Comedian Dom Joly went viral last week after criticizing the “mental” price of a ticket to Warwick Castle.
In a funny clip posted to Facebook outside Warwickshire’s 11th century tourist attraction, Joly shared her amazement after trying to buy a ticket at the gate.
He said: ‘So I was going to see Warwick Castle, but, unbelievably, tickets cost thirty-nine pounds! Enter and see a castle! Fuck that.
‘Prices in England have gone crazy. People think you can charge anything and people will go. That’s enough. Screw you.’
Unless you’ve booked in advance, an adult ticket to Warwick Castle has risen from £25.20 in 2016 to £39 in 2024, an increase of more than 50 per cent.
And, as MailOnline’s interactive graphic reveals, Warwick Castle isn’t the only tourist hotspot whose price has risen in the last decade.
For example, entry to Alton Towers in Staffordshire for one day has increased from £48 in 2014 to £68 today.
MailOnline searched tourism websites to pick 10 of the most popular English tourist attractions, including Warwick Castle.
The other nine were York Castle, Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens, the Tower of London, Alton Towers, Blenheim Palace, the London Eye, Hampton Court Palace and the Eden Project.
To compare previous day’s admission prices, MailOnline analyzed social media posts, news articles and Trip Advisor reviews from the last decade.
We also use the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, the online library that captures historical snapshots of millions of web pages, including past prices for tourist attractions listed on their website.
On the rare occasion that the above price depended on the season, MailOnline selected the current time of year (and the time of Joly’s visit): October.
Overall, the London Eye was found to have had the biggest price increase over time: from £19.35 in 2015 to £42 in 2024, representing a 117 per cent jump.
Meanwhile, York Castle (Museum) saw a 78 per cent increase – from £9.50 in 2014 to £17 today.
Three of the sites (Warwick Castle, the London Eye and Alton Towers) charge an inflated price at the door if you haven’t booked in advance.
‘Scam’: in the clip posted on Facebook, Joly shares her astonishment after trying to buy a ticket at the gate of Windsor Castle
All three are operated by British company Merlin Entertainments, which told MailOnline that the “vast majority” of its guests book online in advance – less than 1 per cent for Alton Towers and 15 per cent for the other two.
Currently, a one-day adult ticket to Warwick Castle costs £39 if you move in on the day like Joly did, while for those who book in advance it costs £22.
Meanwhile, the London Eye and Alton Towers cost £29 depending on the date you choose, but if you arrive without a reservation they will cost you £42 and £68 respectively.
In answer to Joly’s Facebook Clipwhich has been shared more than 1,500 times, many users seemed to agree with his verdict that England is a “ridiculously expensive country.”
One Facebook user responded: “Brilliant, saying what we’re all thinking!!!”
Another posted: “Absolutely right, this country charges us what it wants and us morons pay the energy bills, the grocery bills, the fuel, the taxes.”
Another simply said: ’39 pounds? It should be five dollars.
Someone else said: ‘Merlin Entertainment owns it and has turned it into an amusement park with prices to match.’ Total disregard for the rich historical value of the castle. It’s a shame.”
Currently, a one-day adult ticket to Warwick Castle costs £39 if you move in on the day like Joly did, while for those who book in advance it costs £22.
However, others seemed to disagree with Joly, saying, “I think unless you’ve been one, you should probably reserve your opinion.”
Someone also said: “Warwick Castle is an amazing attraction, especially if you have children.”
In a statement to MailOnline, a Merlin spokesperson said: “We regularly review our pricing structure and entry prices to ensure we continue to provide the best possible value and experience to our guests and are constantly reviewing how we do this throughout the year.” .
‘To get the best deal, we recommend booking online in advance, taking advantage of our regular promotions and, if possible, choosing off-peak hours, when prices are reduced.
“Many guests also get additional discounts when purchasing multi-attraction combo tickets, along with our great-value Merlin Annual Passes.”
The Royal Collection Trust, which operates Windsor Castle, said in a statement: ‘A small price increase is applied each year to take account of inflation and rising operating costs.
‘Discounts are available for young people (aged 18 to 24) and visitors with disabilities, while children (aged 5 to 17) pay half price and under-fives are free.
‘Entry prices include a free multimedia tour in nine languages, and visitors can convert their ticket to a 1-year pass offering 12 months of free readmission.
For the London Eye, owned by Merlin Entertainments, a pre-booked adult ticket costs from £29
‘Royal Collection Trust is a registered charity, and income generated from admissions contributes directly to the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and to ensuring that everyone can value and enjoy the Royal Collection and the Palaces through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programs. programs.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), which manages the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, said its “financial position has been severely affected by the pandemic”.
“Likewise, recent inflation means we face rising costs,” the HRP spokesperson added.
‘We are aware of the financial pressures many people face today, which is why we have focused on increasing the discounted access we offer, including introducing a £1 ticket system.
“Hampton Court Palace is run by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity which receives no regular funding from the Government or the Crown.”
York Museums Trust, which operates York Castle properties, said today’s £17 entry fee for the museum allows people to visit again over the next 12 months.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The price charged in 2014 was for a single visit, today the ticket lasts for a year.
‘Many of our visitors will return several times a year, for example to see our Christmas decorations.
Warwick Castle is one of many popular tourist attractions that force people to pay an inflated price if they haven’t booked in advance, as Joly discovered.
“We also offer a range of discounts and free tickets, including free entry for York-based children.”
A spokesperson for the Eden Project said its visitors get “excellent value for money”, adding: “We understand that the cost of living is a major challenge for many of our visitors and our ticket prices are designed to ensure that a visit to the Eden Project is accessible to as many people as possible.
‘We always recommend anyone planning a visit to the Eden Project to book online to guarantee the best price and secure their chosen entry location.
‘The main ticket price on all our ticket categories has not increased for this financial year and our local tickets and passes grant unlimited entry to the Eden Project for twelve months.
‘Children under five can visit for free and those on Universal Credit can visit for just £5 per adult and £1 per child.
‘Tickets for Eden Project are consistently priced with no seasonal increases to ensure everyone gets the same memorable experience all year round.
‘Community and key worker groups, such as NHS and emergency services staff and teachers, are entitled to special discounts.
“Every penny spent with the Eden Project goes towards carrying out our charitable initiatives.”
MailOnline also approached representatives from Kew Gardens and Blenheim Palace.