Hopefully the various Lockdowns & Restrictions will be more or less over during this year, and I’m idly thinking about and planning my holidays
I’d like to tour around England looking at the landscape and visiting castles, stately homes, museums, & that sort of thing, so I’m thinking about joining the National Trust
Membership is £72 pa so I would only need to visit a few places to cover that cost, plus I would have a map & handbook, which I find easier to use than a computer
I’m aware of the current fuss & bother within the NT, which you can describe as a realistic assessment of history, or Left Wing Wokery depending on your point of view
But let’s not get bogged down with that; what I’m more interested in is how access and/or restrictions apply now -
Are all sites fully open?
Can we just turn up, or do we have to book?
Are there any limits on numbers or areas that are no longer open?
…that sort of thing
Yes, I know I could check with the NT, but I thought I’d get some first hand experience & comments from the members point of view, if anyone here is a member
Thanks
Don’t know we are a member of English Heritage and you take a little card with you .
last summer we turned up at a couple of places without booking and they let us in but I suppose it depends on how busy they are that day
English heritage sort of covers National trust as well I think .
You can just turn up at some places, especially outdoor venues, but some of the popular big Houses have timed entry tickets, so it’s sometimes best to book online before you go, depending on how busy it is.
It’s best to check out each property you want to visit online first, to see what the entry arrangements are.
When I was travelling on the canals last year, after the country had opened up a bit, I couldn’t book in advance because I wasn’t sure when I’d be reaching a particular area, so I just turned up at a few places on spec and they weren’t busy, so I didn’t have any bother getting in straight away.
I’m already a member of English Heritage but as I’ve hardly been anywhere for the past two years or so I intend making up for lost time this year
I’m over 70 and I have diabetes, so for both of those reasons I have to re - apply for my driving licence every 3 years
I’ve just renewed my driving licence without any problems, and my car also passed its MOT without any problems, but who knows what will happen in the future, so as I say, I’m making up for lost time now and bingeing myself on history & culture
Yes, but admission to NT properties seems to be about £10 to £20, plus there might be car parking charges, so as I mentioned if I visit a few places I’ll more or less break even
Also as I mentioned, I haven’t really been anywhere or done much for the past 2 years so I’ve saved money
I’m thinking that there’s only one way to find out what’s it’s like, and that’s to join, if only for a year, and see how I get on
Sorry Zulu, I was only joking…
I think the National Trust is a brilliant organisation, and most of the land and properties they have acquired over the years would have been owned by unscrupulous land owners and mining companies and forbidden to trespassers. They have saved our countryside and historical buildings.
I have enjoyed visiting many places owned and operated by either the NT or English Heritage, but not often enough to take out membership of either. My love lies in the wide open spaces and solitude of the moors and mountains and away from the chaos and commercialism of modern day living.
Sue and I used to be members but not with this covid thing going on ,so will wait a bit before rejoining. As for NT sites there are loads around here,one of what I find the most interesting is.
Alfriston Clergy house
Info on the place
The house is a 14th-century Wealden hall house. Although the name reflects the fact that the parish priest and his housekeeper used it, the house was originally built as a farmer’s house. It is a very modest property — not at all like the grand rectories that many Church of England clergy occupied by the 19th century. It is a low-ceilinged, two-storey, timber-framed building with a thatched roof. Part of the house was rebuilt in the 17th century. It is commonly said that a detail on a cornice wood carving of an oak leaf, may have inspired the National Trust’s emblem, but there is no evidence to prove that claim.[3] It has a rare chalk and sour milk floor.[4] Outside there is a small but well-planted cottage garden, which was designed by Graham Stuart Thomas.[5]
My friend and her OH took out Life Membership with the National Trust last year and it cost them about £1600. I think you’d have to do a lot of visiting to get that back.
There are lots of NT properties around here but I have been to most of them years ago and don’t feel any great “pull” to go back so for me it would be a waste of money.
I volunteer at a National Trust property as a room guide. At our property there is no need to book in advance although on busy days - weekends, Bank Holidays - there are timed tickets which visitors pick up at reception. All Covid protocols are followed and I feel very safe in the house. Not all of our rooms are open because some are quite small but those which are are monitored carefully by room guides to ensure a safe passage around. I think some of the larger properties take online bookings so, as others have said, it would be a good idea to look on the NT website before visiting. Our shop and tea room are open too - again following Covid protocols.
@zuludog
I think if you join and pay your annual membership fee by Direct Debit, they have an offer of a £15 NT gift card which you can use in the cafes or gift shops - you don’t have to spend it all in one purchase, so it would give you a few free teas or coffees. That would offset some of the cost of the membership fee, if the offer is still running when you are ready to join.
If you’re only planning to buy one year’s membership, you’d have to remember to cancel the Direct Debit before the next renewal date, of course.
For anyone who is fit, mobile and feeling adventurous - this is an amazing place to go. You do have to book a time slot - they only let 20 or 30 people in at any one time - and you do need to have time to see everything! It is incredible!
I can second your recommendation - The Forbidden Corner is a brilliant and unique place to visit.
I have known the Armstrong family through my work since they first opened this Folly on their estate and have visited The Forbidden Corner many times, both on business and for pleasure, with my children, grandchildren, and guests, as it has developed and expanded; their creativity and originality has always intrigued me.
It’s always a great day out, full of surprises! - though it’s privately owned and not National Trust.
@zuludog I am considering re-joining for exactly the reasons you mention plus you can take the dog to lots as well I was a member but stopped using it when my parents became less able and let it lapse was going to rejoin in 2019 never got round to it and then Covid came.
Talking to my niece (27) and she is really keen to join as well, but joint membership is the same household /address which we are not.
