NOW CLOSED Did you visit a National Trust place on their free weekend? Add your review, or tell NT what you think about their places in general to be in with a chance of winning £100 of NT vouchers

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

The National Trust have asked us to tell you about their free weekend, happening this weekend at selected properties (21st and 22nd Apr) and find out what you think about visiting National Trust houses and gardens in general. Here's what they say about the free weekend: "Our free weekend gives you the opportunity to explore over 200 houses, castles and gardens for free, as well as all the countryside spaces we care for. What better excuse to visit your local place?"

Download your voucher here to take part in the free weekend.

Whether or not you can go to the free weekend, The National Trust would like to know what you think about family days out - here are a few questions to start you off but please add any other comments you have. Everyone who adds their comments will be entered into a prize draw to win £100 of National Trust vouchers.

What sorts of places do you like to go for family days out? Are you 'outdoorsy' as a family or do you prefer indoor activities? What's the best place you've visited as part of a day out in recent years? Did you discover any new family day out destinations over the Easter hols?

Have you ever visited any National Trust houses or gardens with your family? If so, which ones? What do you/your DC like about the one(s) you've visited? Is there a certain time of year that you think it's best to go?

If you haven't ever visited any National Trust houses or gardens with your family, why is that? Is there anything that you think would make you more likely to go?

If you're planning to go along to a National Trust house or garden as part of the free weekend on 21st and 22nd April, you can also be entered into the prize draw if you add your feedback on the free weekend to this thread (once you've been of course!). Let us know which National Trust place house or garden your family visited, and your general opinions on the day - highlights, any lowlights(!) etc.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

[notcitrus]

Oops...
Playground and see the ducks for an hour or so without paying huge amounts. Polesden Lacey is also good for lunch and indeed many elderly people go there for lunch rather than meals on wheels.

Ds is 3 so so far we stay outside and avoid activity days which would scare him with crowds. But the 3 places I listed all have great food, loos and changing facilities. What's less good is website info - eg MHP has a crappy map that doesn't show which road the entrance and parking are on, and it took googling to find that yes there are NT places round Winchester, but without proper food. Nearly had a nasty surprise!

The trails and other activities should be good when ds is older. And he loved watching the llamas come round the lake at Claremont; still talks about them a year later!

[SurvivalOfTheUnfittest]

Members of the NT for about 5 years. 2DC aged 4 and 2. We are very outdoorsy. Visit 2-3 times per month. Love running around the grounds, looking for wildlife etc.. Haven't been in any of the houses as the DC are a liability. Love the flowers, nature, friendly people. We like going throughout the year and wish that the majority weren't shut throughout December/January. We'd also like them open by 10am at weekends as 11am is too late for us and means we have to take a picnic/buy lunch.

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

We go to NT places loads as we are members at the moment. We got a special offer plus cashback, and the kids are still young enough to go free at the moment, so it only takes a few visits to pay for itself and work out a lot cheaper than a lot of other attractions! But we also visit other places - Beamish is popular with the kids (and free for a year once you've paid for first visit) and they also like train places, general countryside, and museums.

At Easter we went to the Space Centre in Leicester, DS (4) liked that a lot and it's good for rainy days!

We go to Wallington and Cragside lots as they are our nearest and there's loads to do. The DCs love the bird hides and play areas and exploring the garden, having picnics, going for walks. We don't go in the houses as often as we've been in several times (and DS is sometimes a bit scared of them!), but we do go in sometimes for a change, if it rains or if there's a special activity. We also liked Fountains Abbey and the place near Leeds (Ormesby?), but they are a bit far to visit often. Also went to Cherryburn recently, which was OK but there was obviously less to see and do than the bigger places so it was just a short visit.

We go at almost all times of year, in fact we are sometimes caught out by places being shut or closing early when we didn't think to check - we've had lovely (but cold) walks in the snow at Wallington for example. We used to go to NT places with my parents when I was small, but only ever when the forecast was for (warm) sun - I think they missed out!

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

Oh and I agree with Survival about the 11am opening, especially for places that have a lot to see and do but might be some way away! it would be nicer to be able to get there earlier and have more time.

[kevinkusman]

Just returned from visiting castles in Scotland which the kids absolutely loved. Will take them to a castle close by this weekend

[booellesmum]

If you go through QUIDCO at the moment you can get discount on membership and cash back - worked out I got years membership for me, hubby and kids for £49.00 and then all properties are free to visit - lots of trips planned !

[lynniep]

We try and get the children outdoors if the weather is good. We're in Cambridgeshire, and go to Wimpole Hall (sometimes we pay for the farm, sometimes just walk around the gardens) Stanwick lakes is wonderful for a free day out - we take the kids bikes and they can cycle around happily and play on the fantastic adventure playground. Shepreth Wildlife park is very popular - not only does it have the animals, but a lovely outdoor play area, and a great indoor one too. anywhere that is free is a bonus (such as the local garden centres). Old Hurst Farm has animals (including crocodiles) to view, a farm shop, and a great big play area and castle and ride-ons and it doesnt cost a penny (unless you get carried away in the shop or the cafe!)
On unpleasant days, we tend to go for soft play areas instead.

The most brilliant place we visited over easter was dinosaur adventure in Norfolk. Whilst I didnt love the indoor section (cramped, and hell slides are not my idea of safe play TBH) the outdoors area was just fantastic. We got tesco vouchers to go this time, but I would pay full price to go again because the kids had so much fun.


We visit Wimpole Farm out of the NT places close to us - because there is lots of space for the kids to run around. Not so much Houghton Mill, because of the water (my youngest is 2 and drawn to water) When on Holiday, I try to find any NT sites that would be good to visit (we were members last year) - anywhere thats good for small children to explore is great. They love things like riding on horse drawn trailers and such like.

[down2earthwithabump]

I love the National Trust and their places . It has been an absolute Godsend to me a city-dweller, to get me out and about after suffering Post-natal depression. I could go to a property knowing that there would be all the facilities needed when looking after a toddler, pre-schooler (baby-change, cafe, water, space to roam in a relatively safe environment (not as exposed and isolated as a walk in the country), shelter should the weather suddenly take a turn fro the worst). Since those initial days I have become a member and have been to all but one property nearest me, though mainly the grounds, where we just enjoy walking and running and the odd picnic. I have almost semi-adopted the nearest property's gardens as my own, I go there so often with DD and sometimes with DH and DD. I have even gone there for a walk on my own just to get some "head-space" or practice photography. I am yet to go in and see the house!

Membership to the NT has also encouraged us to go to places we wouldn't have normally have visited due to cost, and on a camping holiday in Cornwall last year, we had free car-parking in coastal car-parks, and visited three NT properties/gardens, one of which had its own beach where we skimmed stones and rock-pooled and enjoyed a maze. Although paying out for membership cost us initially, it has meant that the overall spend on holidays in the UK is dramatically reduced. We often get little nature check pages or find there are activities on for children and the cafe's are reasonable. The fact that under 5s go free has been excellent and has meant that while in the pre-school years I can meet up with another mum and treat them and our pre-school children to a nice morning, afternoon or day out.

The only downside I have found so far is that the cafes often don't sell bottled water in plastic bottles. So if suddenly in a heatwave, there is no easy way of taking water away with you around the grounds if you are majorly disorganised/lazy have forgotten to bring your own from home.

Other than that tiny tiny point hooray for the NT!

[goingdownhill]

We hold NT family membership. I would say it has been brilliant value for money. We are not a massively outdoor family but joining the NT has given us a boot up the bum to get outdoors more and the dc love it.

In recent months we have visited Chirk Castle and Powis Castle and had a brilliant time at each. We go to Attingham Park generally once a month as we live about 20 minutes away. It is one of the children's favourite places. I am excited for the instillation of the new playground, as the old one is a little tired and ready for a face lift!

Our children are 3,4 and 5 and I always aim for a place with a playground and would love to see them in more properties. I also find they love to run around in the gardens. It is also lovely when some crayons and colouring is provided for a damp day.

Although the children are a little young to appreciate the history behind places they enjoy seeing inside the houses and although we tend to whizz through quickly there is always something they enjoy seeing.

I think the only improvement I could think of is maybe more covered areas to eat in poor weather.

Keep up the fabulous work the National Trust

[Bluebell99]

Notcitrus do you really get 10% off with National trust membership at Modern Hall cafe? Gutted if you do, as have often meet family there for lunch and wasn't aware of that!

Anyway we also have National Trust membership and have done for several years. We don't have many properties that close though to be honest, closest are about 40 minutes away. Over Easter we visited Basildon Park and Stonehenge. In the last month we have also been to the Vyne and Mottisfont. I like looking round the houses, the children not so much, but we have enjoyed special days out at the Vyne when they have had people dressed up in tudor costume, quite surreal seeing Henry vIII wandering round the grounds.
I really think they could do much more for children and families to be honest, in terms of having adventure playgrounds in the grounds. We also enjoyed doing the trails in the woods at the Vyne. We all enjoyed visiting the newly reopened Manor House at Avebury, and it was good that you could touch stuff and sit on the beds and try out the exercise chair, that was quite innovative!

We are also members of the Hawk Conservancy, and the WWT and Longleat and the children prefer going to these places. They enjoy feeding the birds, canoe trips and pond dipping at WWT, and the bird shows at the Hawk Conservancy. We all love LOngleat and it is our favourite day out at the moment. It has everything going for it but in particular a chance to get up close to animals.

We have just joined Historical houses for the first time, and one of the advantages so far, is that two of the houses close by have fantastic adventure playgrounds.

[down2earthwithabump]

Posted earlier but just wanted to mention some of the places we'd been as I had to do a school run so posted a bit quick:
Tyntesfield - closest to us and great gardens for children to play in and explore. Nice lawn for picnics and a kitchen garden to get inspiration, and buy produce. Brilliant for pumpkins and winter squash in October.
Dyrham Park - Not so great for small children as a steep climb back to the carpark especially when the shuttle bus isn't running and also a large pond could prove risky with bolters.
Stourhead landscaped gardens around a large lake. Beautiful for enjoying the different seasons and enough grottos etc to keep children interested.
Also like Leigh Woods for learning to ride a bike, Clevedon Court just for an explore though grounds not half as big as the first three mentioned.

Further afield we have enjoyed:
Glendurgan in Cornwall with a fantastic maze and Durgan beach (rockpooling, sandcastles and skimming stones opportunity) on the Helford River, also careful to remember it is a climb back up the hill to the top for the car.
Trelissick in Cornwall with riverside walks and picnic spots with summerhouses.
Colby Woodland Garden in Pembrokeshire - general wildlife spotting (first sighting of newts for a long while), some fun bamboo for hiding in, general exploring and picnics.

This is without all the coastal paths and places like Lulworth Cove and The Lizard Point and Studland Bay.

We're not a sporty outdoorsy family but do enjoy being outdoors and getting out the city when we can.

[LaVitaBellissima]

I grew up in Cornwall and my parents bought a family pass each year, there are so many lovely properties with fantastic gardens and I have fond memories of Summer picnics at Lanhydrock & at Trelissick Gardens.
Another good reason in Cornwall to have a NT membership is that a lot of the coastal/beach car parks are owned by them so it's free parking

Now my twins are toddling I might get a family membership, we live in SW London now. If the Weather is nice we may go to Ham House on Sunday, so fingers crossed this rain stops

[Tinkerisdead]

We've been to quite a few properties but most memorable calke abbey, beatric potters house and artworks place, sudbury hall and museum of childhood. All of those were fantastic for children. My dd is only three so ive been quite conscious that the average stately home would be a bit boring for her so i've chosen quirky places. Calke abbey was fabulous for the sheer absurd way in which the house was just abandoned in its state and all credit to the national trust for recognising it and not trying to 'renovate' it in the traditional sense. TAking a child there was brilliant as all artifacts through time were just left in extraordinary ways and it was great for a curious little mind. My dd had a fab time in the gardens too.

Beatrix potters house was a bit staid for a small child but there is something magical about your child standing next to a gate that you can then see in a book in their bedroom.

Sudbury hall i actually visited on the last free weekend which was in the radio times. It was absolutely the best free trip out we've had. Although the hall wasnt great for small children the museum was excellent. My dd keeps asking if she can go back and climb the chimney there as she was too scared before. It introduced her not only to a bygone age of schooling but toys of my own childhood. It was her first introduction to barbie.

I love the quirky places that sit alongside traditional stately homes. I'd love to do more garden events like the easter egg hunts but the weather never seems to be great. My only gripe is the cost. A property can be really expensive to visit and whilst the annual pass is good value, its only good value if your child is of a school age to take some learning away from the property as a whole rather than a preschooler. That means im restricted in places that will appeal until dd is older.

[merrymouse]

We have had National Trust membership in the past, and might rejoin if we want to visit one of the properties or go on holiday to an area with a convenient NT beach car park (e.g. if we visit Corfe this summer)

We don't have an NT property in the immediate area but if we did we would probably join now - I find that with young children (mine anyway) it is more fun to visit one local place and get to know it really well than be constantly visiting new places.

[Ponders]

we took out NT family membership in 1991 - we've probably only visited a dozen places in that time (there are very few close to us) but the real point of membership is to support the Trust so we don't feel we've missed out

over the years we have visited Lyme Park, Sudbury, Studland (where we signed up), Formby, Bateman's, Styal, Fell Foot & Dunham Massey among others. It's so nice to know that pretty much anywhere you go on holiday in this country, there will be some lovely houses & gardens to visit

[Ponders]

PS for frankie4 (in case nobody else has )

\link{http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/waddesdon-manor/\Waddesdon Manor}

[Ponders]

finally - for those wanting to find out where they could go at the weekend - the \link{http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/places/find-a-place-to-visit/\find a place to visit page} on the NT website is very helpful

[azazello]

I have life membership (a very generous 1st birthday present from my granny!). I go occasionally at the moment but most are a 40 minute car journey each way which gets a bit much.

The children love the playground at Waddesdon but I daren't take them in the house! We've been to Hughendon for some of the special events and that's good. My favourite is Snowshill. DD (5)quite enjoyed it but it isn't the easiest place with small children and the tea room had a wasp nest outside.

We're within walking distance of Blenheim ( so not NT) but similar and go there at least fortnightly in the summer. Blenheim do a pass where you pay full price for admission and then get a pass which allows you in free for a year. Membership of an individual site might be worth considering for a lot of people who couldn't justify a full membership.

[StealthPolarBear]

We will be going to Washington Old Hall on Sunday, lookig forward to a family day out :)

[leenapeena]

We live near Nostell Priory which has a fab adventure playground. My five year old daughter loves it there and keeps asking to go back - we are not members of the NT at the moment so it is a pity this weekend it will be too wet to take advantage of any free entries!

[Ponders]

My niece got married there, Stealth - fabulous setting

[melezka]

Our family are very interested in history and historical places.

But we are also fairly poor.

We have tried a few NT properties over the years. We saved up for approximately one visit a year. But after the THIRD year in a row of being basically harangued by some Hyacinth Bucket-a-like for not getting a membership instead of a single visit ticket, despite explaining the above, we gave up. We visit other places now.

[Cheld]

Went to Stourhead today with this offer and had a great day. Dd loved splashing in puddles and exploring the grotto and walked a surprisingly long way. She wanted to ransack the house so that was a whistle stop tour but the staff were very nice! We are quite outdoorsy but tend not to go to NT places much because of the price and because they're at least an hour's drive away. We enjoyed Wimpole Hall home farm last weekend and the play park was a big hit.

[Kveta]

We went to Wimpole Hall and Home Farm today with this offer. And clearly were not the only ones! It was very busy!

Had a lovely day though - DS (2) loved the farm, especially the pigs (he was massively interested in the suckling piglets particularly, and hasn't stopped going on about pig mummy milk since we got home :o), and the toy tractors. Sadly the heavens opened after about 40 minutes at the farm, but we sourced a lovely lunch in the old refectory restaurant, and went to explore the Hall afterwards - DS loved the clocks, but it was quite a quick march round with a toddler, and a heavily pregnant woman (me), neither of us wanted to linger.

The closure of the cafe at the Home Farm was a shame, but the food in the restaurant was good, and not badly priced, especially with the 20% discount voucher this weekend!

We are thinking about getting National Trust membership when DC2 is old enough to appreciate long days out, and will definitely take kids to Wimpole Hall again.

[Indith]

Well we went to Gibside this afternoon and it was lovely. The dcs raced around, ds loved reading about everything and dd adored milking the cow in the stables. I thinnk some of the signage could be better, it would be nice to have a sign or map at the various crossroads.

We never made it to the play areas and other bits and bobs because the dcs decided to down to the river and we ended up looking for deer and gruffalos in the woods which took us on a long walk then it rained, dd got too tired and had a wobbly and it was getting late so we just went back to the exit and the big ones played on the slide there while I fed the baby. I expect we'll be back.

I agree with someone further up the thread that passes for individual properties would be great. I think if we could get a pass for Gibside we would but certainly this year because we are spending our holiday abroad visiting family we would not get full value from membership. Next year though we won't be going abroad and so we might well get membership.