The International Bomber Command Centre has continued its upward trajectory with another award win, taking home Destination Lincolnshire’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage Award, its fifth accreditation this year alone.
The award comes only months after the popular tourist destination won Visit England’s Bronze Award for Excellence 2023, which puts the IBCC in company with Blenheim Palace and Warner Bros Studio.
Since opening in 2018, the International Bomber Command Centre has welcomed more than 400,000 visitors from 52 different countries to help recognise, remember, and reconcile the role of Bomber Command during World War Two. The IBCC has created and utilised one of the biggest digital archives of firsthand historical documents that have been tirelessly preserved, protected, and shared by the IBCC’s team and volunteers.
Nicky Van Der Drift, chief executive officer of the IBCC
Nicky Van Der Drift, chief executive officer of the International Bomber Command Centre, said:
“These awards are a testament to all the incredibly hard work our team has put in over the years. Whether visitors have a personal connection and are paying respects, or if they’re coming to learn more, we do everything we can to make their visit meaningful and long-lasting.
“Bomber Command’s role in the war was crucial, completing countless operations and missions to help the allies’ war effort. However, it came at a cost. Our site commemorates the 57,861 who lost their lives by recognising their part in preserving our freedom and the consequences of their campaigns, as well as remembering all who served and supported using these to promote reconciliation across the project.
“However, as well as a historic memorial, we’ve also seen the centre become a hub for the local community in Lincolnshire too. We have regulars in our café that we see multiple times a week. It’s wonderful to see the centre and our impact on the community grow this way.”
In the five years since opening to the public, the International Bomber Command Centre has accumulated more than 30 awards.
As well as Destination Lincolnshire’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage Award and Visit England’s Bronze Award for Excellence, this year, the IBCC has also been awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Employers Recognition Scheme Award, the Sandford Award for Heritage Education, TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award for the fourth year running, as well as TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the fifth year running.
Nicky added: “The centre is solely funded by tickets and donations, so to be recognised by so many fantastic organisations in under five years is fantastic. We now look forward to even more success in the next five years as we continue our mission of educating people on the amazing individuals who served in Bomber Command and sacrificed so much for our freedom.”
The International Bomber Command Centre is open from 9:30 am-5 pm Tuesday to Sunday, with the last entry to the Exhibition at 4 pm. The closing time will be brought forward an hour from 14th November to accommodate for winter.
For more information about the centre or to book tickets and donate, please visit www.internationalbcc.co.uk/
