry.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence are regarded as the most prestigious national awards in the sector, celebrating businesses and individuals who deliver world-class visitor experiences and make a strong contribution to England’s visitor economy. This year’s ceremony was held at Aerospace Bristol on Wednesday 3rd June 2026.

Claire Corbett, Head of Marketing at The Story of Emily, said the team was thrilled with the recognition.

“We are absolutely delighted to receive the VisitEngland Silver Award for New Tourism Business of the Year. To be recognised at a national level among so many outstanding tourism businesses is an incredible achievement and a testament to the passion, creativity and dedication of our entire team. Since opening our doors, we have been committed to creating a truly unique visitor experience that shines a light on Emily Hobhouse’s extraordinary story, and this award is a wonderful recognition of that ambition.”

Elsabé Brits, Curator at The Story of Emily, said the timing of the win mattered.

“This award marks a significant milestone for The Story of Emily and for Cornwall’s tourism sector. To receive recognition from VisitEngland so early in our journey demonstrates the impact the attraction is having on visitors from across the UK and beyond. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved and excited about the future.”

Two awards in a month

The VisitEngland win is the second major honour for the attraction in a matter of weeks. In May it picked up an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 32nd Annual Thea Awards in Orlando, Florida, an internationally renowned event in the visitor attraction world. The Story of Emily is the only UK organisation to receive a global Thea Award in 2026.

The woman behind the museum

Emily Hobhouse was a British woman born in a tiny village in Cornwall who campaigned to save the lives of women and children during the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902. Her courage, beliefs and actions were a step ahead of her time. She was branded a traitor and written out of British history.

The museum sets out to change that. It combines a renovation of her childhood Rectory home in St Ive, a RIBA award-winning War Rooms experience that uses immersive media, and an authentic heritage South African restaurant. The War Rooms experience layers architecture, objects, film, flavour and human connection to move guests beyond simply observing.

A landmark year ahead

The recognition arrives during a notable year for the attraction. On 13th June 2026 it will commemorate the centenary of Emily’s life and legacy with a landmark event at the museum, part of an ongoing effort to reframe her place within British history.