In this post, I want to share with you the 5 great reasons for you to get a family National trust pass. National trust for me is more like National treasure, but I haven’t always felt like that. Being dragged to these old houses and forced to walk around gardens as a child was simply put… BORING! My parents loved these days out but I never expected to feel the same as them. Until my family grew three years ago and finding days out suddenly became a priority. After doing some research, buying National trust passes seemed like a no brainer for us as a family.
Who are National Trust?
Founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, they are now the leading conservation charity in Europe. The reason they developed the National trust was to preserve places of natural beauty and history for future generations.
National trust as a charity work tirelessly to maintain the properties they run for their visitors. With over 5 million National Trust pass holders alone, this is a huge organisation. An organisation that needs all the support it can get after the last year.
5 great reasons to get a National trust pass
1. Value for money
If you consider that a family of 5 are likely to pay close to £50 just to watch a film at the cinema, or well over £100 for a theme park day out, it’s fair to say days out are not always affordable.
With costs like that, often days out are a rare treat. With a National trust pass costing a family just £10.50 a month. days out can become a weekly event. With the cost of most of their properties currently listed at £12.50-£25 for a family of 5, you can see that one day out a month would be more expensive than the monthly membership.
This means that even just one day out a month and you’re making a saving. In our first year alone we saved over £200 on our days out.
Just a note, prices may differ currently due to houses being closed to the public. The sites are generally open if they have outdoor areas available.
2. Unlimited visits
There is no restriction to the amount of times you can visit their sites using your National trust pass. If you have a site close by, there is absolutely no reason why you couldn’t visit daily if you choose to!
With so many properties and sites available to visit, you could visit somewhere new each week!
3. Family friendly
National trust are very family friendly. Some of our favourite play areas are at NT sites. If they’d been as good when I was younger, maybe I would have enjoyed our days out a little more!
Not only that, but I don’t think we have visited a single site that doesn’t have some kind of activity running for children. From egg hunts, to outdoor and indoor trails, there is always something that is guaranteed to engage the children with the history of the property, without even realising!
4. So much more than old houses
It would be so easy to think of them as just old buildings but they are much more than this. Most properties are surrounded by acres of beautiful landscape, perfect for those who like to walk and be outdoors. There are some of the most incredible gardens as well.
Stunning art collections, in some cases, beautifully and painstakingly restored by experts. Most sites also have cafe’s, a second hand book shop (My absolute favourite stop!) and often plant sales available for visitors.
Not forgetting of course that they over see 780 miles of the UK coastline and they are honestly some of the most beautiful beaches and coastlines I have ever seen.
The staff, who are mainly made up of volunteers are some of the most engaging, knowledgeable people I have ever met. All of them are so passionate about the sites and are passionate about sharing this information. They are a credit to the National trust.
5. They know how to celebrate
Often they will run events and even when doing work to properties, they some how manage to involve their visitors in the experience. When visiting Tyntesfield, they were having a new fire alarm system put in. Doesn’t sound very exciting but they were able to adapt the displays to allow for room closures and sharing with the public the importance of the alarm system. Sharing how they protect the site and plans that are in place for removing precious treasures in the event of a fire.
Christmas is one of my absolute favourite times of year to visit National trust passes. Often they have big events running, some where a small additional fee is required on top of your membership. Believe me when I tell you it is worth it. We’ve visited Waddesdon Manor 3 times at Christmas now and it is phenomenal and cost me less than £10 on our membership cost. I’d happily pay 3 times that for the experience!
There is always a reason to celebrate with National Trust!
Supporting National trust
Here is a little bonus 6th reason to join. By signing up for a National trust pass, you are helping to support them and keep these sites open.
I have visited over the years, some of the most beautiful and inspiring places. I’ve watched my family come alive, engage in history and be children. Running free, climbing trees, swinging on ropes, fishing in rock pools and splashing in water.
National trust offer a world of experiences for children and you can even follow their 50 things to do before your 11 3/4 activity list. Although looking through that list, it should probably to do before 40 because I haven’t done most of them!
If you see the National trust pass as an investment, in your fun and in your whole family, you’ll see that it is money well spent!
Have you got a National trust membership or is it something you would consider? If you have, what is your top recommendation to visit?
Oh our National Trust membership was one of the best things we’ve invested in. We’re really lucky to have several lovely places within easy reach too.
I absolutely love ours. We are not too close to any but they are always worth the drive x
This is something me and my partner have been looking to do. We wanted to do it and then we went into another lockdown. But as soon as more things open up it is something we will be buying. There are so many different places to explore. Also one of my friends has it and loves it as well. Thank you for sharing your great reasons why people should invest in a National Trust pass.
Lauren
I can’t recommend them enough! It really does make you want to get out as much as possible x
this is such a great idea and will have to share it with my sisters! There are so many places to visit and activities and usually going around in three can get pricey but with a pass would be much easier! Can’t wait to check more about it, thanks for sharing x
Oo, I love the National Trust houses and gardens – especially the ones with a little café too. Fab post x
I had a national trust pass but cancelled when the first lockdown hit. I loved it, I love going around old house. When everything gets back to normal, I will be getting another pass, as I miss going out for the day. Thank you for sharing.
OMG! I just Googled it and it looks stunning. I would 100% get a pass if I lived in the UK! There’s so many great things to do for all ages. Hopefully I’ll be able to visit one day. Thanks for sharing xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
I really want to get one for this summer. My fiance doesn’t love walking but I love the idea of setting up a picnic and just walking the day away!
Rosie
What a lovely post! The National Trust has some amazing places to see and do, and I deffo see why a pass is value for money, especially for a family x
We don’t have a membership but I think if we had kids we probably would as it’s a nice and reasonably easy way to make a day out of going out x
My partner’s parents would love to have this, they love going in walk around country estates and old homes. I wonder when we’ll actually be able to do that again. Can you get a years pass in one go or does it have to be on a monthly subscription?
These are some great reasons to get yourself a national trust pass, I have to admit it has been ages since I’ve been to a national trust location but I used to love going to explore them.
I never really thought about getting a National Trust pass, but I really want to get one after reading this post now! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I have never heard of a national trust pass but it sounds like a fun idea. I would get a pass as soon as I can as this sounds really fab and thrilling to me! Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m so glad to have seen your post as we are about to renew our passes! It’s a lovely reminder of all the reasons we love the National Trust 😊 and now we can travel again – it hands down wins against walking round the park for the 1 billionth time xx
We have been considering getting a National Trust pass for quite some time now. We have so many properties nearby so might just have to get one! Some great reasons here.
I didn’t realise you can get a pass for all of the places! It seems like really good value for money, great for the summer as a lot of families are struggling at the moment. I know my siblings have just been on their laptops and games for the last lockdown so it might be nice for them to get some fresh air!
Em x
We use and love our National Trust pass so much (well when Covid allows that is), I found it’s really been worth it and helps support this great charity too
Laura x
I have definitely thought about getting a pass for National Trust as the parks and locations are so beautiful, so it’s great to hear they’re worth the money. Thanks for sharing this!
I’m with the NT too. Whenever I visit a city, I always look for places of interest around about with them. Great value for money.