Friends of the Palace
Introducing Friends of the Palace for 2025
We’re excited to announce Friends of the Palace, a new scheme launching in 2025 to replace our current Membership programme. This new initiative is designed to better reflect our visitors’ interests, reward your ongoing support, and help us preserve the Palace’s heritage and gardens for future generations.
Life Members are not affected by this change. You will continue to enjoy all the benefits of the new Friends of the Palace scheme, as outlined below.
This update comes as a result of feedback from a recent Member survey, where you shared what you most value about your Membership—and what could be improved. Your input has been instrumental in shaping these changes for 2025.
- Year-round entry
- Free entry to special events (worth over £75) including: Rare Plant Fair; Garden Fair (new for 2025); Medieval Weekend; Christmas Artisan Market; Christmas at the Palace; Christmas Illuminations
- Priority booking for all theatre, film, and concert events and for Father Christmas
- Summer monthly after-hours exclusive use of the Gardens
- Winter monthly indoor exclusive Friends events
- Quarterly “Bring a Friend for Free” days
- Quarterly “Behind the Scenes” talks and tours (including staff and specialists)
- Free entry for up to two children per adult Friend
- Half price day tickets for your guests
- 10% discount in the Shop
- 10% discount in the Cafe
- Free cake on your birthday from the Cafe
- Discounted entry to partner gardens and attractions including: Kilver Court; Hestercombe House and Gardens; Forde Abbey House and Gardens; Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens; Dartington Trust Gardens; Yeo Valley Gardens; Glastonbury Abbey.
By being a Friend of the Palace, you not only get access to the Palace – but you also make a direct contribution towards this unique 800 year old heritage site and help to keep the Palace open for all to enjoy.
The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens is run by The Palace Trust, a registered charity which manages the site as a heritage visitor attraction. As stewards of this beautiful and historic place, our primary purpose is “to conserve The Bishop’s Palace and its story as a place of enjoyment and reflection for the benefit of all”.
A Growing Community
Join our growing community of Friends of the Palace, already some 3,000 people, who are all making the most of what The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens has to offer. Whether it’s a morning stroll along Ken’s Walk, playing hide and seek with the grandchildren in the arboretum or simply observing the changing seasons from your favourite bench, make being a Friend of the Palace work for you.
Please note: Direct Debit Memberships are no longer available to purchase for the remainder of 2024. Existing Direct Debit Memberships will not be affected by this change. Direct Debit Memberships will not be available in 2025. Once your current Direct Debit expires, it will not renew.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or call 01749 988111.