Ballot opens to win tickets to Hertfordshire’s top tourist attractions

Knebworth House (Image: Archant)

Registration for the third Herts Big Weekend is now open, with 51 attractions across the county offering amazing tickets.

Some of Hertfordshire’s most popular destinations will be opening their doors or offering special gifts to lucky ticket holders on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25, as part of Visit Herts’ annual celebration of the county’s tourism industry.

The Big Weekend is designed to get Herts people out and about exploring the amazing destinations on their doorstep during one ‘big weekend’.

Letchworth’s Broadway Cinema & Theatre, Hotel Cromwell in Stevenage, Standalone Farm, and Fairlands Valley Sailing Centre are among the North Herts venues offering tickets this year. Other places include Knebworth House, Stevenage Golf & Conference Centre and Stevenage Swimming Centre.

Children feeding lambs at Standalone Farm in Letchworth. Picture: Heritage Foundation (Image: Archant)

The event is part of English Tourism Week, which highlights the importance of tourism as one of the fastest growing sectors in the national economy.

Visit Herts chief executive Sandra Matthews-Marsh MBE said: “The Big Weekend marks the beginning of the tourist season and is a fantastic way to celebrate all that is on offer in Hertfordshire.

“We are very pleased to be part of the national English Tourism Week celebrations, and to use the occasion to give our local residents the chance to explore their home county and discover something new – for free!”

Lucky ballot winners won’t have to pay a penny to see behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, get up close to the animals at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne or visit historic St Albans Cathedral over the final weekend of March.

Herts Big Weekend 2018 (Image: Visit Herts)

To be in with a chance of winning free tickets to one of the participating attractions, residents must register at www.hertsbigweekend.co.uk by Sunday, March 11.

Two tickets per household will then be allocated to winners by random ballot, with some family tickets also available.

Last year, there were more than 19,000 applications for tickets to the big event.

Attractions have also donated extra tickets to the Family Holiday Association charity, which helps struggling families to enjoy a day out for free.

• To register, visit www.hertsbigweekend.co.uk

• For more information about Hertfordshire tourism, visit www.visitherts.co.uk

• The full list of participating attractions for Herts Big Weekend 2018 is:

Aldenham Country Park

Alpaca Adventure

Broadway Cinema & Theatre, Letchworth

Broadway Studio & Gallery

City and District of St Albans Tour Guides

Cream Teas & Tours at St Albans Cathedral

De Vere Theobalds Estate

ESSA Water Activities Centre

Fairlands Valley Sailing Centre

Foxholes Farm

Frogmore Paper Mill

Go Ape, Wendover

Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club

Hatfield Park Farm

Henry Moore Studios and Gardens

Historic Hertford - Guided Walk

Hotel Cromwell

John Warner Sports Centre

Knebworth House, Gardens & Park

Laura Trott Leisure Centre

Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobbs Weir

Lee Valley Park Farms

Lee Valley White Water Centre

Lussmanns Fish & Grill Restaurants

Mill Green Mill and Museum

Much Hadham Forge Museum

Natural History Museum at Tring

Needham House Hotel Spa

Paradise Wildlife Park & Zoological Society of Hertfordshire

Pendley Manor Hotel

Redbourn Village Museum

RollerCity

Royston & District Museum & Art Gallery

Royston Cave

Rye House Crazy Golf

Rye House Kart Raceway

Rye House Laser Combat

Rye-Assic Adventure Park

St Albans Clock Tower

St Albans Museum + Gallery

St Albans Signal Box and Railway Museum

Standalone Farm

Stevenage Golf & Conference Centre

Stevenage Swimming Centre

Studios Tour of Radio Verulam 92.6FM

Tewin Bury Farm Hotel

Ventura Wildlife Park

Vertigo Adventures

Verulamium Museum

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Willows Activity Farm