Membership offers & cheapest way to join National Trust

With over 500 historical and special places for days out in the UK, joining the National Trust is well worth the cost, but there are membership offers to save you money.

National Trust membership offers you and your family free access to historical houses and building, garden, parks and outdoor spaces, plus forest, coastlines, and amazing landscapes.

Does National Trust do offers on membership?

Take advantage of National Trust membership offers so you can cut the cost on fun days out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a charity, when you join the National Trust, they invest every penny back into the work they do, so you won’t find many discount codes. But, there are still lots of membership offers so you can find the cheapest way to join the National Trust.

National Trust membership offers

Join National Trust online today with these offers, and you’ll be able to access their sites immediately by using your receipt. This will be the cheapest way to get access to all their gardens, parks, houses and more.

Exclusive online offer – free pair of binoculars and instant access

Sign up for a National Trust Membership here, and you’ll get a free pair of binoculars.

You simply need to set up to pay by annual Direct Debit to get free binoculars. This offer is an online exclusive and will work with all National Trust memberships. You don’t need a discount code for the free pair of binoculars offer to work.

As soon as you’ve bought the membership online and pay by annual direct debit, you can use your online receipt as a temporary membership until your card arrives.

Get National Trust Membership including FREE Binoculars offer

Bargain priced junior membership

Younger people can save money on the cost of membership, plus they have their own set of benefits. For just £10 a younger adventurer can enjoy free entry to all the properties for an entire year.

They also receive a welcome pack (either one for primary age children, or a pack for secondary age children), ongoing ideas about how to be active and be outdoors. They’re also invited to vote in the Annual General Meeting.

The junior National Trust membership is a perfect gift for anyone over the age of 5 to 18 (under 5s are already have free access).

As they likely won’t be driving anyway, the junior membership does not have free car parking as part of the benefits. They also won’t get the National Trust Magazine.

Cashback

Sign up to National Trust via Quidco, and you’ll receive 2.4% cashback on your purchase.

Save money by signing up to the Skint Dad newsletter where you get access to a free £16 cashback offer. This means you can get £16 off the membership, plus another 2.4% cashback.

This is outright the cheapest way to join the National Trust.

Sign up for the newsletter here

Free pass on Heritage Open Days

National Trust has been part of the Heritage Open Days since 2011. The festival offers free entry to over 4,500 historic houses, castles and gardens in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In September of each year, you have one week only admittance, including weekends, to National Trust places. Whether you want to experience nature and go walking (they even offer free walking guides), you want to enjoy beautiful homes and gardens, or you want to get lost on the coastline, there will be something for everyone.

Heritage Open Days 2020 were a mix of in-person and digital events so everyone can join in. However, it also gave people the opportunities to see places they’ve never been able to see before!

Buy a cheap National Trust gift card

You’re able to buy National Trust gift cards for yourself or as a present to use in National Trust cafes, shops (including the online shop), on National Trust membership and National Trust holidays (by phone).

While you can buy them directly on the National Trust online shop, look for discounted gift cards on places like eBay or Cardyard. This will reduce the cost of membership for the year.

How much is National Trust membership for seniors?

For loyal members, over the age of 60, you can get reduced-cost membership. By loyal, they mean that you have had a membership for at least five of the last 10 years.

Instead of paying full price, you can request a concession to reduce the fee by 25%.

3 months free Senior Membership

You don’t automatically quality for 3 months free or 25% off senior membership. If you want or need the discount, you need to call 0344 800 1895.

In 2020, this will reduce individual annual membership to £54 or £90 for joint senior membership. You’re still able to set up a monthly or pay by annual direct debit, and you’ll still get all the benefits including free parking. As a charity, every penny National Trust receives goes towards maintaining the staff, building, collections and gardens, which is why they don’t offer the discount automatically.

Find out more about the discounted Senior Membership

Discounted and free entry

National Trust properties and grounds are suitable for everyone. If you are disabled, you can enjoy the accessible grounds, and many places have facilities to make visits easier like lives, powered mobility vehicles and audio support.

Essential Companion card

As long as you are a National Trust member, you can bring one or two carers or companions with you, at no extra cost.

You need to apply fo the Essential Companion card ahead of your visit. When you arrive, simply show the card, and your carer or companion will not need to pay. As the card is in your name, you can bring whoever you want (and it could be someone different every time).

Links Pass for groups

If you are part of a group affiliated with disability charities, day centres, or registered care homes you can get half-price entry. Any carers or companions with the group can access the property or grounds free of charge.

It’s best to check on the website before you go as it’s valid at participating National Trust places. You can find out more information here.

2 for 1 Garden Entry with Gardeners’ World Magazine

Keep an eye on the May edition of Gardener’s World – you’ll get a 2 for 1 Garden Entry scheme card which can be used at over 400 gardens. The magazine shares all the sites you can visit, and a number of them include National Trust gardens and castles.

While the 2 for 1 deal will be great at saving money, if you are planning to visit other National Trust places, their annual memberships will work out as better value.

Free access to National Trust properties by volunteering

If you have time on your hands or are part of a local youth or community group, look into the volunteering opportunities at the National Trust.

You don’t need to be a current member or join the National Trust to be a volunteer and will be able to access free entry to National Trust properties.

You obviously won’t be able to walk around and do what you want but will support the needs of the property. Full training will be given, and you could be in the countryside, helping with conservation or a Room Guide – you’ll be able to see more of the properties and grounds than a normal member, giving a priceless experience.

National Trust Scotland and global memberships

Joining the National Trust allows you to use your card to visit heritage sites looked after by National Trust for Scotland.

If you’re travelling further abroad, you can use your National Trust membership in 14 other countries around the world! There are reciprocal relationships set up with Australia, Barbados, Canada, Guernsey, Italy, Malta, Zimbabwe and more. You can benefit from free or discounted entry to their properties.

One thing some people suggest to save even more is to buy a National Trust membership from a different country. Their membership can work out cheaper, but while the UK National Trust membership offers parking for free, you won’t get the same benefit from one of the global NT. If you’re spending £7 a go parking your vehicle, any discounts on the membership costs will be wiped out in no time! I’m all for saving money, but when membership goes back to supporting so much of the countryside, it’s well spent.

Free parking

Whenever we have a day out, I always worry about parking. That’s not an issue here. National Trust membership offers free car parks at most houses, buildings and outdoor spaces.

Check each location before you go as you might need to prebook if there aren’t a huge amount of parking spaces.

There may be pay and display machines in some car parks. You just need to scan your membership card and put the ticket on your dashboard. If you’ve just joined online, you will get an access email in about 15 minutes. Instructions on free parking are included in the email.

Members will get a car badge in the post which is used show your love of National Trust (plus parking). The car sticker will still be issued in 2021, but it’s not an indicator of parking so you’ll need to use the pay and display machines.

People who don’t have a membership will have to pay for car parking.

Expired – 3 months free National Trust membership

You can get 3 months free with National Trust when you pay by annual direct debit across all membership types.

Expired – 25% off National Trust Gift Membership

Give a gift membership and save 25% on the price. You can get 35% off National Trust gift membership when you buy online.

How much is membership of National Trust?

There are different levels of membership to suit your household, and membership can cost from just £6 a month.

Joining the National Trust gets you loads of free perks. National Trust membership offers entry to their properties, you don’t need to pay for parking in their car parks, you get a members’ handbook packed with information, and you receive a regular copy of the National Trust Magazine. And, when you pay by direct debit, you’ll get free binoculars!

Family membership

When you get a membership for your whole clan, you can really take advantage. Whether you’re a grandparent, carer or parent with a growing family, you may be pleased to know you can include up to 10 children or grandchildren for free. (Remember, under 5s go free)

Sign up for family membership here

Family with 2 adults

Two adults (aged 18+) living at the same address and their children or grandchildren (17 or under). Under 5s go free.

£126 a year or £10.50 a month – cost per day – 35p

Family with 1 adult

One adult (aged 18+) and their children or grandchildren (17 or under). Under 5s go free.

£78 a year or £6.50 a month – cost per day – 21p

Joint membership

For two adults (aged 18+) living at the same address

£120 a year or £10 a month – cost per day – 33p

Sign up for joint membership here

Individual membership

Adult

Adult aged 26+ years

£72 a year or £6 a month – cost per day – 20p

Sign up for individual membership here

Young person

Young person, 18-25 years

£72 a year – cost per day – 10p

Junior

0-17 years. Under 5s go free

£10 a year – cost per day – 3p

Life National Trust membership offers

Lifetime National Trust memberships look more expensive, but if you’ll be a member for a long time, you will end up saving money.

Prices start from £1,730. You’ll need to be a member for 24 years to break even (individual membership). You can opt for the senior concession and get 25% off the members’ price. Under 5s can still go free.

Find out more about National Trust life membership

Can National Trust members get into English Heritage sites for free?

National Trust offers entry to over 500 houses and gardens, and English Heritage has around 400 sites.

Some sites that are part of National Trust need to be booked on the English Heritage site. For instance, Stonehenge as a property is managed by English Heritage, but the National Trust manage the surrounding land, so either membership will give you free access.

However, not all sites offer free access so you may need to be a member of them individually, depending on what you want to visit.

National Trust gift membership

Buying a gift of National Trust membership is a lovely thing to do as a gift. Memberships like this are the gift that keeps on giving and help create memories for an entire year.

As a bonus, pay by annual direct debit, and you’ll receive a free pair of binoculars. Now, you might want to keep the free binoculars for yourself, or they may be the perfect present to pass on.

You can choose to start the National Trust membership today or any day within the next 3 months. You will need to plan as the welcome pack arrives within 21 days.

Why you’ll love a National Trust membership

Joining the National Trust is not just something you want to do in March or April ready for the summer. You can join at any time of the year and enjoy visits and days out during all seasons.

Here are some of the reasons you don’t want to put off joining today.

The kids will love it (and fall asleep easily after a visit!)

Kids will love everything the outside space has to offer them. National Trust membership offers you nature at every turn, and you can spot wildlife while out walking. You could see red squirrels, deer, barn owls and robins.

Even when not visiting, there are activities for kids to complete online, with activity packs full of ideas of things to make, craft or bake from home, and printable templates to colour in.

But, my absolute favourite thing is “50 things to do before you’re 11¾”! The NT has created the master list of things kids should experience. Even if you don’t visit, download the free activity list and do it from home – I promise you, the kids will love it, and I’m sure you’ll make some great memories too.

You’ll save money

Obviously, staying in the UK on holiday will save you money, but you’ll want to do stuff where ever you go. Having a National Trust membership will mean you don’t need to pay extra for days out.

Did you know – you’re never further than 40 miles from a National Trust place, so you can save on travel too.

Plus, remember the free parking. If you’re not a member, you would be paying up to £7 to park in some of their car parks, so it’s quite a saving.

Getting healthy without realising

All that walking around parks, coastline, forests or even indoors will give you free exercise.

National Trust membership offers you some breathtaking sights, the chance to get fresh air and stretch your legs.

Spot favourite locations for TV and film

National Trust properties are the set of some big TV and box office productions.

While taking a walk, work out if you are standing in the same place where Enola Holmes was filmed for Netflix or find the locations Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beast were filmed.

Support a charity

Everything that happens at the National Trust is charitable. The properties and outdoor spaces rely on donations and membership to help with their conservation works.

Each time you buy something in a store, sponsor a tree, make a one-off donation or keep up with your National Trust membership, you are helping to keep history alive for generations to come.

As well as their historic properties, you’ll also be helping to protect wildlife and nature. With over 600,000 acres of land and 700 miles of coastline, they help contribute and protect endangered wildlife.

Best National Trust properties

Unlike some other family memberships, with the National Trust, you have access to hundreds of homes and amazing sites to visit for free across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Some of the most popular special places to visit are Wakehurst Place Garden (Sussex), Waddesdon Manor (Bucks) and Stourhead (Wilts).

Membership offers will reduce the cost of your family days out with free entry to hundreds of exclusive locations across Britain. Whether you have kids or want some more chilled out adventures, joining the National Trust will give you a whole year of wondrous nature, beauty and history.

Looking for more family days out? Try these:

• Free Day Out With Open Farm Sunday | Save £100s on Days Out with a Free Blue Peter Badge | Cheaper places like Centre Parcs