England's top tourist experience is ‘perfect' — animal lovers want to live there

Metro

05-06-2025

From historical castles and monuments, to brand-new food tours, shows and museums, England has so much to offer visitors who come in their droves.
And it's not just those flying in from abroad who explore the likes of Cornwall's beaches or the Liverpool's nightlife – it seems we love being tourists at home, with Brits taking 906 million day trips and 90 million overnight trips in England last year.
So, if you're looking for some staycation inspo, look no further: Visit England have announced the winners of their Awards for Excellence, which recognise the best tourism businesses across the country.
And when it came to the best experience that the country has to offer, it was an unexpected visit to a farm that claimed the top spot.
Head north to Yorkshire, and book yourself onto Dumble Farm's Cow Cuddling & Highland Cow Experience.
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Nestled in Arram, near to Beverley in East Yorkshire, Dumble is a working farm with a focus on conservation and sustainability.
At the heart of their work is caring for their 65 plus strong herd of Highland cows. As well as educating visitors about this endangered species, Dumble Farm say spending time with the cows has a calming effect and a positive impact on general well-being.
And that's where cuddling comes in. Visitors on the three and a half hour tour get up close and personal with the 'affectionate and gentle' animals.
There's a meeting with the adorable young cows, which guests can groom and get to know. Then it's onto the cuddle cows who are 'nearly always lying down' meaning visitors can lie back and relax with the animals.
Then there's a safari around the farm, during which there's an opportunity to feed Highland cows from a trailer, before heading back for tea and cakes.
The £95 price tag goes towards supporting the farm's conservation work. More Trending
And, tourists have certainly not been disappointed after booking onto the tour, calling it the 'best day ever'.
'I would live here if I could,' wrote a TripAdvisor reviewer who did the tour in April. While another said: 'Don't think about it, do it'. And a third called it 'moo-sively impressive'.
If you want to book onto the tour, you'll need to plan ahead.
Tickets are snapped up fast, with a release dropping a month in advance. Cow cuddling stops for the summer though, so you'll have to wait until autumn before you can have start snuggling.
Metro's Lifestyle Reporter, Courtney Pochin, tried cow cuddling at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood.
As well as dairy cows, Hopefield is home to donkeys, sheep, pigs, horses, Shetland ponies, cats, rabbits, alpacas, reindeer, a boa constrictor, parrots, and a fox. There are also several exotic animals such as tanukis and skunks.
'As I entered the field, two Friesian cows, Jude and Devon ambled over. I know it sounds silly, but as most of the viral cow cuddling videos I'd seen online had featured much smaller calves, when these two gentle giants plodded over, my jaw dropped.
'There was no way I was ever going to be able to get my arms around them for a proper cuddle, although a taller (and braver) person might have been able to do so.
'Despite their somewhat intimidating size, however, Jude and Devon were just like big dogs. They licked my hand, allowed me to scratch their necks and backs, and were playful when it came to getting treats.
'A fun fact I discovered about cows is that they drool rather a lot, so feeding them by hand gets pretty messy. I just about managed to escape without getting slobber in my hair (my clothes weren't quite as fortunate).
'While suffice to say it wasn't quite the therapeutic experience TikTok had sold me on, there's no denying that it was a great activity for my general wellbeing. It was something different, it was fun, and I felt like Jude and I had become pals by the end. I left with a big smile on my face.'
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