National Trust Anmeldelser 

I haven’t been a member of the National Trust for many years and stopped visiting sites for a while as when I arrived at a property I’d be pounced on by people marketing membership at me. Not a great start to a relaxing day out when you just want to be welcomed and buy an entry ticket. I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Dorset and visited Corfe Castle £15 plus £5 for an extra tour. The visit was great and the tour guide was lovely and very knowledgeable on the way round, I reconsidered joining again due to other properties I intended to visit in the area, and I’m relieved I didn’t join. I was informed by staff that I wouldn’t be reimbursed my entry ticket for todays visit, which is a given with other organisations I’m a member of such as Kew and English Heritage. NT your down £85 already, the staff didn’t seem interested. Hardy’s cottage was closed anyway on Mondays and Kingston Lacy house £22 entry shut at 3pm but I could still visit the gardens for £14.50 which just felt grasping. This is August, not October why does the house shut so early? I couldn’t access the cafe or gift shop anyway without buying an entry ticket. It feels like you don’t want my money. I wonder how much I’d have spent had I been able to access membership, your properties, your gift shops, your cafes? I’d just like a bit of value for money by joining, or visiting your properties. That feels unlikely.

Having newspaper family vouchers for national trust we were very disappointed to find you can’t use at Fountains abbey as previously advertised, why change When you could vist before on vouchers Good job we checked before travelling. Are National trust loosing money on these promotions ?

We visited Dunham Massey today. We really enjoyed it. The house and the gardens are spectacular. All the staff were lovely, helpful and professional. Especially the butler in the butler room. The gardens are fabulous, so much to see. We would definitely recommend this place.

Visited Berrington Hall today with my daughter and granddaughter. Popped into the tea shop for a quick snack. £27 for 2 toasted ham and cheese and 1 tuna sandwich, that's nearly £10 for a sandwich. Also 3 cans of Pepse £7.50.
You wonder why visitor numbers are down, I can tell you why visitor numbers are down, you are ripping visitors off. We won't be back.

Visited Arlington Court in north Devon - August 25. We had an elderly relative with us on a walking stick and feared we wouldn’t be able to get around the estate very much. A wonderful lady called Jo in the reception area managed to persuade my mother in law to hire a ‘tramper’. I never thought MIL would agree but she did. So easy to operate and we went everywhere and saw everything for the hire cost of £3!!!! Fantastic. Jo could not have been more helpful, pleasant or patient with us. The NT have a real gem in her. We were dreading the day to be honest but it turned out to be wonderful thanks to Jo and the tramper!

I was going to buy my grandson of primary school age a life membership but I understand that the guest element has been deleted. The guest element has allowed my wife to give adult friends the experience of the organisation and resulted in new members. Technical issues are not an adequate reason nor the inability to reclaim tax. Yet more bungling I am afraid.

Will our guide was both amusing and knowledgable as well as having great diction.
He catered for all age groups and was nice and loud so everyone could hear.

Visited Standen Manor near East Grinstead very dissapointed arrived in coffee shop and joined queue at 1.10 by the time I had arrived at the counter to order no more jacket potatoes hardly any sandwiches left and lots of food items already taken off the board. Did find something to eat the soup and a vegan chilli but not much choice . Went back later for coffee and the queue was so long hardly any staff serving one boy taken order and one young girl making the coffee. Spoke to the manager who was not at all helpful and just kept walking in and out of doors guess the food came from the kitchen all in all in took about half an hoour hour to get two coffees. The poor lady in front of me had a broken toe which was in a cast and she got angry and then another young lady came to help get her coffee. THere is definitely something wrong with the service and food available a terrible visit and explained to the staff i would be complaining to which another customer said it is always like this I thought there were there to make money a terribe visit.

Cafe prices/product availability
Breakfast tea, I asked for skimmed milk. Not available, but oat, almond and soya available to cater for allergies. I buy and use skimmed milk at home, so would like to have it when out and about. How come my local ‘caff’ can supply it. Extra tea bag? Yes, I will have to charge £2.70 as another cup of tea! What? So I went without. Why would I pay for something I know I would be disappointed with. Would the National Trust crumble if it provided what a member of more than 40 years asked for?
Longshaw,

**Disappointing Visit – Excessive Wait Times**

Visited the café at Coleton Fishacre today and had a very frustrating experience. Despite the beautiful surroundings, the service was unacceptably slow—we waited in line for **over an hour** just to get served.

For a National Trust property, I expected better organization, especially during peak times. The queue barely moved, staff seemed overwhelmed, and there was no clear communication about delays. By the time we got our order, much of the enjoyment had been lost.

The food and drinks were average and the pit of tea for two was what you’d get for a person anywhere else, not worth such a long wait. Really hope management addresses these issues—either by increasing staffing or streamlining the ordering process. Until then, I’d think twice before stopping here for refreshments.

We visited Montacute House on 3rd August meeting up with relatives. We had visited many times before but they had not.
We found the car parking easy and admissions entrance flowing very smoothly.
We were greeted with a lovely house guide called Lesley. What a delight?
This lady was very knowledgeable, personable and a pleasure to talk to.
We later stopped for a very good lunch and she spotted us as she was passing on her lunch break and came over to our table to speak with us. How nice.
Thank you Lesley, hope to see you on our next visit.

There was an overly zealous NT employee directing the cars in the car park on the Sunday morning. We were advised where we had to park (even though over 50% of the car park was empty). We then also were told we had to move our car closer to the one next to us to ensure there were plenty of room for other guests. The same thing happened to the next vehicle. Then the next vehicle that came in drove past him and parked closer to the site entrance (in a proper space). This NT employee came rushing up to the driver like the gestapo telling him he had nearly run him over and telling him off for driving past. I don't think these other visitors stayed, I believe they just drove away. I am not sure if the attitude of the employee is laughable, ridiculous or just stupidity but he needs to get some customer service skills - or reassign him elsewhere.

The Kymin is a hill in Wales owned by the National Trust. There is a house on top that used to be open to the public but has now been converted into a holiday let. When I was there this summer nobody was using it. Nearby there is a monument that is badly overgrown. There are trees coming out of the roof! Please NT get someone to do some basic maintenance on this site. It would cost nothing in comparison with most of your other projects.

I needed to park my car for 2 hours for a quick visit to the Giant's Causeway, Northern Island. Nation Trust, or is it national disgrace, charged me £36 to do this. If this isn't a total ripoff I don't know what is!

They will of course ramble on about their prestigious visitor centre but I don't need to waste time viewing their propaganda thanks....

Please stop parking here, park at Bushmills railway centre and take the small train or the 5 minute walk at a cost of £10.

6-8-2025 - Update after the response from National Trust?

I'm not sure if you are suggesting I am quoting the wrong price? I am NOT and will post a photo of your prices last month. In any case, I had to pay £36 to park my car which is a total disgrace. Also, why bring up the subject of other car parks? It's almost as though you are not too keen to discuss your rip off car park at the Giant's Causeway, I am NOT surprised, I too would be highly embarrassed if I was charging this for car parking.....

Further to your reply to my previous comments, I absolutely support your care of wildlife, however on the camp site at Tenerife Farm. Predannack, on the front camping field the grass has been left to grow without cutting because of the wildlife. There are two large unused fields adjacent to this field where wildlife would be more than happy. The main field was previously regularly cut to allow children to fly a kite, play ball etc which they now cannot do because the wildlife live there, seriously? This is becoming more a nature reserve than a campsite and campers are expected to pay extremely high fees for the pleasure of supporting your rules. If you give campers and their families what they need they will support you, if not, there is lots of local competition.

Nice places to visit if your willing to spend a lot, Iv been a National trust member over14 years .its shame about very over priced food and drinks, a small sausage roll- £10.50 , It’s clearly a rip off, shows what they think about there customers. It’s managed by people who clearly do t care. After people pay parking then admission fees, the food should be cheaper, how much moor can the Trust squeeze for there members,

I visited the magical home of Beatrix Potter, Hilltop; in The Lakes.
The Cottage is just as I remember it and walking through the rooms, that was once the home of Beatrix Potter, felt special but also, intrusive. I know she left her home to The National Trust but I'm always aware, that people once lived in these houses; containing so much history.

The only disappointment was the many items for sale, made in China.
I appreciate that the Trust is a charity and items have to be sourced cost effectively.
However, there are so many skilled Artisans in Cumbria and elsewhere, who could contribute to the gifts in the shops. I didn't purchase anything when I saw where they were made; purely on personal principal.
A terracotta plant pot, with the UK Makers name on, on closer inspection, was also made in China.
I had a wonderful day, nevertheless!

I cherish the National Trust and its work. But I was saddened to see that it is obviously unable to control antisocial behaviour on its land, eg along the banks of Windermere where I very recently stayed in an NT cottage. There are people literally camping overnight, some in large groups, and starting cooking fires and parking on the banks and nearby hillside beside signs saying no camping and no fires. Or having family barbecues beside these signs. Or driving and parking along footpaths where cars are, according to the signs, prohibited. Some of these people are intimidating, others merely brazen, clearly fearing no comeback. At least, if you are unable to stop the traffic that facilitates these encampments (though why not) you should surely display telephone numbers where this behaviour can be reported, and introduce some clarity on whether it is technically illegal, or just unwelcome, damaging and antisocial. This would assist anyone wanting to help preserve the Lake District and your work there.

Powis castle on my way back from the pembrokeshire coast walk. it was stunning place, loads of things to see and admire. Though there have been complaints around about the organization, i will still be its member for the foreseeable future.

I suggest change the name to national scam trust. Thier membership is too complicated and really unclear and almost impossible to cancel your membership.

They didn't cancel a membership for a disabled person as they said it has already been through.
Didn't have direct debit anyway as it was paid for the whole year in advance but somehow they can make this into direct debit and charge you a month before your actual membership ends for the year and once they were contacted thier excuse is you've already received your cards (which no one requested) and tour can't cancel tour membership.

On their terms and conditions they stated if you have setted a direct debit (which we were not) you need to cancel 3 months ahead of renewals (which it is opt out not out in) but they renewed for the whole year not the three months.

Apparently they registered as charity with the government and that's the reason they can't refund any payments. It looks like a sort of charity to scam people to me. What charity you cannot cancel your subscription before the contract is actually ended and don't really give you a choice of canceling online if you can register online.

I'm sure they will respond to this review with another sort of excuses and mention somewhere in thier terms and conditions etc it has been stated but you never been told how it works when you signed in.

Please be aware thier membership/ subscription is some sort of scam and it hard to get out of it.