ONE of Knutsford’s favourite attractions has been recognised for its consistently positive reviews on the world’s largest tourist destination website.

Knutsford Heritage Centre, in King Street, was earlier this year named on of east Cheshire’s top 10 visitor attractions, and has now been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for 2017 by TripAdvisor.

Home to the famous 30ft Millennium Tapestry, the 17th century timber-framed heritage centre draws thousands of visitors each year from across the globe.

More than half of the centre’s visitors this summer came from outside Cheshire and Manchester, with 36 per cent coming from elsewhere in the country and 16 per cent from abroad.

Val Bryant, Knutsford Heritage Centre Director and Trustee, comments: “The TripAdvisor award is a great credit to the team of volunteers who show visitors round the centre’s collection of artefacts and the Knutsford Millennium Tapestry.

“We have also won praise for the expertly guided walks that unfold Knutsford’s history through its many landmarks. We shouldn’t forget that more than 170 properties in Knutsford are on Historic England’s National Heritage protected list.

“Nothing in Knutsford has a bigger ‘wow’ factor than the tapestry, which of course features practically all the listed buildings. It draws thousands of visitors a year from far and wide.

“This directly benefits restaurants, pubs and traders in the town, many of which are of course depicted on the tapestry’s three panels.

“Visitors from other parts of Britain and overseas – particularly Australia, Canada and New Zealand – quite often have a family link to Knutsford. They never fail to be excited by discovering the depiction on the tapestry of where their parents or grandparents lived.”

Over the summer the heritage centre also recorded tourists from countries including Japan, Hong Kong, Argentina, Panama, Mexico, South Africa, Holland, Belgium, Germany and the USA.

Val said: “In terms of attracting trade for Knutsford’s places of interest, restaurants, pubs, bars and retailers, a less than good review doesn’t help the town as a destination.

“TripAdvisor is a window on the world that promotes high standards of helpfulness, hospitality, quality and service.

“Beyond the heritage centre, in the spirit of community – and self-interest – every Knutsford business that serves the public should aspire to a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.”