Explore the West Midlands with English Heritage Membership
Why an English Heritage Membership is Your Golden Ticket
Are you ready to step into medieval castles, uncover Roman ruins, and explore Industrial Revolution landmarks – all without reaching for your wallet at every turn?
From as little as £42 a year (less than £3.50 a month), an English Heritage Membership gives you unlimited access to over 400 historic sites across England, including some of the West Midlands’ most spectacular hidden gems.
Better yet? Your pass lets you bring up to six children for FREE every visit – making it the smartest investment for family adventures, group trips, and weekend explorers alike.
What You Get With Your Membership
- Unlimited entry to 400+ sites (no more “Is it worth the ticket price?” debates)
- Six kids go free per adult (family days out that won’t break the bank)
- Exclusive events like moonlit tours of Witley Court’s ruins and silver-plating demos at JW Evans Factory
- Free glossy handbook packed with secret spots even locals miss
- Free parking at most sites (a sneaky extra saving)
- Discounts on cafes, holiday cottages, and English Heritage shops
- Digital pass so you can start exploring immediately
10 Must-Visit West Midlands English Heritage Sites
1. Iron Bridge Gorge (Shropshire)
My top pick – this is where the Industrial Revolution began! At the gorge you can walk across the world’s first iron bridge (it’s like stepping onto a steampunk postcard), then descend into the Tar Tunnel where bitumen still oozes from the walls.
Part of the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site, other incredible sites in the region include museums like Coalbrookdale where you can see the world’s first smelting iron furnace still in operation!
And don’t miss the working Victorian town at Blists Hill near Broseley, a proper time capsule and insight into 19th century Britain, where you can spend old-fashioned pennies in the sweet shop! One of the hottest attractions in Telford, be sure to wander the quaint village of Ironbridge after your trip.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: check website
→ Related post: Best Restaurants and Tearooms in Ironbridge, Shropshire
2. Witley Court & Gardens (Worcestershire)
Britain’s most dramatic ruins – explore the fire-gutted mansion where Gilded Age aristocrats partied, then gasp when the 30ft Perseus fountain erupts to life (check the daily showtimes). The overgrown gardens feel like discovering Atlantis.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily
National Trust vs English Heritage: Which one is Better?
Should you choose one over the other? Or should you go for both? Our detailed guide breaks down the pros and cons of both National Trust and English Heritage memberships. You can read our article here:
3. Wenlock Priory (Shropshire)
Instagram gold meets medieval chills – stand in the 12th-century cloister where monks whispered, then spot the creepy “Green Man” carvings.
Another one of the best places to visit in Shropshire, time your visit at Wenlock Priory for one of their outdoor theatre performances (members get first booking), and head into Much Wenlock after for a spot of tea.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily
Related post: How to Claim a FREE English Heritage Family Pass (Autumn 2025)
4. JW Evans Silver Factory (Birmingham)
A time-capsule workshop – this isn’t some stuffy museum. The polishing wheels sit frozen mid-spin, tools lie where workers dropped them, and you can still smell the metal dust. Members get free silver-plating demos on select weekends.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: check site for details
→ Read more: 24 Top Things to See and Do in Birmingham
5. Lilleshall Abbey (Shropshire)
Perfect for dramatic picnic spots – these monastic ruins loom over the countryside like a medieval skyscraper.
Climb the spiral stairs for panoramic views, then hunt for the stonemason’s naughty gargoyle hidden in the arches. When finished, pop down the road into the sleepy town of Shifnal for lunch.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-6pm daily
See also: West Midlands Maps & Guides (Free PDF Downloads)
6. Wroxeter Roman City (Shropshire)
Ever wondered what life was like in Roman Britain? Wroxeter—once the fourth-largest city in Roman Britain – lets you walk in the footsteps of legionaries along a perfectly preserved high street.
Peer into the hypocaust system (ancient underfloor heating that puts modern radiators to shame), then try on a replica toga at the interactive museum. It’s the closest thing to an ancient time machine you’ll find in Shropshire.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily
→ Further reading: 10 Wonderful Day Trips from Birmingham
7. Kenilworth Castle (Warwickshire)
Another personal favourite of mine, Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Gardens is where romance and rebellion collide.
Climb the Leicester Tower to stand where Robert Dudley literally set the sky on fire with fireworks to impress Queen Elizabeth I – his recreated Tudor garden still blooms with the same flowers he planted for her.
But this isn’t just a love story: the castle’s crumbling red sandstone walls bear scars from a brutal six-month siege against King Henry III, making it one of England’s most dramatic ruins.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily
8. Boscobel House (Shropshire)
History feels thrillingly real at this half-timbered hunting lodge, where King Charles II hid in a priest hole after the Battle of Worcester.
Crouch in the same cramped space where the fugitive king held his breath while Cromwell’s soldiers searched – then meet the descendant of the Royal Oak, the tree that sheltered him. The orchard’s gnarled branches still whisper secrets of that fateful night in 1651.
Boscobel House and Royal Oak is one of the highlights of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands in general.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily
9. Ashby de la Zouch Castle (Leicestershire)
This castle is Tudor drama incarnate. Explore the underground kitchen tunnels where servants prepared feasts for Henry VIII’s inner circle, then climb the Hastings Tower to see why Sir Walter Scott set Ivanhoe here.
The views stretch for miles – just don’t lean too far over the battlements unless you fancy reenacting a medieval siege!
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily (closed Tuesdays)
→ You may also like: Best Free Things to Do in the West Midlands
10. Stokesay Castle (Shropshire)
Imagine a fairy-tale fortress plucked from a medieval manuscript, and you’ve got Stokesay.
As England’s best-preserved fortified manor, its timber-framed tower offers panoramic views over the Shropshire Hills, while the great hall’s 13th-century carvings (including eerie faces that seem to watch you) make it feel like the set of a fantasy film.
Time your visit for golden hour, when the honey-coloured stone glows.
Location (Google Maps)
Opening times: 10am-5pm daily (closed Tuesdays)
How Your Membership Pays for Itself
✅ Just 4 family trips = membership covered (Witley Court costs just £40.50 alone)
✅ No guilt about quick visits—pop into Wenlock Priory for 30 mins without wasting a ticket
✅ Exclusive savings—like 15% off cakes in on-site cafes
→ Register For Your English Heritage Membership HERE ←
Membership Options
| Type | Price (Per Year) | Best For |
| Individual (Young Person 18-25 years) | £42 | Young explorers |
| Individual (Adult 26+ yrs) | £82 | Solo adventurers |
| Joint (Adults aged 18+) | £144 | Couples |
| Joint (Adult & Senior) | £126 | Bringing an elder parent |
| Joint (Seniors) | £112 | Senior couples |
| Family (1 adult, up to 6 children) | £82 | Families (up to 6 kids free) |
| Family (2 adults, up to 12 children) | £144 | Families & groups (up to 6 kids free per adult) |
| Senior (65+) | £40 | Retired adventurers |
Ready to join?
Map of English Heritage Sites in the West Midlands
Below is an interactive map of all the English Heritage Sites around the West Midlands. Zoom in and click to see more info about each place, and zoom out to see more sites around England.
Other recommended English Heritage Sites worth a visit in the West Midlands:
✪ Moreton Corbet Castle – medieval ruins of a castle and Tudor manor close to the town of Wem, Shropshire.
✪ Sandbach Crosses – two giant Saxon stone crosses elaborately carved with animals and Biblical scenes in the heart of Sandbach village, near Stoke-on-Trent.
→ Read more: When is the Best Time to Visit the West Midlands [Insider’s Guide]
Pro Tips for Maximising Your Membership
★ Plan a themed road trip – hit all the Tudor sites or Roman ruins in a weekend
★ Pack a picnic – many sites (like Lilleshall Abbey) have stunning grounds
★ Download the English Heritage app – for offline maps and secret histories
★ Visit in different seasons – Witley Court’s gardens glow in autumn, while Kenilworth’s jousting events light up summer
★ Check for members-only early access – beat the crowds at popular spots
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you love history, hidden gems, and hassle-free days out, this membership is a no-brainer. Within weeks, you’ll be:
✔️ Flashing your pass like a pro at castle gates
✔️ Discovering stories that bring ruins to life
✔️ Saving £££ while supporting conservation
Claim Your Membership Now and start your time-travel adventures this weekend!
