A team of volunteers who greet visitors at Southampton's port has won a highly-coveted national tourism award.

The Southampton Saints are made up of 13 volunteers and aims to improve the cruise passenger welcome into the city.

Last year, the team greeted over 3,000 passengers, offering directions to attractions and personalised recommendations for local businesses.

The team has now been honoured with the coveted Tourism Superstar 2025 title from VisitEngland. 

This award was decided by a public vote, which saw more than 18,000 votes cast, the largest number in 2025.

READ MORE: Southampton cruise ship volunteers up for VisitEngland award

The competition, which ran nationwide from February 12 to March 23, aimed to recognise those who go the extra mile to make tourists' experiences exceptional.

The Southampton Saints volunteer programme was launched last year by GO!
Southampton, the city's Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton.

The Southampton Saints have been branded exceptional by VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes.The Southampton Saints have been branded exceptional by VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes. (Image: Southampton Saints) VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: "VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar competition is all about finding the individuals within England’s tourism industry who are doing something extra to make visitors feel special, going above and beyond to make their experiences truly exceptional.

"The Southampton Saints pull out all the stops when they welcome cruise ship tourists at the city port with a friendly smile and helpful information on local attractions and must-see places.

"They also provide the all-important first impression, setting the standard for what visitors can expect from their tourism experience in England."

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The Southampton Saints triumphed over representatives from other top tourist spots.

Wendy Wilshere from  County Durham's 11 Arches/Kynren secured second place and Hannah Clapp from Muncaster Castle Gardens and Hawk & Owl Centre in Cumbria finished in third.

Stephen Manion, executive director of GO! Southampton – Business Improvement District Limited, said: "Southampton is absolutely thrilled and honoured to win this prestigious VisitEngland award.

"We are very proud of our Saints, who are amazing ambassadors for this great city, sharing their passion and love to make the visitor journey more enjoyable and memorable."

The Southampton Saints will be presented with their Tourism Superstar award at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 event in Brighton on June 4.