1) Can we PURCHASE and pick-up in England? OR do we have to PURCHASE in the US (and pick-up there or have delivered)? Thought I read somewhere that there was a senior couple discount card, but can find no mention of this anywhere.
I just checked the GBH pass site and you can order it on line with Fedex delivery to your home or to specified locations in UK. You do have to order in US. You'll have to read the site more carefully than I did to check on any senior discount. It's wonderfull deal anyway; especially if you are driving as you can just point and find something to see. If you're taking the train you can hop on and off and you'll be near something.
I know that in Ireland you buy a Heritage Pass at the first heritage site you visit. The cost is the same as if you purchase it ahead. Of course, it could be different in the UK, but I wouldn't think you would have to purchase ahead.
My memory (from 1.5 years back) is similar to what the previous answer stated: Order it in the USA and either have it mailed to you or choose a site to pick it up in Britain. If it sways your decision any, let me say that I had the passes mailed to me and found the map (large: I had to spread it on my dining table) and the site guide book to be very useful. Having spent a month or more before my trip locating Heritage sites on the map and reading about them in the guide actually caused me to amend my site seeing plan and find time to squeeze in some great extras that I hadn't known about before. For us, the Heritage Pass was a money saver (I did the cost comparison spreadsheet to prove it), but the excellent supplemental materials were a further bonus I never expected. I keep one copy of the map and guide (we received two, for two passes) in my permanent travel folder for future reference.
Am only asking this question because we have previously purchased Heritage Passes in travel centers "on the spot" and Rick's 2010 travel book on Great Britain states that we could purchase them over there. Thanks for your replies!
Just received this from the British Heritage Pass customer service. Sounds like we can purchase ahead from here or on the spot there assuming a redemption point is on your tour route! "Unfortunately we do not offer a senior pass on the Heritage pass, this is due to the already high discounts associated within the pass. The passes may be purchased from our website and mailed out to you, or collection from one of our redemption points, alternatively they may also be purchased directly from our redemption points, these may be found under the shipping option of the homepage of our website. Regards Lorraine Stevenson
Customer Service"
FYI or for others interested in this thread, there is a senior discount (referred to as concession) for the Scottish Heritage Pass which we used last summer.