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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

National Trust- bookings?

31 replies

SerenityNowwwww · 06/08/2020 12:16

Has anyone managed to prebook for gardens and other outdoors areas? When I look everything is sold out or had 1 space available.

Parking places need to be booked in slots - how does that work if people book first thing and stay all day? I need to get out to somewhere with some nice walks and a bit of nature but it’s not easy to find somewhere!

OP posts:
Sofasogood1 · 06/08/2020 12:17

I have booked. It was a pain and I made sure I got online around when the slot was released. I had to compromise though and go for a Friday evening walk rather than a Saturday or Sunday morning one.

RandomTree · 06/08/2020 12:20

So you're only interested in outside spaces? You could try properties with a nice garden, the house often isn't open anyway at the moment.

You're allowed to stay as long as you like, so I think they've taken this into account when deciding how many tickets to release. I was at a National trust property on Monday and it was certainly less busy than usual.

Nacreous · 06/08/2020 12:23

They release slots on a Friday for the following Saturday to Friday I think - so this Friday they release 15th to 21st. So if you look on a Friday there should be plenty of

Original poster
SerenityNowwwww · 06/08/2020 12:26

I assumed the indoor cat laces were closed anyway. I will have a poke around and see what’s available.

OP posts:
bedjolly · 06/08/2020 12:46

I personally found it a nightmare and just gave up unfortunately.

eurochick · 06/08/2020 19:04

We've been to a couple - we booked ahead for a big popular one but only a day or two in advance for a less well-known one.

Floralnomad · 06/08/2020 19:06

I’m SE and I’ve always been able to book when I’ve wanted to .

user1471530109 · 06/08/2020 19:09

We've also been to a couple of local ones. Both times I didn't have to wait until midnight Friday Grin. But they both had a 2 HR window that you were allowed to stay at the property for.

My dc really enjoyed it. It was a nice way to spend an hour or so. The first place had the shop and cafe open. The second place felt much more strict and the shop wasn't open (but cafe was. Incidentally it was ridiculously cheap as they are doing the help out to eat out thing. A large latte, a cheese scone, 2 ice creams and a coke for £4.80!).

I will definitely book for the next few weeks of holidays. Everyone was very compliantly socially distancing and obviously all outdoors etc. It was really nice to see the older generation out and about too Blush.

user1471530109 · 06/08/2020 19:10

That's really ambiguous. I meant I was able to book ahead at a sensible time a couple of days in advance.

Original poster
SerenityNowwwww · 07/08/2020 09:19

I really fancied going to Stowe but it’s always booked out. Maybe I need to find somewhere less popular!

Any ideas - I just need some ‘green’ (ex country girl going crazy in the city!). If I was home I’d jump in the car with a picnic, drive to a loch and sit there all day with probably no one around!

OP posts:
Apolloanddaphne · 07/08/2020 09:23

@SerenityNowwwww You are fantasising if you think there is no-one around lochs (I assume you mean in Scotland). The place is heaving with tourists at the moment! I live in a lovely spot with beautiful beaches and I can't get near them. There are so many people doing staycations this year for obvious reasons. I hope you get some green space soon!

tiredanddangerous · 07/08/2020 09:25

I've managed to get a couple. I did it at about 6am though. The one Friday I tried at 8am and there was nothing left.

Original poster
SerenityNowwwww · 07/08/2020 09:30

[quote Apolloanddaphne]@SerenityNowwwww You are fantasising if you think there is no-one around lochs (I assume you mean in Scotland). The place is heaving with tourists at the moment! I live in a lovely spot with beautiful beaches and I can't get near them. There are so many people doing staycations this year for obvious reasons. I hope you get some green space soon![/quote]
My sister has one of those camper van things and she has been sending me photos of them - lochside, beaches and up on the hills with noone around. Or maybe it’s them...! I miss the countryside!

OP posts:
HelloDulling · 07/08/2020 09:35

Stowe will be busy. There are plenty of slots at the smaller places though. We went to one yesterday; was really quiet and lovely to be somewhere other than the park.

Original poster
SerenityNowwwww · 07/08/2020 09:38

Maybe Hatfield forest?

OP posts:
Day0utDrama · 09/08/2020 07:19

This is the first year that I have bought an annual NT pass. Although I have visited several sites in the past & paid individually. I tried about 20 sites & found that the tickets were all sold out. I managed to book something eventually. We enjoyed our day out.
This new process of pre booking is disappointing & frustrating, but I guess it is necessary in the current virus climate

How do people book if they have no internet access, phone a friend ?

sanityisamyth · 09/08/2020 07:22

I've been to several (one place three times) and had no problems booking anything. Just book early on a Friday morning.

LittleBearPad · 09/08/2020 07:24

It’s been fine - I’ve made 5 bookings so far.

You have to book early on a Friday and be prepared to be a bit flexible as to time and possibly day.

chutneypig · 09/08/2020 07:25

I’ve booked a couple of places, both times early on Friday morning when they release the new slots. That said, I got caught out once when they released the following week’s early and all the slots had gone. It does need a bit of planning in advance, for the 15th this month I had to book on the 7th.

One place was stay all day, it was busy but manageable around the grounds. One for next weekend I have a three hour slot as it’s a smaller property.

dudsville · 09/08/2020 07:26

I've successfully booked and it wasn't too difficult at all, but i did it on a Friday morning (when the tickets are released) and i was booking a weekday.

Purplequalitystreet · 09/08/2020 07:27

You need to book early on a Friday. I booked for fountains abbey next week and by 10am places were going fast. Set a reminder in your phone.

SnugglySnerd · 09/08/2020 07:30

I've been to at least one a week since they reopened. The first week it was really hard to book but it has calmed down now and I've booked no problem even when I've looks over the weekend rather than on Frisay morning.
They are really quiet. I have actually loved being able to drive straight into a parking space and have lots of room for the dcs to run about. Plus the queue for the toilets is much shorter than usual and outside instead of crammed into a small, smelly area outside the loos. Much nicer!

Mummysgonetobed · 09/08/2020 07:32

I’ve managed to book a lots of times, in fact just booked a place for tomorrow. As PP said though, for busy places you need to quick off the mark on a Friday morning when places are released. I’m normally up around 5am, booking then was easy!

MeanMrMustardSeed · 09/08/2020 07:34

I’ve booked regularly since they opened online bookings and never had a problem - but you have to know what you want in advance and either stay up until midnight on Thursday night or get up early on Friday morning to book. Tickets are released at midnight Thursday for the following Monday to Sunday. A lot of properties say that once you’re in, you can stay all day, but some very popular ones have a time limit (Tyntesfield was 2 hours, Mottisfont was 3 hours when I checked two weeks ago). By Friday mid morning most of the early and weekend slots are gone.

chargeorge · 09/08/2020 07:35

We've been to 2 local places in Cornwall, gardens only as houses were closed but no problem in booking, both done a week before going but you have to get in soon after booking opens. I did look on Friday for one on the next day and there were places so next day is possible just not same day booking. Basically you have to plan rather than go on a whim

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