The National Trust Swindon reviews

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Tried to book a spot at Hardwick Hall

Tried to book a spot at Hardwick Hall, which has a large open area of walking paths, but unable to do so. Contacted the call centre, and tried to cancel my membership, but was informed because it was a monthly payment I was contracted to July next year. I advised that I had not used my membership since lockdown 1st time around, and was essentially paying for nothing. Basically informed nothing could be done, but they did appreciate the problem. I have been a member for some years, and have visited Hardwick in the height of summer, and there were no signs of any overcrowding then. I appreciate house numbers should be restricted, but all I'm trying to do is walk in the extensive grounds. I have a long memory, and come next year the National Trust will lose a once loyal member...

Paul · 5 November 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

The Trust has become a disgrace.

The Trust became a disgrace once it became political in 2017 and ruled that some of its volunteers had to wear Gay Pride badges to mark 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Now we are to be 'woked' into feeling shame whenever we visit a stately home or look at an object in their care which might have a link to slavery, anything manufactured out of timber by Thomas Chippnedale included. Should we now think twice before we visit the Sistine Chapel and marvel at Michelangelo's ceiling because it was completed under the duress of the Roman Catholic Church, and caused him extreme suffering? Where does this madness stop? The Trust has lost the plot and I shall be cancelling my family membership. They have let the people of this rich and diverse country down through arrogant misguided political correctness.

Nick · 1 November 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

The Fall of the National Trust !

As a long term member visiting Stourhead yesterday, hugely frustrated to find car park closed ! aperently I shoild have booked my place ! I have never received any notification from the Trust to say everyone has to book a car park place ! I can understand restrictions to the cafe, buildings etc but the car park ! This is the last straw, the National Trust needs to replace its new management team and return to the values and beliefs it started with !

Ian · 31 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Happy to charge, not happy to let you use your membership

I am on the brink of cancelling, and can see from many other reviews that many other people are feeling the same. Paying a monthly membership that I had continued to pay throughout the lockdown period but now we “can” visit places I am unable to book anywhere... always sold out... or sale had ended... absolutely ridiculous.. have to plan months in advance.. appreciate we are all in difficult times but this is not acceptable and not what I signed up for.

Daniel · 31 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Trying to cancel my membership!!

After countless times of trying to book to visit NT sites to no avail as they are fully booked!! I decided as my family membership that i pay monthly for isn't providing what i pay the money for to cancel my membership.So i emailed explaining and the response i got was ' unfortunately i can't cancel it due to it being renewed in May ( i wasn't aware it had been renewed as thought it was a rolling membership so i have to pay til next May even though the membership hasn't been used and by the looks of it won't be as always fully booked!!)Apparently when i renewed that means they asign the money to a project so therefore won't let me cancel as they need my money!!So now im stuck paying for something that isn't providing what it should be.

A · 30 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

All I wanted to do today is take my…

All I wanted to do today is take my Mother out for a coffee and cake at our local National Trust (Hardwick Hall) only to be told that we cant do that anymore. We have to pay a full access fee for all options of house garden and cafe.This meant although I had access as a member my Mum had to pay £10 to enter the cafe.. . what a rip off.. I'm a member I pay £10 per month or should I say did as this will now be cancelled.. You should be ashamed .....

DHinchliff · 28 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Cancelling our membership.

Our National Trust membership was auto renewed in September 2020 and promptly direct debited from our account.When the current year's membership expires in 2021 we will not be renewing and I have cancelled any further direct debits to NT.We joined to support efforts to preserve and maintain Britain's heritage and history, and to visit the many interesting properties, parks and grounds the Trust maintained. We did not join to be given lessons in political correctness and woke rewriting of history, which by its nature tarnishes many of those who have been our greatest benefactors. The financial cost of creating your list of those properties you consider affected ,we consider to be a misuse of the Trust's hard earned funds. We feel that the Trust directors should not have the right to make unilateral ideological decisions that ride roughshod over their members and volunteers wishes and beliefs. Following on the heels of other recent disasterous decisions, we feel that the elite executive should now consider if their current role of being entrusted with the nations's treasures is really suitable for them.

NB · 26 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

National embarrassment.

The National Trust has now become a national disgrace. I am one of those members (along with my son) who has cancelled their memberships because of the trusts casual attitude to its members, volunteers and staff. Just who is benefiting from the Trust at present? Its senior staff seem to be doing just fine and making sure that their bloated salaries and benefits remain secure while sacking staff members. If the National Trust wants to make itself more appealing to younger people or a more diverse membership then it's needs to shed the old crusty layers of management. Let's start with Tim Parker. He left a massive mess at the Post Office (as many former ruined postmasters will attest) and now he is helping to create a bigger mess here.

Bluebell · 24 October 2020

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

National Trust underhand payment terms.

National Trust underhand payment terms.National trust make it very difficult to find anything about cancellation of contracts AND send you your new cards a month before without mentioning where to cancel on any of the documents. I was not sent T&C's when I entered the contract for starters.Had the same issue when Covid started. Nothing about my rights.Both times had to email them to action things that should have been found on their website.They have given me a 4 month extension to this years membership but still want to fully charge me on the 12month anniversary of the first 12 month contract! Disappointed with NT making it impossible to find the terms and conditions of the contract you have signed.They must make a fortune forcing people into new 12 month contracts due to confusing the hell out of members and members not exercising their cancellation rights by not being able to find them anywhere.

Chriss · 18 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Appaling woke organisation

Appaling woke organisation. PC bias anti white and anti British. Overwhelmingly lefty middle class metrosexual run. Hates the people who donated their houses and who pay their subs - so give them back then if they were anti gay slavers. Box ticking nonsense. Another corrupt morally bankrupt organisation that needs to be defunded along with the BBC and Channel 4. The are the epitome of white liberal privileged Marxist BLM XR supporting dimwits. The will never get a penny from me. Make the National Trust History.

Dave · 17 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Rip off National Trust

We renewed our membership in May, but since then have struggled to be able to book any visitor slots. NT gave no priority to members, I suppose because they were making more money from non members. None of the houses or restaurants are open, which we were not advised about when our renewal reminder was sent through. We have not been able to use our membership at all since renewal, and have therefore asked for a refund. Their response was that they will give a discount on the next renewal! They also said they do not give refunds as they are a charity. Does being a charity entitle them to rip off members of the public? This matter has now been escalated. It's a disgrace.

Rachel · 10 October 2020

★★★★★ 3/5

Trustpilot

ONLY MY OPINION

MY WIFE AND MYSELF ONLY JOINED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ,ALTHOUGH WE HAVE VISITED MANY NATIONAL TRUST SITES ALONG THE WAY .I WAS TAKEN ABACK WITH SOME OF THE VIEWS I HAVE READ.I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF WHEN I SAY I HAVE ONLY GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE ORGANISATION ,IF YOU ASK THOSE WORKING AT THE HOUSES/GARDENS ,THEY ARE ONLY TOO HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ,BE IT GOOD OR BAD (PAST HISTORY )SO I WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP FOR THE TIME BEING .THAT WAY I CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE MY/OUR OPINIONS ,SO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CANCELLED THIER MEMBERSHIPS ,YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT ,SO LET THE MEMBERS HAVE THIERS

Mr · 7 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Inevitable decay

Hard to give a review of a visit, as the 'National' Trust is too busy censoring, distorting and re-writing history to actually enable access to the properties that it is supposed to hold in trust for the nation. The same one which mostly paid for their construction through one form of indentured domestic labour or another. When they do open, what will we find? Another British institution destroyed by the self-serving 'Third Sector' that reserves highly paid roles for itself by using a political code to exclude any genuine and competent candidate. I will retain my membership to enable me to vote at AGMs (I have usually found myself voting against their 'preferred candidates') but will not donate further or support them in the future.

Mark · 5 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

It's a shame, but I've cancelled my membership

My reviews on Trustpilot are overwhelmingly positive, but this is one of the few that are not. As with many previous reviewers we have just cancelled our membership. We did so with a heavy heart as we have always appreciated the Trust's work and enjoyed the visits we have made. But it is no longer doing what it was created to do - namely to protect the nation's heritage - and instead has decided to join the nation's new obsession of self-flagellation. If one day it wakes up and realises that the ever increasing woke agenda only appeals to a tiny minority then perhaps I'll renew my membership. I always look for companies that respond and sometimes try to deal with poor reviews they receive, but I notice that the Trust has failed to respond here. Make of that what you will.

Keith · 4 October 2020

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

Arlington Court

Great guided local history tour by Graham at Arlington Court

Claire · 28 July 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Unwelcome and unwanted

So disappointed with the booking in advance system. Went to The Roman Fort Homestead yesterday. I didn't know it was a National Trust property. It was 1pm and there were plenty of unbooked spaces. I had my phone and was advised to use it to book in. No signal and no offer of WiFi to use. The place was denied to us. Tried to book for another place today...'Sales Ended' Staff were unfriendly unhelpful and we were unwelcome. Thats another 2 members money you will not be getting. Any other company selling tickets would keep selling until sold out. I just don't understand why NT have chosen to treat us so poorly.

Liz · 1 October 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Where's the Trust gone?

We cancelled the Trust last week before I stumbled upon these reviews. They are all heartfelt, intelligent statements, that I could only repeat. Any business reading a selection of them should be embarrassed and ashamed for their paying customers.We have over many years enjoyed all the Trust had to offer, from stunning locations, beautiful buildings, great walks and tea rooms. Not to mention the bank of memories associated with these visits. We have supported the Trust because we love British history and culture. We have never needed to be educated about it.I am sad that our contributions over the years seem of little value now. We will need some convincing to renew our membership.

Charles · 30 September 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Penrhyn National Trust over the top coverage of Slavery.

Visited Penrhyn Castle. Coverage of slavery completely overwhelms the other history (Slate quarry, the House, the family, the artifacts etc.). Suffice to say I followed a couple out who when they finished had just got no idea about any of the rest of it. This idea of contextualisation has been taken way too far. I think the Covid crisis has allowed the NT to develop this in an echo box without any realistic feedback. I pray the other properties have not gone as over the top as Penrhyn.As to the rest there was no need to keep the gardens closed at all or delay the opening of the houses this late. If this is what they have been doing with their time, what a shambles. The NT had the advantage of the majority of the properties already having a one way system. English Heritage, private homes and castles have opened earlier, more and better. Even Sainsbury's rapidly worked out how to route people! Meanwhile the massive procrastination and focus on this stuff has led to job losses. Absolutely shameful and incompetent leadership.

Mike · 29 September 2020

★★★★★ 2/5

Trustpilot

Cancelled

Disappointed by their excessive response to Covid but still wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and retain our membership. I understand the need to protect staff, many of whom are elderly, but limiting access to parks seems misguided.Their decline into the miserable woke-world however has destroyed the goodwill and removed the inclination to stay. Membership now cancelled.It's a great shame that the leadership are making stupid mistakes. They are letting down the thousands of hardworking staff and volunteers who deserve better.

Edward · 28 September 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Very disappointed with the National Trust and family are leaving

Very disappointed with the Trust and the family will all be leaving the NT when membership runs out. Aside from knowing of some hard working staff who were unreasonably dismissed (leaving the Trust without their tremendous expertise and experience), I'm extremely disheartened by this latest 'virtue signalling' response regarding the slavery issue. Of course we oppose slavery but this is the imposition of action taken in response to an aggressive minority. If the NT had provided an informed, member-involved, reasoned and balanced response then people would not feel the same way and not be cancelling membership in large numbers. But instead the Trust has gone too far. In recent years the Trust has decided to hand pick only certain causes in its quest for ‘diversity’, leading people to question what is really meant by this - diversity or the promotion of only certain agendas? Let me add there are many stories untold by the NT such as the nation’s Christian heritage and various other issues of 'diversity' that are completely ignored. Without this heritage there would be no Trust and no freedom to decide what to fund. In terms of our response to slavery we’re right to include different perspectives in a balanced reasonable way - both bad (the horrendous nature of slavery which of course we stand against and find abhorrent). But also the good (Wilberforce, John Newton, the nation's fight against slavery once laws were passed). Let's not forget slavery existed long before the Europeans got involved. And what of modern day slavery which is far worse and far more prevalent - what are the Trust and their ilk doing to fight this? Far better to do what we can today than spend copious sums trying to ‘cancel’ the past. But reason seems to have departed in a world where accusation, identity politics and feelings have trumped reason, debate and truth. It seems the Trust have become victims of slavery themselves, slaves to a false narrative and myopic agenda. The Trust should remember that the Trust belongs to the people; the people do not belong to the Trust.

Steffun · 27 September 2020

★★★★★ 5/5

Trustpilot

I ❤️ national trust

I love the national trust and everything g they do to protect our much loved historical buildings. I do agree that it has become politicised, but I my after reading these deliberately harsh reviews. As far as I can see they are the only ones who are making anything political. I will continue to give them my firm support In their excellent work and just hope these crazy people find some other organisation to hound.

Katy · 22 October 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Disgusted

Disgusted, no reason house's couldn't have started to open with measures in place like many of the independent houses and castles. As for their recent woke statements, the sacking of loyal staff (while asking volunteers to help!), decriing historical figures for views and actions which we now recognise as wrong, but were of their time.They are betraying the trust of all the families who passed property to them for safekeeping for the nation.I will be joining English Heritage instead this year!

Consumer · 26 September 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

The NT should take a leaf out of the Queens book!

The NT should take a leaf out of the Queens book and stay politically neutral, let the houses and the history of their inhabitants speak for themselves, the good and the bad, it was never the duty of the directors (who are mere caretakers on behalf of the public) to take a once great national institution and subject it to destroying WOKE culture. I have cancelled my membership and will not renew till this current virtue signalling board is dismissed and replaced with one who will return the NT to its original purpose.

MICHAEL · 26 September 2020

★★★★★ 1/5

Trustpilot

Appalling handling of covid

Appalling handling of covidThey have the audacity to ask for charitable donations when they aren't even attempting to remain financially viable. Why are so many of their houses still closed? They should all be open with all necessary restrictions (eg social distancing, book online etc) in place. Why didn't they offer take away afternoon tea boxes during lockdown that people could just order online and collect?Why didn't they open all their (very profitable) gift shops as soon as non-essential retail was allowed to open?Why are they refusing to give members refunds when the CMA has said this is required by law?Why are they releasing all their tickets for the FOLLOWING week on a Friday when working people are AT WORK so can't book?Why are they making so many hard working staff redundant when it's the leadership who clearly need replacing?I am YET to come across an organisation handle the covid situation so badly as the NT.

Alice · 26 September 2020