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!

[Bookworm4]

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

[Alsohuman]

Yes it does, MrsF.

[MrsFezziwig]

Thanks Also.

[stripes1]

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.

[Teddyreddy]

@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.

[MorningsEleven]

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.