Historic Summer FAQs

What is the Historic Summer offer?

Historic Summer is a limited-time ticket offer providing discounted entry to selected sites during the summer period of the 25 June - 1 September 2026.

How much discount is applied?

There is a 20% discount applied to the standard web adult, concession and child price.

What ticket types are available?

Each participating site offers:

• Adult

• Concession

• Child

• Under 7 (free ticket)

What does the ticket include?

Each ticket provides general admission to one site.

Who is the offer aimed at?

The offer is targeted at UK residents. Tickets must be booked online in advance. Visitors will be asked for proof of residence on arrival.

The offer is only available until the allocation of tickets per day has been used.

When is the offer available?

The offer is available from 25 June to 1 September 2026 and does not apply outside these dates.

When do Historic Summer tickets go live?

Tickets will go live on 25 June. Please keep an eye on www.historicsummer.scot for ticket availability.

How can I access the Historic Summer tickets?

Tickets are available online only via a dedicated website.

Can I buy these tickets at the site?

The offer is primarily online. If you are unable to book online please contact ticketing@hes.scot who will be able to assist you.

How have tickets sold out so quickly?

We have a set allocation of discounted tickets for UK residents for each site on each of the Historic Summer dates to ensure we adhere to the capacity for each site.

Can I join a Historic Summer waiting list for tickets?

No, we have no waiting list for Historic Summer tickets.

How many tickets are discounted for each Historic Scotland site?

We have a set allocation of discounted tickets for UK residents for each site on each of the Historic Summer dates. Capacity varies at each participating site.

Why aren’t all tickets discounted on Historic Summer dates?

Discounted tickets are only available to UK Residents on Historic Summers dates, as part of a wider government initiative supporting UK families. Any full price tickets outside of this allocation help to ensure the support and conservation of our heritage sites.

Can I use another promotion code with this offer?

No, this is a standalone offer and cannot be used with any other discount

Why aren’t all Historic Scotland sites included in Historic Summer?

Some of our sites have complex capacity models or operational constraints which prevents us from offering the promotion

What sites are not included in the offer?

Excluded sites are:

• Blackness Castle

• Edinburgh Castle

• Inchmahome Priory

• Lochleven Castle

• Maeshowe Chambered Cairn

• Sites that are by guided tour only

The offer is not available at any of our events i.e. Spectacular Jousting.

This list is subject to change.

Can I visit multiple sites with one ticket?

No, each ticket is valid for entry to a single site only.

Why is the offer restricted to a separate booking channel?

This ensures the offer is targeted, helps manage capacity, and allows accurate tracking of uptake and visitor demographics.

Can I book more than one site with this offer?

Yes, you can make as many bookings to different sites as you like.

Are there certain dates and times to visit?

Tickets are only valid for the date and property stated on the ticket. Information on our site opening hours can be found on our individual site listings. Entry to our sites is managed by a timed ticketing system with capacity limits for all time slots. Advance online booking is required.

How long can I stay?

On occasion we may need to limit the amount of time available at our car parks to allow as many visitors as possible the opportunity see our sites.

Some of our smaller sites may close fully, or partially, over the lunchtime period.

Please check individual site listings for further information.

Are cafés and shops available at all sites?

Cafés are available at several of our larger sites, including at Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle, and Fort George. Many of our sites without a café have coffee machines and snacks available to purchase from the shop.

At some sites we may not be accepting cash payment. In this event purchases can be made by card payments only.

Please check individual site listings for further information.

Can I bring my dog?

Please check our individual site listings to see whether your furry friend can join you on your visit.

Will there be parking available at sites?

Some of our sites do have parking however each site is different, please check the information on the individual site listing for the site you wish to visit.

Will there be Blue Badge Parking?

We do have blue badge spaces at some of our sites. Please check the information on the individual site listing for the site you wish to visit.

Are there any facilities for cyclists?

Please check the information on the individual site listing for the site you wish to visit.

I can’t book my tickets online; can I book over the phone?

Advance online booking is required. For any ticketing issues please contact ticketing@hes.scot

How many people can I book free tickets for?

A maximum of 2 adults and 6 children can be booked per transaction.

Do I have to book in advance?

Yes, advance online booking is required. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by an adult, aged 16 years or over.

How will I receive my tickets?

Your tickets will be e-tickets which you can either show on your mobile device, add to your Wallet or print as a PDF. We offer the option to collect your tickets on arrival at some sites, this option will be shown in the delivery method if available. If you have not received your tickets via email please contact ticketing@hes.scot with your booking details (name on booking, email address used and site visiting).

Can tickets be posted to me?

No, we are unable to post tickets. Tickets will be emailed to you.

I have not received an email confirmation, is this normal?

Your email confirmation email should arrive shortly after booking. If you have not received this, please check your junk folder in the first instance. If you have not received this please contact ticketing@hes.scot  with details of your booking (name on booking, email address used and site visiting) and they will investigate and get back to you as soon as possible.

I am on the ticket page but can’t see the ticket options, what do I do?

If the webpage is not displaying correctly, we advise you to clear the cache/cookies on your browser then close the browser and reopen it. The ticketing page should now load correctly. If this doesn’t work the time slot you wish may be sold out – please check for an alternative time. If no timeslots are available, the Historic Summer date selected has sold out, please return to the webpage and select a different date or site to visit.

I have deleted my email confirmation in error, can I get it resent?

If you cannot find your email confirmation please email ticketing@hes.scot  with your booking details (name on booking, email address used and site visiting).

What does my ticket time mean?

The time on your ticket is when you should arrive on site for your visit. Please check our individual site listings for further information. If you miss your chosen timeslot your entry to the property cannot be guaranteed.

Can I show my email confirmation/tickets on my phone?

Yes, all tickets are available to been shown on a mobile device.

How will visitors have to show their booking?

Visitors arriving at our sites will have their tickets scanned for entry by staff. Valid proof of address (e.g. utility bill) will also be required with tickets. The Historic Summer offer applies to UK postcode holders only.

Can I arrive earlier than the time shown on my ticket?

No, the time shown is the earliest you can arrive, and you can arrive at any point within your chosen time slot. If you miss your chosen timeslot your entry to the property cannot be guaranteed.

What if I miss my time slot?

If you miss your chosen timeslot your entry to the site cannot be guaranteed. We’ll do our best to fit you in if we can, but if we’ve reached capacity for the time slot when you arrive, you will have to wait until the next available time slot.

What will happen if the weather is bad?

We make every effort to share up-to-date information about our sites, but in the event of severe weather, such as strong winds or snow, we may need to close at short notice. Closures will only happen when weather conditions pose a safety risk to visitors.

You can check our closures page for the latest updates. If you’ve booked in advance, we’ll do our best to contact you via text or email to let you know about any cancellations. We recommend phoning ahead on the day of your visit, especially if severe weather is forecast as the situation may change quickly depending on conditions.

If we do have to close, all ticketholders will be contacted and refunds will be actioned automatically where applicable. If you have not received notification within 48 hours please contact ticketing@hes.scot.

If I am unable to attend, can I swap for another date?

Unused tickets can only be altered to another date within the promotional period. This is subject to ticket availability. Please email ticketing@hes.scot with you order details.

Can I use the ticket outside the VAT period?

No, tickets are only valid during the promotional period.

If I am unable to attend, can I get a refund?

All tickets purchased are non-refundable as per our terms and conditions however if tickets are available for different dates then we can alter your existing booking. Please contact refunds@hes.scot with your booking details or fill out our refund request form.

Can I become a member?

Yes, membership can be purchased online. You must take your membership confirmation email with you as proof of membership (printed or on your phone).