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Original poster

What's the appeal of National Trust on MN?

222 replies

SpringIsSpringing23 · 25/02/2023 23:56

Often people suggest taking kids to a National Trust for a day out. I've been to NT properties. What do children get out of looking around old properties?? Is it a middle class thing? I'm low income working class and nobody I know would suggest national trust for a day out somewhere. Not the cost, just the idea of taking a child around old properties is madness to me.

Genuinely want to know!

OP posts:
Vanillaradio · 26/02/2023 00:32

When ds was little it was mostly the grounds- massive areas to run about and big playgrounds, often quite a few activities for kids especially in school holidays as well. Ds is 9 now and still wants to go on an Easter egg hunt this year! Also fab for breaking up long journeys- we can pack a picnic and stop for lunch somewhere nicer than a motorway service station and let ds have a good run around. On Uk holidays it's an inexpensive day couple of days trips as its covered by the membership fee.Another unexpected bonus- when we were in the Lake District we found lots of carparks owned by the NT- as members we could park for free and then take a walk. We've only really started going inside the houses in the last couple of years. Ds quite likes this for short periods; especially if he can show off his Horrible Histories knowledge! In addition there are things like windmills, watermills, and the brilliant Back to Back houses so it's not just dusty old Manor houses.

blackheartsgirl · 26/02/2023 00:34

I’m low income wc and my kids love the National Trust.

but then again they’ve been brought up to have a love of history and nature and they love getting outside. Two are adults now and two are teens and still come with me to visit NT properties.

quarry bank mill is amazing. We all got a lot out of that visit.

Bunchamunchacarrots · 26/02/2023 00:41

Somewhere to take DC for a walk outside, in a garden, that is guaranteed to be dog free.

Every other child accessable green space where we live is rammed with dog walkers.

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2023istheyearigetmyacttogether · 26/02/2023 00:58

Middle class here. I've had NT membership since I was in my 20s. I like old buildings and nice gardens. Continued now I have DC. They hate the buildings and have no appreciation of the gardens but do like having a massive area to run around with which has loos & a cafe.

DaisyCornflowerBlue · 26/02/2023 01:13

I used to find the houses boring. The grounds and cafes were much more interesting. My daughter loves history (16) but finds houses, castles etc quite dull. We've never taken out an NT one EH sub for this reason. Plus many are not easily accessible by public transport.

itsabigtree · 26/02/2023 01:16

It's not a class signifier ffs. Plenty of working class people go to national trust sites. People have really weird views about 'working class' people.

Little kids love wandering around old castles, church's, manors, ruins etc. It's sparks their imagination. And toddlers love toddling around anywHere and exploring new surroundings. Plus there's open space for running around, playing games, having picnic. Not sure what you're confused about. They suit families perfectly.

MrsMiddleMother · 26/02/2023 01:28

We love National Trusts, our local one we've never actually been inside as no buggy but there are wonderful nature walks, a farm, a lovely walled garden and play areas/frames. Most we've been to are the same

PinkPupZ · 26/02/2023 01:31

I've taken all my DC over the years. We go because we enjoy walking in nature, sometimes coffee ships and ice cream, follies, special events etc. We also have a dog. We rarely go into the old houses it is more about the vast grounds. As a lone parent I also feel safer in a place with lots of other people than out in the sticks walking my dog.

MrsMiddleMother · 26/02/2023 01:31

MrsMiddleMother · 26/02/2023 01:28

We love National Trusts, our local one we've never actually been inside as no buggy but there are wonderful nature walks, a farm, a lovely walled garden and play areas/frames. Most we've been to are the same

We've never been inside the house I mean

Pohy · 26/02/2023 01:35

Working class growing up and I loved going to NT (none around where I live now or I'd still go) they had awesome gardens with so much to explore and do, craigside is a great one, mazes, fun hikes, went several times with just friends as teenagers too.

MyMachineAndMe · 26/02/2023 01:47

I am so not middle class - I live in a council house on a rough estate in an ex-mining village, am on benefits, although I do work, both my parents and my step-dad had blue collar jobs etc etc - and we have NT and EH membership because it's a lovely, prepaid day out for the kids. We've had some great days out at all kinds of places.

Not all NT properties are stuffy old houses; in fact, I think a lot of it is just land isn't it? Even so, you don't have to be middle class to enjoy walks in the countryside and picnics or be interested in history.

Floralnomad · 26/02/2023 02:26

NT and EH are great for days out for all ages , the grounds and gardens are good for kids even if they aren’t that fussed about the buildings , although many are . In the holidays there are usually trails to follow and crafty things to do as well . I made a lovely willow wreath at Sheffield Park last year at a willow station they’d set up for independent crafting .

DizzyRascal · 26/02/2023 02:37

I don't know but for ages I would read "we go to NT properties" on MN and vaguely ( not bothered enough to Google) wondered what NT was..
Kids do like running around big gardens but traipsing round stately homes ..really??

Groutyonehereagain · 26/02/2023 02:41

We like the NT for the outside space. We don’t usually bother looking around the houses. Once you’ve joined you have access to acres of beautiful countryside walks and it’s always easy to park. We also enjoy their food and drink.

icefishing · 26/02/2023 03:02

With v young dc we liked the outdoors space.
Good play parks, lots of running space and a nice cafe.
As they got older they liked the interiors, they have dressing up and all sorts.

icefishing · 26/02/2023 03:03

I wish the USA had similar

Original poster
SpringIsSpringing23 · 26/02/2023 03:16

OgdensGoneNutFlake · 26/02/2023 00:10

I think of it as money saving really. It's £7 a month and we use it for cheap or free days out. We're always so skint that I hold it in reserve for days we can't afford entrance fees for museums or day trips.

It depends on what properties are around you- near us there's a massive estate with an old air base - it has 2 play areas and a huge garden for exploring. They often do kids trails and mine like to look for sculptures in the gardens too.

There's a Tudor house and gardens in the centre of a city so we sometimes go in there for a sit down and they can play with their dinosaurs in the garden instead of buying coffee in a shop. I usually take a flask.

The castle near us has walled gardens and a castle themed play area and often has free plays (saw Alice in Wonderland there) or light shows.

When we go on holiday or visiting family we break up long journeys with National Trust places rather than motorway services as there's always some green spaces and a toilet and a picnic spot.

We take a picnic and sometimes make a day of it with friends - mine are 2 and 5 so they're not looking at the priceless artifacts.

It depends on your kids- mine love being outdoors in all weathers so it works for us.

Think you are near me. Is the airbase one "C Park" and the tudor house in a city beginning with W famous for sauce?

OP posts:
Millicentmargaretamandaholden · 26/02/2023 03:19

really nice woodlands my DC love, normally creative well thought out playgrounds that are a bit different, often excellent free activities for kids (eg archery, crafts, go karts, barrel racing), some have farms or deer parks, some of the properties are castles!

Cafes better value and nicer choices than lots of places. If I’m lucky I might get to potter for me.

Ragwort · 26/02/2023 05:07

Like others say .. lots of outdoor space, usually a good play area, take a picnic etc .. once you've paid for membership (& we have 'lifetime' membership paid for decades ago) it's a relatively cheap day out.
And so what if the DC are 'bored' ... I am bored going to soft play, amusement parks etc ... family life is about compromise and I wasn't prepared to pander to my DC by only going to 'child focussed' activities.

whiteroseredrose · 26/02/2023 05:53

We were given life membership when DS was born.

We have 3 local properties which were great while they were growing up. Between them they have huge parks with deer, formal gardens, greenhouses, mazes, a farm and a huge adventure play ground with zip lines. All great for burning up energy. The park has fallen trees that are great for walking on and lots of places for playing hide and seek.

They also have themed trails throughout the year which our DC loved, some round the garden, some round the house or mill. They have days when staff dress in period costume and there are activities in the house and mill.

We used to go with friends as a group with a picnic - they were great days out which DC still remember.

It's wholesome fresh air and fun and not expensive if you take your own food.

HorribleHisTories15 · 26/02/2023 05:55

Bunchamunchacarrots · 26/02/2023 00:41

Somewhere to take DC for a walk outside, in a garden, that is guaranteed to be dog free.

Every other child accessable green space where we live is rammed with dog walkers.

This with bells on! And I previously had a dog.

Fed up with dog poo and the whole 'Cookie wouldn't hurt a fly' speech, while Cookie looks ready to bite through metal bars standing near to my 2, 6 and 9 year old DC.

PhotoDad · 26/02/2023 06:03

We only went ever went with the kids (who started out loving the grounds and then started to enjoy the houses). Let our membership lapse as they got older. Just before DD went to uni, asked her if there was anywhere in the region she particularly wanted to re-visit; of course, it was a NT property and "one-off" entrance was surprisingly expensive!

WeWereInParis · 26/02/2023 06:16

We never look in the houses themselves. But DD enjoys running round the big gardens, they often have playgrounds. One near us has a maze, and a water garden with bridges and fountains.
They're just nicer places to run around in than the local park, which we do go to of course but it gets a bit boring.

PurBal · 26/02/2023 06:41

I took 19mo to a NT property last week and we’re going to another one today. I have Life Membership (for me and a guest) so it costs nothing except the fuel to get there and a coffee if I want one. We did the short nature walk. Looked at stones and sticks. Played in the woodland play area. He’s not big enough for the house but they have trails normally. A friend uses them instead of service stations on long drives.

jumperoozles · 26/02/2023 06:52

clean grounds for a toddler to explore is the big one for us