If you are considering purchasing, you might be questioning, is a National Trust membership worth it? In 2021, I put a membership to the test and I’m sharing my thoughts in this National Trust membership review.
In this guide you will find a breakdown of the costs spent and saved with a National Trust membership. Plus, I share important points to consider and the unexpected benefits to help you decide if a National Trust membership is for you.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more here.
Is a National Trust Membership worth it?
If you’ve been following Get Lost for a while, you have noticed that I have been writing about a lot of National Trust sites recently.
This is because for Christmas 2020 my parents gifted James and I National Trust memberships.
I’ve visited several National Trust sites in the past, but I’ve never had a membership until this gift.
A membership was the ideal gift for us to use in 2021 as we weren’t planning any international trips, so we were keen to explore as many local places as possible.
But is a National Trust membership worth it? I’m going to share my thoughts with you in this National Trust membership review.
What is a National Trust Membership?
A National Trust membership is the best way to see some of the most impressive historic buildings and beautiful natural landscapes in the UK.
The National Trust was established in 1895 with the goal to “promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the Nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest”.
The goal still remains to preserve buildings of historic interest, and to protect wild landscapes. This goal has led the National Trust to become one of the largest landowners in the United Kingdom!
To continue to preserve and restore these significant spaces, the majority of National Trust sites are open to the public and admission fees and membership costs are invested back into their properties.
A National Trust membership gets you free entry to over 500 National Trust sites, as well as free parking at the majority of them.
You also receive a handbook detailing all their sites, plus, three magazines per year.
How many members does the National Trust have?
The National Trust has over 5.37 million members.
That is around 8% of the UK population!
So, what is it that attracts so many people to sign up for a National Trust membership each year?
We’re going to pick that apart in some detail. But first, let’s take a look at the numbers.
How much is a National Trust Membership?
When it comes to purchasing a National Trust membership, there are different options available.
Here is a breakdown of the different National Trust memberships available, how much they cost and who they are most suitable for.
Individual Membership National Trust
Individual membership to the National Trust is for one person and can be purchased for yourself or as a gift. The pricing for individual membership is as follows:
- Adult (26+): £76.80 a year or £6.40 a month
- Young person (18-25 years): £38.40 a year
- Junior (0-17 years but under 5s go free): £10 a year
Note that the monthly cost is for a 12-month duration and monthly payments are not available on gift memberships.
Joint Membership National Trust
A joint membership is ideal for couples who love to explore together! As long as you both live at the same address, you can both get a membership for a slightly cheaper price than two individual memberships.
The joint membership is priced at £127.20 a year or £10.60 a month for 12 months. Again, monthly payments are not available on a gift membership.
Family Membership National Trust
A family membership option is also available. There are two options available depending on your preference:
- Family 2 adults at £133.80 a year or £11.15 a month
- Family 1 adult at £83.40 a year or £6.95 a month
These memberships require two adults to be living at the same house (for two adult option) and their children or an adult with their child or grandchildren. Children must be 17 or younger, under 5s go free.
Monthly cost is for a 12-month period and monthly payments are not available on gift memberships.
Life membership National Trust
The most expensive National Trust membership is the life membership option.
A life membership is a one-off payment that gets you a lifetime membership to the National Trust.
Prices start at £1,380 for seniors (over 60 years) or £1,845 for individuals. Joint and family options are also available.
To find out more about a life membership for the National Trust, click here.
Scottish National Trust
If you live in Scotland, you will purchase your membership through National Trust for Scotland. This card gives you access to all National Trust sites throughout the UK but is managed independently.
You still have the option of purchasing either individual, joint, family or lifetime memberships.
Get your Scottish National Trust membership here.
So, with the fairly pricey cost, is a National Trust membership worth it?
What are the benefits of a National Trust Membership?
Before committing to a membership, it is good to know what benefits you get for being a member. Although I have touched on a few already, here is an overview of the main benefits of a National Trust membership.
National Trust App
Did you know the National Trust has an app?
You don’t have to be a National Trust member to use the app, but I have found it to be a really useful tool to help me get the most out of my membership.
The app uses your location to show you the closest National Trust sites, either in a list or on a map. This is a handy way to discover nearby sites when you are out an about.
You can also track the sites you have visited (a very handy feature when it came to writing this post!) as well as bookmarking the sites you want to visit.
Although a membership isn’t required to use the app, it has helped me to discover lots of National Trust sites to visit during my membership to help me get the most value from it.
Christmas at National Trust Properties
One of my favourite benefits of being a National Trust member is being one of the first to know about the Christmas events at National Trust properties!
Many properties close over the winter months, and a handful remain open, beautifully adorned with Christmas decorations. This makes a visit even more special!
But occasionally, the National Trust will host large Christmas events such as the Christmas Light Trail at Dunham Massey. This huge event was so popular that tickets had sold out before December even started!
However, as a National Trust member you will often find news of these events in their newsletter, so you can be among the first to know about when they are taking place. You can rest assured you will have an opportunity to grab tickets!
Free entry for 12 months
While there are several benefits to a National Trust membership, the one that lures everyone in is the 12-month free entry to their sites.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of the costs I spent and saved throughout my membership to see if the free entry really adds up to be a worthwhile benefit!
Discounted entry to partner sites
Although the National Trust don’t have a huge number of partners, you will occasionally stumble across a partner organisation who offers discounts to National Trust members.
I have personally benefitted from the 50% discount on entry to Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, which is not a National Trust property, but they work closely with the National Trust and offer members a discount.
Outdoor wear company Cotswold Outdoor also offer a discount for National Trust members.
Sometimes it takes a bit of looking, but you may find a handful of partner sites or companies where your membership can save you a bit of money!
Supporting the work
Another huge benefit of a National Trust membership is that your money is going towards preserving some of the most beautiful places in the UK.
As a charity, the National Trust heavily relies on memberships to raise the necessary funds to restore and preserve their sites for us to enjoy today, and for future generations.
Knowing that the money spent on a membership is going towards looking after these incredible places makes the investment feel really worthwhile. It is a good feeling to know you are doing a tiny bit to keep the history of these buildings alive!
Ready to sign up? Get your National Trust membership here.
Looking at the Numbers
If you’re looking at the National Trust membership from a purely financial perspective, here’s a breakdown of the cost of admission fees I would have paid throughout 2021, if I didn’t have a membership. These numbers are based on admission or car parking fees for ONE person.
- £6 – parking at Brimham Rocks
- £8 – entry to Dyrham Park (grounds and garden only due to Covid restrictions at the time)
- £17 – entry to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
- £5 – parking at Nostell
- £12 – entry to Nostell house and gardens
- £5 – entry to East Riddlesden Hall
- £5 – parking at Hardcastle Crags
- £12 – entry to Little Moreton Hall
- £11 – entry to Biddulph Grange
- £5 – parking at Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail
- £11 – entry to Canons Ashby
- £12 – entry to Baddesley Clinton
- £5.50 – entry to Wentworth Castle Gardens
- £5.50 – 50% reduction on entry to Wentworth Woodhouse House and Gardens
That brings the total admission fees to £120.
Which means the cost of an individual membership has paid for itself more than 1.5x over!
It is also worth noting that these figures were for the use of a membership in 2021. We spent the first three months of the year in lockdown, so we couldn’t visit any sites during this time.
So, from a financial perspective, if you are planning to visit as many National Trust sites as we did, a membership is a worthwhile investment.
But is a National Trust Membership worth it for you?
Before you get caught up in the numbers and jump into purchasing a National Trust membership, there are a few other things to consider.
National Trust Sites Near Me
Firstly, are there National Trust sites near you that you can take advantage of?
If there are, great!
I’m lucky to be surrounded by many National Trust sites in West Yorkshire just a short drive away. Many of these sites we will most likely visit multiple times, which makes the membership worthwhile.
But, if you don’t have any sites nearby, you may not get the best value out of a membership.
Admission Fees
Another thing to consider is the cost of the sites you’re likely to visit.
Many National Trust houses are expensive to enter, but the outdoor sites or smaller properties can be much cheaper. You might only need to pay to park your car, or you might even find it is free to visit like Marsden Moor!
If many of the sites you want to visit have low ticket prices, you could find that the membership won’t save you any money. So do a bit of research first and check the admission fees on the sites you really want to see.
Time
Also, think about how much time you have available to spend visiting National Trust sites.
As we weren’t planning any international travel in 2021, we knew we would get the most out of the membership by visiting several places.
But you do have to make a conscious effort to get out and see places to make the most of the membership.
When thinking about your time, you could estimate how many sites you could realistically visit in a month – maybe that is one, two or more. Then calculate how much it would cost you to visit that many places to judge whether the membership is good value for you.
Ready to sign up? Get your National Trust membership here.
The Unexpected Benefits of a National Trust Membership
Although there are some things to consider before investing in a National Trust membership, I have unearthed some unexpected benefits of having a National Trust membership.
- Spontaneous adventures. If we’re driving down the road and spot a National Trust sign, we just pull in and explore it without any thought! Since we don’t need to consider admission fees, a National Trust site becomes a ‘free’ (sort of!) day out for us. This led us to spontaneously visit three sites in one day, when we’d only planned to see one!
- Discovering new places. I am always actively seeking out new places, but the advantage of a National Trust membership is the handbook that they send you with your membership card. This catalogue of their sites is packed with inspiration and is a really effortless way to discover new National Trust sites you’ve never encountered before.
- An excuse to get out. This one was a big one for us in 2021. Being honest, we struggled getting out and about after lockdown. But because we really wanted to make the most of the membership, it encouraged us to get outside and see places, rather than staying indoors. If anything, this was the best thing we got out of our membership in 2021!
How to cancel a National Trust Membership
It is easy to cancel your National Trust membership. Here are the three things you need to do:
- Get in touch with the National Trust via email (enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk), phone number (0344 800 1895) or post (The National Trust, PO Box 574, Manvers, Rotherham, S63 3FH)
- Quote your membership number which can be found on your membership card
- Ask them to cancel your membership prior to your renewal date
You should note that a National Trust membership is a 12-month contract, so you won’t be able to cancel during this time without having to fulfil any remaining payments (if you are on a monthly payment plan) but you can contact them at any time to cancel your membership prior to renewal.
How to join the National Trust
Is a National Trust membership worth it for you?
If so, get your membership today at the link below!
The sign-up process is straightforward and just requires you to enter your personal details and your bank details.
Once signed up, you can start using your membership straight away. Simply note your membership number to use immediately and your membership cards will arrive via post shortly.
So, is a National Trust Membership worth it?
A National Trust membership is absolutely worth it. With over incredible 500 sites to visit for free throughout the country it is easy to see how the National Trust has amassed so many members!
We have now renewed our membership and are looking forward to seeing what places we’re able to visit in 2022.
Only you know if it is a worthwhile investment for your lifestyle. However, I hope that these points to consider help you in deciding if a National Trust membership is worth it for you.
If you decide that a National Trust membership is right up your street (or the ideal gift for a loved one!) you can sign up here.
Before you go
I’m looking for 2022 National Trust inspiration! Leave a comment and let me know which site is your favourite so I can add it to my list!
If you want to learn more about my favourite National Trust sites, check out these posts:
- Complete Guide to National Trust in Yorkshire
- Hardcastle Crags: Picturesque Woodland Walk in West Yorkshire
- National Trust Marsden Moor Circular Walking Route – Standedge Circuit
- Things To Do At East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley
- National Trust Nostell: Things To Do At Nostell Priory
- National Trust Places in West Yorkshire
- Things To Do At Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire
- Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail
Until our next adventure,
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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
I think the National Trust Pass would be awesome to have especially if I was spending a good amount of time see several trust site locations! Last year in purchased the US National Parks pass and it more than paid for itself after a few visits. I love that with the National Trust Pass that you can also enjoy the holiday lights and activities which would be a bonus!
There are so many benefits to a National Trust membership! It has been especially handy during recent lockdowns when we haven’t been able to travel very far! I’m keen to continue discovering new National Trust sites this year, even though the restrictions have lifted!
This is a great post and a fantastic budgeting resource! I don’t live in the UK but when I travelled through Scotland I worked out that it would be cheaper for a National Trust membership over the course of just a few weeks – it was great!
The savings add up quickly with a National Trust membership if you are planning to visit lots of sites! I’ve found that having a National Trust membership is a great incentive for us to get out and about too!
I have never heard of National Trust but it sounds like an interesting option for people who live in Europe or visit often. I’ll pass this blog post along to my friends who live overseas!
A National Trust membership is easily the best way to see beautiful historic buildings in the UK. I hope your friends get an opportunity to enjoy some of the National Trust sites!
A National Trust membership seems like a great idea to see all the historic buildings and beautiful natural landscapes in the UK. I would definitely get one.
Our national Trust membership has been a really good excuse to get out and see places. Especially when the restrictions first started easing and we were anxious to visit busy places. These provided large open spaces and most of the houses were quiet, so it was a great way to get out and about again!
I had never heard of the National Trust membership, but it definitely seems worth it from your analysis, specifically if you plan on visiting plenty of National Trust sites throughout the year. I felt the same way about the U.S. National Park Annual Pass. It more than paid for itself during a single road trip! Xx Sara
A National Trust membership has been a really worthwhile investment for us! It has saved us so much money and given us an excuse to visit so many beautiful places! I always think a U.S. National Park Annual Pass looks worth the cost. I’d love to take a National Park road trip in the US one day! xx
My parents have had a National Trust membership for years. They use it a lot, even for parking at national trust car parks in the national parks it’s worth it. They actually do the Scottish one as they live on the border and it is sometimes slightly cheaper. If I lived in the UK I think I would definitely get a membership
I think we have probably saved as much as one membership in parking costs alone! Parking is quite expensive at some National Trust sites and adds up quickly so easily makes a membership a worthwhile investment!
I’ve never thought of this! I love all the info!
Thanks Linnea! I’m glad you like this National Trust membership review!
I think such a membership is a fabulous idea. In today’s limited international travel it makes sense to explore locally and to support local organizations.
It has been great to further support the National Trust during lockdowns, especially when they were hit so badly early in the pandemic with all their buildings closed. I’m looking forward to visiting even more National Trust sites even as the restrictions are easing!
A national trust membership is a terrific idea, especially during COVID. The sites available for visit are interesting and give visitors the opportunity to explore beautiful places that are outside.
We’ve definitely got our money worth from our membership during Covid! Although I hope to continue visiting National Trust sites even as the restrictions ease. The properties and sites they own are magnificent! Plus every one of them is unique, meaning there are so many different places to discover!
Love Organizations that help support Preservation and you outlined the benefits beautifully! Not everyone can afford to pay all at once but I like how how you noted the savings depending on how many sites you might visit.
The National Trust do great work in preserving these amazing buildings that might otherwise be sadly lost! I love that I am able to support them so they can continue to maintain these beautiful buildings! I love that there is a monthly cost option for people who can’t afford the upfront investment. Overall though it is definitely worthwhile and has saved us a lot of money!
What a fantastic way to explore all of the local historic gems in the U.K. Great recommendations and over view to purchase!
Thanks Ashlee, I’m so glad you like the guide! I’ve loved putting my National Trust membership to use!
Looking at visit in May/June. Is there anything on a lesser scale than a year that includes sites for a couple of days or a week?
Hi Jolayne! If you’re just visiting the UK for a short trip there are a few options depending on where you are visiting. A lot of cities have great City Pass options which will save you money if you are visiting lots of attractions. It is worth double checking the numbers though because you often need to visit a lot of attractions to make the investment worthwhile Have a great trip!
This sounds like such a great thing to have for any park lovers! Thank you for sharing
A National Trust membership is definitely a worthwhile investment for anyone who love to visit historic houses and beautiful landscapes! I can’t wait to visit more new places with it this year!
I am big on buying memberships if the cost is close. If it’s someplace that I want to support, at least the money goes to good use even if you don’t come out ahead. But you did, so that’s even better!
A National Trust membership was definitely a win-win for me! It saved me money plus I got to support the work that goes into restoring and maintaining these beautiful places! Renewing the membership was a no-brainer really!
You know what, this article was super-helpful. Thanks for sharing your insights. Ellie & I have been looking into getting a membership for years but looks like we’ve never made the effort of doing the maths properly. We’ll sign up.
Hi Stefan! I’m so glad you found the guide useful! There are so many benefits to a National Trust membership, but when you look at the sums it really adds up if you plan on visiting several sites in a year. We’ve loved the freedom of our membership and the spontaneous trips it has prompted! I hope you find it a really worthwhile investment and have some incredible days out using it!
Great post! I have been a member of the National Trust for a couple of years now. I mainly joined to show support for the work they do but it has been very useful to save money (mainly parking charges) while I haven’t been able to leave the country. But you share some really good tips about how I could make more of being a member. Now off to download the App…
It’s great to know that your membership contributes to ongoing work to restore and maintain these beautiful buildings, isn’t it? There are so many benefits to becoming a National Trust member! We’re certainly made good use of our memberships over the last year! I’m looking forward to visiting even more beautiful National Trust sites this year too!
I’ve never heard of a national trust membership so this was very informative. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m saving this for future reference.
A National Trust membership is one of the best ways to see some of the top sights in the UK. I love visiting the historic National Trust houses! Thanks for reading!
I would definitely buy this trust pass if I lived in the UK. It is a great value. Thanks for explaining for non-Brits.
A National Trust membership is such a worthwhile investment for people living in the UK. It has saved me so much money! Thanks for reading!
This is such a comprehensive guide to getting a national trust membership. It’s certainly up for consideration after we’ve planned our wedding!
Intentional Lucie
I’m so pleased you found the guide helpful! Good luck with the wedding planning – what an exciting time for you!