Contact Us

Visit FAQs

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the sites in our care, along with info about events and holiday cottages.

Jump to:

  1. Booking your visit
  2. Paying for your visit
  3. Summer 2026 VAT reduction
  4. Before you visit
  5. On site experience
  6. Questions about events
  7. Questions about holiday cottages

Booking your visit

  • Do I need to book my visit?

    You don’t need to book your ticket in advance, but you’ll always get the best price and guaranteed entry by pre-booking online.

  • Can I book a ticket on the day I want to visit?

    Yes, you can book a ticket on the day of your visit online at any time, however you will not recieve the 15% advance booking discount. 

    To receive the discount, you must book your tickets online by midnight the day before your visit.

  • How do I get my pre-booked ticket?

    You’ll get your ticket confirmation and barcode by email. Just bring this with you, either on your mobile device or as a print out, and we’ll scan it when you arrive.

  • Why can't I select the time slot I want?

    Most of our sites offer day tickets, but some have time slots. Time slots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so the slot you want may be fully booked.

  • I am an affiliate member (eg. National Trust England, CADW, Historic Scotland, etc.). How do I book a ticket?

    These codes aren’t applicable to all sites. Please check with your affiliate organisation to check before you book.

    Enter the promo code given by your member organisation (see list below) on the checkout page. Just bring proof of your affiliate membership when you visit.

    List of promo codes:

    • CADW Member 50% off (first year members): CADW50
    • CADW Member (second year plus): MVTGO4
    • CADW Member Staff: CADWUOBW92ST
    • Historic Scotland 50% off (first year members): HS50
    • Historic Scotland members (second year plus): QKUYU6
    • Historic Scotland Staff: HS9DXXB4ST
    • National Trust England (annual pass holders): G03ANZ
    • Heritage New Zealand: HERTNZ7XWZYA
    • MANX National Heritage Member 50% off (first year members): MANXNH50
    • MANX National Heritage Member: F6L3MO
    • Sussex Past Members: SUSSEXPAST50
    • Blue Peter Badge Holders: BLUE48L5IL
    • Museum Association Members: MA4GD9JM25
    • York pass: R06LGQ
    • Shakespeare's Explorer Pass: F1XJTP
    • Friends of Dover Castle: KLK4F5
    • National Arts pass: EHARTPASS25

     

  • Can I book tickets for friends?

    If you’re a member, you can book for yourself and anyone else included in your membership. Non-Members need to book and pay for their own tickets.

Paying for your visit

  • What is a Concession?

    Students with NUS cards and those aged 65 and over are eligible for concession tickets. You’ll be asked to show proof of eligibility when you visit – without it you’ll be charged the full price.

  • Is there a student discount?

    Yes, students with NUS cards are eligible for concession tickets. You’ll need to show your card when you arrive – without it you will be charged the full ticket price.

  • Why are tickets priced differently on different days?

    We’ve introduced peak, standard and off-peak tickets to help manage visitor numbers at the most popular times of year, and on the most popular days of the week. New lower price off-peak tickets are available at quieter times.

  • Why are events priced differently on different days?

    We now offer peak, standard and off-peak tickets, which all have different prices. On some event days we add a supplement to the main ticket price. Certain evening and special events have their own unique price. These will be stated on the event webpage and included when you book online.

  • I am a refugee. Do I qualify for free entry to English Heritage sites?

    Yes, if you’ve been granted refugee status or have been given leave to remain as a displaced person, you can visit English Heritage sites for free. You’ll need to show evidence of your status when you arrive. You can’t pre-book your visit.

    These sites represent the best of England’s heritage, and we’re proud to share them with people who have been forced to leave their home countries because of war or persecution.

    If you are accompanying a refugee and are not an English Heritage Member, you will need to pay the normal admission price.

    This policy doesn’t apply to people seeking refugee status. The only exception is for organised group visits of people seeking refugee status or leave to remain run by local authority resettlement services or charities and booked through the normal group booking process.

    A small number of our sites are managed by local organisations, and they might have different admission policies. Please check with the site before visiting.

Summer 2026 VAT reduction

  • Why have ticket prices changed?

    We're pleased to be taking part in the government's temporary VAT reduction scheme for visitor attractions. As a result, the VAT charged on admission tickets has been reduced from 20% to 5%, allowing us to lower the price of many of our tickets and pass those savings on to our visitors.

  • Do I need to cancel and rebook?

    No. Please don’t cancel your booking. If you’re eligible for a refund it will be processed automatically, and your existing booking remains valid.

  • When will I receive my refund?

    We're working through all eligible bookings as quickly as possible. Refunds will be processed automatically, but please allow up to 28 days for the refund to reach your account.

  • Will all ticket prices be reduced?

    Most admission tickets are included in the VAT reduction scheme. However, some ticket types, promotions, packages, events, memberships, gift vouchers, add-ons and other products aren’t eligible and their prices won’t be affected.

  • How much will I save?

    The amount saved will vary depending on the ticket you’re buying.

    The prices shown on the Prices and Opening Times pages of our website don’t include the saving, but the saving will be automatically applied at checkout.

  • What’s excluded from the reduction?

    The below areas do not qualify for the VAT reduction:

    • Guided tours
    • The Dover Castle escape room
    • The Stonehenge Explorer Tour
    • Member events
    • All other events
    • The Overseas Visitor Pass
    • The Holiday Pass
    • Membership
  • Does the saving apply to food and drink?

    The government's Great British Summer Savings scheme applies to selected children's meals in English Heritage cafés, which will benefit from a temporary VAT reduction from 20% to 5%. This offer is available from 25 June to 1 September and will be shown in the prices on menus.

  • Which children's meals are included?

    The VAT reduction applies to selected children's menu items, including:

    • Children's lunch bags
    • Children's jacket potatoes
    • Selected site-specific children's meals, such as pizza, sausage and chips, fish fingers, macaroni cheese, children's soups and other children's menu options

    Eligible items and prices will be clearly marked on children's menus at participating cafés.

Before you visit

  • Do I need to print my ticket?

    No, you can just show your booking confirmation on your smartphone when you arrive. If you don’t have it handy, give your name to our site team and they’ll look up your booking when you arrive.

At the site

  • Can I turn up on the day?

    You can, but you’ll always get the best price and guaranteed entry by booking online ahead of your visit.

  • I am disabled, can I bring a helper?

    Yes, you can bring a companion or helper for free. Please select an ‘essential companion’ ticket when you book for your companion. Check the webpages of each individual site for more information about access.

  • Can I bring a picnic to your sites?

    Yes, you’re very welcome to bring a picnic. Many of our sites also have cafés and tearooms. Check the webpages of each individual site for more information.

Questions about events

Questions about Holiday Cottages