National trust membership - a great investment

Advantages: cheap days out once a member, enjoyable and educational at the same time
Disadvantages: locations often mean a car is needed

...In these slightly more austere economic times, the best investment I have made is membership of the National Trust. What is it? The National Trust is a charity that acts to preserve a range of buildings and environments, ranging from stately homes to mills, coastline to hills, for future generations to learn from and enjoy. How much does it cost? Membership for a year costs less if you pay by direct debit, with the current direct debit prices being just £35.63 for one adult, £59.63 for 2 adults or £61.50 for a family. To put this into perspective, if you were to go as a family to legoland for just one day it would cost over £100, and an on-the-day ticket for one adult to Alton Towers costs £36 - more than a whole years membership of the National Trust! So what do I get for my money? As a member you get a flimsy cardboard members...

MarieHHH 11.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of National Trust Annual Membership

Knighthayes - National Trust Day Out

Advantages: gardens are lovely
Disadvantages: house in not very exciting to look at

...This Saturday was Heritage day and many National Trust Properties where open to the public with free entry. Being local we had visited Knightshayes many years ago but thought we would take this opportunity to take the kids for a freebie. The house was disappointing to view, particulaly with kids. There is no kitchen or a nursery to view, which I always think are the most interesting rooms in a house as they have changed the most over time. Just bedrooms and reception rooms. The gardens however are well worth a visit, they are glorious. There is something to look at in every direction with many interesting features. There is plenty of room for everyone and numerous families were enjoying a picnic. The walled garden which has been recently restored was very interesting to anyone in to vegetable growing and we certainly...

twyford4 14.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of National Trust Buildings and Property

National trust annual membership ( amazing)

Advantages: So many wonderful places to visit
Disadvantages: There isnt really anything, maybe if it rains it isnt as good sometimes.

...We currently own a family membership for the national trust. We used to have an english heritage membership but we switched to the national trust when i was about 6 and we are still with it now. So with the membership you get free access to most national trust places. They are listed in the handbook you are given and on the internet. The handbook is great, it shows you exactly what places they are to visit and where they are on the map. It also syas the facilities that each place has and what events that it holds. When the place is open and even when the best time to go visit it is, this is because of theplants that grow at specific times and when they bloom. You get a membership card which you use to gain your free access. My parents have one each. You also get three editions of the national trust magazine a year. They have good...

01zesty01 16.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of National Trust Annual Membership

A National treasure

Advantages: Always somewhere new to visit
Disadvantages: None I can think of

...When I inherited a small amount of money from an uncle some years ago I decided that rather than the money ?disappear? into our bank account I would ?invest? it in something tangible that would bring pleasure to the whole family. After some careful thought I hit on the idea of buying a life membership of the National Trust. My husband and I had for some years bought an annual family membership and had always wanted to upgrade to lifetime membership. This surprise inheritance meant that we could do just that. What is the National Trust? At the end of the 19th century three people got together and decided to set up the Trust. They were worried by the rapid industrialisation and mass developments which were allowed to go ahead unchecked in Victorian Britain. In 1895 the Trust was founded by Miss Octavia Hill, Canon Hardwicke...

gardenguru1 10.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of National Trust

Exploring the Nation's Treasures

Advantages: Value for money, inspirational for weekend days out.
Disadvantages: Many properties close up during winter months

...I first opted for some kind of annual National Trust Membership years ago when visiting a Scottish property - Culzean Castle. When visiting a National Trust property you are offered the opportunity to sign up to an annual membership, and will get any entry fees refunded for the day. Members of the National Trust for Scotland do qualify for free admittance to the National Trust properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the annual fee is marginally less, and if you join the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can in fact visit the Scottish properties such as Culzean Castle in Ayrshire that I often visited, along with the sites of those historic battles, Bannockburn and Culloden. However, having let my membership expire a few years ago, a recent trip to a NT property closest to me inspired me to...

helencbradshaw 15.11.2006 · Read review
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Review of National Trust Annual Membership

National Trust working holiday

Advantages: Very good fun, make new friends, very cheap holiday
Disadvantages: Be prepared to get muddy

...On browsing Ciao I was very surprised to find no other reviews on the National Trust working holiday experience. I did one last year and loved it! Admittedly, I didn't even do one for fun - although I had lots - but it was an easy way to complete my Duke of Edinburgh Award. Now, I would strongly consider going again, this time for fun. The holidays can be found on an easy to navigate website, or you can request a brochure. The booking staff were extremely efficient with me - I needed a working holiday at short notice, (ie a couple of days beforehand), and the next day all the relevant information was on my doormat. I was met off the train and although I had booked last notice it was all taken care of. It cost me about £50 for a week, food, accommodation, and equipment included. Very cheap! You also get a free year's membership...

pinkpoodle 04.03.2004 · Read review
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Review of National Trust Working Holidays

The perfect gift?

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...We have been members of the National trust for several years now and have enjoyed numerous days out visiting many of their properties. So let me tell you all about this wonderful charity and maybe you will be tempted to join too! The National trust. ********************** The national trust is an independent charity that cares for over 300 historic houses and protects miles of our coastline and countryside. The national trust was set up in 1895 by 3 Victorian philanthropists, Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and canon Hardwicke Rawnsley. The 3 were concerned about uncontrolled development and wanted to protect our historic houses, coastline and countryside. To-day the national trust (excluding the trust for Scotland) has over 31/2 million members. As in the past the work of the trust is still to conserver and protect many of our...

anwar 02.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of National Trust

Trust in me...

Advantages: Does great job conserving, provides good visitor experience, membership can save money
Disadvantages: Costs without membership can be high

...Hmmm...seems a bit of a departure for me this - I'm usually reviewing music, TV or films, so reviewing a conservation organisation is a bit of a diversion. Heck, its not like the Beatles going to India I suppose. Anyhow, the main reason I'm reviewing the National Trust (referred to from now on as NT) is because I used to work for them. "Bias!", "Scandal!", I hear the more dramatical of you cry. Perhaps so, but we'll see... NT was formed at the end of the 1800's to conserve properties in England of natural beauty, such as gardens, stately homes, abbeys and so on. It is similar to English Heritage in that it conserves some of our nation's history, but different in that it is a charity and is not government backed, unlike the Heritage. Therefore NT gets its money mainly from donations and memberships. Is NT membership worthwhile? Let...

Pleb 21.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of National Trust Buildings and Property

Stately Homes and Beautiful Gardens.

Advantages: `Free entry` to lots of lovely places.
Disadvantages: None.

...What made me join the National Trust? Well one night at work my friend was talking about her membership and how great it was and how her and her family had gained so much from it. She explained to me that the even after visiting only a few of the properties, she would have spent over what the family membership had cost her. That was me inspired so I went home and immediately joined on line. When I informed her that I had been awarded 3 months free for paying on line and would be receiving a free cool box, she was green with envy. This must have been 3 years ago and I have kept my membership up ever since. Prices. * * * * * * You can join at a National Trust property when you are visiting and gain free entry there and then if you have not joined previously. I joined on line and am always looking on line which has lots...

spottydog2 10.09.2007 (08.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of National Trust Annual Membership

The National Trust's best Garden

Advantages: Interesting castle with beautiful gardens and views
Disadvantages: No disabled access to castle

...Ciao has placed Powis Castle in the wrong section I think, there is one house you can rent through the National Trust but this is a castle you can visit, and one I can recommend. Powis Castle is close to Welshpool, a lovely little market town on the English/Welsh border, in the county of Powys. Standing high above the road, the drive winds round the castle, and there is plenty of parking. It is run by the National Trust and how I wished I had got my membership sorted out as I had to pay £9.45 whilst the rest of the group I was with got in free (well sort of, they had previously paid their membership!) Powis Castle has been well preserved, and the red walls, looked welcoming in the sunlight. There is a small inner ward surrounding a tiny courtyard, this dates back to about 1200. The stable housed a state coach.The castle has a lot...

jo145 11.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Powis Castle - http://www.castlewales.com/powis.html