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

[WitchOfEndor]

Went to Attingham Park this morning. It seemed really nice, lots of people bringing their dogs along but we made a major mistake. In order to get the best of the weather we went early, before DS had had his morning nap. About 20 minutes into our visit we tried to get DS to leave the play area so we could do the guided house tour. Big mistake, huge meltdown as he got down on his knees and howled. Tantrum continued all the way back to the entrance where we decided to take him home for a nap. It did start raining on the way home though! I think Attingham will be lovely next year when (hopefully) he will have grown out of his morning nap.

[feedthegoat]

We visited Nostell Priory this afternoon and had a lovely time. Despite living less than 30 minutes away I have to be honest and admit we have never been before.

Ds (6) did enjoy looking round the house taking photo's but it was very busy. The staff were all very keen to chat about the history of the place and were very friendly.

We particularly enjoyed the outdoor spaces though and ds loved the playground. We probably spent a good hour in there before going on a little nature walk. Even the weather was better than expected, with only the odd shower.
I do understand why admission costs to such places are high as they must cost a staggering amount to run. However, it does make it a costly expense for a family visit. We have a lovely old hall and country park within 5 minutes walk of our home. The grounds are free and the hall admission in only a couple of pounds. We tend to visit there more often as it is more affordable.

[gazzalw]

Oh I went there many, many moons ago...lovely place.... One of those grand homes owned by coal mine owning families I seem to recall...

think that what the NT properties all share is a mix of open spaces and some culture/history.... so brilliant as are the NT cafes selling all of those lovely home-made cakes and coffee/tea too!

[PepeLePew]

What sorts of places do you like to go for family days out?
Forests, woods and gardens. Anywhere the children can run around. They don't necessarily need entertaining, they just like sticks and trees to climb.

Are you 'outdoorsy' as a family or do you prefer indoor activities?
I don't think the children are particularly outdoorsy, though I am. They are quite urban, but I try and encourage them to go outdoors where possible.

What's the best place you've visited as part of a day out in recent years?
Audley End is great for children, and they always love Hatfield Forest

Did you discover any new family day out destinations over the Easter hols?
Their grandparents took them to Warwick Castle which I think they enjoyed/.

Have you ever visited any National Trust houses or gardens with your family?
Yes

If so, which ones?
Hatfield Forest, Overbrooks in Devon, Ashdown House.

What do you/your DC like about the one(s) you've visited?
Depends where we are - Hatfield Forest is where they like best, although they enjoyed exploring Overbrooks. I always like a National Trust property - can't beat the tea and cakes.

Is there a certain time of year that you think it's best to go?
No

[Fuchzia]

We went to Polsdon Lacey. Generally we love being outdoors and find NT properties a great day out now we have small kids. Our toddler can run round safely a go on short walks. There are lots of benches available which lets me breastfeed the baby when he needs it (although somewhere more comfortable was available that would be great too!) today there were loads of outdoor games in the orchard which was a nice touch. The house is nice and I think if you had the time to explore in detail it would be great, but with small people it's not easy to stay focused. I managed to find out almost nothing about the house or why it was important, perhaps an idot's guide would have been helpful.

[aokay]

we're NT memebers but since Ive become a wheelchair user Im getting fed up with access issues and poor sanitation faciilities - don't fefeel like paying for next year as dont think NT have a clue about inclusivitity especially where there's a family with a disabled (adult) in the party - I want gto be able to do things with my kids despite my disablity. I do not want constant access issues.

[3duracellbunnies]

We are quite an outdoorsy family. We do sometimes visit NT properties, Batemans and Bodium are two of our favourite ones the children are quite into 'blood, guts and gore' so castles are probably higher on our list generally, although some of the NT properties fall into this category, some of the insides of houses the children can do for a short while before they get bored. We didn't discover much over Easter except a+e and the tedium of potty training on rainy days. Might try to find somewhere tomorrow and test out the reactions to travel potties, hopefully better than the dislike of breastfeeding. Generally my view is a child who isn't screaming for milk or dripping with wee is preferable to one that is, but I appreciate that not everyone has the same perspective.

[bubby64]

We are using the voucher tomorrow to visit Long Melford Hall, as our sons are doing the St Georges Day parade with the scouts in the village, it will add to a nice day out. We have quite a few NT places near us, and have had family membership in the past, but, unfortunatley, we just cannot afford it this year. One of my biggest gripe about NT places is there is often extra charges to see interesting features or special exhibits at their properties. I think that is you have paid the (often expensive) entry fee, this should entitle you to see everything there is to see. Also, you pay quite hefty prices in a lot of their resturants/cafes, and often the service is poor.

[Sabriel]

I took DD to Lacock Abbey yesterday. Fantastic architecture and a beautiful building. They gave her an eye-spy leaflet to look out for various things. She got all of them but wasn't impressed that there was no actual prize at the end (I think she was expecting Easter eggs!). It was quite good having to look for them though, because it made us look up at the carvings on the ceiling, and the different chimneys.

Inside the Abbey she got another sheet but nowhere to write anything down so it was difficult to hold her interest (she is 5). We did have to spot toy kittens, so that was fun for her.

There is also an attached photography museum but she wasn't interested so we didn't stop to look.

There is a picnic area across the road, with a play park. It was very busy so we didn't go in. (Lucky we didn't as we'd just got back to the car when it emptied down).

We hadn't been before, because NT places tend to be quite expensive, and we've got English Heritage membership so we tend to go to an EH property instead. Didn't appreciate having to pay for parking (NT members park for free) especially when we found the FREE car park in the actual village after we'd been directed to the paying one. Other than that we had a good visit.

[Sabriel]

Ooh I forgot to mention that ALL the staff we encountered were lovely. All of them chatted to DD and showed her things. One lady explained why all the chairs had a teasel on them, and several helped her spot the kittens. DD is the sort of child who approaches random adults and asks odd questions, and in some places we've been to they ignore her. I was very impressed by all of the staff at Lacock.

[FuntimeFelicity]

If we're going somewhere specifically for a 'family day out' we aim for somewhere with a mixture of inside and outdoors things to do in case the weather is changeable.

The dc are 5 and 2 and, while the 5 year old is beginning to show an interest in the inside of places near us like Chirk Castle and Erddig, ds2 is more of a liability. For this reason, so we avoid places that are strictly 'house and gardens' and try to find places where ds2 can do indoor stuff like craft or building or finding activities if it rains.

We've also taken out NT membership so that we can go places on spec without feeling as if we've wasted our money if the children are having a bad day or the weather is foul. I like the way that the NT membership is structured. Places like Chester Zoo have really shot themselves in the foot with photo ID and zero flexibility (the main reason why we and didn't renew a gift membership there). Please don't go down this route National Trust, it will lose you a lot of goodwill!

Staff at attractions near us are always happy to see the children, even in the rooms with the most fragile china .

And a last mention for Chirk Castle - ds1 is loving the (free) den building area and ds2 adores the (free) little ride-on tractors and diggers .

[TheMonster]

We went to Nostell Priory yesterday and it was lovely. DS (5) loved the adventure playground. I bought some very reasonably priced lavender plants too!
I'm glad we took advantage of the freebie, as there is no way I would pay £20 for us to go otherwise. Especially with £2.50 parking charges as well.

[Ponders]

Eeyore, if you took out family membership, it would cost you \link{http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/membership/\£70.12} for the first year & with that you could visit any NT places as often as you want, take extra kids along as well, & generally no parking charges (I've a feeling there are a handful of places where even NT members have to pay but I don't know which ones)

It's definitely worth considering

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I tell you what would be useful, two car stickers. At weekends we mainly use my car because it is small and economical so we keep our NT sticker on that one. But we take the other (bigger) car on holiday and then find we haven't got our sticker to take advantage of the car parks.

[MirandaWest]

We've had two car stickers before - think we asked and they sent us another one.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Ooh, thanks, I'll give them a ring. I guess they don't want to send them out routinely because people would give them to their friends.

[LadyInPink]

We don't have a membership for the NT as tbh there aren't that many places near us to warrant a membership that we as a family would want to visit more than once or if ever. Our DD is energentic and so loves to have things to do not just walk around pretty gardens although she does love to play fairies and make believe stories when we do go to such places but it's sporadical and therefore a treat.

We visited Corfe Castle yesterday and spent the equivalent money saved on 2 books in the NT shop. It was raining rather heavily when we arrived (and for the duration) so we only stayed an hour. There had been a jester there for part of the day which was fantastic for added value but we missed him. They also had a tent with a rail of medieval clothes to try on which again was an amazing surprise and one of the staff obliged with taking our photo There was also a trail for the children to follow and answer questions relating to Corfe Castle and DD won a medal at the end for completing it correctly. The rain really hindered our full enjoyment but what we saw we enjoyed immensly but wouldn't return again in a hurry as once seen, it's seen imho.

I think a partial membership would be a good idea with maybe a redeemable booklet containing 3 stamps/pull out vouchers over a year costing about a 3rd of the price - i would sign up for that as we loved Brownsea Island and would go again as not been for 3 years also if on holiday we may stumble across one on a whim (we realised we were staying next to Antony House last year for eg) and could pop in.

Thankyou NT for the free voucher, as we wouldn't otherwise have gone to Corfe Castle

[Ponders]

WhoKnows, supposedly they have them in the ticket offices & will give you another one if you ask

(it says this in the handbook but I've never tested it out)

[bluebump]

Thanks to this thread we popped up to Knightshayes today with a friend and their children, all soaked to the skin but we had a good time

[inmysparetime]

We are family NT members, and always get our money's worth, as we are a bunch of geeks and even the DCs read all the information boards they can find.
I love Lyme Park's new playscape, we had DSs 9th birthday party there, free as we brought a party picnic.
Others we visit regularly are:
Dunham Massey (nice pub food locally)
Quarry Bank Mill & Styal
Tatton Park (put off by the parking charge)
Beningbrough Hall
Little Moreton Hall

We usually visit a few on holiday or on the way back, it's a great way to kill a few hours and let off steam.
I love the app, it has a good amount of information and is helpful in choosing places to go.
I would like more "treetop adventure" things, and more available in the winter, along the lines of Dunham's winter gardens.

[FuntimeFelicity]

What age is the Lyme Park playscape suitable for inmyparentstime?

[inmysparetime]

There's a sandpit digging area and a broad slide for 2 or 3ish upwards, but still plenty of physical challenges for young teenagers. It's very well thought out, it has tree trunks with climbing holds, tunnels, rope netting etc.
BTW, it's not inmy parents time, that made me cringe slightly, they have even less spare time than I do!

[FuntimeFelicity]

Sorry, I'm not sure where that name change came from !

[TheMonster]

Ah, but to make £70 worth while we would have to be visiting at least four times a year, and I doubt we would get a chance to do that.

[Ponders]

well, 3 times if you include the parking cost

If you'd never visit any others I suppose it wouldn't be worth it - I can see Nostell Priory is quite a distance from the rest.