Visit Worcestershire has won a Midlands Marketing Award for its creative heritage project that brought some of the county’s most fascinating historical stories to life for modern audiences.
Visit Worcestershire received the Best Storytelling Award at the Midlands Marketing Awards for its Visit Historic Worcestershire campaign, delivered in partnership with Spark Media. The award-winning initiative was created to inspire more people to discover Worcestershire’s rich heritage and uncover the nationally and internationally significant stories that have shaped the county.
Working closely with local historians, heritage experts and attractions, Visit Historic Worcestershire took a fresh approach to storytelling. Through a series of engaging films and digital content, historical figures including King Charles II, Oliver Cromwell, Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Edward Elgar were reimagined in contemporary settings, helping audiences connect with Worcestershire’s past in a fun, accessible and memorable way.
The project shone a spotlight on both well-known and lesser-told stories from across the county, creating an invitation for visitors to explore Worcestershire’s battlefields, historic houses, museums and heritage attractions for themselves. Since launching, the videos have generated more than 500,000 views across social media and broadcast channels, driving significant audience engagement. It has also played an important role in promoting Worcestershire’s heritage offer to international travel trade partners, supporting efforts to attract more overseas visitors to the county.
The campaign extended beyond digital platforms through promotional activity in London, where historical characters made appearances at key tourist hotspots, surprising passers-by and introducing new audiences to Worcestershire’s remarkable heritage stories.
Councillor Adam Kent, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance, Corporate Services and Business at Worcestershire County Council, said, “We’re delighted that Visit Historic Worcestershire has been recognised with the Best Storytelling Award at the Midlands Marketing Awards. Worcestershire has an incredible heritage offer, and this initiative has helped bring those stories to life in a creative and engaging way. It’s been fantastic to see it raising the profile of the county with visitors, residents and the travel trade alike. This award recognises the work being done to showcase Worcestershire’s fantastic heritage and reflects the ambition of the county’s growing visitor economy.”
Visitors inspired to explore more can also pick up a Historic Worcestershire Heritage Guide from Tourist Information Centres and selected visitor locations across the county, providing inspiration and ideas for discovering Worcestershire’s past first-hand.
For further information about Visit Historic Worcestershire, click here.
