Every review we hold for the Swindon office, from every platform, shown as written. First names only.
★★★★★ 3/5
TrustpilotNot worth the membership fee
Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be renewing my membership as it’s not worth the money for me. If I was interested in walking around gardens and the grounds which are nice then it would be great but I took out the membership to see the fantastic old buildings but unfortunately most close for the winter which means I’m paying for something I can’t use. I drove an hour (a 2 hour round trip) to Attingham Hall because it said on the app that both the basement and ground floors were open from 11am - 3.30pm but when I got there the basement was open but the ground floor was guided tours only which you had to pay for. So I drove there to spend 20 minutes walking round the basement. The ground floor is open on weekends and school holidays which would have been better to know before I drove there. I also did Erddig Hall a few weeks back and the upper floor was closed so once again it was just the basement and the gardens open. I understand that these old buildings need to be repaired and maintained which means shutting some parts off but to close most the buildings off for a couple of months a year just isn’t good value for money in my eyes. On a good note the staff seem very friendly and helpful and from what I’ve seen of the buildings they look great. Unfortunately I just don’t think a membership is for me.
Raymond · 20 February 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Raymond.Thank you for your review.I’m sorry you drove all the way to Attingham to find parts of the Mansion closed. You’re correct that we often have to close sections of our houses during the quieter winter period. This is so we can complete deep cleans and essential conservation work, which cannot be done while we’re open to visitors. During February and March, the basement at Attingham opens for free flow visits and the ground floor opens for guided tours by our volunteers’ weekdays. This is free of charge to our members. This year, we’ve found the tours exceptionally popular, which has meant these tend to be fully booked most days. To avoid further disappointment, we’ve added more of these tours. I’m sorry this information wasn’t shared to you on your visit. We’ve spoken with the wider team at Attingham, to ensure the information is shared with visitors more clearly in future. Thank you for your feedback. I’m glad to hear you’ve found our staff friendly on your visits. However, I’m sorry the house closures have meant you wish to no longer carry on with your membership. I’d like to thank you for your membership donations. Your valuable support has helped us to care for the miles of coastline, woodlands, countryside and the hundreds of historic buildings, gardens, and precious collections we protect for everyone, for ever. We hope to be able to welcome you back to the places we care for in the future. Kind regardsSteveNational Trust
★★★★★ 3/5
TrustpilotAwful coffee
Everything was lovely BUT National Trust coffee is awful - absolutely tasteless. It's the same in every National Trust cafe.
Bev · 22 October 2025
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotTerrible customer service
Terrible customer service! I have been trying to purchase a new membership online, I messaged over a week ago, had to chase a response, finally got a response which was not very helpful, I’m back waiting again for another reply. I will not bother to chase again and will not now be purchasing a membership. Having read the reviews the customer service department has been bad for a long time with obviously no signs of improvement.
Nikki · 3 May 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Nikki Thanks for your review and for providing more information. We'll respond directly to the email address you've provided. Thanks for your support. National Trust
★★★★★ 4/5
TrustpilotGreat for exploring and family time
Lots of fabulous places to visit and fantastic second hand bookshops too in most places! Can be a tad busy at times (especially their cafes) but I guess that shows how popular they are. We gift this to my mother in law every year as her present, which means not only do we get quality family time, but she also uses this to see other family members or friends. We all have a “passport “ and happily collecting our stamps at new properties! Removed one star because their app and website needs work to make it more user friendly, but other than that am very happy with our membership
S · 9 February 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi S Baker.Thank you for your kind review. It's lovely to hear you and your family have been enjoying your visits. I hope you continue to make great memories together and keep collecting new stamps at the places in our care.I'm sorry you've found our website not very user friendly. We're currently working on reintroducing the MyNT feature to our website. This will allow greater self service for our members and provide a better all round experience. We’re hoping to have this back sometime this month. Thank you again for contacting us and for your support. Your valuable support has helped us to care for the miles of coastline, woodlands, countryside and the hundreds of historic buildings, gardens, and precious collections we protect for everyone, for ever.Best wishesSteveNational Trust
★★★★★ 5/5
TrustpilotAlways an enjoyable experience.
I see a lot of negative reviews for The National Trust but to be honest I personally cannot see why. My family and I have been members for a couple of years now and we've visited many sites, we've never had a bad experience yet. I suppose the days are what you make of it but we've always enjoyed ourselves and found any staff members more than friendly and helpful too.
Wade · 28 July 2024
Agent replied · 25 December 2024
Hi Wade W. Thank you for your review - we're so glad you and your family are enjoying your membership and getting out to lots of places in our care. Thanks for supporting us through your membership and visits - it's much appreciated. Best wishes.
★★★★★ 5/5
TrustpilotGoing that extra mile
We visited Oxburgh on a cold day on 31st January. So cold, we needed a cuppa! With a dog in tow, there was no room in the dog friendly cafe so we said we were happy to wait in the corridor - no problem. Whilst we chatted, we saw two of the ladies bring a table and chairs in from outside and into the cafe and guess what, they were for us! Well done those ladies for going the extra mile when they were under no pressure to do so. Kevin & Margaret & Teddy
Margaret · 7 February 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Margaret Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your review. It's great to hear about our local teams making such an effort to help our visitors out. I'll make sure your great feedback gets passed on. I hope you had a great day at Oxburgh, your tea warmed you up and enjoy many more days out at the amazing places we care for. Thanks for your support. National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotVERY UNCHARITABLE NATIONAL TRUST
This should be NO STAR!!!I was presented with 1 year membership of the uncharitable Trust, but I have been ill, in great pain, and hardly able to walk, so have not been able to visit any of the Trust properties, and in all likelihoob, will not be able to do so by the time the yearly membership runs out in 5 months time, as I await a spinal surgical procedure.I contacted the Trust, hoping that they will be able to shift the membership date forward. but flatly refused. Even with producing doctor's documentation, the answer is still NO, citing the mealy mouthed "We are a charity" excuse. But if I was not going to use the years membership, they will gladly allow me to cancel it, with no refund. This lot do not deserve to use the word 'charity'. Disgusted!!!
Larry · 6 February 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Larry Thanks for your review and for providing more information when we asked. I'll email you separately, hopefully with a resolution. Thanks for your support. National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotFor me the national trust is a complete…
For me the national trust is a complete rip off. In my younger days we went to mother Shiptons in Knaresborough,york minster,stonehenge,whitby Abbey and all were free! The last time I went to York minster there were turnstiles inside this so called house of god. Quite a few people were milling around before the turnstiles,about twenty of the tourists were chineese who decided not to pay like us and walked out.If you go to Bolton Abbey, as four of us did in one car we paid a fiver, admittedly a few years ago, but in the same we went to fountains Abbey,national trust,and the charge per person was ten pounds so did not go in. CHEERS NATIONAL TRUST!
Michael · 31 January 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Michael Thanks for your review although I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment. We were founded so that everyone can enjoy access to nature, beauty and history and 95% of our land is free to access, or by paying to park. Where we do charge, any admission fees go directly to the property to help us fund vital conservation work.Several of the places you mentioned aren't places we care for so I can’t pass comment on them. However, we always listen to feedback and will continue to keep our admissions charges at Fountains Abbey under review. Our aim is always to balance giving the best possible experience for supporters and visitors with the task of looking after this special place. Continuing to make it accessible to as many people as we can.Thanks again for your comments. National Trust
★★★★★ 3/5
TrustpilotTatton Park - RHS Membership issue
Have visited Tatton Park twice now as a family with two young children.
MA · 28 April 2026
Agent replied · 26 May 2026
Hi MA, thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
I'm sorry you were disappointed after your recent visit to Tatton Park - I've made sure to share your feedback with the team there.
Thanks again for leaving a review, and for your support.
Best wishes
National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotCome across a Nt rude warden
Come across a Nt rude warden, asked us to leave a public beach, where we usually go fishing for a day out. Leave people in peace.
Peelercrabs · 12 January 2026
Agent replied · 23 January 2026
Hi Peelercrabs,
I'm sorry for your disappointing experience at one of our beaches. I can appreciate your upset.
While I'm unsure of where this incident happened, I will pass your feedback onto our Visitor Experience department for their review.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
Kind regards
Steve
National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotCar parking not free
Car parking not free, lot of sites not dog friendly, and cannot cancel membership till the end of the year. Going to cancel my direct debit as the terms and conditions is illegal.Most car parks at NT are not owned by them and still have to pay anything from £5 to £10 pounds for parking.Will be canceling my direct debit let them take me to courtJust look at their review ratings....total disgrace.
Craig · 26 June 2024
Agent replied · 25 December 2024
Hi Craig Thanks for taking the time to leave your review. I’m sorry to hear you’re unhappy with your membership.All National Trust memberships, except for Junior membership, entitle you to free parking at most of the places we care for. There are few places which have different arrangements, which it sounds like you may have come across, but I can assure you the vast majority of our places are free to park for members. You can find more information here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/services/help-centre/car-parking-faqsDogs are welcome at most of our places too. The facilities available are different from place to place, as are the areas they can enter. Your membership handbook and our property webpages include information about the facilities we have at each place using the ‘pawprint’ rating system. You can learn more about that here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dog-friendly/visiting-national-trust-places-with-your-dogYou can cancel your membership at any time, but please note all memberships are non-refundable. Payments to the National Trust are classified by HMRC as a charitable donation. This applies to one-off payments and Direct Debit payments.If you pay monthly, you’ll need to continue to pay until the end of your membership year as per your monthly agreement. We’d therefore recommend continuing to take advantage of the benefits until your renewal date, at which point you can decide to not renew. You can call us on 0344 800 1895 or email us at enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk if you’d like to discuss this further. If you’re emailing, please include your full name, address and supporter number.I hope I’ve provided some useful information. Thanks again for leaving your review and your valuable support. Chris National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotRenewing membership on line-what a joke
We have been members of the NT since 2003. We renew our joint membership (senior) annually on line. Every time we have a problem renewing online. We love the properties we visit, but oh NT your website for renewal is atrocious. We use the same membership number, must be correct because we even get a reminder through the post, but will it let us sign in and pay-oh no. Frustrating-we thought we would not send our payment through the post-as we are au fait with online.
JH · 19 January 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi JH. I'm sorry for the issues you've had renewing your membership online. Thank you for providing more details so we could get in touch and help resolve the issue for you. Thanks for your patience and for your continued support of the National Trust. Best wishes.
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotDon't buy their national trust overseas visitor passes
I would give them zero if possible. Complete waste of money to buy the national trust overseas visitor passes. They can't be used in any reciprocal entry agreements, such as English Heritage (including Stonehenge and Housesteads Fort), National Trust for Scotland or other International National Trusts Organisation members. The explorer pass only covers very remote areas that no tourist cares (or could be visited for free without the passes).
Dianxian · 12 August 2024
Agent replied · 25 December 2024
Hi dianxian li.Thank you for taking the time to review.I'm sorry you were disappointed with the Explorer Pass you purchased from us.As the terms and conditions on our website advise, the Explorer Passes do not have reciprocal entry agreements. While we do have a list of excluded places on our website, the pass does cover the majority of our Pay for Entry places and car parks. However, I'm sorry if the pass didn't cover some of the places you'd hoped to visit. Thank you again for your feedback and for your support.Kind regardsSteveNational Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotNot only has the membership fee gone up…
Not only has the membership fee gone up considerably over the last couple of years, but the cost of eating at the cafes is quite literally obscene. Having visited a site today, I was taken aback at the price vs quantity of the food offered. It’s almost a scam! Needless to say, as soon as my membership ends, it will not be renewed.
Leon-Marc · 11 November 2024
Agent replied · 25 December 2024
HI Leon-MarcThanks for leaving your review, I'm sorry to read your comments. This year’s membership prices reflect the challenges we still face, such as higher materials, utilities and conservation costs. We review our pricing regularly to make sure we can balance looking after our historic places, green spaces and collections to the high standards they deserve and provide high quality days out for visitors. We appreciate there are still many pressures on people’s finances currently and are very grateful to those members who continue to support us. Whilst our income comes from a wide variety of sources, such as our cafes and holiday cottages, income from membership accounts for over a third of our total income.Without the increase from last year it would mean we simply couldn’t deliver our responsibilities, as a charity, to look after the more than 500 historic places, 780 miles of coastline and 250,000 hectares of land in our care for the nation. I’m sorry you’re unhappy with the prices in our cafes. We along with the rest of the hospitality industry, have seen costs soar more than ever before. This is due to higher energy, labour and ingredient costs. We have to cover our costs and ensure the long-term future of the charity, while also balancing this with offering value to our members and supporters. It’s a balance we’re always mindful of and one we hope our supporters understand and will continue to support us with. We also benchmark our pricing against similar attractions, as well as high street operations, to ensure we’re in line with industry pricing and quality. I'm sorry if we lose you as a member but hope I've provided some useful information. Thank you for your support. Kind regards Chris National Trust
★★★★★ 2/5
TrustpilotI am heartily sick of going to a local…
I am heartily sick of going to a local National Trust place and finding they have closed the cafe early .The National Trust site doesn’t update the opening times and 3 times in the last few weeks we’ve had people staying with us and had lovely walks only to find at Arlington Court around 9th Dec which stated that the cafe was open til. 4 pm …cleaning up at 3.15! …Not serving anything ….no change to any notice anywhere .Over Christmas we were 8 hoping for a cream tea at Watersmeet and got offered a cuppa …no coffee or food at 3.40 ..,.NTrust states if it says they are closing at 4pm then they serve everything til 4 pm …..the lady wasn’t interested and relieved she didn’t have to put the kettle on.I don’t care how busy or not busy you are ….if you are open until a certain time then stop closing….. it’s unprofessional unfair and embarrassing …I’m now going to add my thoughts on the reply I received a few days ago…….Watersmeet did state they were open til4pm on line …I checked that day …also the board at the top of the path stated the same ….the member of staff was clearing up and said we couldn’t have coffee as the machine had been cleaned but she would do a cup of tea ……all said hoping we would bother so we didn’t .You should get the facts right and not make it look like I was in the wrong.
Marjie · 7 January 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Marjie. Thanks for your review. I’m sorry for your disappointing visits to the tea rooms. I’ve passed on your feedback to the teams at both Arlington Court and Watersmeet. The tea room at Arlington should have been open until 4pm on Saturday 9 December, so I’m sorry this wasn’t what you found. Any changes to opening times are usually agreed upon early, notices updated, and visitors informed by our welcome staff, so the manager is going to follow up to make sure this is happening. The tea room at Watersmeet closes at 3pm during the winter months and I can see this has changed since the Handbook was published, so the manager is checking that the webpage is up to date. The opening times are advertised at the main entrance and entry points from the woodland walks. Thank you again for sharing your feedback and I hope we get to welcome you back to the places in our care soon.
★★★★★ 5/5
TrustpilotWent to Fountains Abbey in October on a…
Went to Fountains Abbey in October on a free family day pass. We went with another couple who also had a free pass. Really enjoyed the walk with plenty of seats around to rest which I needed and allowed the others to explore further. Car parking very good. Ticket office lady very helpful and gave lots of information. Toilets clean and accessible. Yes it was a free day out but we bought in the gift shop and cafe and thoroughly enjoyed our day.
Julie · 3 January 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Julie. Thanks for your review. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed your day out at Fountains and I've shared your review with the local team there. It's great you and your friends made use of the passes and we appreciate your visit. Thank you also for choosing to support us further at the gift shop and cafe. We hope to welcome you back to another of the places in our care soon. Best wishes.
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotVery poor admin…
My wife and I were bought National Trust Membership by my daughter for Christmas 2022 it expires 31st December 2023. I tried to renew it just before Christmas 2023 first on line only to find it could only be renewed by my daughterI rang the National Trust telephone line and was told yes they could renew it but only from that day so I would lose 10 days membership. Nice properties but useless admin. For an organisation that is crying out to keep members and an influx of cash, very poor admin. Now wondering whether to bother renewing.
Mr · 31 December 2023
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Chris Thanks for your review and for providing additional information. We'll respond to you directly by email. Thanks for your support. National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotHaving cancelled membership in June…
Having cancelled membership in June then received info for AGM in August NOW I have received the magazine in September. What is wrong with the administration at the National Trust? Waste, waste, waste. Glad I did not renew!
Michael · 9 September 2025
Agent replied · 23 September 2025
Hi Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to review.
I'm sorry you've still been receiving mailings from us. Our mailings are prepared in advance which means they can sometimes arrive after cancelling. However, if you have concerns about this you can email us at enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Kind regards
Steve
National Trust
★★★★★ 5/5
TrustpilotWallington Hall - Morpeth fabulous
We have been staying locally on a weeks break, fortunately for my husband & I & our 2 Bedlington Terriers. Wallington Hall was only 2 miles away. We have been every day, and are blown away by your beautiful staff , imparticular Sam the male member of staff in your superb cafe. Who offered us lots of assistance with questions and each time remembered us, he was so pleasant & really made our visit special. As did the check in staff, always smiling , nothing too much trouble, offering us local tips. The grounds were beautifully kept, the river walk amazing. We will be recommending Wallington Hall to everyone we meet.Thankyou , your staff are worth their weight in gold.
Annette · 1 September 2022
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotThe National Trust 2024 Inclusion and…
The National Trust 2024 Inclusion and Wellbeing calendar that includes festivals such as Diwali, Ramadan and Eid but does not include Easter and Christmas.This is an utter disgrace. I have not been a NT member for quite a few years now due to these sort of issues, and have cancelled my auto renew and hence my membership. Until the NT realise the error of their ways I will stop my money going to them. Money talks, its that simple.
Mr · 14 January 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Christopher. You may have seen we've had similar comments on this subject. For consistency, I'm responding to you with the same information we've used before.Hopefully, I can clear up a slight misunderstanding from recent media articles. This matter was also raised at our AGM.The Inclusion and Wellbeing Calendar is an internal resource, used by staff and volunteers to keep up to date about awareness months and minority religious and cultural celebrations they might not otherwise be familiar with. For this reason, Christmas and Easter, which are national holidays, are not included on the calendar. We know that most of our staff and volunteers have a good awareness and understanding of these festivals already.Christian holidays will continue to be marked on the physical calendars sold in our shops and online. We won't be creating a physical calendar which excludes Christian holidays.Thank you for your past support of the National Trust.Kind regardsNational Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotChristmas at Belton - no covid refund with ticket protection payment
Don’t book ticket refund for Christmas at Belton as they won’t refund your money if you have covid. Just done a test before getting in the car to visit for the day and i have Covid. Ticket refund policy will not accept lateral flow positive result as reason for refund. They are effective encouraging people with covid to go and spread germs at the Christmas events - very unethical and disappointing. Won’t be visiting or rebooking, feel very disappointed and disgusted at the lack of public safeguards to avoid disease transmission. Surely health is worth more than money. Can’t rebook as would have needed to know 24 hours in advance. Very disappointed. In the automated world you should be able to rearrange with less than 24 hrs notice and payment protection should cover you for positive lateral flow tests for covid without having to get a GP letter, don’t they know GP’s are busy.
Amanda · 18 December 2023
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Amanda Thanks for leaving your review and for providing further information. I will respond via email separately to this comment.Thanks for your support. National Trust
★★★★★ 5/5
TrustpilotPlas newydd fun
Brilliant service from walking in 2 mins after opening time until left almost 5hrs later! Welcoming team members on the doors, and one of your volunteers (Roger) was wonderful with our children. He really engaged with them and held their attention whilst talking about the magic doors and explaining some of the paintings to them. This is not easy to do to with a 10 and an 8 yr old! Thank you!
Vixwain · 29 May 2024
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Vixwain.Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review.It's lovely to hear that you and your family had such an enjoyable time at Plas Newydd. I've passed your kind comments onto the local team there. I hope you and your family continue to make memories together at the places in our care. Thank you again for your comments and for your support of the National Trust.Kind regardsSteveNational Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotGift membership.
I noticed that money had been taken from my bank account (nearly £150) by the NT at the start of December. When I finally spoke to someone I was told, as it is for a Gift Family Membership, I would have received paperwork in November giving me the option of cancelling. My family are moving abroad next year, so won't be able to use membership. Yesterday the paperwork arrived, December 14th. Today I have a letter thanking me for renewing the membership. No refund of money!
Nicky · 15 December 2023
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Hi Nicky Thanks for your review. I'm sorry to hear about the issues you've encountered. We'd love to help but we haven't heard from you since we asked for more details. Please email us at enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk or call our Supporter Services Centre on 0344 800 1895. Thanks for your support. National Trust
★★★★★ 1/5
TrustpilotSystems designed by occupants of old properties!
Attempted to purchase gift membership online. After several failed attempts to access my account sent message and was eventually informed that sytems unavailable "whilst they upgarde" - pathetic! Why no notice before my numerous attempts? Spent 20 mins buying membership over 'phone which highlighted that nobody at NT has tested the process as a user which overlooks options such as declaring to whom renewal notice should be sent. Final insult was to be told that delivery could be 14 days - to print names on a card and put in post. Clearly using occupants from their old properties to design & run their systems!
Patrick · 15 December 2023
Agent replied · 19 June 2024
Dear PatrickThank you for your comments and for providing additional information. Buying the gift of membership is such a lovely gesture and I'm sorry you had issues. We'll respond to your concerns directly by email shortly. Thank you for your support. National Trust
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