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Original poster

Are you a member of the NT?

30 replies

mummysurfer · 27/04/2004 18:31

just being nosey really..
are you a member?
do you get your money's worth?
which is your favourite property and why?

we are members
we definitely get our money's worth
Dunham Massey (NW) Peaceful, the children like it despite there being no playground. it makes me feel happy that they can enjoy something without being 'catered for'. IYKWIM

OP posts:
roisin · 27/04/2004 18:42

Dh is a member - this means the car gets in free IYSWIM. We're not particularly 'property' people, and the dss aren't up to that yet, but we enjoy looking round grounds and gardens. The main "money's worth" we get is no car parking fees in the Lake District. (We live in Cumbria )

katierocket · 27/04/2004 18:43

yes.
well worth it IMO - we go to one probably every week.

I was at Dunham Massey today!! Fab place.

Beetroot · 27/04/2004 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Codswallop · 27/04/2004 18:47

God, after seeing that documentary on it I would never join! ALl that hoo ha with english heritage over STonehenge. I deiagreed with the whole Tyntsfield (sp) thing too.

I do like stourhead gardens though but it would irk me to join to go there, i just pay my money.
well worth a look

hmb · 27/04/2004 18:48

Yes, and yes we do get our money's worth. We go to Belton House, which has a wonderful out door playground with Tarzan swings and a fort (amongst other things). We also go to Clumber, which is great fun for cycling round. We also drop in on NT properties when we are traveling to let the kids have a run around. We recon that 5 vists gets the thing paid for, and we have done 2 this year already.

Janh · 27/04/2004 18:54

We have a family membership - probably don't get our money's worth but it's nice to know we can if we want to.

Haven't been to many properties but did go to Lyme Hall (?) just after P & P was on and saw The Pond - that gave me a little frisson!

Bagpuss30 · 27/04/2004 18:56

mummysurfer, I would answer exactly the same as you , though I do like Alderley Edge also.

suedonim · 27/04/2004 21:44

We belong to NT for Scotland and yes, definitely worth it as we have loads of castles and gorgeous gardens nearby. Plus we get in free to NT in England on our sojourns Darn Sarf. Great value.

sexgoddess · 27/04/2004 22:01

Yes - my favourite property so far is Sizergh Castle in the Lake District. When we visited the children had a quiz thing to complete which took us round the whole house. They thoroughly enjoyed it. And we went to an Easter Egg hunt at our "local" Packwood House (about 10-15 mins away).

Also paid for a year to the Shakespeare Trust in Stratford but only visited one property so waste of money

baldrick · 27/04/2004 22:06

yes, we visit Houghton Mill, this is a flour mill near Cambridge which shows flour being made, has working parts and includes boat trips for a small sum on the local river... have done Cotehele in Cornwall...fancy Blickling Hall in Norfolk, Wicken Fen.etc..haven't done much yet but now as all open will do lots to get our money's worth

florenceuk · 27/04/2004 22:57

Yes we are members - just went to Polesden Lacey in the weekend to picnic and wear DS out. Not sure if we get our money's worth, but given DS's short attention span, I resent paying individually for stately homes which DS then wants to leave immediately. I noticed Polesden Lacey got mentioned in the Times today as saviour for dads! We also are RHS members (for Wisley) and Wetland Centre members (for Barnes) as we are constantly on the lookout for large areas for DS to run around in.

Polesden Lacey is probably DS's favourite, but my favourite NT property is Sissinghurst, such a lovely garden - the reason I joined in the first place. I used to love gardening, now I just can't be bothered....

wickedstepmum · 28/04/2004 08:59

Yes, we've got family membership and get our money's worth every year. Even in the winter Killerton grounds are open for fantastic walks (plus dog) and in the summer visiting ma-in-law (don't know the abbreviation)in Cumbria it means we get free car parking and can pop in somewhere like Beatrix Potter's house for 10 minutes without feeling guilty about 'not doing it properly'

Tissy · 28/04/2004 09:12

yes, we're members of the NTS, too, and it's cheaper than the NT, and you still get into all the English proprties free!

Best place around here is Culzean Castle- the grounds are fantastic, there is a beach, large duckpond with hungry ducks, good cafes/ restaurants, things for kids to do, walled garden with plant shop....

We went to a lovely place darn sarf last year- can't remember what it was called, though- somewhere around Cambridgeshire, I think, a stately home with grounds and a farm visitor centre- there was a horse drawn trailer to take you from the ticket office to the farm, and loads of animals to talk to! It sticks in my mind because dd dropped her dummy in a pigsty, and I didn't have a spare with me!

LIZS · 28/04/2004 09:20

Yes we are members but haven't been to a property in about 3 years as we live overseas!! (Never cancelled the dd) Used to go to Wakehurst Place a bit with ds for walks in the summer. Liked the convenience of being able to drop in when we were in another area of the country and break otherwise long journeys, use their tea shops/toilets and also somewhere to go for walks either at weekends or on holiday.

Tetley · 28/04/2004 10:31

We're members - have been for years, but it varies as to how much we use it. I think that we get our money's worth most of the time. We seem to have been to the places near us so many times that really we just wait until we visit new areas of the country.
Definately useful for the free parking in Cumbria!

Janh · 28/04/2004 10:52

Tissy, was it Wimpole ?

Marina · 28/04/2004 14:04

Yes, it's great value for money. When visiting parents in Cumbria we don't pay parking either, Roisin! and when at home we visit Ightham Mote, Knole, Batemans, Sheffield Park and Scotney Castle on a regular basis. Also get to Wimpole as often as we can.
I think it's a particular steal for people in Kent/Sussex as there are so many nice houses and gardens to visit. We're saving Sissinghurst for when they are older...

helenmc · 28/04/2004 17:52

we're family members - spend days at BElton and Wimpole Farm. My personal fave place is Castle Drogo - wouldn't you just love to have the money to build your own castle.

Original poster
mummysurfer · 30/04/2004 17:11

Baypuss30 - which property do you mean in Alderly Edge or is it just grounds?

just found out school is closed on thursday so may go somewhere with dd & ds

OP posts:
fairyfly · 30/04/2004 17:13

The edge is fab, i love the witchery

lemonice · 30/04/2004 17:19

Used to be member when kids were younger and good value. Packwood house (Warwickshire) is great for runabout around the yew tree gardens, little ones really enjoy it. for hide and seek. There didn't used to be many places in Wales but there are a few more now.

Bagpuss30 · 30/04/2004 17:26

Mummysurfer, its just woods there, but nice walks and really good views. There is also Hare Hill nearby, which I haven't been to myself but a friends says it is lovely too (I think it is a garden, it will be in the book I'm sure).

Clayhead · 30/04/2004 17:57

Yes, good value.

Worked for them in a 'tea room' for 3 years when at school, loved it.

Love Dunham Massey too as well as Styal Mill, Tatton Park (part owned with Cheshire CC), Little Moreton Hall, Biddulph Grange Gardens, Chirk Castle, Erdigg.

What I like about being a member is that I can go to a local property late in the afternoon and just wander for 45 mins or so without having to feel I am 'getting my money's worth' each time I go.

Didn't like the documentary much though, I must admit.

Clayhead · 30/04/2004 17:58

Bagpuss30, what about The Cloud and Mow Cop, have you been there too? Good views.

butterflymum · 30/04/2004 17:58

We are NT for Scotland 'Family Members' here, although we live in Northern Ireland. Decided to join on holiday last year as they had a great membership offer and we were better off joining than paying individual entrance/parking fees at sites we wanted to visit. Membership is valid at NT sites here in Northern Ireland (although there aren't too many of them and some are free anyway) and we hope to take advantage of this in the coming months. Highlight of our membership so far has to be Culzean Castle and grounds in Ayrshire. Bonus being they have an excellent adventure playground for the children.