National Trust or English Heritage - which one for you ? (1 Viewer)

[h1ghway1]

I know its November but my kids have asked me what I want for Xmas....sorry for the X word

Which would you recommend and why ?

Thanks..

 

[WillH]

Neither

 

[Jenowen]

National Trust because your membership fee will cover parking and admission costs to fabulous areas of countryside and amazing historic buildings. Apart from the direct benefits to you the income generated means that the organisation can invest in the conservation and care of these sites, most of which it is pledged to look after forever.

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[Stealaway]

We had membership bought by our kids last year. We have had their moneys worth 5 fold. We hadn't realize but you can use it in Scotland - double whammy. We asked for it renewed this xmas. We even used their car parks for overnight wilding. Bargain

 

[Head Gardener]

Depending upon your interests, there is also the Historic Houses Association.
https://www.hha.org.uk/join-the-hha/friends-membership.html

Friends membership costs about the same as the NT or EH and gets you into all sorts of interesting places, particularly gardens that you might not otherwise get a chance to see. The downside is that many of the properties are not dog-friendly.

 

[Janine]

English Heritage tend to look after ancient monuments and castles whereas NT are more stately homes.

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[BobtheBass]

Both. Join the New Zealand National Trust for £40 joint membership and get both.

 

[EX51SSS]

Neither

Plus 1

 

[icantremember]

We are life members of the NT (joined in 1973 £30 ) and have been to many properties over the years and more so since going motorhomeing. AS said above the NT also owns vast tracts of countryside and coastal areas to which you get free access.

If you like ruins then join EH, but if you like properties with rooves then it's NT.

Although we have never had a problem parking motorhomes at NT properties during the day it woul be great if they would accommodate overnight stops at some, even if there was a charge.

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[carolyn]

National Trust for us although I think you can use Tesco vouchers to join English Heritage . We live near Stourhead so 3 visits and we've covered our costs .

 

[mikebeaches]

Although we have never had a problem parking motorhomes at NT properties during the day it would be great if they would accommodate overnight stops at some, even if there was a charge.

We were allowed to at NT Stourhead a couple of years ago. There is a CL there, but we asked if we could park overnight in the huge car park (on grass) and the answer was yes. A note was taken of our name and registration number, and I think we paid £5 or something like that - I can't really remember about payment, but if there was one, it was very small. And there were toilets, which I think were open 24/7.

 

[mikebeaches]

Just as an aside, talking about National Trust and English Heritage. The Trust is a charity, but EH is in public ownership, rather like the Forestry Commission.

And I sometimes ask myself, why do I need to pay 'again' to enter an English Heritage property, when we the Great British public - the nation of taxpayers - already own it!

And I get the same feeling when asked to pay a huge admission to visit Westonbirt Arboretum (Forestry Commission).

I must be just a curmudgeonly old so and so...

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[Hils and Glenns]

We joined EH a couple of years ago after years of having NT membership. A little known fact is that in the first year of EH membership you can get into NT properties half price and after 2 years membership you can get into NT properties free. Not sure that it works the other way round. Also EH have lots of half price deals with other places
As far as parking is concerned you pay at EH sites but they refund the charge when you go in.

 

[magicsurfbus]

You maybe save more with NT membership because their fees are so expensive, but their range of properties is less varied than EH. If at was me I'd go for EH because I'm not that bothered by visiting big houses with extortionate gift shops, which seem to form a considerable portion of NT's portfolio - I prefer the variety of ancient monuments run by EH. On the other hand NT often manage tracts of countryside, whereas EH tend to go for structures.

A little known fact is that EH membership can get you concessions on some historic sites run by local councils, as was the case with the site I work at. It all depends on what's been agreed at local level.

 

[magicsurfbus]

And I sometimes ask as myself, why do I need to pay 'again' to enter an English Heritage property, when we the Great British public - the nation of taxpayers - already own it!

Because acquiring the property is a one-off overhead cost, whereas maintaining it and opening it to visitors is an ongoing cost. The vast majority of taxpayers who 'own' it will probably never visit it, so let those who do choose to visit it pay for keeping it open.

I work at a historic site owned by the local council, so in effect, paid for by local council tax payers (like me). Even if it was closed to the public it would still have running costs. If we let everybody in for nothing the local council tax payers (like me) would have to pay more for it to stay open. By trying to claw a bit of money back from those who choose to visit we lower the council tax burden on those who don't. It's one of the reasons why I object to free admissions on Heritage Open Days - I'm subsidising them

Something that niggles me about the National Trust is how they charge so much for entry but staff many of their sites with unpaid volunteers. Obviously we're free to do what we please with our spare time, but when you consider the ridiculous prices on their pot pourri and their jars of traditional hand-crafted weasel and hemlock conserve in the gift shop you'd have thought they might slip their guides a few quid for their efforts.

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[Spidey]

We joined both this year, but got more from NT this time around. Over the years have been members of both. Well worth the money as it costs a fortune to run these places. It does sadden me when it is suggested to buy an overseas one and use it here to save money.

We have stayed at the Stourhead CL lovely and so quiet when everyone goes home, one night we were by ourselves! The toilets are open while the centre is open, so the close at 6pm.

 

[mikebeaches]

Barclays Premiere Current Account holders (not a paid-for account), have free access to English Heritage properties.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Barclays Premiere Current Account holders (not a paid-for account), have free access to English Heritage properties.

https://www.barclays.co.uk/premier-banking/current-accounts/

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[mikebeaches]

Because acquiring the property is a one-off overhead cost, whereas maintaining it and opening it to visitors is an ongoing cost. The vast majority of taxpayers who 'own' it will probably never visit it, so let those who do choose to visit it pay for keeping it open.

I work at a historic site owned by the local council, so in effect, paid for by local council tax payers (like me). Even if it was closed to the public it would still have running costs. If we let everybody in for nothing the local council tax payers (like me) would have to pay more for it to stay open. By trying to claw a bit of money back from those who choose to visit we lower the council tax burden on those who don't. It's one of the reasons why I object to free admissions on Heritage Open Days - I'm subsidising them

Something that niggles me about the National Trust is how they charge so much for entry but staff many of their sites with unpaid volunteers. Obviously we're free to do what we please with our spare time, but when you consider the ridiculous prices on their pot pourri and their jars of traditional hand-crafted weasel and hemlock conserve in the gift shop you'd have thought they might slip their guides a few quid for their efforts.

Don't take this too seriously, because I'm not trying to wind you, or anybody else, up - but would you expect to pay to walk in your local park? Surely that requires expenditure to keep it in a fit state to be enjoyed by the public? But the local council will no doubt have decided it is a facility that should be of benefit to all; the operation of which is paid for out of LA funds (ie predominantly Council taxpayers).

 

[TerryL]

We're members of both, have been for a number of years ago. Just a few weeks ago we spent a couple of weeks touring and visiting as many NT & EH sites we could fit in, and after taking note of what we would have paid as non-members, we easily covered our membership costs. Would have been nice if we could have overnighted too (we did ask but were politely refused) although we're aware a few places do allow it.

But we tend to take a wider, more charitable view of membership cost and look upon it as our donation to help preserve theses historical places (and some not so historical) for future generations. Perhaps we're more fortunate than some but we're never going to visit them all in what remains of our lifetime.

 

[Silver-Fox]

And I sometimes ask myself, why do I need to pay 'again' to enter an English Heritage property, when we the Great British public - the nation of taxpayers - already own it!

And I get the same feeling when asked to pay a huge admission to visit Westonbirt Arboretum (Forestry Commission).

Same as that

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[DavidG58]

we are members of both, mainly down to laziness and auto renew DD's

but we do feel a bit of civic duty to help restore and maintain these sites, I know the NT are one of the richest organisations in the country, but so is the queen and we quite like her as well

on a point of interest, you can join the NT for Scotland for much less that the English derivative and get all the same benefits. I believe this might apply world wide, possibly even suggested higher up re New Zealand could well be even cheaper

must research the EH members having rights to NT sites though, really no point in paying for both if we don't need to

TBH hardly use either. but nice when away in MH to sometimes just stop when we see a NT signpost

 

[Spidey]

on a point of interest, you can join the NT for Scotland for much less that the English derivative and get all the same benefits. I believe this might apply world wide, possibly even suggested higher up re New Zealand could well be even cheaper

I think joining the Scottish one to get a cheaper fee is fine as it still keeps our UK heritage going. Really don't think they should allow buying an overseas one if you don't live there.

 

[Brian and Jo]

We have been members of the NT for many years and consider t very good value for money.We think it goes hand in hand with our motorhoming hobby.we have travelled to many parts of the UK this year and we have visited 14 NT locations ,this to us = good value for money
Brian & Jo

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[two]

EH = ruins & outside toilets
NT = tea rooms & gift shops

Of the two, I'd choose NT first, but there are some very good EH properties. Take a look at a map and see what you'd be able to make most use of. If you're more interested in castles, EH. I think there's a bigger choice with NT.

 

[wasp]

Scottish NT is cheaper we joined and also EH cos we got quite a few around us Hardwick Hall Bolsover Castle to name two but there are several around our area Notts.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Malta's National Trust
€20 Dec-Nov
Reciprocal

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[Head Gardener]

All this talk of NT vs. EH made me check the bank statement .....

Been members of NT for years, always thought of it as a charitable donation with the bonus of free parking in a few useful Lake District spots. But they are charging me £63 per year for the privilege whereas Scottish NT will charge us £38 for a year (one person, over 60). If the difference was just a few quid I might ignore it . . . .

 

[Langtoftlad]

@Head Gardener
Just be aware that the reciprocal arrangements for the Scottish NT [or other ] don't apply to car parking...

 

[Jands]

We got life membership for both many years ago, few years after getting married.
Be useful evan just stopping for a picnic when travelling.
Means going out for the day is free and .ca visit a few places if close by.
Eldest daughter wants life memberships as a wedding present.

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