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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if National Trust Membership is worthwhile?

106 replies

ILoveBray · 16/03/2019 14:53

Shamelessly posting for traffic, sorry......

Money is tight at the moment and I am looking for ways to take my children out without spending too much.

I received an offer recently for National Trust Membership for £116 for the whole family for one year.

I am wondering if it is worth the initial layout. We are in North/Mid Essex if it makes a difference.

Thanks!

OP posts:

PuppyMonkey · 16/03/2019 16:40

We did it for two years running but tbh we’d pretty much done and dusted all the nearby venues by then and the kids would be all: “Oh not Calke Abbey again.”

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 16/03/2019 16:41

I think it's worth it, good days out with the kids and the best beaches by me are national trust which cost more than my membership a month for the family to park for the day !, We defo get our monies worth in the summer and at Christmas saltrum house is just beautiful to go and see which again would be £40 for us without membership

DaveCoachesgavemetheclap · 16/03/2019 16:43

We joined a few years ago, as there were several NT properties quite close to us that we wanted to see, so it saved us a lot of money that year. After a couple of years, though, we stopped it.

Spudlet · 16/03/2019 16:46

We live in an NT black hole, it's at least 45 minutes drive to a property (and that's just one, the next closest are all an hour or more). It's a shame because if we had a few within a reasonable distance I'm sure I'd use it to take DS out, but it's just not worth it for us.

JustDanceAddict · 16/03/2019 16:50

No. Barely anything near me, English Heritage would be better. We had it for a year but didn’t renew.,

prettypossums · 16/03/2019 16:54

Agree that it’s worth checking whether there are many NT properties nearby, or in places you visit. There are definitely some NT black holes, I live in one too, but have been a member for several years (my mother likes pay to renew it for me). We found it particularly useful when we stayed near the Jurassic coast in Dorset one summer, we saved a fortune because the membership meant we could park in the (otherwise v expensive) beach car parks for free

SmarmyMrMime · 16/03/2019 17:07

It's a bargain for us as there's about 3 good properties within about 30 mins which is great for being at a loose end for a couple of hours on a weekend.

We also have holidays/ weekends camping around the UK and have already got our money's worth from our local area. We also stop off as services near the motorway, the house and grounds off the M5 at Bristol being perfect. By the time we've battled across there on a 7 hour journey, we're all ready for a couple of hours romping around the gardens. You don't get that at Moto or Welcome Break. The food's much nicer for the same financial league too.

DangermousesSidekick · 16/03/2019 17:10

There's two things to consider: firstly what will you get out of it, and secondly, it is a charity: is it worth supporting for you? For the first, as others said, check what's available nearby via google. In the past we assumed it wasn't for us - both of us come from poor backgrounds - but we started visiting a nearby stately home estate and were gradually impressed with the work they were doing maintaining heritage crafts, real chunks of local history, and local land management and food supplies. We go there quite regularly now, and membership has become worth it on both counts.

Original poster

ILoveBray · 16/03/2019 17:10

Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated. We'll have a look into what's close by, also look into the Scottish trust as well. Thanks!

OP posts:

PosterPostingPosterishly · 16/03/2019 17:12

Yes I love it!

Great to just fill up the car with snacks, waterproofs, sun cream etc and just get out for the day.

Love it. Have had it for 5 years now and it always get lots of use.

bellsbuss · 16/03/2019 17:14

We've had it for 6 years now and use it a lot as we have several places nearby with good play areas for our younger 2.

BackforGood · 16/03/2019 17:18

I also think if you decide to buy it for a year, then would that "make" you go to places you might not get round to otherwise?

I also agree with pps re parking - if you spend a week or so's holiday near a lot of our beautiful beaches, you can pay out £££ every day to park, but, with membership, you save that money.

clary · 16/03/2019 17:27

Yes as others say, look at what's near you.

We are in Derbyshire and have several places near us. When the DC were small it was great - Sudbury Hall always lots of crafty stuff in the summer, there were Easter egg hunts everywhere and Christmas activities too.

When there was nothing special on, our nearest NT place was lovely to use as a park for walks and games, never super busy which was nice.

it's a big initial outlay but we more than got our money's worth IMO.

Stopped it when the kids were like finishing primary as the activities were too young for them, but for many years it was our go-to sunny day out.

Puppymonkey my kids loved Calke Abbey! Ahhh Apple Day,

Todaythiscouldbe · 16/03/2019 17:33

I'm in Essex, mid/south though, we have had both NT & EH but there's more English heritage properties within a reasonable distance. Audley end is our favourite and we go at least 4 or 5 times a year, Dover, Deal and Walmer castles are about an hour or so away. Tilbury fort and Down House (Charles Darwin's home) are both good days out too

FuzzyPuffling · 16/03/2019 17:36

I love mine. I had a pension fund that failed (Equitable) and I lost a load of money, but the compensation I got was the exact cost of a life membership to the NT. Seemed to me that when I retired and was cold, bored and skint, I would at least be able to go and hide out in NT properties!

Also great for NT carparks... a great beach near us charges for parking and it is really useful and cost-saving to be able to park for free whenever we like.

It has proved a brilliant purchase and a life membership admits two people so my DH and DS have also benefitted.

LiveatCityHall · 16/03/2019 18:12

My DM bought me life membership when she retired and it's been well worth the money! We often have days out at NT properties and take picnics with us which certainly cuts down on the cost. There's always lots of things for kids to do during the holidays as well. It also let's me take 1 other adult in and up to 5 kids so I can use it for days out with friends and they don't have to pay either. In the 3 years I've had it it's definitely paid for itself.

BackforGood · 16/03/2019 18:21

If you decide, one year to get a Merlin pass, one year to get a NT pass, one year to get an EH pass, etc., then you can put specific days out on your calendar, to get 'vfm' from the pass, as you know you have it for a year.

Bythepath · 16/03/2019 18:27

For us it is definitely worth it. We have 3 properties within half an hour and also a lot of the coastline and the national park we live in is owned by them. So we use a car park at least twice a week and a property every few weeks. We get it every Christmas time and it's paid for itself by end of January. Definitely depends on where you live.

Ronsters · 16/03/2019 18:34

I was a member for about 3 years, then let it lapse as I'd been to all the properties nearby/reachable by car as a day trip. I might join again as the free parking for members was good (if they still do this), and I like some of the properties/gardens enough to do repeat visits.

YeOldeTrout · 16/03/2019 18:47

"You only need to use it four times a year to break even"

I've read that claim, but find it totally confusing.
Indiv membership = £72, or family = £126.

Parking at my nearest locations (25+ minutes drive away) is only £5 (non-members). We don't go inside old buildings or care about gardens or buy stuff in shops & cafe purchases are minimal, too. I would need to visit > once a month to maybe get the £72 back. Is there a cheap parking-only membership I don't know about?

JaceLancs · 16/03/2019 18:47

Does anyone know more about the Scottish one as it says free entry and concessions in rest of U.K. which is a bit vague

ShannonRockallMalin · 16/03/2019 18:48

I used to work for the NT and membership was one of the (few) perks of the job! Although we don’t have many places locally, when my dcs were younger we managed to build a week’s holiday in Cornwall around days at NT properties, so had I paid for it the membership would have been worth it just for that.

Gth1234 · 16/03/2019 18:48

if you go it's well worth while. Loads of places to visit. All free, and all cost about £12-£15 otherwise. 2 visits you pay for your membership.
Nice tea shops.

Some of the places can seem a bit samey, but they all offer something different. Not sure what's around Essex.

MrsWombat · 16/03/2019 18:50

We have it, but we live in NW Kent where there are lots of what I call "showstopper" properties that we can visit within 45mins-1hour drive, as well as living very close to a smaller property we visit very regularly. We always make our money back. My children are at the age when they prefer exploring the gardens and countryside rather than being inside the houses.

I would look at the map of properties and see what is around near where you live and where you go on holiday and total up the admission charges. The higher the price, the more there is to do. Stonehenge is an extortionate price so worth joining if you holiday in that area. Also worth looking at English Heritage membership with similar scrutiny.

If you or your other half (or anyone else reading this) are public servants working for any part of the government, council, nhs, police, military etc then seriously consider joining the CSSC. www.cssc.co.uk/ For £51 a year you get both English Heritage corporate membership with includes another adult and 6 kids (does not include sites not directly run by EH) and Historic Royal Palaces membership (Tower of London, Hampton Court, Kensington Palace) entry for you and 3 others, plus many other discounts and offers. Family EH membership is normally £99 and family HRP membership is £108 and the other adult is flexible rather than named so you can take granny or hubby. Worth a look.

lalafafa · 16/03/2019 19:19

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