FREE Tickets for Edinburgh Castle & Historic Sites in Scotland

Scotland is an immensely beautiful country. Having personally been to the West Coast several times before, I pretty much know this for a fact. If one has never truly had the chance to explore the place before, you really should.

Have you figured out where to go in Scotland? You will find several Historic Environment Scotland sites that should be of interest. Sadly, many of these tourist attractions charge you for the pleasure of visiting.

However, this won’t be the case for the next few months if you choose to take part in “Historic Sundays”. To help out with the cost of living crisis, admission will be free for you and your family with the Historic Environment Scotland ticket giveaway.

I bet you could easily plan both a cheap and fun day out around the offer. Join me now as we look at how you might go about this.

low wide shot of Edinburgh Castle surrounded by trees during the day — photo by Peggychoucair from pixabay

Where to Visit in Scotland during Historic Sundays

How many historic Scotland sites are there? Maybe you’re just looking for an alternative to what you might have already seen. The different buildings, monuments, and structures available to visit include:

gardens
castles
stately homes
parks
chapels
abbeys
nunneries
cathedrals
palaces
forts

Are there any historic Scotland sites near me? Specific sites and landmarks that are taking part in this Historic Environment Scotland ticket giveaway include the likes of:

As you can see, you have plenty of options. These are some of the best historic sites in Scotland. I believe at least some of these are also UNESCO World Heritage sites but I would need to verify this to be sure.

You may even be treated to special events, exhibitions, and tours at some of these Historic Environment Scotland sites.

While you’re in Scotland, there may be other activities you want to participate in. You can save a lot of money on these little excursions with topcashback.

This is a cashback app that pays you when shopping online for brands. Not only does this work on products, but it’s also compatible when paying for events and days out.

This could be very effective for your Scottish trip so why not give it a look? If you combine this process with coupons and cashback credit cards then it will bring the entire cost down even more.

On-Site Features

A few of these sites have additional features and amenities such as gift shops or cafes. If you are traveling by car, there should also be parking (with disabled spaces) around or nearby to the sites.

If you don’t currently own a car then that’s okay. It’s very simple for anyone to rent an affordable vehicle from Auto Europe Car Rentals. I think that you will find this extremely useful if you just want some cheap transportation for the day.

How do I book my free tickets for the best historic Scotland sites?

How much is a ticket? You can’t just leisurely stroll into one of these ancient sites for free on the day without a bit of preparation. The person will need to pre book their free ticket with an order online first.

There are a limited number of free tickets available so grab them quick. To illustrate my point, I noticed that there were less than a hundred left in stock for the time slot of one site that I checked.

How many free tickets can I book for my group on Historic Sundays?

One will only be able to book tickets for up to 6 children and 2 adults (8 people per group in total). I believe the number of tickets you can book will reset on a per-month basis. You should then be able to book tickets for your group again for the next month.

Are people experiencing any problems with the Historic Environment Scotland ticket giveaway?

Some applicants have complained about only being able to book tickets for the first eligible month (and not any further into the future). I have checked the website myself and have found this to be true for me too.

It may be the case that you have to wait until much closer to the actual date before you can book tickets for November and beyond.

How will I get my free ticket for Historic Sundays?

After ordering your ticket, it should be emailed to you shortly after as a PDF file along with your confirmation. You should check your spam folder if you still haven’t received a response.

You can then choose if you want to print out the physical ticket at home. On the other hand, simply just have the mobile ticket displayed on an electronic device like a smartphone or tablet.

Alternatively, you also have the option of collecting your pre booked tickets once you have arrived at the entrance. There should be special collection machines at the site for this purpose.

Eligibility for Free Admission to Historic Buildings in Scotland

Unfortunately, this promotion will only work for residents of Scotland. Any tourists from outside the border will have to purchase tickets and pay full price.

In the case of obtaining tickets, adults are classed as anyone over the age of 16. Be aware that children under the age of 15 will need to be accompanied by at least one adult.

“Did not strong connections draw me elsewhere, I believe Scotland would be the country I would choose to end my days in.”
Benjamin Franklin (Politician & US Founding Father)

Proof of Residence

Once you arrive at the gate, you will need to show some evidence of your home address to a member of staff. This is essentially just to prove that you actually live in Scotland. It is mandatory so don’t forget to bring this proof with you on the day.

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Are there any other rules that I need to follow?

It’s against the rules to give away your ticket to someone else (whether this is for profit or not). You won’t be able to get a refund for your ticket either which makes sense seeing as it’s free anyway.

Certain sites are dog-friendly. This is beneficial if you want to take your canine companion for a walk on one of the Scottish hiking trails in this gorgeous scenery. You will need to check this independently based on where you are going.

What dates can I gain free entry to these Historic Environment Scotland sites?

If you want to get in for free, you will only be able to visit on the first Sunday of each month. Claimants will need to plan ahead seeing as the dates are so specific. The qualifying dates (all falling on the first Sunday of each month) include:

October 1st 2023
November 5th 2023
December 3rd 2023
7th January 2024
4th February 2024
3rd March 2024

Time Slots for Historic Environment Scotland Sites

One will likely not be able to stay at a site for the whole day. You will typically be booked into a time slot for your visit. The correct time and date of your visit should printed on your ticket along with other important details.

This time slot should last between 2 to 3 hours. Because of the enforcement of these time slots, it’s extremely important that you are punctual. You may be turned away if you show up late.

Latecomers may possibly be able to fit into a later time slot if this can be arranged by staff. Although, I wouldn’t count on it as you may be disappointed if this can’t be done.

Which historic Scotland sites are open? I recommend checking the opening hours for your site of choice so that you are more informed.

How long will this Historic Environment Scotland ticket giveaway last?

This scheme officially kicks off at the beginning of October. Coincidentally, the 1st of October falls on a Sunday. Therefore, this will be the first applicable date for you to visit a site for free anyway.

The whole thing will come to an end in March of next year. This means that it will only run for six months (with a maximum of 6 visits in total).

Think of it as something nice that you could do together with the kids this Winter. It might even make for a fun early Christmas treat.

What is Historic Environment Scotland?

The organization in charge of this scheme is Historic Environment Scotland. You can find out more information about them on their website. These free days out have aptly been coined “Historic Sundays”.

If you are invested enough you could consider getting a Historic Environment Scotland membership on this platform. Perhaps you want to cancel your membership?

Help & Support

You may experience issues during the pre booking process for Historic Environment Scotland sites. Maybe you would just like assistance with something else? For this reason, you should contact them via email at [email protected] if necessary.

If you want some inspiration for your trip then I would encourage you to read some books about Scotland. As a tourist, this should give you some exciting ideas when exploring.

How popular is Scotland?

Statistics show that more than 3.2 million tourists visited this country from overseas last year (Visit Scotland). This clearly demonstrates there is a great interest in Scottish heritage and history especially from outsiders.

Popularity has been steadily increasing year upon year. When you discount the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, it shows how beloved this place really is. By most accounts, the review of Scotland and all it has to offer is pretty positive.

Conclusion

These Historic Environment Scotland events are a great excuse to explore nature and delve into the cultural hotspots of the Scottish highlands.

Taking part in hobbies and pastimes with friends or family can be expensive nowadays. It’s a huge advantage not having to buy tickets for these locations. There is no better time to take advantage of the Historic Environment Scotland ticket giveaway.

However, it is a shame that there aren’t more dates available and also that more people don’t qualify for this affordable deal.

I highly recommend booking your free tickets as soon as possible before they sell out completely. In honesty, I have a feeling that there will be a huge demand for this.

You should also ask your loved ones if they want to go on the trip with you. This way you can reserve tickets for them too. Check out tripadvisor and fullstopnextchapter to discover more free stuff to do in Scotland.

Have you ever visited any historic sites in Scotland in the past? Which site included in this offer would you most like to visit and why?

Please don’t forget to share this with your friends and like it on social media. You can subscribe to our newsletter and comment below too. Thanks for reading!

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