I've just noticed that Ancestry are currently offering free access to the 1911 Census ONLY. This offer does require you to signup your name & email address but no payment is required as far as I can see. No doubt if you try to access non-1911 Census data then they'll ask for payment, but I'm sure there's still plenty of usefull information to be found.

http://www.ancestry.co.uk/1911Census?o_xid=52055&o_lid=52055&o_sch=Email

The smallprint suggests this is a much longer offer than their normal weekend ones, I suspect this is their response to the new cutprice subscription site thats just started up.
"Free access from 00:00 on 13/8/12 until 23.59 on 2/11/12 (BST) to the 1911 Census Records and Summary Books for England, Wales, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Registration is required for access by providing a name and email address."
I realise the above screen carries a prominent advert for a "14 day trial" but I think this applies to accessing the whole site, I suspect this will probably involve giving credit card details, so best ignored I think.

Hope this is of help.

Thank you for the information Jeff

The above free access period will finish in 3 weeks time, on 2nd November.

If previous years are any indicator, I suspect & hope we can then look forward to Free Access to their WW1 Military Records as we approach Remembrance Day, although this is ONLY my hunch so we'll have to wait for confirmation.

Meanwhile I hope anyone that needs it has made full use of the current free Census access, I know I have !.

Hi all,
old news perhaps but this is the start of the final week of free access to the 1911 Census via Ancestry.
Just use the above links, I have many times and there's no catches or bombardment of payment requests.
atb Jeff