The National Trust Swindon reviews

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Such a shame that the National Trust is…

Such a shame that the National Trust is ageist in recruitment. I passed an online assessment and expected to be called for interview. Having e-mailed the National Trust asking for an update on my application and being ignored the only possible conclusion can be that the National Trust apply ageist policies when it comes to recruitment. Having read many of the one star reviews from members of the National Trust below, I would not now want to work for such a shambles of an organisation.National Trust claim that applications are updated via the on-line account and e-mail. This is not true, they failed to provide updates. An assurance means nothing when a friend who worked for NT has told me how the organisation operates. An utter shambles of an organisation.

Gareth · 21 July 2023

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

Holiday cottage with no hot water and NT initially slow to sort

Holiday cottage with no hot water after 1 day - called (many times) to NT 'support number' - no-one particularly interested - eventually a plumber came out and left us a note saying a part for the water heater was needed (with no indication about when it would arrive). So no hot water for one, two, three, four days. We spent a lot of time trying to get some action / alternatives and were promised many callbacks by NT that never materialised. Once I uploaded a 1 star review to trustpilot and submitted a formal complaint by email things seemed to happen more quickly - we were called and finally provided with some clear communication - water would not be fixed anytime soon - no alternative accommodation was available - but a full refund was offered if we left that day - which we did. Inevitably things go wrong but it is astonishing that an organisation as large as NT cottages couldn't step up to sort this issue seamlessly and quickly, without us spending time chasing. It was positive that a refund was offered, although our holiday was significantly impacted.

CR · 20 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

ripped off passes already paid for cancelled

was sent out new trust passes even though not requested or agreed to have them. so rang to cancel them but found out today after driving to a location 50 miles away they have cancelled this yrs passes also that we've not only paid for but should be valid until the 20th April!!! thanks a bunch ! half a tank of fuel wasted. do you think we are rich,??

Karen · 1 April 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

No go for dog owners

We recently inherited a dog from a relative no longer able to look after it. We have now discovered that the National Trust is not dog friendly. We were denied entry into the gardens around Lanhydrock and more recently, denied access to the deer park around Dyrham Park (despite assurances we would keep it on a short lead). We completely understand that dogs should not be allowed inside properties but to bar dogs from the gardens and environs (and the cafes) seems unnecessarily intransigent and petty. Sadly, we can't ditch the dog so may have to ditch our NT membership

Sharon · 18 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

An appalling and chaotic mess of an…

An appalling and chaotic mess of an organisation. I found it impossible to renew my elderly person membership, they don't want me as a member, and block their site, sending me in endless circles, don't resolve it on the phone, won't renew it over the desk, and when I was forced to let membership lapse and tried to take out new membership, wouldn't do that either. Elderly membership is no-longer possible over the desk. So as a charity they are obviously blocking elderly members from renewing and want rid. For the first time in years I am now not a member. They have wasted hours of my time over weeks. They have run me in circles. Now loath them at every level. They don't care about ordinary people anymore. Interestingly on 18th July they tried to challenge my review with a warning it might be brought down and want my phone number. I bet they do. It wasn't any good when they were telling me they would phone me back endlessly and didn't. They don't like criticism.

Paul · 18 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Sygun Cottage, Craflwyn, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, LL55 4NF

Friday 10 Sep 2021 for 7 nightsIn summation the quality of the cottage and the way this matter has been dealt with has fallen far short of normal expectations, and given due consideration to the pandemic. Given that you have a 6 hour turnaround time coupled with the diminutive size of the property, issues have not been resolved when they could have been. I feel I have started my holiday in the capacity of a supervisory role for the NT. Your email responses clearly indicate your not taking this matter seriously. I expect remuneration for having to deal with these issues and for my work in compiling what feels like an inspection report. Going forward you need a maintenance plan and a turnaround checklist to ensure this does not happen again.The bathroom had a large hole knocked through to the next property's bathroom, which you later said must have been when a previous resident pulled out the toilet roll holder. You “fixed” the hole during my visit on 13/09/2021. Why did you wait for my involvement before this was dealt with? The shower had black mould on the tiles, corners and on the shower head. You said that a certain amount of black mould was “normal”. I said it takes at least a month without cleaning for such a situation to occur e.g a lack of adequate cleaning. This affected my asthma.The spotlight unit in the main room flickered because it wasn’t properly secured; hanging down with exposed wires. You sent an electrician to fix this on 13/09/2021. Why did you wait for my involvement before this was dealt with?The outside seating for the 8 properties was inadequate leading to contention. And a clear breach of the COVID distancing recommendations. There were only 3 benches. You said previous guests must have moved them. Where on earth to? Did they take them home? How long has this situation lasted?The guest book mentioned that for emergencies there is a red telephone box at the end of the cottages. There is and it doesn’t work. You said “unfortunately the telephone box is not in use”. You really don't want to mess around like this as it could impact somebody's life. Remove the details from the guest book and take down the sign in the telephone box.The extractor fan in the bathroom has at least 2 years of human hair on it. Not acceptable or normal.The outside light didn’t work. You said that you did not have a ladder to replace the bulb. Was this an attempt at humour? The electrician who visited on 13/09/2021 replaced the bulb and informed me that the light could only be activated from the end cottage; it was permanently switched off!There is a poison rat trap behind the sofa and a rat hole in the bathroom. A thin plasterboard partition has been used between the other properties toilet and the main room. You can hear every detail. The stairs are lethal, and there is a raised piece of wood at the top of them to trip you up if you're not careful. Did they pass planning permission?

Paul · 5 October 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Honestly such a bad experience

Honestly such a bad experienceIf you join the national trust you will get poor communications and an automatic renewal of a membership that at the end of 12 months you wont want. You will end up going round in circles trying to cancel, with them declaring that they are only able to speak to the "lead name" when it is a household membership. Even if you explain that the lead name isn't able to communicate due to illness and you email them notice to cancel and copy in the lead name. If you manage to bypass the huge wait times and get through to speak to someone their call centres are so noisy you can't hear the person on the other end of the phone.Deeply frustrating and absolutely not worth access to the boring cafes, the boring, and often dirty, locations and same old shops. I don't need another fridge magnet or tin of fudge thanks. Just seriously don't bother.

Karen · 14 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Wanted a coffee with a great view.

We visited Dunstable Downs and went into the cafe today. Having been there a few times as members. During the pandemic lockdown as the country started to open up. We could understand the use of disposable cups. However the last time we were there a month ago with our grandchildren, they were still using disposable cups for hot drinks to sit in the cafe, they told us it was due to their dishwasher broken. Today we went into the cafe intending to sit in. They were serving in disposable cups, the server told us it was due to their dishwasher not working. That was the same as it was a month ago, but they are still charging the full sit in price £2.75 for a takeaway coffee. We had placed our order and promptly cancelled our order. And if I had had to have paid additional for car parking. As members park for free, however you do pay for this as also part of membership. We have been to others and this doesn't seem to be the case. We did our voting with our feet. I would like to know how long it's going to take to get a new dishwasher, or is this what they have been told to say. There were quite a few members of staff in the kitchen!!!.

Andrea · 23 September 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Being a paying member is not worth it

The way national trust treat their members has massively gone down hill. During covid all of the National trust places closed. Memberships were not cancelled or put on hold we were still expected to pay. Then when national trust sites did start re opening they started using a ridiculous booking system with no priority bookings to members who had been paying their memberships for months and months when everywhere was closed. I'm now shocked to see that members do not get any free entry to any of the christmas events. If you are a member and want to visit in November when its classed as a christmas event you have to pay £18 per adult on top of your membership!! For non members its only £2 extra... total rip off . Have cancelled my membership.

CH · 15 September 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Membership Renewal - Zero customer service

Like other reviewers, I’m frustrated and annoyed by the difficulty of renewing our membership. Tried to do this online. Gave up after several unsuccessful attempts. Phoned. 35 minute wait, then spoke to unfriendly/unhelpful agent who wanted to take me through lots of security questions. Why? - I’m hardly going to pay someone else’s membership fee! She then transferred me to the payment people - at which point I was cut off. 🙈Tried emailing. To be fair I got a reply telling me I could renew by bank transfer, with details of how to do this. Paid our fees on 20 June. Two weeks on, no cards. Worse, received an email saying our membership had lapsed. No reply to my chasing emails. The membership team clearly has zero interest in helping loyal members or providing anything resembling customer service. As a contrast i renewed my Historic Houses membership with a simple phone call, answered within two minutes. Look and learn National Trust!!

Andy · 8 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

A national rip-off.

National Trust say they aim to be inclusive and welcoming to all. However when they charge £5.20 for a single sausage roll how can a normal working family take a break in their ultra expensive cafes? It caters for wealthy pensioners and middle class families, they exclude the rest of us by exorbitant prices.

Martin · 4 December 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

We visited Llanbedrog beach last Sunday…

We visited Llanbedrog beach last Sunday and won’t be going again!!Those of us who don’t have dogs are restricted to a very small part of the beach whilst those with their pets have the rest!Although there are supposed to be restrictions they are completely ignored! Owners do not keep their dogs on a lead until after the beach huts! In fact most people don’t get that far before they settle down for the day. Whilst we were there a dog came running onto the beach and did it’s business right next to a family group sunbathing!!Surely this is a health hazard!We feel that there should be many more restrictions.We have renamed this beach LlanbedDOG!!

Customer · 4 July 2023

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

Full price and half the access

Recently visited Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales and also given our visit to Dunster Castle, Somerset this time last year, I am disappointed that entrance prices to these were normal price with no concessions because of partial closure.Dunster Castle was not open to the public, access to the grounds only.Access to ground floor only for Tredegar House.I appreciate this is a charitable organisation reliant on public funds and understand the closure due to covid, but you should still get the service that you pay for, or be told otherwise when paying the entrance fee so you can make an informed choice whether to go in.

S · 3 September 2021

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

Flstford mill and walks were beautiful but awful food

The area was beautiful and we had a lovely walk.The food however was awful we had to wait 15 minutes before we got our food after ordering a cheese scone which was very bland you could hardly taste any cheese and some cheesy fries which were mushy. They were reheated jacket spuds slice covered with melted cheese. They were over cooked and a funny colour. The plough man's was quite small and very average for the money. Come on national trust you can do better

JULIE · 2 July 2023

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Paid for joint membership last year and…

Paid for joint membership last year and was only able to use once as lockdown shut places near me. This year renewed membership in July and still no cards on 31st August. Have phoned and just get told use temporary printed cards. Have emailed and no reply whatsoever. National Trust is very quick to take the money but rubbish in dealing with their own inefficiency re administration. Not impressed. English Heritage is a far better organisation who seem to manage their efficiency much better,

Gillian · 31 August 2021

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

Whilst is saddens me a little to post…

Whilst is saddens me a little to post this review as a supporter of the Trust . My wife and I who live local to Kinver Edge and regularly visit we today shocked and surprised by a member of the Trust staff called Louise. Her attitude , tone and rudeness far outweighed her role in supervising people seeking to support the on site cafe. Notwithstanding Vivid she clearly delights in bossing people about and needs to realise just how unfriendly and patronising she is. Such a shame others we have encountered all seem lovely. Think someone needs to enlighten her to the face that perception is reality. No doubt she would be very defensive if given feedback her type often are.

Carl · 28 August 2021

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

A recent visit to Stourhead was truly…

A recent visit to Stourhead was truly disappointing. The entrance is now £18 per adult. This includes the gardens and house. If the house is closed, tuff, it’s still £18.00. This seems to be a huge increase from previous years pay structure. And no concessions for OAP. Looking forward to my first cream tea.... Motorway service station is the best description. Dry scone - no idea how long it had been sitting in the fridge. Boring pot of jam. Where once a National Trust cream tea had been one of delight, it has now become at best meh. National Trust has become lazy and cheeseparing,

Sharon · 22 August 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Misleading charges…

We visited National Trust property Shaw’s Corner for their Apple Orchard Day expecting a fun, family-friendly experience. Unfortunately, it turned out to be very overpriced and poorly managed.

Mrs · 5 October 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Visted Blickling Hall for an Easter…

Visted Blickling Hall for an Easter Trail for grandchildren. Had to pay £68.50 for 3 adults and two children(inc £10.00 parking). We are not members. Disgraceful rip off. The only plus was the trail was very good and children enjoyed it. Come on National Trust....this could have been a much more reasonable figure...we never even attempted the cafe as this would have made an extremely expensive Easter Trail

Jules · 1 April 2024

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

Shame on you National Trust

Shame on you National Trust. I visited Watersmeet, Lynmouth today and have you locked the doors and thrown away the key.I understand there have been landslips and the lodge is closed but you seem to have forgotten about such a lovely building/area.Bins were full/overloaded, weeds on the terrace and I know we all like to keep the grass longer to encourage wildlife but at least keep up a bit of maintenance and please don't say you cannot gain access as when I was there today a Carpenter managed to get tools and timber to one of the bridges by the lodge to carry out bridge repairs.A little bit of thought and weekly maintenance would not go amiss - shame on you National Trust.

J · 22 June 2021

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Polesdon Lacey, rules, rules and more rules!

Having enjoyed joint husband and wife membership for a number of years and having visited quite a number of properties, this is the first time I’ve had cause to write an adverse review. Polesdon Lacey, nestling in the Surrey Hills, a delight? Initial experience was positive, greeted by a male member of staff at the door of the house, who regaled us with colourful stories surrounding the last owner of the property. He’d had a hand in researching the subsequent book of her life, his enthusiasm, in keeping with previous visits to other properties, brought to life the visit. Unfortunately, our visit was ruined almost before it began. My wife was challenged in the house by a “jobsworth woman”, who demanded she carry her small rucksack over the front of her body and not by the straps on her back. No reason was offered but “rules is rules”! Despite my wife’s protestations that this was uncomfortable and made it impossible to use her camera, “rules is rules!” Suffice to say, neither of us was happy and for me the visit was ruined. Further to this, with the exception of one lady volunteer guide, none of the staff in the rooms looked the slightest bit interested in offering any detail in the rooms! Sineage was also particularly abundant. Our visit was completely ruined though in the restaurant. £4.95 for soup and a roll. Rip off, particularly as my wife doesn’t eat granary bread and she was to,d that there was no white bread option! Yet there were numerous white bread sandwiches on sale. We won’t be visiting this property again.

Christopher · 20 June 2021

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I love visiting National Trust sites on days off

I love visiting National Trust sites on my days off. Me and my partner recently visited Nostel in Yorkshire. The grounds and building were lovely to walk around and the cafe and shop were lovely too. The items in the shop were very nice and I bought some gifts for family for Christmas whilst there. The couples membership is very good value at only £5 each per month including free parking. Well worth it.

Catherine · 4 November 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

National Trust Member

National Trust Member Me and my wife recently joined a joint membership, and we received a national trust card each , But unfortunately my wife had realised she had forgotten to bring it with her and left it at home. And Unsure on what we needed to do about this , And arriving at Barrington court Somerset, Maggie at the reception Was most helpful & pleasant and arranged a temporary card for my wife to use untill we returned home . So we continued with our trips. And was impressed with all staff .with the knowledge and helpfulness, about the venue's , it was excellent

Anthony · 25 May 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Holiday cottage disgrace.

Coming out of lockdown we booked a stay at Little Milford Farmhouse in Pembrokeshire. We arrived to find the cottage to be in a terrible state of repair. The cottage was damp and cold with rotten woodwork. The property was dirty with lots of black mold and the outdoor furniture was severely burnt by a careless barbecue user. There were also numerous deviations from the advertised specifications. We have had a small refund on our £800 stay but have been continuously ignored by customer services. Please ask for an assurance of a full refund before you book. The national trust don’t seem show reviews for each property, so please be careful before booking. Sadly you can no longer trust the national trust.

Gaz · 18 May 2021