Become a Historic Houses member
Join the UK's best membership scheme and help preserve Britain's independent heritage.
We’re an association of independently owned historic houses, castles, and gardens, advising and protecting Britain’s heritage for future generations to enjoy.
Become a member today for as little as £52 per year* to help us continue our work supporting that heritage.
We are delighted to be partnering with American Viscountess, the YouTube series celebrating Britain’s historic houses and their owners. Use the American Viscountess discount code AVTV05 to claim a £5 discount off your Historic Houses membership.
*Based on a joint membership
What does membership bring you?
But why are we right for you?
We're beautiful
The UK has some of the finest and best preserved historic houses, parks and gardens in the world. Most British stately homes are independently owned and have been cared for and added to continuously for centuries. Now they’re jewel boxes – mellow, time-worn historic architecture full of exquisite, important collections of furniture, paintings and sculptures.
From Sudeley Castle to Holkham Hall, Mapperton House to Scone Palace, we think that makes them the most beautiful heritage sites in Britain.
We're lived-in
Most of our houses are lived-in family homes, with resident families often able to trace their lineage back hundreds of years. They’re still full of new life, and their interiors represent the continued evolution of fashions and the changing personal tastes of their owners.
When you explore these ancient buildings and grounds at your own pace, you’ll have fun and discover the unexpected; you might perhaps bump into the dog, the gardener, or even the owner.
We're special
We're a not-for-profit organisation made up of special people, special houses with special stories, and special members.
Without the support of our members, we simply wouldn't be able to continue preserving heritage and keeping these special stories alive.
Membership offers a unique chance to explore our houses’ stunning collections of art and architecture with one card. With hundreds of different places all with different ways of doing things, exploring and discovering our collection rewards those who seek out the unusual.
We’re stronger together
We’re a self-help association. By joining forces, our hundreds of independent owners achieve more than any could alone. Our expertise and experiences are shared. Our voices are magnified. And our stories can reach larger audiences.
Our member places keep what makes them lean and relevant, what makes them quirky and different. But through us, their cooperative association, they can also make their voices heard, can access resources and expertise that none on their own could source, and reach audiences that each alone would not be able to tap into.
Our houses and gardens are hubs for whole communities, and always have been. They’re places to work, learn, exercise and relax, to feel better and to feel included, to enjoy peace and quiet or to meet others. There is something for everyone.
Read more about our policy work, our campaigns to help member houses, and our story.
Our houses play vital roles in their communities
Providing the Wheels to Weston Park
Weston Park, the stately home on the Shropshire \ Staffordshire border, has received two very generous gifts from the Wynn Foundation and The Arts Society Wrekin to support the educational experience they offer to local schools.
Support Us
Join now to support Britain's independent heritage.
Join
You can contribute to our work in all sorts of ways. The most obvious is membership. We have different categories for highly listed properties and the people associated with them; companies who sell relevant goods and services to those properties; clubs, society and workplace groups; people who enjoy learning about, and visiting, beautiful houses, castles, and gardens.
Donate
Finally, we share a mission with the Historic Houses Foundation, which is a registered charity. The foundation makes grants to country houses in England and Wales.
