Gift membership ideas for History Lovers

Give the history lover in your life a gift membership or experience which enables them to indulge their passion and enjoy wondeful days out exploring historic places.  Many are in absolutely gorgeous surroundings, with beautiful gardens, giving them the opportunity to escape back into the past inside the house.

English Heritage Memberships 
This would be perfect for anyone who cares about Britain's past and preserving it for future generations.  There are some 400 places to visit in England  - storybook castles, historic houses, gardens, abbeys, priories, chapels and Roman sites.  The benefits of English Heritage membership include a FREE members handbook, an exclusive members magazine, free or reduced price entry to events, unlimited access to over 400 historic places and free parking when the car park is owned by English Heritage! 

From 1st November 2024 until 30th November 2024 get 20% off Gift & Memberships with code "BFEHM20AF".  (You can only use it on new membership purchases only, annual direct debit only.) Click here to buy a Membership to English Heritage 

There's a History and Politics Book Subscription

For anyone who loves history and politics, this book subscription wiht hand-picked books tailored to the recipient's reading preferences, could be just the thing!  From biographies to real life stories, historical and political fiction, you can choose how long this subscripiton lasts, making it easier for you.     

You can also have add-ons such as a book journal, to keep notes on the books each month, and a pack of Pact coffee for an extra treat!  I think this is a great idea, as who doesn't love a cup of coffee whilst immersing yourself in a good book?   From £59.99. Buy this subscription from Not on the High Street.

Historic Royal Palaces

Give a gift that stays special all year round! We all want to give gifts that are fun, different but also great value for money! Membership to Historic Royal Palaces is the perfect gift; it allows the lucky recipient free and unlimited entry to all six Historic Royal Palaces for an entire year!! Prices start from just £65.  Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Palace, and it helps everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built. Give a gift membership here.

Give a subscription to The British Newspaper Archive and give your loved one a door into historic newspapers!

This could be an interesting one for anyone who loves delving into the past and what life was like and what was happening.  The British Newspaper Archieve has over 84 million pages to view and explore online! You can treat someone to a subscription or subscribe yourself and there are different types of subcriptions available.  This is a great resource for any history lover who loves delving into the past.  What were newspapers reporting on, what were people interested in doing for leisure and buying?  What events were taking place? Researching the family tree?  This archive could be a great resource. Newspapers give you an idea of what it was like, perhaps a window into what people might have been discussing at the dinner table! And the archive is being added to every week!  Subscribe here

Visit Bletchley Park and Afternoon Tea for Two, 

Bletchley Park is located in Buckinghamshire.  This is a great opportunity to gain an insight into a place that was once top secret - the home of the World War Two Codebreakers.  It's here that the incredible minds of people like Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman and Bill Tutte helped turn the tide of war and to find out about the role everyone that worked at Bletchley Park played in the war.  For history lovers, this is a great chance to explore Bletchley Park.  There are experiences involving just a visit for two, or a visit with afternoon tea, or a family visit.  £113.00 from Virgin Experience Days.

Give a gift membership to the National Churches Trust

This is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves and wants to help preserve heritage.  Churches, chapels and meeting houses have a rich history, and provide a focal point for many.  But time takes its toll on them all and they need loving care to protect them and preserve them.  This is where the National Churches Trust come in.  Do take a look at the Fifty things you can do in a church - they extend well beyond going there for prayer, peace, reflection and being social!  It just shows how important churches are for communities around them.   Give a gift membership here

Give a gift membership to the Weald and Downland Museum

Nestled in the South East of England near Chichester, it gives you the chance to see what life was really like for people living in the past.   There are lots of different events going on, and there are also some really interesting courses in Historic Building Conservation and Traditional Rural Trades and Crafts.  You could give a gift membership or give a gift voucher for a course, which could be a great way to start a new interest or even a new career!  Visit their website here and give a gift membership here
Image ©Weald and Downland Museum

For the motor enthusiast, how about a Morgan Motor Company Factory Tour and Afternoon Tea?.  The Motor Morgan Company has over a hundred years of family history and this is a great chance to see how a Morgan Sports Car is made from start to finish and then explore the museum.  Afterwards, head to the Morgan café for afternoon tea.  Visit Virgin Experience Days for more information

Mugs from English Heritage

If you're looking for a gift for a history lover, you could treat them to a mug with a historical theme from English Heritage.   Their mugs and ceramics kick off at £2.00 for a tea bag holder and after that they have a range of mugs, many celebrating the properties in their care, such as Stongehenge, Pendennis Castle, Hadrian's Wall, Osborne House and more.  The mugs also cover periods of history and there are some fun nature ones as well. They include this one pictured left depicting the kings and queens of England.  Click here to see the range of mugs and cereamics from English Heritage