The National Trust membership?

[AANDYY]

Hello fellow National Trust members! I'm thinking about joining the National Trust membership.
What does it give me? I've had a look on their web site and it's not to clear to me, is it free entry to every National trust place or just reduced admission, how much reduction?

 

[Charles Morgan]

Free entry to homes and gardens.

I've been a member for decades, the winner in that relationship by a huge margin being the National Trust.

 

[DSM10000]

Free entry to homes and gardens.

I've been a member for decades, the winner in that relationship by a huge margin being the National Trust.

Ditto!

Occasionally there may be exhibitions or other special events taking place in or around NT properties that incur an extra charge but entrance to the homes and gardens, as Charles stated above, is included in the cost of membership.

 

[del320]

And then, of course, you'll find that the next property you want to visit is under the care of English/Scottish Heritage.



Both organisations around £70 each for joint annual membership. You have to be keen.

 

[Markjames]

I'm a member of English heritage as more places to visit in my area and also can get a years joint membership for £30 of Tesco club card vouchers.

 

[Giantvanman]

I decided not to support them when they started dabbling in politics which was about the same time they came under the influence of the Islington set/PC brigade types. Yet another laudable organisation corrupted by the self-serving and the axe-to-grind crew (eg. RSPCA, RSPB et al). Soap box away; resume normal transmission.

 

[abecketts]

I decided not to support them when they started dabbling in politics which was about the same time they came under the influence of the Islington set/PC brigade types. Yet another laudable organisation corrupted by the self-serving and the axe-to-grind crew (eg. RSPCA, RSPB et al). Soap box away; resume normal transmission.

You forgot to mention their commercial operation National Trust Enterprises, it is not an experience as a small food producer I'd care to do again and hence why we are not members anymore.

 

[Harrythedog]

Depends where you want to visit. There is also the Historic House Association ( HHA) which grants you free entry to a number of places

 

[Charles Morgan]

My beef with the National Trust is not necessarily that they are a bunch of Guardian eating socialist lentils but that they used to strip a house of all accretions and return it to precisely how it was when built, which seemed like vandalism to me, plus they fail to act as a landowner would, managing their estates for long term reward. The net effect is the areas they own are economic deserts without light industry or commercial activity other than the sale of chintz teapots and Pam Ayres bogroll covers.

I have been muttering about resigning for years but never quite get round to it. A man needs something to mutter about after all.

 

[IanA2]

My beef with the National Trust is not necessarily that they are a bunch of Guardian eating socialist lentils but that they used to strip a house of all accretions and return it to precisely how it was when built, which seemed like vandalism to me, plus they fail to act as a landowner would, managing their estates for long term reward. The net effect is the areas they own are economic deserts without light industry or commercial activity other than the sale of chintz teapots and Pam Ayres bogroll covers.

I have been muttering about resigning for years but never quite get round to it. A man needs something to mutter about after all.

Agreed. Also they seem to know little about country life. I stopped the DD some time ago.

 

[BEJ]

Free car parking in the NT car parks as well. Having said that, they seem to be making a charge at Wakehurst Place, - I wonder if this is the start of wider car park charging to further enrich their coffers.

 

[geraldrobins]

And they will say the parking charge is to encourage us to visit on a bus!!!

 

[Beetnik]

Free car parking in the NT car parks as well. Having said that, they seem to be making a charge at Wakehurst Place, - I wonder if this is the start of wider car park charging to further enrich their coffers.

No - it means the car park at Wakehurst Place doesn't belong to the NT.

 

[BEJ]

No - it means the car park at Wakehurst Place doesn't belong to the NT.

Ah, as far as I know it does!

 

[IanA2]

Ah, as far as I know it does!

It does: "In order to maintain the running costs of Wakehurst and continue delivering our outstanding horticultural standards and wonderful visitor experience, we charge for parking."

See Car Parking Charges | Visit Wakehurst

ETA: Not clear about the ownership/management arrangements between NT & Kew

 

[grober]

Wakehurst Place is leased from the National Trust and is "managed" ?? by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Wakehurst Place - Visitor information - National Trust

 

[IanA2]

Wakehurst Place is leased from the National Trust and is "managed" ?? by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Wakehurst Place - Visitor information - National Trust

I'm guessing Kew do the gardening and NT the rest.

 

[grober]

Wakehurst Place is leased from the National Trust and is "managed" ?? by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Wakehurst Place - Visitor information - National Trust

http://www.kew.org/sites/default/files/Senior Organisational Chart - March 2014.pdf

FROM THE KEW 2013-14 ANNUAL REPORT NOTE 11

The Board of Trustees does not hold title to the land and
buildings used by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew except for
the Welcome Trust Millennium Building and the land it is
situated on and the adjacent Havelock farm which was
acquired in 2012/13. The remaining land and buildings are
owned by the Crown at Kew and by the National Trust at
Wakehurst Place.

Interesting that an organisation that receives an annual £28 million " grant in aid " from the public purse [DEFRA?] finds it necessary to charge said public for car parking but there you go.