A Guide to Saving Money While Exploring England

National Trust, English Heritage, or a British Heritage Pass?

If you are traveling in England and are trying to stretch your dollar, purchasing a membership in either English Heritage or National Trust will certainly help you on your way. Both organizations maintain historic sites across England and offer free entry to members. By purchasing membership, either individual, couple, or family, in one of these organizations, individuals have the opportunity to explore hundreds of castles, abbeys, historic homes, gardens, and museums on their trip to England. Which should travelers join? Will English Heritage or National Trust, both popular charities for locals, give you the best value for your money? Or should you consider a tourist's British Heritage Pass? Which option is right for you? Ask yourself these questions to determine the right choice!

Where are you going?

You should begin by detailing your trip to England. Are your touring the whole country, or sticking to specific areas? Once you have narrowed down your areas of interest, you can visit the National Trust or English Heritage websites and see what sites they have available in the area. See which options are more appealing. English Heritage also offers half price entry at Heritage sites in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland during your first year, and free entry in subsequent years. National Trust offers free entry to their Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Welsh sites from day one.

Who are you traveling with?

English Heritage offers free entry to all children under the age of 19 with a member adult. National Trust offers free entry to all children under five. So, if you are traveling with children under five, both options are appealing. However, if you are visiting from the United States, you can purchase a Royal Oak membership that will gain you entry into National Trust sites across the United Kingdom, and you can pay in dollars instead of pounds.

What do you want to see?