National Trust Arvostelua 

I visited Powis Castle on Wednesday 1st April 2026. I parked in a large car park looking for a disabled parking bay for my wife, unfortunately I didn't find it until after my wife had struggled up the hill to the picnic area, but she couldn't make it any further. I then noticed a small area opposite the picnic area with a small disabled parking sign. This was past the booking in cabin for Powis Castle. My wife was in such poor condition by this time she wasn't able to make it to the toilets or into the castle, she had to sit downon the picnic area benches. As she couldn't make it any further I had to go and collect my car and pick her up and leave the castle. Such a shame.
My wife suffers from heart failure, breathlessness, arthritis and other health conditions restricting her mobility.
May I suggest you put prominent disabled parking signs on various points on the route to the disabled parking area, as a matter of urgency.
Thank you

Went with my family to Cragside during our stay in Felton. I wasn’t a member until I spoke to Joanne at the ticket office. I have loved my time at all of the places we have visited but Joanne made such a huge impression on me joining and spent quite a lot of time putting me at ease as someone who is disabled quite alot of my first impression can be negative as I speak fast and rush with my mobility etc.
I even saw Joanne later in the day and we spoke again. Absolutely lovely person and doing a fab job for the national trust. So friendly and helpful. Thank you and I look forward to using my membership over the next twelve months.

The guide was really knowledgeable. He hit just the right note with humorous anecdotes but depth of history. His enthusiasm for The House of the Binns was infectious and we agreed the most impressive item in the house was the enormous mirror in the large top room and how it got there. The walk in the garden with a peacock among the daffodils was charming and the view from the tower impressive.

This was a deeply disappointing visit on a miserable grey day which we had hoped would be enhanced by visiting a beautiful house in large grounds. The main entrance to the House was difficult to find due to hopeless signage. This should be much clearer. When we arrived we were told the house closed at 4pm and we had arrived at approximately 2.45pm so the 10 minutes or so searching for the main house entrance was wasted time. We resorted to asking some other visitors, one of whom knew, two others didn't despite having already been around the house - they too were confused due to the maze of coachhouses and the actual House entrance sign not being larger than the rest of the signage.
The lighting within the House is next to none and made everything extremely difficult to see unless there was direct daylight coming in. Most of the servants' quarters were interesting and not affected until we came across the corridor showing the, what would have been very interesting, servants' photos and prose that accompanied them. I appreciate that images need to be preserved carefully but not to the degree that there is almost little purpose in showing them due to poor light levels. Surely there is a way to minimise the daylight/lighting risk without harming the images and given this is a USP for this property ? (Many other historical houses/art galleries etc. will have implemented the correct provision for this). We had to be shown by torchlight when we requested to see anything more clearly ! Upstairs on the first floor the living / dining room were barely lit also apparently due to concern over furniture and soft furnishings damage by any daylight. Whilst barely any light can add to how the house was used in its day, it is of no use to those interested in historical fact 200 plus years later not to be able to see detail. The Saloon suffered badly in this regard.
Having entered the House at 2.45pm we realised we were the last to arrive as volunteers were leaving amongst us once we had passed through their particular area. Whilst we had just enough time to see (!) what we wanted to see, after the servants' quarters a guide had joined us but was clearly also ushering us along, presumably so that they could leave also. (Poor volunteers, the house was extremely cold). We left the House at around 3.25pm, just over half an hour before entrance to the house closed or as we understood it. If they want everyone out of the House by 4pm this should be made clearer on the website - for the moment it could be assumed that you can arrive at 3.55pm and be allowed in. I have visited several NT properties over the years and never experienced disappointment - and lighting levels - like this.
For £20.90 (inc Gift Aid) this was an expensive and disappointing 45 minutes ! I will not be taking out NT membership if this is the level of poor value for money for visitors at some of their other historical houses - I will now only visit by word of mouth recommendation.

I've been a member of The National Trust for several years now and unfortunately seen it's decline with increased pricing levels and poor presentation. If an organisation is going to offer annual membership then it should make sure it's sites are open all year round, alternatively offer a book of visit tickets so people can go when these places ARE open. I feel even more sorry for families forking out nearly £50 for a family ticket, only to find out the house is closed, the gardens are closed or upstairs is closed due to 'lack of staff'. The other thing I want to comment on is the disparity in the way these houses are presented. Personally I don't want to see rows and rows of old oil paintings and rooms with glass across and a corridor through and a sad looking volunteer making sure I don't vandalise something! What I want to see is some life in these places, who lived there, some personal items. I think it's a case of having to change with the times if The NT is going to survive. Knowl House is an example of a boring cold house with no soul. Batemans a good one where you can still feel the presence of Kipling, so overall some good, some bad, with plenty of room for improvement IMHO. I don't think I will be renewing my membership next year. If they combine with English Heritage that might change my mind depending on the membership charge, but NT membership is not viable for us as we've exhausted the sites where we live and unfortunately had one dissapointed after another when venturing further afield to explore others

Membership benefits are falsely described
Signed up for a year, with annual renewal to get the free guest pass.
I called them before joining and I told them I wanted to go to Wakehurst and use my pass.
Turns out you can get in but need to pay costly car park still if you’re with national trust which wasn’t mentioned. Also the guest pass isn’t valid at this venue which wasn’t disclosed. Customer service has been shocking, slow, non existent or not bothered.
Got my guest pass in my pack, supposed valid for a year - and shocker, it was was valid from July last year and only valid for a few months. Not also what was discussed by customer service when convincing me of joining.
No national trust customer service reply or help which is always lacklustre and avoids actually helping!!
Considering there are many other subscriptions available at a much cheaper rate it’s a shame the customer service and offers aren’t matching the price tag. Will not be renewing.

Parts of Killerton House gardens were looking beautiful yesterday but - what has happened to the swathes of daffodils on the approach to the house - seems to be just a drink/food truck, which was closed, plus a hideous huge awning! All that presumably to replace the Dairy Cafe which was rarely open and must have cost a small fortune and is now an ignored information board room - though the seating looking out over the beautiful view towards Exeter is still in place - but totally empty! Do I also need to mention you now charging 15p "f&b cup charge" for my daring to have a takeaway coffee (I already pay the Council for recycling)! I always thought having the pleasure of food/drinks at venues was helping NT but that charge for a small piece of recyclable cardboard means I will take my own in future so no benefit to NT. You seem to have money to burn on new, badly thought out, projects which alienate those of us who take the time to support you.

Fabulous tour round the back to backs with our guide John in charge. Very interesting & informative taking us back to how they lived years ago with a hint of humour added. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you John.

The property has blistering, peeling plasterwork in both the lounge and bathroom. The master bedroom has black mould around the window. You should also know that there were hundreds of ladybirds hibernating in the building…we quite like them so not a problem, but possibly not everyone’s cup of tea. Lovely views but wouldn’t really recommend staying here…at the price point there are other less dilapidated options available

Blakeney Lodge is a wonderful holiday cottage situated next to a disused windmill, just as described on the National Trust website. What they fail to tell you is that the cottage is bang slap in the middle of a caravan park . The park was disused at the time of my visit in February and so quite isolated but I imagine this is better than in the summer when it will be packed. I certainly wouldn’t want to sit in the garden behind a brick wall surrounded by caravans. £500 plus for 2 nights seemed excessive for the property and what it had to offer.

I've been a life member for 15 years and recently had need to complain about an experience at Hardwick Hall - the first time I've ever had to complain to the NT. First directed to Hardwick and eventually received an inadequate response. Went back to the central customer service team only to be ignored completely. I couldn't begin to estimate the nunber of visits and amount of money we've spent at NT over the years, including children's memberships on top, and we've influenced several family members into membership too. Feel very disappointed - it was an issue that could so easily have been resolved.

I tried to find a way to cancel my membership before it was due for renewal in January. This is not an easy thing to find on their website.

Instead of a button to cancel, you have to jump through hoops by phoning, emailing or writing.

I managed to find an email address and sent my request. A day later I received an email confirming my membership would end in January and not renew.

A few weeks later, £12.60 is taken to pay for a new month. I contacted so called “customer care” to ask what is happening. I got a response it was with their finance team, who would contact me.

I’m now on my fifth email to them trying to get a response. It’s like emails are falling into a dead zone.

I’ve cancelled my direct debit now to prevent any more money being taken. But the owed money still needs refunding to me.

Awful organisation. If this is how they behave they need to be investigated by regulators and charity commission.

Addition

I did provide the details requested through the Trust Pilot form when requested. At this point the another email to your team seems pointless as it will be ignored like every other email

I’m increasingly finding that some of the National Trust sites are tired and grimy and in great need of deep cleaning or renovation. I went to Saltram today, there were dog turds in the courtyard entrance, the main cafe looked like it needed a good clean and the toilets by the chapel cafe were run down and dirty. It surely wouldn’t cost a lot of money to clean the toilets floors, deal with the mould around the sinks and wipe down the counter fronts in the cafe. I told the assistant on the door about the dogs mess but he seemed completely disinterested. The National Trust is nothing like it used to be!

Went to Attingham park. Totally fantastic untill…
Time for coffee!
Prices gone up and now added an additional charge for a cup… no thanks I’ll have it loose?
The cup they propose to sell cost 25p available for less than 2p commercial retail.
WHAT A DISCRACE SHAME ON YOU DECEITFUL ORGANISATION.

Dyrham Park - I visited this property today along with 4 children under the age of 3 years - two walking, two in a buggy. We visited the play area before wandering down to the house/gardens.
We noticed the bus and over heard another visitor asking whether it had to be pre-booked to make the journey back to the car park. The gentleman explained no, but there was a queuing system.
After a short walk we decided to head back. We arrived at the queuing area alongside 5 others (who were later joined by a further 3 who came out of the shop and joined them).
To cut a very long story short - we were advised I wouldnt be allowed on (even though my buggy could be folded up) so had to make a VERY long journey by foot to the top - pushing a very heavy buggy with 4 upset children on it; being stopped en route several times by other visitors who where remarking "you should have taken the bus".
I did speak to your staff at the top and was told about policy with children sitting near windows, and the fact there would have been 5 of us taking up seats "so virtually you would have taken up the whole bus"(please note one of my children is only 10 months old whilst a very bright child, certainly not in the position of having a seat to herself!)

I totally appreciate the disabled or less abled should take priority; but to watch me wait in a queue (bearing in mind at one point only 1 bus was running at 1pm so it was taking time) to then tell me I wouldn't be allowed on, is not acceptable, when in the queue there were a number of pushchairs also waiting - would they be told the same thing? It is half term too, so a lot of young families visiting.

I believe signage at the top of the car park as well as the bottom should be very clear about who is, or not, able to use the buses to avoid your volunteers/staff having to deal with unhappy visitors.

As a family who hold life membership, we will not be returning for the foreseeable future.

Second time we have booked a national trust cottage for our holiday, only to have it cancelled later in the season. You are palmed off with a choice of alternative accommodation that no one else wanted.

I bought a joint membership as a gift for Christmas. It did not arrive on time. I have spoken to customer services three times now. Initially I was told I couldn’t complain on the phone so had to email but a second pack was being issued as clearly the first one had been lost in the post. I called to chase up the pack and told to wait until last Thursday, again I wanted to raise a complaint. The guy said someone would be in touch within 3 days. That came and went and still no gift pack or call…. I called again today and was told my complaint hadn’t been sent off correctly and that I would have to wait for an email or call before to discuss my complaint. Customer services cannot give me a refund despite the fact it has been 2 months since I purchased the Christmas gift. I do not have any faith in National Trust. I often visit their site and stop in the cafe but after this absolute nightmare I won’t bother! Absolute waste of time and shocking that they do not send gifts via recorded delivery! Surely that would sort this mess out.

What an absolute shower.
I have received an email today about a cottage booking for June this year
"Over the past few weeks, we’ve been reviewing the future sustainability of some of our holiday accommodation. Now that this work has concluded, we’re very sorry to let you know that your chosen accommodation will be closing from 26 April 2026.
What does this mean for you?
Unfortunately, your stay will not be able to go ahead as planned. We understand this will be disappointing, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."
No explanation as to why.
Been using this cottage, right on the beach for 10 years, and I know from looking at the availability that it is full virtually all year round and needs to be booked very early.
Well done NT, another member lost.

From the National Trust website. 'We’re a charity looking after nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever.'
No, actually not if you want to gift a joint membership and take advantage of the monthly payments blurb that appears right next to the gift application link. It's only on the final payment page that it's full whack or nothing. When I queried this, I was told that there was not enough call for monthly payments. People not wanting an easier way to pay for something quite expensive seems very unlikely, and how do they know if they don't offer it in the first place? DO they want to discourage peasants?

Today I experienced utter ridiculous from this organisation. Almost to the extent that we no longer wished to be members. We have been members as a married couple for a few years and our daughter pays for our membership as a gift each year. I received an email saying to call and we would receive 25% reduction due to our age. Our daughter calls to pay. She was not allowed to pay for us as she is not the lead person on account. I call. I could not pay either as my husband’s name is the first name on the account. We have been married for 48 years and view ourselves as an equal partnership. So which sexist person presumes he’s the lead and will not allow me to pay? The lady on the phone was polite but she was restrained by organisational policy which is clearly sexist. Other members please be aware.

REPLY TO N. TRUST. We are JOINT members. There is no lead member. Your system remains ridiculous that I cannot pay for my own membership without my husband being present!