The National Trust Annual Pass - One Year On - Worth It?

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Back in February 2024 I decided to I decided to buy a National Trust annual pass for the family. We were visiting Bath earlier in the year and we had some ideas for the summer holidays to travel around the UK check out my blog series about our adventures called 3 peaks in 3 weeks. So with this adventuring I thought it would be a good idea to have the option of some plans for days out, culture, beauty and generally less thinking would be involved when we travel.

 

So what is the National Trust?
For anyone outside the UK or does not know, the National Trust is an charitable organisation which looks after and manages over 500 properties, has properties all over the England and Wales of varying different styles. Houses, gardens, coastal areas, and sites of global historical interest. These are all very important sites and without organisations like the National Trust, a lot of them would have been lost to time or disrepair.

What sort of place does the National Trust offer?
Each location is different but the large houses and gardens usually have a place to park either on site or nearby which sometimes has a fee for non members and then an entry fee to the place you are visiting which all goes towards restoration, maintenance of the site or management of the trust. In a lot of locations there is a cafe onsite, but you will be unlikely to find this in the areas where its an interesting hill or landscape and many places have toilets and disabled facilities including access paths where possible. Plus the all important second hand book shop which we have found many an interesting read.

A lot of the larger properties put on special events and activities for children during the school holidays. Half term at Stonehenge had spear throwing, catapult throwing and information sessions about life in the Stone Age, including foods eaten and huts showing their way of life.

The National Trust also has holiday cottages, hotels and campsites dotted around the country, making for a different type of donation to the trust while enjoying a holiday of your own.

 
Which places have you visited?
In 2024 I has been lucky enough to visit The Killerton Estate in Devon, Brownsea Island and Kingston Lacey in Dorset, Mottisfont and Hinton Ampner in Hampshire and in 2023 I visited Stourhead in Somerset which was such an amazing place. In 2025 I hope to visit some of these again and many more film as I go with my new cameras and put the videos on my YouTube channel, as these properties are always interesting in their own ways. 

How much does it cost and what do you get for your money?
The cost of the family annual pass in 2025 is £159, but this is subject to change so you should visit the website to find out current prices. The family annual pass includes unlimited entry into National Trust properties and car parks for 2 adults who live at the same address and their children. You receive a location handbook giving details of all of the properties being managed and a general idea of their locations and what can be found on site. Its worth  checking the website of any locations you are interested in visiting as a lot of the properties are staffed by volunteers and are not open every day. The average cost of a day ticket at a property is around £13 per adult and a child over 5 years £6.50, making a family of three like mine £32.50 plus any car parking fees. So by visiting 5 properties or making 5 visits to a property in 1 year we cover our costs. There are other types of memberships on offer for singles, couples and lifetime memberships available each at a different cost which I will show on screen. 

Prices Per Year
Individual £91.20
Young Person ages 18-25 £45.60
Junior ages 5-17 £12
Joint £151.20
Family £159
Lifetime from £2195

So did you renew for this year?
Yes we did. The properties are so lovely to visit, it gives our family the option for free days out in a place we know there is parking, food, toilets and something different to see each time. There are lots of places I want to visit in the future and some I want to return to with my good cameras. There are so many reasons to visit National Trust properties and so many different types of properties to choose from we felt it was worth another year of exploring.

For all the latest information about the National Trust head over to their website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/


Check out my YouTube channel here www.youtube.com/@justpickoneuk  please subscribe to the channel hear more from JustPickOneUK and my adventures with National Trust properties and other adventures. 

Until Next Time
xx




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