Annual Memberships or 2 for 1

Swiss Gardens

If you go out visiting a lot it could be worth taking out an annual membership - here is a summary of the ones I know about, would love to hear more ideas.

we took out an annual membership with Historic Houses, following a trip to the New Forest, we visited Beaulieu (no longer in free for members scheme).  you do need to keep an eye on the website as it seems places come and go, or have different offerings.

Locally we have some to visit - here is a flavour of the larger ones, (some are just gardens and not the house, and some have limited opening times, I excluded those that are not open much at all): 

Woburn MK17 9WA (reopens in 2022)

Knebworth SG3 6PY house and gardens all included

Moggerhanger House MK44 3RW (free anyway - but can have a tour on some days) 

Shuttleworth Swiss garden and collection - just found out open on Thursdays to members

Turvey House 

Waddesdon Manor HP18 0JH Gardens

35 miles or less

Althorp NN7 4HQ 

Boughton House NN14 1BJ 

Chenies Manor House WD3 6ER 

Claydon Gardens MK18 2EX  (sadly it looks like the gardens are no longer open to the public and the house is National Trust, it has a lovely courtyard with tea rooms and artisan shops).

Cottesbrooke Hall NN6 8PF

Deene Park NN17 3EG 

Elton Hall & Gardens PE8 6SH 

The Gibberd Garden CM17 0NA

Holdenby House NN6 8DJ 

Kelmarsh Hall NN6 9LY 

The Manor, Hemingford Grey PE28 9BN

Nether Winchendon House HP18 0DY

Lamport Hall NN6 9HD 

Rockingham Castle LE16 8TH 

Stanford Hall LE17 6DH

Sulgrave Manor OX17 2SD

Waddesdon Manor HP18 0JH (entire site is now free to HHA members)

A little further afield

Broughton Castle OX15 5EB 

Burghley House PE9 3JY 

Ingatestone Hall CM4 9NR

We have had annual memberships for National Trust and English Heritage over the years. 

Each of the organisations have some properties within easy driving distance from here... 

English Heritage 

Wrest Park - this has changed a lot in the last few years and the gardens have had investments and the events are now more frequent but probably more aimed at children. 

Audley End - this seems to expand a little each time we visit, and really enjoy the variety. Tesco clubcard vouchers can be used 

National Trust Some of the historic houses are also National Trust place, and there are a reasonable number of properties within easy driving distance. Here are some of the ones visited over the years.

RHS You get a magazine with this membership, and Tesco clubcard vouchers can also be used, and have had an annual membership for this in the past. As well as the main RHS gardens there are a large number of partnership gardens and many of these are also Historic Houses.

Every year Gardeners World magazine does an offer for 2 for 1 entries in a large selection of gardens, it is the April Issue.