English Heritage has now reopened six more of its most popular attractions for pre-booked group visits including Dover Castle and Osborne House.
The charity, which looks after more than 400 locations across England, said it had selected these key sites for groups as they have plenty of space and facilities to adhere to the Government’s Covid-19 guidelines for social distancing and hygiene measures.
It follows the reopening of Stonehenge to groups in July.
English Heritage sites on offer to group visitors are: 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield (East Sussex), Audley End House and Gardens (Essex), Dover Castle (Kent), Osborne House (Isle of Wight), Stonehenge (Wiltshire), Tintagel Castle (Cornwall) and Wrest Park (Bedfordshire).
Pre-booking is essential when organising trips to each of the sites, allowing staff to limit visitor numbers and maintain social distancing.
More about each available site
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield: visitors to the attraction just north of Hastings can re-imagine the battle on the battlefield trail, visit the abbey ruins, its gatehouse and rooftop viewing platform.
Audley End House and Gardens: the ‘Capability’ Brown landscape, gardens, 1880’s Service Wing, Stable Yard and organic Victorian walled kitchen garden are all now open in Saffron Walden. The Jacobean house with its Robert Adams interiors, and grand furnishings and artworks re-opens on 17th September.
Dover Castle: visitors can stand on the rooftop of King Henry II’s Great Tower, walk the castle battlements and find out more about the role the castle played in two world wars at the Port War Signal Station.
Osborne House: set in Cowes on the north of the Isle of Wight, groups can see the family home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with several ground floor rooms open, as well as the estate’s gardens, grounds and private beach.
Stonehenge: a 2.6 mile circular walking route now leads visitors to the Stone Circle (shuttle buses are prioritised for those in most need). There’s also an exhibition at the visitor centre near Amesbury that showcases archaeological finds from the World Heritage Site as well as a virtual stone circle which people can stand inside.
Tintagel Castle: the supposed birthplace of King Arthur has a striking footbridge which leads across the cliffs to visit the island, plus an exhibition to see and the chance to visit Merlin’s Cave.
Wrest Park: the site in Silsoe has three centuries of landscape design evolution in 92-acres of grounds dotted with statues, buildings, woodland areas and water features.
For more information about any of these sites, search for them on the English Heritage website at www.english-heritage.org.uk.
