What's the appeal of National Trust on MN?

[SpringIsSpringing23]

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!

We're national trust members and have never once been into an old house. I would find that boring. It's the free parking and nice walks.

My 4 year old is obsessed with looking round houses. We did 2 in a row over the last two weekends, then yesterday went for a walk round a reservoir. All the way round they were asking when we’d get to the bloody house. They were most disappointed there wasn’t one!

Personally I don’t see the appeal.

DC study history from books at school, but actually seeing what they are talking about in person at a NT or similar house makes things come alive much more. As an example, we went to a medieval place, where in the kitchen there was a costumed volunteer actually cooking meat on a spit over the fire, another making bread to go in a stone oven, and bowls and bowls of spices and herbs which someone was describing all the uses of and where they had all
come from. It was fascinating for all of us.

Lots of places now have children’s audio guides too.

It isn’t necessary to look at every last detail, just get a feel of a place and time. Some properties have the arms or a symbol of the owner incorporated into woodwork, stone work, paintwork etc which is good for spotting. Also animals in pictures, or even bottoms.

I am in the Lake District so as someone said it gets us free into their car parks where they own the land but this is also around the country; heaths, coastal paths etc. Have a look online and see what is near you. We use it a lot on holidays. Don't always agree with their ethos but they manage some beautiful/interesting and informative places. Look up English Heritage too.

This is exactly how I felt about them as a kid too.
We were really poor so I don't think it's a class indicator at all. You're either interested in that sort of thing or you're not. My mum was but my dad wasn't so we'd go with my gran.

Absolutely couldn't have afforded a membership though so only went when a relative was paying.

It isn't about the buildings. I've noticed those who've posted that it may be boring on this thread, don't seem to have ever visited one and thus have no idea!

It's the outdoors space. No cars. Safe to run around and explore. Climb trees. Always a fantastic park. Often something else for kids to do - low ropes, trails. They love the fountains.

As others have said, wherever you go in the country there are a variety of NT properties with parkland and gardens to walk in, terrific children’s play areas, decent cafes and yes, beautiful, historical and interesting properties to look at.
I get a family membership for DS and his family for Christmas every year. When they go on holiday they plan journey breaks round them, as well as just visiting normally.
The NT also preserves the coast in an area I walk in as often as I can.

We have membership so I see it as a ‘free’ day out. We use them for:
Stopping on long drives when we visit relatives - we can take a picnic and the kids can run around.
Going to the local ones - quite a few have children’s activities indoors eg dressing up.
Bringing history/art etc that they are doing at school to life - eg the Red House when they do William Morris, etc.

I’m working class I go to NT places locally. LOADS of kids there. But they are ones with loads of park land with deer and often a park. They sometimes have trails and farm or hold events for kids to do. They do have houses too but you can often pay separately anyway so don’t have to explore them. I was the kind of kid that would have loved the history though!

I love seeing kids and families outside enjoying nature and being free to roam.

@blackheartsgirl quarry bank is amazing

Op I was often taken to these properties as a kid by my nana who lived in a 2 up 2 down council house. She had been a skullery maid in the 1930s, so was as working class as you can get.

My nana was clever and knew lots about history and loved these days out. She never used the cafes as she couldn’t afford it and we had a picnic lunch with sandwiches wrapped in cling film which came out of a sky blue cool bag.

I should have said I loved going!

They are really interesting, my kids have always loved going and then bought young person memberships once they were too old for the family one, they go with their partners now (young adults). For primary aged kids most properties have kids trails with worksheets and often backpacks filled with activities, there's often dressing up and many properties have great playgrounds. The gardens are beautiful and the larger parkland based properties often have farms, and plenty of space to run around letting them get plenty of exercise. Mostly though we went hiking using the car park rather than around the houses, we went a couple of times a month

We have a NT membership but hardly ever take the DC (6 and 5) in the actual houses. They love the gardens, going in the forests and they love the cafes! There are often trails and activities for kids to do, yesterday we did a scavenger hunt at one which they loved. One near us has a walk up a huge hill to a hunting lodge, they love walking up there for the view of the city. There are lots to do without going in the actual properties.

I think we might live in roughly the same area. I do a fair bit of trail running and I find NT membership is worth it just for the NT carparks along that coast as the membership means it’s free.

The fact they manage stretches of beaches and crucially car parks is a big attraction tk me, means we don't have to pay to park each time

We don't have NT membership but been to a few NT places. Some (even for an adult) were unbelievably dull. But others have farms, playgrounds etc for kids. There are a few stately home type places near me (I don't actually think they are NT) and we pay for

There's one near my parents that had a working farm. We live in London so for the kids to see the animals etc is great. Going around Easter means seeing lots of cute baby lambs as well.

Other times they've provided good stops on long journeys with nice toilets. Often with space for the kids to run around.

..the outdoor bit because it has stuff for kids (and paying to go in the house is more expensive) My DC are teens now though so we don't go to the playgrounds either. Studland beach is NT. If you're not a member you have to pay about a tenner to park.

We don't really go to NT places this time of year. But go to them a lot from April to September. Never been inside the houses though, but the grounds often have playgrounds, cafes, ice cream, ducks to feed. You can take a picnic, and games to play with the kids... It's things I remember doing as a kid with my family and I loved it.

Because when you have barely any money each month. The NT provides you with

1. toilets
2. usually a cafe
3. dog free areas for a picnic
4. playground
5. free carparking at beaches that's usually £6 a day! Beaches with toilets etc

If you think National Trust is just stately homes then you need to get out more and maybe the NT can help you with that. 😂

We used to have £100 leftover after all food and bills. But NT membership gave us a life.

Low income working class with an NT membership here 🖐

We've been members for years, and pay £10 a month. Our closest NT place is Croome and my grandkids love it there - we can take the dogs, walk through the parkland and let them run/ride bikes. They do some great activities in school holidays too.

We also use it loads on holidays too - it comes into its own for parking in Cornwall/Devon, and it's great to explore new places without spending a fortune. Plus you have the knowledge of knowing your money goes to keeping some wonderful places open for our future generations.

For us, membership is £13 a month. We like sea swimming, surfing and building sandcastles. Beach carparks here are £5-6 a day. NT beach carparks are free for members.

NT saves us so much money. (We go to the beach every weekend)

@TheBirdintheCave hello, I’m in Sussex too. May I ask which properties are your favourites?

It’s the running around the grounds mostly.

My 8 year old enjoys looking around the houses though.

We are broke and dh gets gifted a family pass each year for his birthday. There are 3 properties near us and it’s basically all we do as we can’t afford anything else.