National Trust Reviews

We went to Blickling Hall in Norfolk last week. We always like visiting here and do so most years.
What a disappointment! First the public are now directed through the back way through the mostly unplanted vegetable garden, usually one of our favourite places, rather than the impressive front garden and entrance.
The shop is now full of expensive toot rather than the wholesome lavender sprays, soaps, food items and interesting books they were well known for selling.
So, we thought we would have something for lunch as the restaurant was nearly empty, but after queueing up behind three other people, who took so long to serve, due to very slow and inefficient system of serving, we gave up and left.
No problem as the house was about to open.
Well ! That didn’t take long as the first rooms were so dark we couldn’t see a thing. There was no hope of looking at the paintings as it was so dark, especially after coming in from a sunny day our eyes couldn’t adjust.
Also several rooms were closed, so we were soon out of the side door before we knew where were were!
Never mind, we love the gardens at the rear, with all the planted beds and herbaceous boarder’s.
Again, such a disappointment, some of the beds were unplanted due to a weed problem! Being a gardener myself I have never heard of such a thing! And the lovely herbaceous boarders were overgrown and fenced off due to a structural problem!
I would have been very disappointed if I had paid the entrance fee, us being members, surely a discount should have been offered if the place was now so poorly maintained?

The best part of the day was when we left and were able to direct some incoming visitors, who were confused with where to get into the site. We directed them through the front way, so at least part of their visit may be enjoyable.
So sad to take this once lovely place off our visiting list

I have been a member for 30+years. Find the membership good value as long as you use it.
Free parking for members. In North West Wales even the fee can be no more expensive than other car parks for all day parking.
Great days out for families. Work hard to engage children.
They are making some improvements in offering facilities for dogs. I didn't use my membership for years when I worked full time as it felt unfair to leave my dog at home to visit properties in my precious time off. This could be improved more by perhaps providing shaded kennels and allowing dogs in more of the grounds. Properties like Bodnant had increased access although recently have cut the number of days when dogs are allowed in. Good access to water and pooh bins here.
My old girl really enjoyed it here when she became less mobile with plenty to sniff to make her day not to mention lots of fuss from the lovely volunteers.
Enthusiastic and helpful volunteers at all the sites I have visited. Recent visit to Ilam Country Park where volunteers went out of their way to help with walk information.
Beautiful Gardens at Bodnant with interest all year round. Laburnum arch in May and Acers in Autumn a special feature
Tea rooms not quite the treat they used to be. Good picnic facilities.
Great work to conserve wild places.

visited 3 different national trust in the Midlands this weekend. I have not been for a while and I won't be going back in a hurry. Cafes are overpriced offering stale nasty food. one slice of cheap bread spread with cheap marge and a hint of cheese £2.50 sloppy service and filth knives and forks. yuk. I wonder if the food standards agency ever checks these places out?
they need to get there act together and stop ripping people of.

I went to the national trust restaurant on the white cliffs at Dover. My Daughter and I had a bakewell slice each. Both slices were horrible, with very little taste. What taste there was seemed very 'plasticky' and neither of us ate them. I took them back to the counter to tell the staff. The manager was called and all he seemed to care about was making excuses for the product and saying that it was very popular. He then said he would bring the refund to our table. After 15 minutes we were ready to go; no refund so my Daughter went to get it. She was told that the manager was on a break and they had to phone him to authorise the payment. They then refunded the cost of one cake so I had to go and get the rest. I realise that things can go wrong but the manager's priority should have been customer satisfaction and not excuses.
I would like to add that the counter staff were lovely.

A pleasant enough afternoon at the Wimpole Estate, until we went to the “Refectory Restaurant”. With the word restaurant in the title I was expecting at least a hot lunch. All that was available was sandwiches with a choice of 3 or 4 different fillings. We had 2 packs and regretted wasting our money. They were dry, tasteless and overpriced. It is totally misleading to call this a restaurant. It would be better to only serve refreshments and forget the food, if this is the best that can be done.

When is the National Trust going to take seriously the public’s comments about certain foodstuffs served across their properties? There are countless complaints about low quality food, particularly sandwiches.
We are long standing members and have yet to buy a sandwich that has a decent amount of filling. At just under £5 for two rounds of bread with a meagre amount of filling is ‘taking the biscuit’. Our advice - always take your own picnic to any National Trust property.
Mr and Mrs D Ryder

I called to cancel my mum's membership as she passed away a few days before it renewed. The woman i spoke to lacked compassion and came across as entitled. She would not refund the membership because they are a charity. My mother didn't donate £120 to them, she bought a membership which gave her certain benefits, which she is now not able to enjoy. The woman did offer to transfer the membership to me, and seemed to think she was doing me a huge favour in this, even though it is not something i will use.

Charity without compasssion is not charity at all.

Parking is expensive for "non members" every time I've gone to an NT place. So not only do I pay a lot, I also have to pay a surprisingly high admission price. I was thinking of becoming a member but don't feel I want to now.

Neither Liberal, nor Democratic.

The National Trust doesn’t represent the nation and is no longer trusted. Nor should it be.
It is no longer a custodian or care-taking priesthood, expert, knowledgable and dedicated.

Now it is a gaggle of rabid woke 20-something evangelists who have absolutely no concept of honour, duty or the greater good. Only interested in their careers, virtue-signalling as a spectacular justification for self-advancement, selfishness and spite.

I understand the truly jaw-droppingly unapologetic horror Hilary McGrady is still hanging on by her fingernails.

For Gods sake, woman, just GO!

Well worth a visit. Beautiful national trust property, Newton House, is situated in beautiful grounds. Lots of information displayed in the house backed up with very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Lovely walks all around the woods with great views especially from the top of the stunning castle ruins.

Dyrham Park is approached down a very long steep hill, a pleasant walk down but up is only for the reasonably fit. Nat Trust have a courtesy bus for customers to use. As I did not see the usual bus on arrival I asked if it was still running (first visit back since lockdown) and was told yes. However it was very random and stopped at about 4.45, when there were still plenty of elderly people needing to use it. No warning was given and I dread to think how those people got back up the hill. The man who drove the bus was incredibly rude and even drove off with one of the doors still open, luckily the elderly lady sitting there had managed to put her seat belt on so she didn't fall out. Horrible end to a mediocre visit as most of the house is closed whenever we visit.

A fathers day visit spoiled by belton house grantham rip off £16 entrance fee. Not even senior citizens discount!
I used to be a member till they went 'woke'!
The house didn't open till 1230pm! Wont be going back!

Visited Kingston lacy on Saturday 18th June.
Had a £25 credit on a gift card expiry 19th which we used in the cafe. There was a problem on the tills and the card wouldn't work. However thanks to wonderful George on the till and Jo from the shop it was sorted out. Great staff thanks

We really enjoyed our trip to Dinefwr Castle and Newton House. Interesting house and ruined castle with great views set in beautiful countryside and woodland with a lake. The guides Wendy and Nigel were very friendly and enthusiastic and delighted in showing visitors some of the house's secrets. A great day out! Thanks.

Apologies but this is going to be a bit long.

Visited St Michael's Mount, Cornwall in May. Visit was part of a long coastal walk. Tide was out so able to walk across causeway to the Mount. On arrival, told we couldn't get in as we hadn't booked online. Dejected, walked back to Marazion. Checked NT website for St Michael's Mount and found there were places available for visiting at the time we were turned away. Booked tickets online and returned to the Mount where we were greeted by another member of staff who told us staff have a contingency for visitors turning up without tickets - if there are places available, they check you in then and there. Was asked if I wanted to speak to a 'manager' and was taken into an office and spoke to someone who didn't introduce herself or explain her role. I shared my annoyance at being turned away and said I would complain to HQ and share my experience online at which point I was asked to leave.

I used NT's complaint procedure and got a reply saying my complaint had been directed to staff at St Michael's Mount. Guess what? Nothing from St Michael's Mount.

It seems to me the National Trust has lost its way. My membership card boasts, 'for everyone, for ever' which seems hollow given my experience.