English Heritage-is anyone a member, is it worth it?

[Stepmumm]

We're a large family, always looking for something to keep the kids busy, was wondering if its worth joining english heritage or national trust. Admittance to anywhere always costs a fortune for 6!

We were in english heritage for a couple of years when the dc were younger ie under 14. We thought it much better than national trust which tended to be gardens and stately homes (not my dc's cup of tea at all) whereas english heritage gave us hundreds of castles. We saved a packet, you can get into cadw and scottish heritage places at a reduced rate (NI too I expect but don't know) and if you renew your membership for a second year you get them free.

Definitely worth it if your kids are at an age where they would enjoy the places. We didn't renew for a third year as they were getting older and no longer desperate to run around ramparts pretending to be knights of the realm.

Depends what your family like doing, we belong to both. DS likes EH best, he's a history obsessive. DD likes NT best, huge grounds and interesting walks.
Wasn't worth belonging to either when we lived in the NW, hardly anything there.
Loads within daytrip distance now.

We are in historic Scotland, and it's great - been to loads of castles, etc. As we've been members for over a year, we got in free to all the Cadw sites on holiday in Wales this year, and that was brilliant.

We love castles and ruins so i reckon EH would be best, just worried we won't get our moneys worth due to english weather!

We are NT as EH has absolutely nothing near us, and only one place in the whole of the county, right at the other end. NT has absolutely loads near us. However have always enjoyed EH places, esp Dover Castle, so it depends where you live, I would say.

Great if you are nearby or have acess to lots of their places.

Osbourn House on the IOW was fab, (EH) not had a chance to do others yet.

Check NT properties near you for thingbs you might use parts of...eg Belton Hoiuse in Grantham was out regular haunt as they have a fab play area & miniture railway as well as a lovely house & grounds so a family card was well worth it as we could just go to the park for a picnic & a play for a few hours.