The team at Llwyn Celyn
The buildings we rescue benefit people in a profound way, not simply in an abstract or theoretical sense. Over 54,000 people stayed in our Landmarks in 2014, enjoying an intense, personal experience of the past which requires no qualifications, architectural glossary or knowledge of dates and reigns. Living in one of our Landmarks for a short time fosters an appreciation of beauty and peace that is different from the passive experience of viewing a historic house interior over a rope or peering at exhibits in a glass museum case. Long before interactive touch-screens and museum sleepovers, Landmark was nurturing a sense of adventure and curiosity that people find refreshing, restorative and often fun.
We let our Landmarks for short stays all year-round, making them affordable throughout the seasons. 52% of our buildings have periods costing £16 or less per person per night, cheaper than many Youth Hostels. The average cost per person per night in a Landmark across the entire year is less than £45, so cheaper than a Premier Inn.
Our Landmarks are popular with a broad spectrum of people from all age groups: students, families with small children, couples and multi-generational parties of families and friends. Almost 10% of our guests come from overseas, generating tourism spend across the regions. Well-researched histories of each Landmark and its physical and historical context encourage everyone, from school children to practitioners and life-long learners, to gain a deeper understanding of history and architecture from the places in our care.
A school visit to Astley Castle
During 2014 we scaled up our public programme, so even more people could benefit. In this Annual Review we have selected some highlights, including 50 free breaks for charities and record attendance at 71 free Open Days, which we believe are particularly important for local communities. Our 2015 plans to promote the public enjoyment of special places will be even more ambitious. We are also celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2015 and look forward to rescuing more buildings at risk over the next 50 years.
Read more about the year in Landmark's 2014 Annual Review