Travelling and holidays can get expensive, with most visitor attractions charging a fee. Often when you buy a ticket the price of entry is priced such that you wonder if you would be better off buying annual membership.
We’ve picked The National Trust and English Heritage in this post as they both have properties and sites spread across the whole of the UK. Membership of one of these could give you more options of places to visit during your holiday without worrying about the cost building up every visit.
The National Trust
The National Trust has over 200 properties throughout the UK, mainly these are country homes with a historic significance, usually these have beautiful gardens and a good tea room too! Many of these homes contain artworks, furniture and other pieces on display.
Additionally the National Trust own many Parklands, part of National parks and coastal paths.
Some of the highlights include Stourhead, Wakehurst Place, Polesden Lacey, The Giant’s Causeway but there are many more, and in fact some of our favourites are the smaller local properties that give a real insight into a piece of history.
Use this handy National Trust Map to find a property near your destination.
What does it cost?
An Annual Membership at the National Trust costs
- Individual - £60
- Joint (2 Adults) - £99
- Family (2 Adults) - £104
- Family (1 Adult) - £65
- Young Person (13 - 25) - £30
- Child (5 - 12) - £30
(Based on 2015 Prices)
As an example an individual visit to all of Stourhead will cost £15.20, different properties vary in prices, but to give a guide we think you need to visit 7 properties in a year to make membership worthwhile.
Find out more about the National Trust
English Heritage
When you think English Heritage, you think castles. In fact English Heritage have over 400 of England’s historic buildings, monuments and sites.
Some of the more famous of these include Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall, Battle Abbey, Dover Castle and Tintagel Castle.
See the English Heritage Locations on this map.
What does it cost?
An Annual Membership with English Heritage costs
- Individual - £50
- Joint (2 Adults) - £88
- Senior (60+) - £41
- Joint Senior (60+) - £63
- Family (2 Adults) - £88
- Family (1 Adult) - £50
- Adult & Senior - £74
- Student - £41
(Based on 2015 Prices)
As you would expect there are significant differences in price between different locations, Dover Castle will cost £19.80 to visit as an individual so it would only take 3 visits to be worthwhile, though many properties are much less.
Find out more about English Heritage
What are your favourite Memberships?
Do you have a membership card which is pulled out each time you go camping or travelling, or one place you keep going back to? Share it with us in the comments.