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For all costs and purchase
Most "stately homes" and castles are in the hands of several organisations:
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English Heritage English Heritage cares for Castles and other ancient building and sites in England.
Cadw
Historic Houses Association If you wish to visit even a few of these historic buildings, it is much cheaper to buy a visitor pass. |
Visitor Passes1) The Great British Heritage PassThis gives free entry to all properties belonging to the National Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, English Heritage, Cadw, and privately owned houses: Blenheim Palace, Beaulieu, Broadlands, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood House, Woburn Abbey, Hampton Court Palace and houses in the Historic Houses Association, Historic Scotland group. It includes Stonehenge and Shakespeare's birthplace too. Exceptions are the Tower of London, Warwick Castle and Windsor Castle, the Queens Gallery (London and Edinburgh) and the Royal Mews.This pass is available only to overseas visitors showing a passport. It is available for 7, or 15 days, or 1 month. Buy from: British Travel Centre London, or larger Tourist Information Centres, or from addresses overseas listed in the Tourist tickets and discount cards booklet from the British Tourist Authority. If you are interested in old buildings, this is a real money-saver! |
2) English Heritage Overseas Visitors PassThis gives free entry to English Heritage sites only. It does not cover sites belonging to any other groups. It is available from larger English Heritage sites as a 7 day or 14 day ticket.
The 7-day tickets are only slightly cheaper than a 14 day ticket: It is also possible to join English Heritage for a year, giving free access for one year from the date of joining to their sites.
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3) Cadw - historic heritage in WalesThe Explorer Pass is ideal for visitors and covers 3 days or 7 days, for an adult, couple, or a family. This only covers Cadw sites in Wales - including all the main castles such as Caernarfon, Conway, Beaumaris, Harlech, etc.It is also possible to join Cadw for a year, and get free entry all year round to all their properties, plus half price entry to English Heritage sites.
Available from all main Cadw sites, and some Welsh Tourist
Information Offices.
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4) Friends of the Historic Houses AssociationYear membership gives free entry to historic houses and gardens which are privately owned. But NOT National Trust or English Heritage houses.Details from:
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5) National Trust of ScotlandAs well as year membership, they offer a touring ticket valid for 7 or 14 days, giving free entry to all their properties.This ticket also gives free admission to National Trust properties in England, Wales, and N. Ireland, and so makes a very cheap way of seeing all National Trust sites. Available from:
and also some Scottish Area Tourist Boards and Tourist Information Centres.
6) National Trust of England and WalesThey offer a year membership giving free access to all their properties in England, Wales and N. Ireland (plus those in the National Trust of Scotland)However, the 7 or 14-day touring ticket offered by the National Trust for Scotland (see above) does also cover National Trust Properties in England, Wales, and N. Ireland, and so is a very good way of visiting many National Trust sites. But it does not cover the other sites which are covered by the Great British Heritage Pass, which is the best deal if you want the biggest choice at the best price! The National Trust have a website.
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7) Royal Oak FoundationMembers of the Royal Oak Foundation also have free entry to all National Trust sites in UK. The Royal Oak Foundation is a US affilate of the National Trust - for more details, US residents should ring (212)480-2889 toll free in the lower 48 is 1-800-913-6565or write:
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8) Scottish Explorer Ticket for Historic ScotlandGives unlimlited access to more than 60 of Scotland's best ancient buildings, including Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart Castles, Dallas Dhu Distillery and the Border Abbeys. Available from Historic Scotland properties and main Scottish Tourist Information Centres. |
9) Other discount offersSome towns offer a visitor pass covering different attractions in the town. These may give free entry, or reduced prices.Available are:
These are available from Tourist Information Offices in each town. Also available is the Countdown Discount Card, giving discounts to many destinations, not only in Britain but other countries. It is available for a period of 3 months and is on sale at many travel agents and tourist authority offices around the world. Full details in VisitBritain - also available on-line - VisitBritain Tourist tickets and discount cards booklet. You may also find other discount schemes for different towns, or different groups of museums.
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A final wordThere are many ways of saving money. So:
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Return to ‘Visiting Britain’ main page
Thought for the day:
Think of the birds. They do not plant, cut or keep any food. Yet God feeds them. You are worth much more than the birds!
Luke12:24
"VISITING BRITAIN"is just one section of theSOON ONLINE MAGAZINE, covering learning English, problem page, 'life and how to survive it', true stories, interviews, and much more.
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