Usually, gambling is a surefire way of getting nothing for something. But for one week of the year, you’re basically guaranteed to walk away with a prize worth more than the price of entry—and it’s all thanks to the National Lottery Open Week, which offers free entry and special offers to hundreds of the UK’s greatest heritage sites.
For the cost of a lottery ticket, you could visit the Eden Project, Eltham Palace, and Carlisle Castle, all for free, alongside countless other offers this weekend and next week (March 7 to 15, 2026). Among the National Lottery-funded venues, discover historical houses, wildlife hotspots, sports venues, art galleries and more across the UK.
How does National Lottery Open Week work?
Each week, £30 million is raised for ‘Good Causes’ by those of us playing the National Lottery. To say thanks, hundreds of participating venues offer special deals—like free entry, 50% off, or a complimentary gift—for National Lottery Open Week. You just have to show any National Lottery ticket (physical or digital) upon arrival (although you may have to pre-book your tickets online ahead of time).
Which venues in the South West are participating?
Last year, over 800 venues across the UK took part, with over 100,000 people taking up these one-off offers. That’s why we’ve highlighted just a handful of our favourite free and low-cost offers from the National Lottery Open Week in the South West:
- Eden Project – Free entry (7–15 March)
- Osborne House – Free entry (7–8 March, 11–15 March)
- Pendennis Castle – Free entry (7–8 March, 11–15 March)
- Buckland Abbey – Free entry – (7–14 March)
- Downside Abbey – Free Guided Tours (10 March)
- Avebury – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Arlington Court – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Roman Villa – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Dunster Castle – Free Entry (7–8 March, 14 March)
- Sparks Bristol – Free behind-the-scenes tour (7 March)
- A La Ronde – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Finch Foundry – Free Entry (11–14 March)
- Godolphin – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Hidcote – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Killerton – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Knightshayes – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Lacock Abbey – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Levant Mine and Beam Engine – Free Entry (8–12 March)Castle Drogo – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Cary Manor – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Prior Park – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Snowshill Manor & Garden – Free Entry (9–14 March)
- Stourhead – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Trerice – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Tyntesfield – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Pendennis Castle – Free tour (7–8 March, 11–15 March)
- Brownsea Island – Free Entry (14 March)
- Corfe Castle – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Cotehele – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Dyrham Park – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Glendurgan Garden – Free Entry (7–8 March, 10–14 March)
- Greys Court – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Kingston Lacy – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Lanhydrock – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Little Moreton Hall – Free Entry (7–8 March, 11–14 March)
- Mompesson House – Free Entry (7–10 March, 13–14 March)
- Newark Park – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Quarry Bank – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Trengwainton Garden – Free entry (8–12 March)
- Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum – Free entry (11 March)
- Saltram – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Coleton Fishacre – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Greenway – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- The Roman Baths – Kids Go Free (7–8 March)
- Barrington Court – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Montacute House – Free entry (7–14 March)
- The Courts Garden – Free entry (7–14 March)
- Glastonbury Abbey – Free entry (9–13 March)
- MV Balmoral Fund – Free Entry, Tours and Exclusive Access (7 March)
- RHS Garden Rosemoor – Visit for just £1 (7–14 March)
- Mount Batten Tower – Free entry (14 March)
- Aerospace Bristol – Free tours (9–13 March)
To learn more about all these National Lottery Open Week offers, and more throughout the South West and the UK, head here.
The post You can visit hundreds of the UK’s most iconic heritage sites for free starting this weekend – and all you need is a lottery ticket appeared first on Secret Bristol.
