To ask if National Trust Membership is worthwhile?

[ILoveBray]

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!

Personally wouldn't give my money to an organisation that allows fox hunting on its land.

Yes it does, MrsF.

Thanks Also.

Definitely worth it if you have one near enough to visit regularly for walks/playground at the weekend and a couple near enough for school holiday visits (they always seem to have cheap activities eg trails for £1 in the hols) and also if you plan to holiday in the UK, we use it for free parking in Dorset and also to break our journey for a picnic and run around when we travel to Wales.

@Alsohuman the reason they have to make a profit on the coffee, food and shop is that it's what funds the hugely expensive maintenance costs for the buildings and gardens. They don't make a profit overall (and as a charity aren't trying to anyway) - the reason people gave properties to the National Trust in the past is usually that they couldn't afford the running costs anymore.

That's absolutely right Teddyreddy.
I work across a cluster of properties (and see the Food and Beverage figures every working day) and only one of ours is in the black. Sometimes it feels pretty precarious.