debstajm

Hello with the demise of the Great British Heritage Pass I am looking at the HHA membership, just wondering if anybody has had any issues using the friends membership pass? They have quite a few properties that we would like to visit and most are free to Friends of HHA.
Thanks Deb

MmePerdu

Sorry, not familiar with HHA. But if National Trust properties interest you, as they do me, the US based Royal Oak Foundation http://www.royal-oak.org is a good one, free entry to NT properties and discounts at others. I always save far more than I pay for my membership and enjoy the NT publications that come with membership. Or if not in the US, joining the National Trust is a possibility.

janisj

No issues at all. It does partly depend on which part(s) of the country and how many days you have, but in general HHA membership is a wonderful bargain.

Primarily because it covers a LOT of the privately owned biggies (Blenheim, Chatsworth, Castle Howard, Alnwick Castle etc etc). Entrance fees to these properties can REALLY add up.

debstajm

Thank you....appreciate it

flanneruk

The huge issue is that the overwhelming majority of HHA members really are private houses. Few are the kind of theme park that's there just to provide feckless owners with an alternative to working for a living.

Most don't allow visitors at all: the majority of those that do have very restricted hours (like "Summer Wed afternoons only")

Now at £48 a year, you'll get your money back by just seeing the top three or four biggies. But few people on a brief holiday here can easily cram them into a week, and if you just turn up at Blenheim on the wrong day, the nearest other available HHA member also open that day might be three hours' drive away.

It's a terrific deal if you live here and want to catch up on intriguing third-division properties. If that doesn't apply to you: look very carefully at where the houses you're interested in are - and which of them are practical for you to visit.

That means more than just checking "open to the public" on the HHA website, but going to the house's own site. The first of my neighbours listed that way turns out not to accept small parties: it's weddings, conferences and film locations only. The next I checked was open only two days per summer month. I've not bothered looking at the rest.

debstajm

I have looked on the British Express that takes you to all HHA properties. You click on the property your looking for and it states at the top left corner whether it is free to Friends of HHA
http://www.hha.org.uk/Search/type/visit
I am for example looking at Burghley House and Doddington Hall - Abbotsford and Floors Castle around Melrose, Scone and Glamis in Perthshire there are a few others. One that I wanted was Highclere but did not realize tickets were required. According to HHA site Friends do not need tickets but can only visit in the afternoons which would be fine by me. When I go onto the properties actual website some do not mention whether they are free for HHA members, This is why I posted this to see if there is something I need to know because the information is not there. I have only checked a few so far. But I think you are correct flanneruk I have to tread carefully, the National Trust membership does not have the properties hat we are looking at. Makes this trip really expensive. Thank you

flanneruk

" it states at the top left corner whether it is free to Friends of HHA"

For clarity: those with this message are free for Friends: those without aren't. But even with the "free" message, the house concerned may not be open when you're in the area. I notice another of my neighbours is open only:
- May and June (Monday – Wednesday only).
- All Bank Holiday Mondays in April or March, May and August
- From 11am - 3pm. Last entry at 2.00pm.

That's about 120 hours a year.

The other proviso is that many of the bigger houses have more or less continuous special exhibitions. Unless the site explicitly says admission to these is free for Friends, it's probably safe to assume it's not.

janisj

Re the specific properties you listed -- all except for Doddington Hall are open regular days/hours. (Doddington is only open 2 days a week in season)

Re Highclere -- a whole different kettle of fish -- it sells out months in advance.

debstajm

With Highclere "Friends" of HHA do not have to purchase tickets ( I was disappointed when I found you had to purchase tickets in advance) but only have access in the afternoons...according to the HHA but you do have to pay to see the Egyptian Exhibition.

Anytime I want to visit a property I always check if it is opened on the days required as I nearly missed out on a tour into Sudeley Castle once I didn't check properly. Lucky our car died halfway there although I didn't think so at the time. I also check if Royalty are staying in any properties I want to visit.

Having no experience or knowledge initially of HHA I just wanted to see if anyone had any good or bad experiences with the membership.

A big thank you to Rosemary McGruther from British Express who made some great suggestions including HHA.
You people are great thank you so much Deb