AUTUMN is here and with it comes an amazing offer to take the family to visit one of the UK’s incredible UK heritage sites for free.
I’ve just bagged a family day pass at a National Trust site, thanks to a little-known offer that often pops up at this time of year.
And it gets even better because my nearest National Trust estate, Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, is the perfect place to get in the Halloween spirit.
This is because it always decorates its darkest tunnels for the spooky season and also has an impressive pumpkin display in its garden.
If you’re looking for frightful fun for free, you can claim your family pass online, just by popping it in your basket on the National Trust website.
I’ve used the free passes before and it’s always a brilliant way to get a day out for next to nothing.
But you’ll need to be quick to claim as the free passes, which cover two adults and three children, won’t take long to be snapped up by other bargain hunters.
There are a few things you need to look out for if you want to use this offer.
First of all, there are some sites that are exempt, so you need to check the list of where you can’t use your pass before you set off with the car all loaded up with kids!
There are 200 houses, gardens and even castles included, so you should be able to find something not a million miles away to visit.
The National Trust only operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so if you’re in Scotland, you’ll have to head over the border to use your pass.
Some places also need you to book in advance and you can do this on the National Trust website by selecting the free member ticket option and use the code AUTUMN24.
Just make sure to have your day pass ready to scan when you arrive.
If you happen to miss out on the free online offer, there’s a cheeky little way you can sometimes get around it.
A lot of local newspapers often print a pass inside their pages around the same sort of time, so you can just buy a participating paper for a couple of quid instead.
Or you could ask your local library to save its copy of the local paper once it’s no longer being read and it’s gone on the recycling pile, so you get the pass that way.
The single-use pass covers a family of five, but obviously you can use it as a single adult or a couple as well.
It runs out on October 18, so it won’t be valid over the half-term holidays.
That being said, it’s worth checking out what your selected site is doing in the run-up to Halloween.
Because there may be events running over the weekends beforehand, so you might get some extra activities thrown in free if you time it right.
Last year, my favourite National Trust place to visit was Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire, which was the perfect backdrop for bats, spiders, pumpkins and lots of spooky props.
It was definitely a top haunt for Halloween and one we’d return to next time we’re in that neck of the woods.
So if you fancy seeing what the National Trust has to offer near you, why not pick up a pass and head down to get your fix of fresh air, history and family fun?
To download your free autumn pass and for more info on any of the National Trust sites, see nationaltrust.org.uk.
What's it like to visit a National Trust site?
EARLIER this year, travel writer Hope Brotherton visited Birmingham’s Back to Backs after they were named the country’s number one hidden gem attraction. Here’s what she thought…
“Located on the corner of Hurst Street and Inge Street, the Back to Backs are hidden behind a wooden shop front that houses a tiny reception area where visitors check into their guided tour.
“My family and I were then led through to a brick courtyard where we were introduced to John, our informative and friendly tour guide.
“For the 90 minutes, John expertly guided our small group through two interconnected houses, which showcased what life would’ve looked like for working-class families in the 1860s and 1930s.
“Each of the eight rooms we explored were tiny, showing visitors just some of the cramped conditions families lived in 150 years ago.
“All of the rooms were decorated with everyday objects, including tins, scales and other artefacts from the past, with John pointing out the most interesting or relevant items, including an old tin of Bird’s Custard, which was produced in the city’s Custard Factory.
“According to our tour guide John, some of the former residents even worked in the Back to Backs with their tools on display, including the likes of a locksmith and a jeweller from the Jewellery Quarter.
“Birmingham Back to Backs also houses the only collection of work by a Caribbean tailor in the UK.
“George Saunders operated a successful tailor’s shop from the Back to Backs for many years, even leaving some of his items to the National Trust to preserve this last living link to the houses.
“At the end of the tour, we were led back to the brick courtyard where we were shown how the laundry rooms operated and given the chance to take photos.”
Meanwhile, these are the best UK attractions with free annual pass upgrades.
And these are the best free days out in the country.
