The UK has no shortage of historic sites to visit, from Stonehenge to Henry VIII’s former abode, Hampton Court Palace, or taking in the Roman’s feat of engineering at Hadrian’s Wall, there’s plenty of attractions to choose from.
But taking in this history can come with quite the price tag, and new research by consumer group Which? has found the cost to visit some of the UK’s most beloved historic attractions has soared by over 50% in the past three years.
Dating back to the 1200s, a ticket to York Minster Cathedral will now set you back £20, a staggering 54% increase since 2022 when tickets were slightly more affordable at £13.
And it seems you can put a price on fun, as the most expensive church in the country is officially more expensive than a trip to some of the UK’s most popular theme parks.
Ticket prices to Westminster Abbey have risen by 20 per cent to £30, making it more expensive than a visit to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures, where the cheapest tickets are £29.
However both Westminster Abbey and York Minster remain free for those attending all acts of worship, or to pray. A spokesperson for York Minster also told The Independent that carers, accompanied children aged 17 and younger, York residents and York university students can visit for free, as well as those who have purchased a York Pass.
Receiving 700,000 visitors each year, the spokesperson pointed out that the site relies solely on visitors to raise enough money to care for the ancient cathedral, which is estimated to cost £33,000 a day to run.
Topping the list as the most expensive attraction to visit in the UK was Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with a standard adult ticket costing a whopping £41.
In comparison, if you’re looking for a cheaper trip back in time, Conway Castle in Wales was the cheapest attraction to make the list, with tickets priced at £12.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon and Cardiff Castle in Wales were the only two sites on the list that didn’t see any increase in price in the past three years, remaining £20 and £15 to enter.
The list also included popular sites such as the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh (£20), the Titanic Belfast in Northern Ireland (£25), and Tower Bridge in London (£13), all of which have seen tickets rising by a few pounds.
It’s worth noting that you can often save money by using public transport to visit certain attractions. Visitors to Blenheim Palace get 20% off tickets if travelling there by train, bus or bike, and National Rail offers two-for-one tickets on a range of attractions including Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge. These are available to buy through daysoutguide.co.uk.
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