Anyone a member of Historic Houses?

[Honeyroar]

I was thinking of joining it after ending my NationalTrust membership this year. It almost seems too good to be true. There are some fantastic stately houses in it, some of the best. Have any of you any experience of being a member? Is there much open over winter?

We love it! Some are shut over winter but we find it's very much worth having, especially at Easter, summer, Halloween, Christmas for all the trails etc. On the website it has the details for each property. Just check the 'Free for friends' section.

Oh good, that sounds positive!

My sister and I got our parents membership for Christmas one year, they really enjoyed seeing some new places and you only need to visit a couple to save on your membership. Some have restrictions eg one visit per year or something but if you enjoy historical houses then it is well worth it to see some of the privately owned homes.

I'd never heard of it until this thread. There are quite a few properties near us, so I initially thought it looked really good - but while it's a good deal for a single person / couple it turns out to be more expensive than national trust family membership once you add in a couple of children. Different target audiences I guess.

My mum and dad have. They love it and find it very interesting.

I’d never heard of it either until it popped up on Facebook. It works out similar price to The NT for us as a couple, but the properties seem better, there are some “biggies” like Burghley, Chatsworth and Blenheim-albeit some of those are single visit. Plus I just don’t like the NT and the way it functions. I need a change.

I buy it every other year. My favourite HHA near me is Castle Howard who allow you one HHA visit per membership year (it was losing them members on their own season ticket).

Another one near me only lets you into the gardens, not the house.

Depends where you are I guess, have a look at the properties you think you might use the most.

You get ⅓ off membership with a code from English Heritage.

Castle Howard is not a million miles from me..

I’ve always fancied seeing Bramham too, after years of visiting the horse trials there and that’s on the list (ditto Burghley) and they have a house in Wales my university once let us stay at for a weekend.

There are loads we’d fancy visiting. I’d just never heard of it and wondered if it was as good as it seemed.

I presume you have to be an English heritage member to get the discount?