Free tickets to St Albans tourist attractions and others across the county are up for grabs in the 2018 Herts Big Weekend ballot.
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.
There are tickets available for a studios tour of Radio Verulam 92.6FM, guided tours of the St Albans Signal Box and Railway Museum, St Albans Clock Tower, Verulamium Museum, Willows Activity Farm at London Colney and Redbourn Village Museum.
For foodies, there’s the Cream Teas & Tours at St Albans Cathedral and the chance to win lunch for two at Lussmanns fish restaurants.
![Herts Advertiser: St Albans Clock Tower [Picture: Alan Davies]](/resources/images/15515653.jpg?type=mds-article-620 "Herts Advertiser: St Albans Clock Tower [Picture: Alan Davies]")
And 10 lucky winners each day will be able to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new St Albans Museum and Gallery.
Led by one of the museum team, you will get to explore the newly transformed Grade II-listed Town Hall building before it opens to the public this summer.
The Big Weekend is organised by Visit Herts, a public/private sector partnership supported by Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
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!”
The Big Weekend is designed to get Herts people out and about exploring the amazing destinations on their doorstep during one ‘big weekend’.
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 see 500 years of history at the award-winning Knebworth House over the last weekend of March.
![Herts Advertiser: St Albans Cathedral [Picture: Alan Davies]](/resources/images/15521709.jpg?type=mds-article-620 "Herts Advertiser: St Albans Cathedral [Picture: Alan Davies]")
To be in with a chance of winning free tickets to one of the participating attractions – the full list is printed below – 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.
Sandra Matthews-Marsh added: “Thanks to the generosity of the attractions and organisations taking part we’re looking forward to a fun-filled Big Weekend, so make sure you get online, register for as many tickets as you like and keep your fingers crossed.
“And don’t forget to share your stories and pictures on social media using #hertsbigweekend.”
• 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
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