National Trust visit spoilt by overzealous staff or AIBU?

[Sunshineismyfavourite]

Visited a beautiful NT country house today. Huge 17th century house with Capability Brown landscaped parkland. The house has lots of art by Van Dyck - one of my favourite artists and I was really looking forward to spending a couple of hours with DH wandering around in the beautiful spaces enjoying the peace and quiet. However, every time I stopped to look at a painting one of the staff would come up to me and start talking. This happened several times in every room we wandered into. I totally get the enthusiasm and expertise of the staff but I wasn't really interested in hearing about the Civil War etc., I just wanted to enjoy the paintings in peace. We do visit NT properties occasionally but have never found this to be a problem before.
The staff just seemed to be unable to read my body language as I was trying to walk away or indicate that I didn't want to talk or listen to them by not responding or engaging with them. Short of telling them to shut up it was impossible.
It was a very quiet day with not many visitors so they were probably bored but it was way too much for us.
AIBU by being a miserable bugger (I know I'm quite unsociable at times) or should I be allowed to wander round in peace? Perhaps they should give out 'don't talk to me' badges with the tickets if you want to be left in peace!

Why would you take a tiny baby to a national trust property? People have paid to quietly look round and admire the history. Fair enough if it's the weekend I suppose but still, that is really selfish

I bet the people saying this have 'LIVE LOVE LAUGH' posters on their wall, and say 'give your head a wobble,' 'you do you,' and 'we see you,' on here all the time.. Along with 'I live in a naice area,' 'are you on glue,' and 'you need a spa day!' 😬

Fucking hell! 😂 This thread is going from bad to worse.

How DARE you take your child into this stately home I am visiting that I paid fuck-all to get into.

Entitled much?! 😆

I've counted 4 posters saying within their own posts on this thread

Yeah it defo quite a few @NoOrdinaryMorning

Earphones are your friend here. Stick em in and pretend you can’t hear a thing they’re saying, they’ll get the message after a few seconds

I must be in the minority, but I actually love it when the room attendants/museum staff give a little talk on things. I linger anyway and just keep looking at the room/painting/artifact, until I'm satisfied. If I didn't want to hear it I'd say the same thing I say to shop assistants "I'm just looking, thanks"

You'd hate our group of home educators then! Groups of kids walking round, looking, asking lots of questions and just generally being children. All of a weekday. Most of us have NT passes too. We could strike at anytime...in a NT property near you 😆

Won't someone think of the GROWN-UPS?!!! 😲😂

I think "use your words" is the new "tinkly little laugh" TBH.

Not at all. I am only 58- but this is what comes through some of the posts here- old and bored to be an NT volunteer. What do we want older people to do once retired? Keep learning, keep being interested, keep being active and useful. I certainly do admire those who do keep active in mind and body- and stay healthy and of sound mind far far longer.

I have Scottish Heritage membership and from the 2nd year it counts as membersip for English Heritage and Cadw so brilliant value if you like the more ruined end of historic buildings and the guides that are there are mostly not intrusive.

It’s got nothing to do with their age and or being volunteers for me, I volunteer in a couple of roles myself. It seems to be the training they get, or lack of it. A PP said in a post how difficult it was to manage volunteers and I think it takes skill to do it. However, I also recognise that I am spectacularly bad at listening when people talk at me. I’d rather go home and read up on something than be told about it. We are all different in how we take in information and when we are receptive to it. For me looking at something but also taking in information at the same time feels like overload. As other posters say, sometimes you just want to wander about taking in the ambience.

Spectacular point missing there, mate.

But literally NO-ONE said that retired folk should sit in a care home and fester, like you said.

Where on earth did that come from?

Also, there are plenty of things to do when you retire, other than volunteering anyway!

LOL yeah!

The exhibition guards at the RA are security guards.

There's quite a difference between that and a Visitor Assistant. I've generally found the RA staff very helpful. The staff in the shops are lovely.

Bored old people was mentionned.

I have never heard "Use your words",

"Use your voice" sounds better.
I think the NT volunteers do a good job. Maybe they are strongly encouraged to interact with visitors.
I remember years ago l worked on a menswear dept and the manager was very old school and insisted l approach every customer who set foot. I found it so awkward and embarrassing, you could tell immediately they didn't want to be harassed.

Not sure if Kenwood House is NT but was there recently and I had a lovely conversation with a young man who told me all about Belle Dido and her history. He was quite young (20s) and he told me he wanted to work in Arts & Heritage and travelled ever day from Windsor.

I didn't realise there was so many grumpy people on MN who found conversation to be so intrusive. On another thread, a great many people are complaining about how unconnected they feel and there's no feeling of a cohesive society.

I was locking up today and just thinking how satisfying it is to heave the huge doors closed and slide the massive bolts into place - the echo is quite spectacular. Plus we have big old keys on a huge brass ring that makes you feel like a proper custodian.

Re babies in NT properties: I once read a mother complaining that museum staff wouldn't get exhibits out so that her baby could touch them briefly & have its life enhanced.🙄

Mid week.
Hardly anyone there.
We always took our kids.
No NT denies entry.
I suppose if it’s a concern it’s worth contacting NT to ban them or have kid free days.

Thankyou for your support @Fionaville !
Why deny kids the joy of history

Along with an early poster mentioning they were obviously lonely and wanted to talk to people.
Some very ageist and rude comments floating about here.