Historic attractions across the UK - including Stonehenge and HMS Belfast - will be shut on the day of the Queen's state funeral. Heritage bosses say the closures represent a mark of respect.
English Heritage, which cares for Stonehenge in Salisbury, Wiltshire, as well as other important monuments and properties including Dover Castle, Eltham Palace in London and Roman forts on Hadrian's Wall, said all of its sites would be shut on Monday (September 19). In a statement, the heritage organisation said: “As a mark of respect, English Heritage is closing all sites on Monday, September for Her Majesty the Queen's state funeral.
“The Union flag will fly at half-mast at all our sites with flagpoles until the morning after the funeral.” National Trust houses, gardens, cafes and shops will also be closed on the day of the funeral.
The organisation said coast and countryside car parks and pre-booked holiday cottages and campsites will remain open for visitors. The charity also said: "National Trust places will remain open during the mourning period to provide a place of reflection for members and visitors."
The National Trust looks after hundreds of stately homes and other historic properties and gardens, as well as more than 600,000 acres of countryside and more than 780 miles of coastline, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, the National Trust for Scotland has said buildings and gardens will be closed while countryside places remain open on the day of the funeral.
The Imperial War Museums, which has museums in London, Manchester, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, the Churchill War Rooms in central London and HMS Belfast on the Thames, is closing all five sites. Major galleries including the National Gallery in London, National Galleries of Scotland and the Tate galleries will also be shut, as will museums including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the V&A in South Kensington, London.
The National Museum of Scotland will be closed, and Museum Wales said it will shut its seven sites on Monday. An Amgueddfa Cymru spokesperson said: "As one of Wales's national institutions which holds a Royal Charter, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales will close all of its seven museums and collections centre across Wales on Monday, September 19 for the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen as a mark of respect.
"We will reopen as normal on Tuesday, September 20. Our museums will continue to be places of stability, comfort and welcome for many."
