Great British Heritage Pass to be Discontinued in 2012?
Nov 5th, 2011, 10:42 AM
#1
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Great British Heritage Pass to be Discontinued in 2012?
I was looking into purchasing a Great British Heritage Pass for 2012 and was told that it will be discontinued at the end of this year. Is there another similar type of pass to take its place? What a shame that will be as it was a good cost savings option for the overseas tourist.
The National Trust Pass did not seem to have the same properties covered as the GBHP.
Did anyone else here of this being discontinued?
The National Trust Pass did not seem to have the same properties covered as the GBHP.
Did anyone else here of this being discontinued?
Nov 5th, 2011, 11:34 AM
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Yes, it's discontinued and not valid after the last day of this year. After 33 years, haven't heard why they chose the Olympic year to stop it. I would guess it was a money loser.
You can check out these passes, but you need to review their property lists, weigh the prices and decide whether any (or a combo of them) would be worth it for you.
English Heritage pass
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...-visitor-pass/
Historic Scotland pass
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
National Trust pass
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...uring_pass.htm
Royal Oak Foundation (membership pass)
http://www.royal-oak.org/join/
Cadw (Wales govt historic properties) (membership pass)
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/membership/
You can check out these passes, but you need to review their property lists, weigh the prices and decide whether any (or a combo of them) would be worth it for you.
English Heritage pass
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...-visitor-pass/
Historic Scotland pass
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
National Trust pass
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...uring_pass.htm
Royal Oak Foundation (membership pass)
http://www.royal-oak.org/join/
Cadw (Wales govt historic properties) (membership pass)
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/membership/
Nov 5th, 2011, 11:51 AM
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Yes, thanks. I was also planning on purchasing the Scotland explorer pass if they don't discontinue that one too in 2012.
The other passes National Trust, English Heritage don't cover all the properties we wanted to see this time around (Blenheim, Warwick, Shakespeare properties, Hidcote Manor). I think only Hidcote was on the list so not worth the price to purchase the pass.
It does seem suspicious that they chose the Olympic year to discontinue the pass. I was looking forward to using it to see multiple sites but now I will pick and choose and skip the rest.
The other passes National Trust, English Heritage don't cover all the properties we wanted to see this time around (Blenheim, Warwick, Shakespeare properties, Hidcote Manor). I think only Hidcote was on the list so not worth the price to purchase the pass.
It does seem suspicious that they chose the Olympic year to discontinue the pass. I was looking forward to using it to see multiple sites but now I will pick and choose and skip the rest.
Nov 5th, 2011, 02:14 PM
#4
It has been more than 33 years. Prior to being called the GBHP it was "Open to View" - started in the early 70's
A shame . . .
Now I have to make significant changes to the content of my travel programs and the handouts
A shame . . .
Now I have to make significant changes to the content of my travel programs and the handouts
Nov 5th, 2011, 04:25 PM
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It figures, just when we are ready to go and use it, it gets discontinued....
I wonder if they will bring something back though in 2013?
The Shakespeare Trust sells a packaged ticket for the Shakespeare properties. Is that worth purchasing? There are three different categories depending on the number of properties you wish to include.
But I am bummed out about the GBHP because I had figured it would cost 39 pounds for a three day pass to see approx. 71 pounds worth of venues. When I last looked it was (Blenheim 19, Anne Hathaway House 7, Hidcote Manor 8.60, Shakespeare House 17, Warwick Castle 19.95)
I wonder if they will bring something back though in 2013?
The Shakespeare Trust sells a packaged ticket for the Shakespeare properties. Is that worth purchasing? There are three different categories depending on the number of properties you wish to include.
But I am bummed out about the GBHP because I had figured it would cost 39 pounds for a three day pass to see approx. 71 pounds worth of venues. When I last looked it was (Blenheim 19, Anne Hathaway House 7, Hidcote Manor 8.60, Shakespeare House 17, Warwick Castle 19.95)
Nov 6th, 2011, 06:10 AM
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"I wonder if they will bring something back though in 2013?"
Who do you think "they" are?
As I understand it, management of the GBHP used to be a burden on the taxpayer. It clearly being no part of a government's job to subsidise foreign tourists (who already get more lavish free entrance to more attractions here than anywhere else on earth, and real businesses in other industries are expected to stand on their own feet), the Labour government directed the British Tourist Authority (or whatever it's called now)to find someone in the private sector mug enough to run it.
A couple of years ago, those wonderful people who run the London Pass (Leisure Pass Group) volunteered, or were bullied into it. They now can't make it pay: unsurprisingly, the major commercial attractions can't get their heads around charging once in a lifetime visitors substantially less than their loyal, repeat business, customers living locally. As my neighbour, and owner of one of the GBHP's busiest attractions, put it "I get treated like something they've picked up on their shoe by airlines in America because, unlike the Frequent Flyers they bribe, I only travel on them once a year. Why do they expect me to turn commercial logic on its head and charge them less than I'd charge you?"
So LPG is switching resource elsewhere. If that "bums out" foreigners: well LPG, the attraction owners and the British taxpayer have really got more important things to worry about.
With or without the Olympics. Everyone knows Olympic games reduce tourist counts, and concentrate what tourists there are around the Olympic area. My neighbour's reconciled to the likelihood of fewer foreign visitors next year.
Who do you think "they" are?
As I understand it, management of the GBHP used to be a burden on the taxpayer. It clearly being no part of a government's job to subsidise foreign tourists (who already get more lavish free entrance to more attractions here than anywhere else on earth, and real businesses in other industries are expected to stand on their own feet), the Labour government directed the British Tourist Authority (or whatever it's called now)to find someone in the private sector mug enough to run it.
A couple of years ago, those wonderful people who run the London Pass (Leisure Pass Group) volunteered, or were bullied into it. They now can't make it pay: unsurprisingly, the major commercial attractions can't get their heads around charging once in a lifetime visitors substantially less than their loyal, repeat business, customers living locally. As my neighbour, and owner of one of the GBHP's busiest attractions, put it "I get treated like something they've picked up on their shoe by airlines in America because, unlike the Frequent Flyers they bribe, I only travel on them once a year. Why do they expect me to turn commercial logic on its head and charge them less than I'd charge you?"
So LPG is switching resource elsewhere. If that "bums out" foreigners: well LPG, the attraction owners and the British taxpayer have really got more important things to worry about.
With or without the Olympics. Everyone knows Olympic games reduce tourist counts, and concentrate what tourists there are around the Olympic area. My neighbour's reconciled to the likelihood of fewer foreign visitors next year.
