What is the National Trust family membership?

Child stepping on a log at Dyffryn House and Gardens — Dyffryn House and Gardens. National Trust Images James Dobson

National Trust memberships help protect nature and history for future generations (and, ideally, forever!).

There are four different types of membership: Joint, Family, Individual and Lifetime. All memberships except the junior memberships will entitle you to free parking at most National Trust car parks, and all memberships will give you access to over 500 places which are cared for by National Trust.

As well as various England-based National Trust properties, you can also visit places cared for by National Trust for Scotland and organisations in countries around the world.

So, what is the family membership? The National Trust family membership is for one or two adults (18+) who live at the same address and their children or grandchildren (17 and under) to visit National Trust properties and gardens using their card.

Now you know what the National Trust family membership is, it's time to find out what's included.

Buy a National Trust family membership from £8.25 per month at National Trust

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What is included in the National Trust family membership?

Children doing archery at Attingham Park — Attingham Park. National Trust Images Arnhel de Serra

When buying any monthly or annual membership, whether that's a streaming service membership such as Disney Plus or an activity-based membership like the Merlin Annual Pass, it's important to know you're getting a lot for your money.

With a National Trust family membership, you can get free entry to more than 500 places in National Trust's care. This includes the likes of Attingham Park in Shropshire, Dyffryn House and Gardens in Cardiff, Clumber Park in Nottingham, and so much more.

As National Trust knows a lot of families drive to the properties, so with a National Trust family membership, you'll get free parking at most National Trust car parks.

If you're looking for inspiration for your next National Trust visit? Well, with your family membership, National Trust provides plenty of means for inspiration for your upcoming family day out, such as a National Trust Handbook full of information about the places looked after, a National Trust Magazine which comes three times a year full of interviews, news, and suggestions, plus access to the National Trust online Members' Area, which has first-look previews and behind-the-scenes features.

Once you've bought your National Trust family membership, you'll receive a confirmation email containing your temporary membership card, then you can start visiting National Trust places immediately — time to pack the car and round-up the kids!

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How many children can use the National Trust family membership?

The simple answer is: any amount of children can use the National Trust family membership.

There are National Trust family membership options for two adults living at the same address and their children or grandchildren, and for one adult and their children or grandchildren.

It's worth mentioning that under fives go absolutely free to National Trust properties.

Buy a National Trust family membership from £8.25 per month at National Trust

How much does the National Trust family membership cost?

Children playing in a National Trust play area at Stourhead — Stourhead. National Trust Images Betsy Ogilvie

We have broken down each National Trust family membership below, here are the details of each one:

Family membership: | Two adults (aged 18+) and living at the same address and their children or grandchildren (17 and under) | Under fives go free | £159 per year or £13.25 per month.
Family membership: | One adult (aged 18+) and their children or grandchildren | Under fives go free | £99 per year or £8.25 per month.

Payments can be made monthly or annually in advance, and you can set up a Direct Debit for peace of mind that the National Trust membership is paying each month.

Plus, if you set up an annual Direct Debit online for a National Trust family membership, you'll get a free £15 National Trust gift card to spend in the shops and cafés.

Buy a National Trust family membership from £8.25 per month at National Trust

Can families get free access to any National Trust properties?

Children and their parent on a bike ride at National Trust's Calke Abbey — Calke Abbey. National Trust Images Chris Lacey

So you've got your National Trust family membership card, but which National Trust properties and gardens can you and your family now visit? Well, pretty much all of them!

Your National Trust membership card gives you, another adult, and your children or grandchildren free entry to over 500 places in National Trust's care. These include National Trust properties such as Mount Stewart in County Down, Greenway in Devon, Chartwell in Kent, Culloden in Inverness, Dinefwr Castle in Carmarthenshire, and so many more (but even more on that later).

However, there are a few exceptions which are excluded from the National Trust membership free entry. 'Why is this?' you might be thinking, and we completely understand the concern, as you've just invested in a membership. However, there are a few National Trust sites where members have to pay an entry fee and this is because the actual property is at least partially managed by another body. You can take a look at the full list of exceptions at the National Trust website.

Buy a National Trust family membership from £8.25 per month at National Trust

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Which National Trust properties are included in the family membership?

Children playing at Attingham Park — Attingham Park. National Trust Images James Dobson

With over 500 National Trust sites included in your new National Trust family membership, it would be difficult — and very time-consuming for our team — to write all of the properties out. However, we have selected a National Trust site in each area of the UK, and later on, we've hand-picked the best National Trust properties for a family day out in 2024.

South East: Petworth Park, West Sussex
Wales: Chirk Castle, Wrexham
South West: Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall
Northern Ireland: Castle Ward, County Down
Midlands: Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
North East: Cragside, Northumberland
North West: Sizergh, Cumbria.

Now, let's take a look at the best National Trust properties and gardens to visit this summer holidays.

Buy a National Trust family membership from £8.25 per month at National Trust

Best National Trust properties for a family day out in 2024 at a glance:

Clumber Park | Nottinghamshire
Wimpole Hall Estate | Cambridgeshire
Fenton House and Gardens | London
Knole | Kent
Rhosili and South Gower Coast | Swansea
Paycocke House and Gardens | Essex
Prior Park Landscape Garden | Bath

Best National Trust properties for a family day out in 2024

Children doing archery at Felbrigg Hall — Felbrigg Hall. National Trust Images David Kirkham

We asked our Digital Writers what their favourite National Trust property is, either to take their children to or their favourite National Trust site as a child. These were the results, and it's safe to say, the National Trust sites are certainly eclectic with locations up and down the country.

Clumber Park

When this Digital Writer lived in Nottingham, her, her parents and sister would visit Clumber Park every Sunday morning. They'd get there at 8am, grab a takeaway coffee and a sausage cob, and walk around the lake, stopping at one specific bench half way round for a natter. The walk would take them approximately two-hours.

Besides a gorgeous lake, great café and stunning views, Clumber Park also has plenty of historic elements which will delight older children such as The Lincoln Stables which once housed the Duke of Newcastle’s horses and livery, the longest Glasshouse in the National Trust, The Chapel of St Mary the Virgin, and the two-mile long Lime Tree Avenue which is made up of 1,296 lime trees.

Plus, children can make the most of National Trust's Summer of Play, and there's an outdoor cinema which shows movies suitable for the whole family, which is on at Clumber Park from now until 30th August.

Explore Clumber Park at National Trust

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Wimpole Hall Estate

Are you and your family ready to explore a living working estate with an impressive mansion, parkland, gardens and rare breed farm? Then head on over to Wimpole Hall Estate in Cambridgeshire.

The historic house is certainly a highlight at Wimpole Hall Estate; at the 17th-century mansion, you can explore intimate family rooms, and soak in the lavish Georgian interiors. If the sun is shining — which we're hopeful it will this school holidays — take a walk round the walled kitchen garden, parterre and winding pleasure grounds.

Then be sure to stop off at the farm! Wimpole Hall Estate's Home Farm is a model for sustainable farming practices, and it's home to many rare-breed animals including Shire horses, pigs, sheep, cows and goats. What a perfect way to round off a day at Wimpole Hall Estate.

Explore Wimpole Hall Estate at National Trust

Fenton House and Gardens

Who said you have to travel outside of London to experience National Trust sites? While London may be home to towering buildings, it's also the location of Fenton House and Gardens.

Fenton House and Gardens has a 17th century property which is home to collections of ceramics, needlework, paintings and early keyboard instruments, and Fenton House offers gorgeous views across Hampstead and London. In terms of gardens, there's a beautiful orchard which has 32 heritage varieties of apples and pears, as well as trees laden with spring blossom — the perfect backdrop for your next family selfie.

Explore Fenton House and Gardens at National Trust

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Knole

Knole in Kent is may just be one of the oldest and largest National Trust estates, with its 600-year-old estate which comes with courtyards, showrooms, and a Gatehouse Tower, as well as acres of parkland.

This August, Knole is offering two exciting events which are great for the whole family. The first takes place on Thursday 22nd August and it's a willow weaving session with Nature Makers. In the willow weaving session, you will weave a stunning swallow or flying fish to take home and display. This project is a great starter willow activity for children and adults, so there's no need to worry it'll be too difficult for youngsters.

Also at Knole this school holidays, you can visit Lord Sackville's private garden on Wednesday 14th August. For just a few days each year, the doors of the Orangery are thrown open to reveal the 26-acre garden, which boasts bluebells, wisteria, herbs, azaleas, rhododendrons and more beautiful flowers.

Explore Knole at National Trust

Rhosili and South Gower Coast

This next National Trust site was recommended by MadeForMums Digital Writer Matt Trask, and it's the perfect destination to visit if your little ones love the beach. Rhosili and South Gower Coast has a beautiful, sandy beach which would rival the likes of the beaches in Majorca; the beach at Rhosili Bay stretches for three miles, and at low tide, you can see the 1887 wreck of the Helvetia.

Also at Rhosili and South Gower Coast, you can visit The Vile: an example of medieval strip farming which has been preserved for its archaeological value and for wildlife.

Explore Rhosili and South Gower Coast at National Trust

Paycocke House and Gardens

Fancy exploring a Tudor merchant's house whose walls have more than a few stories to tell? You've certainly come to the right Essex home.

A few of the highlights from this gorgeous National Trust property include a 16th-century Tudor merchant’s house with panelled rooms and woodcarving, which was originally built for the cloth merchant Thomas Paycocke, a tiered garden and second-hand bookshop.

Plus, earlier we said that you could secure a free £15 National Trust gift card to spend in the shops and cafés, and we know the perfect café to spend this in... Paycocke House and Gardens has a cosy tea room set within the Parlour Room of the house, with outside tables to enjoy food and drinks in a garden setting, too.

Explore Paycocke House and Gardens at National Trust

Prior Park Landscape Garden

Although Bridgerton certainly isn't a family-friendly viewing, if you're partial to an episode or two once the children are in bed, we have on good authority that the Prior Park Landscape Garden in Bath has a bridge just like the one in the hit Netflix series, and that bridge is called the Palladian bridge. In a more historic description, the Palladian bridge is one of only four bridges of this design in the world, dating back to 1755, and it was inspired by Italian architect Andrea Palladio.

At Prior Park Landscape Garden, there is also a magical garden designed by Ralph Allen, and a tea cabin at the bottom of the garden — another perfect place to spend your £15 National Trust voucher.

Explore Prior Park Landscape Garden at National Trust

Buy a National Trust family membership from £8.25 per month at National Trust

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Laura Wybrow

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