National Trust membership

[Cush]

Reciprocal arrangements with Scottish NT as well.

And Manx National Heritage, last time I looked

 

[Barti Ddu]

And Manx National Heritage, last time I looked

Lots of countries, included some in Europe, who have reciprocal arrangements with the National Trust. Worth taking your card away with you.

INTO Places - The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO)

INTO Places opens the doors of global heritage sites with just one membership. Discover where your membership card could take you.

www.into.org

 

[denisejoe]

Now that could be the deal breaker!

Can anyone confirm this?

Phil in Northampton

We have Scottish NT and have not had to pay to park at any of the English NTs we've been to. Having said that we haven't used it recently so things may have changed.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

I'm in Northampton and have been a member of the NT for years and definitely get my money's worth. Although there isn't loads locally, they make great stops on the way to/from longer trips and I often visit places when away. They have a reciprocal deal with NTS so I use it a lot there too. Also helpful for country and coast parking. I do always check for parking, the app will tell you if not suitable for larger vehicles. Most have great parking though

I am also a member of EH and HHA. HHA have much more in Northants, e.g. Lamport, Broughton House, Holdenby, Althorpe, Rockingham Castle, Deene Park (met the owners wife giving tours!) plus the excellent Coton Manor Gardens.

 

[Widge]

I was a member for many years, (stopped 17 years ago becouse i moved to france) i didn't have a campervan but used to do a lot of hiking and camping in the lakes, soon got my money back just on the parking.

My only gripe is the NT campsites didn't give you any discount and back then they used to charge for tent+person+car.

I had a bit of a moan at the guy running the camp at wastwater, I said you want me to pay £6 a night for the car, yet i could park the car for free, in the NT carpark 20m from the entrance of the camping.
He agreed that it was stupid.

But maybe things have changed now.

 

[Figaro]

We have Scottish NT and have not had to pay to park at any of the English NTs we've been to. Having said that we haven't used it recently so things may have changed.

Nothing changed, NTS membership enables you to park at NT sites. You just can't scan you membership card in the machine.
I put a photocopy of membership card in the window, plus the window sticker they send you.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

We have had NT membership.

We quite enjoyed it but by word of mouth we discovered Historic Houses and their houses are on another level of interest.
The owners are often still present and maybe your guide.

Edit: I said the above and a little more here
Oh! Added because of the house example only

I can recommend Historic Houses too.

 

[Twitters]

We joined the NT only last week, yes you are correct all the vouchers we tried to use were not accepted, if you join on line there is a box you can tick to say you would like a £15.00 gift card, you get this with your membership cards, we received ours yesterday and are going out to visit a NT property today, we worked out that you only need to use it about 3-4 times to recoup the membership you have paid, we have also joined the English Heritage as well, you get 25% off membership in July. I have heard that you can park overnight at some of the NT carparks but not sure if this is correct? and not sure if you can park overnight with English Heritage either. Didn't know about the Historic Houses though so may have a look and see if this is worth getting in the future.

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[Figaro]

I have heard that you can park overnight at some of the NT carparks but not sure if this is correct?

Generally not.
They're quite keen on clearing carparks at closing time.
But there are NT campsites at some locations but no discount for having a card.
Can't speak for EH but I assume they'd be the same

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

We're in IOW with motorhome at Southlands Park, and it's been fantastic value all the sites we have visited on our Scooter. Cost me around £8 in fuel to cover 100 miles+ around and across the island, definitely paid for itself just here !

 

[Emmit]

I've often thought the same, but I don't think you get free parking unless it's an English membership card. (You have to scan your card on the carpark machine for it to spew out a free ticket). Parking is typically a fiver, so soon adds up.

The New Zealand NT used to be the cheapest affiliated organisation to get you into English NT properties. Don't know if that is still the case.

If I could say that as a member of Scottish NT I have visited many places in England that had mechanisms,
whether they be a manual collection or a machine without encountering a problem.

Whilst I understand that the machines have systems where ones membership card is inserted so enabling
'free' parking, all I had to do was to leave my SNT card in the windscreen.

Furthermore, we have an NT car park locally that has a machine to either collect evidence of membership
or money, I would point out the following.

At the car park, and I've looked, there is no notice of sanction. In other words, there are no signs anywhere
that, if one parks and does not show ones membership or pay money then X will occur, ie a Parking Charge Notice
will be issued.

If there is no notice of sanction then nothing could follow. For a contract (as in this case)to be made there has to be agreement
on both sides.

 

[MillyMoHo]

Same here. As well as their properties being interesting locations and buildings in their own right, many are perfect as lunch stopovers and places to walk the dog.

Tredegar House just off the M4 at Newport Gwent is a regular stop for us.

There aren't many that don't have suitable parking for motorhomes. In fact a lot have dedicated parking. Someone on MHF has compiled a directory of those that are MH suitable. A search through the resources section should find it.

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

We’ve been a member for several years, and now we’re over 60 we get a discounted membership. We pay monthly, and it’s costing us £7.50 a month. The map Ceejayt put together is a great resource, as there are lots of suitable car parks. Our Motorhome is 8metres long with a box on the back. Hopethis helps.

 

[G10]

A real bonus for us is free parking around the coast line particularly in NI.

 

[Graham Mew]

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

If you are fairly young invest in life membership, you will not regret it over the years.

 

[seasideBill]

If I could say that as a member of Scottish NT I have visited many places in England that had mechanisms,
whether they be a manual collection or a machine without encountering a problem.

Whilst I understand that the machines have systems where ones membership card is inserted so enabling
'free' parking, all I had to do was to leave my SNT card in the windscreen.

Furthermore, we have an NT car park locally that has a machine to either collect evidence of membership
or money, I would point out the following.

At the car park, and I've looked, there is no notice of sanction. In other words, there are no signs anywhere
that, if one parks and does not show ones membership or pay money then X will occur, ie a Parking Charge Notice
will be issued.

If there is no notice of sanction then nothing could follow. For a contract (as in this case)to be made there has to be agreement
on both sides.

I’d be surprised if NT, unless exceptional, pursued sanctions against freeloaders, it’s not that type of organisation. They’d be more inclined to rely on trust & honestly.

 

[Camper Sue]

We are not members. it is not cheap unless you know you will benefit from it. We looked to join in order to take the grandchildren to a pretty good, I believe, adventure playground near home. But the additional cost for the children to go to the playground made it not worthwhile. We have stopped in a couple of car parks and they have always been free.

If you are taking grandchildren regular consider buying them an annual membership. It used to be £10.00 a year. They can then go with family members and both sets of grands.

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[prenteye]

Didn’t know about over 60s discount. Now contacted and sorted.

Great to be in this forum.

As others have said NT good for days out and also as pit stops when travelling - we do that quite often. Best to check the routes though as some are down done right lanes and Mr Google not always helpful.

 

[Davecrawf]

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

We have been members for quite a few years.
There are a number of advantages:

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

We have been members for quite a few years and consider these advantages:
Free secure parking
Very interesting places to visit
Always friendly atmosphere
Pretty reasonable refreshments on site
Dog friendly
Also, even when we have a period of not visiting NT places we feel like we are contributing to their cause and helping to maintain our historic buildings and gardens.

 

[M and J]

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

We're in IOW with motorhome at Southlands Park, and it's been fantastic value all the sites we have visited on our Scooter. Cost me around £8 in fuel to cover 100 miles+ around and across the island, definitely paid for itself just here !

View attachment 781300 View attachment 781301

Joining the National Trust was the best thing we have done. Apart from beautiful houses there are numerous sandy coves and masses of open land. We have never had trouble parking which is usually generous for a motorhome. We always take our N.T. book with us. Sorry we are too far south to suggest anything suitable. Useful if you have a dog as there are so many beautiful walks but gardens don't always allow a dog, even on a lead. Just come back from North Wales. Craflwyn near Beddgelert lovely for walking, as was Beddgelert village. Plas Newydd House and Garden in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey worth a visit. You won't regret joining and we always get our money back over the year.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I am more & more reluctant to fund the English National Trust as they head further & further away from the core reasons for being and their leadership lurch into unwarranted 'wokery'.

See
https://www.restoretrust.org.uk/about-us
A campaign group aimed at getting the NT back on track

 

[Betty2019]

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

It's well worth the annual fee and, in our experience, very moho friendly

 

[Apacheman]

If you are retired and like us trip off regularly both the NT and English Heritage (EH) offer great value for money. NT covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the outset. EH gives you half price entry to Scottish and Welsh linked properties in the first year of membership and free entry thereafter. Both have decent phone apps making it easy to see where places of interest are when planning a trip. No matter where you go in the UK there’s generally a NT or EH place to visit with MH friendly car parks and free parking for members. I only wish that they would allow overnight parking for members with self serviced MHs.

 

[Andy_Elddis125]

I was given life membership for my 21st birthday (£75 at the time) - my mum loved a bargain. Interestingly at Studland beach motorhomes pay more for parking - but not if you are a member when it's the same whatever the vehicle.

 

[phil_in_npton]

Good Afternoon!

Done it!

Joined this morning ready for tour of Houghton Mill tomorrow £14 plus parking on the credit side straight away!
We don’t have a dog and only semi retired so distance/time limited for now.
Week in Yorkshire/Whitby booked for September so opportunity’s on way up and back.
Looking forward to visiting some nice places!

Phil in Northampton

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[prenteye]

I was given life membership for my 21st birthday (£75 at the time) - my mum loved a bargain. Interestingly at Studland beach motorhomes pay more for parking - but not if you are a member when it's the same whatever the vehicle.

Studland Beach is lovely. Having the benefit of free parking rather than paying a surcharge is great. NT have been really good about Moho parking at almost every place we have been. Often they will suggest a good place to park.

We don’t often go in the properties as we have a dog with us but when we do we are happy to see updated context about the history of those places.

 

[ukfetchfan]

Every time you enter a NT site and your Membership card is scanned then that property gets a certain amount of money from the central NT funds. Individual sites need as much money as they can raise, not necessarily for the fabric of the building, but in order to put on ‘Special Events’, decorations for Christmas or trails for the children etc.
So when you are travelling and need a loo break see if you can pop in to a NT property. You get a free wee and they get about £3 for scanning you in. Win-win!

 

[nigel dewbery]

Good Morning

Now that we have the opportunity to make a few more trips out, I was considering joining the National Trust.
Are you members? Do you get satisfaction from your membership? Are they motorhome friendly?
We joined years ago before the motorhome and never really got to use it enough to cover the investment as having to pay for accommodation if further afield and not too many within a nearby radius.
It’s £139 for joint membership. Discount codes I’ve come across don’t work either!
So can you offer your experiences and any recommendations on places you’ve visited ( ideally within a two to three hours drive from Northampton)

Thanks!

Phil in Northampton

Been an NT member for a few years and always been great value, so much so that when hit 60 became a lifetime member, costs about the same as 15 years
Also if you pay as grift aid can be declared as charitable giving on tax return

 

[Nellie123]

We joined NT earlier this year and it has been worthwhile; we have mostly visited the larger estates where the grounds have been dog friendly. The carparks get busy at weekends/lunchtime but generally easy to find space for motorhome on weekdays. At Cragside there was a separate area for motorhome parking near the formal gardens.

 

[icantremember]

We've had great value from my life membership covering entry for 2 people taken out in 1973 for the princely sum of £30!

 

[Figaro]

We've had great value from my life membership covering entry for 2 people taken out in 1973 for the princely sum of £30!

Thats fantastic, I wish I'd had the foresight

Actually I was still at school.
I guess 30 pounds was a sizeable chunk of money in 1973, perhaps two weeks wages for many ?
Or a nice gift if you have generous parents