Historic Houses (formerly, and still for legal purposes, known as the Historic Houses Association or HHA ) is a not-for-profit organisation that represents well over a thousand independently owned historic country houses , castles and gardens throughout the United Kingdom.
9-612: The association originated as the Historic Houses Committee of the British Tourist Authority , and was independently established in 1973 to help owners maintain and conserve significant homes in the interests of the nation's heritage. In 1974, the HHA participated in a campaign in response to the publication of a governmental green paper on a proposed wealth tax . The campaign, which also involved
18-429: A 'visitor membership' to the public; several hundred participating house and garden attractions offer card-holders free entry. Several hundred more houses that do not normally open offer occasional accompanied tours, which can be booked through the association's 'Invitation to View' platform. The association publishes Historic House magazine quarterly. Historic Houses runs five awards for its member places: The Garden of
27-715: A stand-alone body from VisitBritain, more on a par with the devolved entities, VisitScotland and VisitWales . In 2005, it was voted the world's leading Tourist and Convention Bureau in the World Travel Awards. In the Webby Awards it has been an Official Honoree in the 10th and 12th Webby Awards in the Tourism Category. In 2008 it was also awarded the Travelmole Best Tourist Board Website award. VisitBritain
36-528: The National Trust and the predecessor of The Arts Society , drew public attention to the problems such a tax could cause for historic buildings and national art collections . The tax was not implemented, and the HHA subsequently continued to lobby for tax exemptions for heritage sites and to promote private ownership of historic houses. Today, Historic Houses represents, advises, and helps to publicise its member properties, and runs an access scheme for
45-659: The United Kingdom incorporated under the Development of Tourism Act 1969. Under memoranda of understanding with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the offshore islands of Guernsey , Jersey and the Isle of Man , VisitBritain also hosts information on those territories on its website. However, under the 1969 Act, the remit of the organisation extends only to Great Britain rather than
54-530: The Year, The Restoration Award, The Frances Garnham Education Award, The Sustainability Award, and The Collections Award. Hundreds of member houses and gardens offer free entry to visitor members of the association, including: British Tourist Authority VisitBritain is the name used by the British Tourist Authority (formerly the British Travel & Holiday Association), the tourist board of
63-517: The equivalent level in Scotland or Northern Ireland), but a substantial minority of member places are large Grade II houses. More than half of member properties (c. 800) open their doors in some way, from visitors on a day or, special tour, or school trip, through to film locations, weddings and events, or as memorable places to stay. Historic Houses member attractions between them receive more than 28 million visitors each year. Historic Houses offers
72-480: The general public. While a large majority of member places are privately owned (and most of those are still lived in), houses, castles, and gardens cared for by independent charitable trusts, local authorities, institutions, or businesses are also eligible for membership, and there are several hundred such member places represented. Typically a dwelling must be listed at Grade I or Grade II* (in England & Wales; or
81-616: The whole of the United Kingdom . VisitBritain was created in April 2003 to market Britain to the rest of the world and to promote and develop the visitor economy of England . It was formed out of a merger between the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council , and is a non-departmental public body responsible to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport . In April 2009, VisitEngland became more of
#757242