English Heritage or National Trust

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Does anyone have either of these memberships? We are a family of 5 living in SE London and trying to work out which is the most cost effective, flexible membership. Someone once told me that Scottish or NZ Heritage memberships were cheaper and give the same access, anyone know if this is true?

Scottish NT membership allows NT entry (but possibly not free parking).

English Heritage allows half price entry to Cadw in Wales, then free after a year.

English Heritage has reciprocal arrangements with some privately owned places too, for discounted entry.

English Heritage has more castles and NT has more stately homes.

NT has better food in their cafes.

English Heritage has a lot of places that are free anyway, and their sites tend to be cheaper to get into - they are often ruins - though they do have some expensive ones.

You probably feel like you are saving more money with NT, as they tend to be very pricy for a single visit.

If any of your children have special needs or disabilities, you can buy them a junior membership for £10 for the year, and then ask for an 'essential companion' card for free as their carer. Junior membership doesn't include parking but it's still a good saving.

It's cost my family £20 for the year as we have two with disabilities and one toddler, so free until age 5.

You can pay monthly for the family membership I think x

If any of your children have special needs or disabilities, you can buy them a junior membership for £10 for the year, and then ask for an 'essential companion' card for free as their carer. Junior membership doesn't include parking but it's still a good saving.

It's cost my family £20 for the year as we have two with disabilities and one toddler, so free until age 5.

You can pay monthly for the family membership I think x

English Heritagemembers can get discounted entry to lots of partner attractions across the country www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/associated-attractions/ Examples include 2-for-1 entry at the London Transport museum and 50% discount at Warwick Castle. It also offers discounted entrance or free ticket upgrades at musicals and theatre plays.
Most important is to weigh up which has the sorts of properties you are most likely to visit. English Heritage has an image for being more about castles and ruins compared to National Trust's homes and gardens-orientated portfolio.

Have a look at the attractions both offer within driving distance, and see what appeals.

We have NT membership, since there are loads of sites close to us (SE England). We usually also visit them when we go on holiday in the UK, and find them a great way to break up a long journey too (there are so many that it's usually only a very small detour). We love a a day out wandering round a pretty house, walking in beautiful gardens, natural playground/climbing places for DD and having tea and cake afterwards! When breaking up a journey, we'll just stretch out legs and have something to eat.

We didn't find many English Heritage places close by, they appeal less to us, and tea and cake is less reliably available (essential!)

I don’t think I can support the NT. They’re too top heavy and get rid of their workers who actually keep places running and replace them with volunteers which just doesn’t sit well with me at all.

Would rather support people who actually create jobs- especially now.

We are nt as we have 3 sites very close and used to holiday in Devon and Cornwall a lot. We now go more to Kent where there are fewer nt places. I would choose on location.

We are NT members, SE London/Kent border and used it a lot until this year.

We had a EH membership one year as Dover Castle is so expensive it made sense paying a bit extra and then going to some other places. We had a UK summer holiday as well and used it quite often but with not a lot around us directly it wasn’t worth continuing.

I prefer NT as we like wandering around the gardens and they have quirky houses, EH is often more ruins, great for small children but I find them a bit boring after too many of the same kind. We had great days out but more because we were on a larger trip than just a short trip on a ?Sunday.

Which has more properties/sites close to where you live?
We have English Heritage as they have more attractions than NT do where we live.

@TrollTheRespawnJeremy

I don’t think I can support the NT. They’re too top heavy and get rid of their workers who actually keep places running and replace them with volunteers which just doesn’t sit well with me at all.

Would rather support people who actually create jobs- especially now.

English Heritage have done this too.

I've worked for both of them - NT were by far the better employer.

We have both.
There's an expensive NT property near us that we visit regularly so that saves a fortune. Also good for stops on long journeys. Nice toilets and cake!

We love archaeology and ruins so use EH, but mostly on holiday. Last year we did Northumberland and visited lots along Hadrian's wall. But Audley End is a stately home and not far from my parents, with lovely gardens, house and cafe.

We always stay in the UK for holidays so it gives us some prepaid days out to visit.

Which has more properties/sites close to where you live?
This is how you decide!

An alternative is Art Fund which has free entrance to some National Trust and English Heritage. There are alsovdiscoubts on other sites and museums

the Kiwis have spotted the dodge and while you can join their National Trust, it will cost you more without a New Zealand address.

Scottish NT membership is slightly cheaper than English, and they are very close to bankruptcy. I leave you to navigate your own moral maze of supporting a CHARITY.