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Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Hidden gem Scots tourist attraction named among best in the world
The accolade places it in the top 10 per cent of listings globally that consistently earn positive reviews BEST OF THE BEST BEST OF THE BEST Hidden gem Scots tourist attraction named among best in the world Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HIDDEN gem Scottish visitor attraction has been named among the best tourist destinations in the world. The Great Tapestry of Scotland is located in Galashiels, in the Borders, and is home to one of the biggest community arts projects across the globe. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The 143 metre long Great Tapestry of Scotland is made up of 160 panels Credit: Getty Images - Getty And it has recently won a prestigious Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award for the second year running. It earned a spot in the 2025 awards for the second year running after impressing with its "inspiring" showcase of Scottish history. The accolade places it in the top 10 per cent of listings globally that consistently earn positive reviews. Alexander McCall Smith first had the idea for The Great Tapestry of Scotland, which is a 143m-long work of art. It is currently the longest embroidered tapestry in the world, and was created by 1,000 volunteers over 50,000 hours. The tapestry tells the true story of Scotland's history, heritage, and culture from 8500BC to the present day, depicting key events that span back 12,000 years. This is testament to the passion, creativity, and hard work that our small team puts into creating a consistently five-star visitor experience Sandy Maxwell-Forbes It brings to life the country's history over 160 panels and is made up of 300 miles of wool. It is now displayed in the visitor centre on Galashiels' High Street, which opened in 2021. The description of the attraction on TripAdvisor says: "Scotland's textile traditions are just as important as its highlands and lochs. "You can learn all about the craft at The Great Tapestry of Scotland. Here, a community of 1,000 native weavers came together to hand-stitch a tapestry that tells the tale of Scotland, spanning centuries of local lore and history. Inside multi-million pound upgrade for popular Scots tourist attraction "Even more impressive: 300 miles of wool were used to make it—that's enough to stretch the entire length of Scotland. "The piece is on permanent display at Scottish Borders, where there's a visitors center, café, store, and weaving workshop." Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, the director at the centre, told The National that the team are "honoured" to have won a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award. They said: 'This is testament to the passion, creativity, and hard work that our small team puts into creating a consistently five-star visitor experience. 'We are honoured to be celebrated both nationally, internationally and locally, and remain committed to providing an inspiring and inclusive experience for every visitor who walks through our doors. 'We would like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who has taken the time to visit us, leave a review and share their experiences and of course the community which plays a key part in making the centre a success. 'Your kind words, support and enthusiasm have helped make this achievement possible and is important now more than ever as we continue to operate through a cost-of-living crisis.' The tourist spot has also racked up thousands of glowing reviews on the popular travel website. One person said: "This was a truly wonderful experience- so much to take in. Each panel was beautifully crafted and the information associated with the panel was well written and interesting." Another added: "Fabulous and inspiring... As an embroiderer, I was excited, impressed and inspired by the work. I was overwhelmed by the size of the tapestry and the incredible history that was revealed in the stitches and the text beneath each piece." Top attractions for children in Scotland THE Great Tapestry of Scotland isn't the only attraction to have been named among the best in recent weeks. We recently revealed that Dynamic Earth, in Edinburgh, has been named the best children's attraction in Scotland. The world-class Science Centre and Planetarium takes visitors on a journey through space and time to reveal how planet Earth came to be. And Experts at ranked it the best place for families to visit that combined education with excitement. They said: "Take a journey through time at this immersive science centre. "Kids can explore Earth's past, present, and future — complete with a tropical rainforest, an icy glacier, and even a simulated space launch. "It's hands-on, interactive, and perfect for curious minds aged four and up." Other places mentioned in the rankings were Highland Wildlife Park, in Kingussie; The Kelpies, in Falkirk; and Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, in Edinburgh. Someone else wrote: "Simply can't describe how fantastic this was. The art, the craftsmanship, the skill! I will recommend this to everyone". While a fourth posted: "I visited the Great Tapestry of Scotland and was absolutely blown away by the amazing and intricate stitching!" And a fifth chimed in: "I can not praise the tapestry enough. The history of Scotland is beautifully depicted (and I'm English), events that I knew nothing of brought to life. The artistry, the stitching, the magic is wondrous. I wish we could have stayed longer." Mags Fenner, project manager BID for Galashiels, the town's business improvement district, told The National: 'This world-class attraction puts [[Galashiels]] on the map as a cultural destination and draws visitors from near and far. 'Local shops, cafés and restaurants have felt the benefit of increased footfall, with many visitors choosing to explore and support our high street after experiencing the tapestry. 'It's also been inspiring to see school children from across the region engage with the tapestry as a rich and accessible way to learn about Scottish and Borders history and culture. 'We're proud to have such a globally recognised centre at the heart of Galashiels."
The National
03-08-2025
- The National
Tripadvisor award names Scottish attraction one of the best in world
The Great Tapestry of Scotland been named in top 10 per cent of visitor attractions in the world for the second year in a row in the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2025. The tapestry, which Alexander McCall Smith first had the idea for, was created by 1000 volunteer stitchers over 50,000 hours. It showcases Scotland's history, bringing it to life over 160 panels, starting in prehistoric times and continuing to the modern day. A person examines the tapestry The visitor centre displaying the tapestry first opened in 2021. Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, centre director, said: 'This is testament to the passion, creativity, and hard work that our small team puts into creating a consistently five-star visitor experience. 'We are honoured to be celebrated both nationally, internationally and locally, and remain committed to providing an inspiring and inclusive experience for every visitor who walks through our doors. 'We would like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who has taken the time to visit us, leave a review and share their experiences and of course the community which plays a key part in making the centre a success. 'Your kind words, support and enthusiasm have helped make this achievement possible and is important now more than ever as we continue to operate through a cost of living crisis.' The awards are based on reviews through the Tripadvisor website from over the last 12 months. Mags Fenner, project manager BID for Galashiels, the town's business improvement district, said: 'This world-class attraction puts [[Galashiels]] on the map as a cultural destination and draws visitors from near and far. 'Local shops, cafés and restaurants have felt the benefit of increased footfall, with many visitors choosing to explore and support our high street after experiencing the tapestry. 'It's also been inspiring to see school children from across the region engage with the tapestry as a rich and accessible way to learn about Scottish and Borders history and culture. 'We're proud to have such a globally recognised centre at the heart of Galashiels."
