Did you know that you can get into the Tower of London free?

[Blandmum]

If your other half takes along his 12.50?

A mate of mine tipped me off. the whole family gets in for free, and you also bypass the queue! And the Warders are even nicer to you. Saved us over £60!

12.50? is that his ID card?

If your husband shows his MOD90 (ID card) then you do get in for free. COnsidering how expensive it is to get in, it's a great deal!

We've done it a few times and even stayed the night. There's a flat for officers at the top of the Fusiliers' HQ and Officers' Mess that you can stay in (you have to have a connection to the regt to do so, however) which offers great value for a stay in London as well as providing wonderful views if you walk along the battlements at night.

Blimey, that's fab. Even though I won't benefit as I don't have any connections to the forces (except an ex-army BIL). Glad you had a nice day, MB!

That is right, his ID card. Another good deal in the Union Jack Club, as it has some excellent family rooms. All resving and retired members of the forces can use it, and it is all services and all ranks

oh lordy, memories of falling back into the Union Jack club after Army Navy matches . There's a really good pub across the road from it too!

How's the gorgeous DH doing, MB?

Very, very tired after a few days in London. He is also in a fair bit of pain, and we will have to be seeing the Macmillan nurse soon, to get it sorted.

We are thinking of going to the Tower soon, so the whole family would get in free, not just DH? At Edinburgh Castle it used to be the serving military member of the family who got in free - not sure if that still applies

I spoke to one of the Warders at the main gate and he told me that we would all be let in free, and also he opened a side gate, so we didn't have to queue.

Thanks MB, it will save us some money.
How's DH?

You should be able to get in free with your dependants card, and Edinburgh Castle. I've also heard that if you flash your 1250 in the USA you get to queue jump in some of the American Theme parks as they have military access points and they include the Brits!

I got into the Met in New York for free with a Navy pilot mate - he flashed his ID, the woman on the desk said "US Forces only" and the whole line of Americans queuing went mad! and insisted she let us in for free

MB, send your DH pain relief vibes from us x

edinburgh castle is a bit of a dodgy one at the moment, if you kick up hell you can get in but its a bit of a bugger, which is pretty crap considering it is my dh's hq.

stirling castle on the other hand is no bother, we have been there a few times now.

Kerry -Stirling Castle doesn't let all Forces personnel and their families in, we tried and were told no way, not unless you are in the regiment, could have been the RHF, or the Black watch, can't remember.

I did wonder about Edinburgh castle, as I was told it's not now classed as a Military Base. Therefore ID cards don't apply

We got a US forces reduction when we went to Boston, years and years ago, because dh had his UK forces ID.

Which was very kind of them since we were visiting Paul Rivere's (sp?) house and he was the bloke who warned the Americans that 'the English are coming'

The US is very good on forces discount

That's becasue the American government and people appreciate the hard dangerous work their Armed Forces do.
Unlike the UK

I don't know about castles, but I walked onto RAF Leeming without any ID and completely unaccompanied!

LL - In our last place, the locals used to climb the fence and get in to use the cheap bars, and the cleaners used to walk on with their whole families and use the facilities - the guards let them on because they "recognised" them. DH and his boss had to then start giving security briefings to everyone who was due on guard duty!

op re: tower of london
had were given free card historical britain to get in (not military) and we used it last january..
its a great tip..the place was easy to see and no crowds and on sunny winter day was really lovely day out

go jan or feb esp in london very few tourists
i enjoyed it

but would never have paid full cost very pricey
and am seasoned londoner..
used the 'saved'money for foodie treat after of course!..quite close to brick lane if you like curry...

It is the black watch at stirling castle saltire, maybe we have just always been lucky and got nice people when we wanted to go in.

There is a few of places around edinburgh where they give you cheap entry (not free) if you show your id, blair drummond and deep sea world both give you a good bit of the entry price.

IS Stirling Caslte not the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders that is where their regimental museum is.

USed to GEt into Edinburgh caslte free not sure about now though.
If you keep eagle eyed though there are quite a lot of tourist attractions that offer forces discounts.

If you goggle there is an official MOD site and a non official one that give you lists of places that you can get forces discounts.

Royal yacht Brittania gives a discount, jsut a couple of £ off, but every little helps!

Anyone know if I can get into the tower of London free of charge..I'm an army veteran and have a defence discount card but I don't have a veterans card yet