National Trust Reviews 

I visited the magical home of Beatrix Potter, Hilltop; in The Lakes.
The Cottage is just as I remember it and walking through the rooms, that was once the home of Beatrix Potter, felt special but also, intrusive. I know she left her home to The National Trust but I'm always aware, that people once lived in these houses; containing so much history.

The only disappointment was the many items for sale, made in China.
I appreciate that the Trust is a charity and items have to be sourced cost effectively.
However, there are so many skilled Artisans in Cumbria and elsewhere, who could contribute to the gifts in the shops. I didn't purchase anything when I saw where they were made; purely on personal principal.
A terracotta plant pot, with the UK Makers name on, on closer inspection, was also made in China.
I had a wonderful day, nevertheless!

I cherish the National Trust and its work. But I was saddened to see that it is obviously unable to control antisocial behaviour on its land, eg along the banks of Windermere where I very recently stayed in an NT cottage. There are people literally camping overnight, some in large groups, and starting cooking fires and parking on the banks and nearby hillside beside signs saying no camping and no fires. Or having family barbecues beside these signs. Or driving and parking along footpaths where cars are, according to the signs, prohibited. Some of these people are intimidating, others merely brazen, clearly fearing no comeback. At least, if you are unable to stop the traffic that facilitates these encampments (though why not) you should surely display telephone numbers where this behaviour can be reported, and introduce some clarity on whether it is technically illegal, or just unwelcome, damaging and antisocial. This would assist anyone wanting to help preserve the Lake District and your work there.

Powis castle on my way back from the pembrokeshire coast walk. it was stunning place, loads of things to see and admire. Though there have been complaints around about the organization, i will still be its member for the foreseeable future.

I suggest change the name to national scam trust. Thier membership is too complicated and really unclear and almost impossible to cancel your membership.

They didn't cancel a membership for a disabled person as they said it has already been through.
Didn't have direct debit anyway as it was paid for the whole year in advance but somehow they can make this into direct debit and charge you a month before your actual membership ends for the year and once they were contacted thier excuse is you've already received your cards (which no one requested) and tour can't cancel tour membership.

On their terms and conditions they stated if you have setted a direct debit (which we were not) you need to cancel 3 months ahead of renewals (which it is opt out not out in) but they renewed for the whole year not the three months.

Apparently they registered as charity with the government and that's the reason they can't refund any payments. It looks like a sort of charity to scam people to me. What charity you cannot cancel your subscription before the contract is actually ended and don't really give you a choice of canceling online if you can register online.

I'm sure they will respond to this review with another sort of excuses and mention somewhere in thier terms and conditions etc it has been stated but you never been told how it works when you signed in.

Please be aware thier membership/ subscription is some sort of scam and it hard to get out of it.

I visited Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough. It was a lovely experience with helpful staff & volunteers, a very nice cafe and gorgeous grounds. The miniature railway layouts in the beautiful house were an added treat.

Visited Nymans today unfortunately no signage in car park to entrance when we found the reception area the staff member was not particularly helpful. There were no maps available and no information given regarding the distance of walk to the house .Once in the house there were no direction signs and we were lucky not to miss the upstairs area. This has been the worst visit I've made to a national trust property since being a member over many years.What a contrast to our visit to Standen yesterday very helpful pleasant staff good information given.

Castle Drogo and gardens - amazing!!! House is stunning and the long borders were inspirational.

Spoilt by the meagre offering of salads- the tuna pasta salad was disgraceful. Hardly any greens paultry amount of poor quality tuna and small pasta shape. The meal was 500 calories with loads of e numbers. All just a little bit lazy

This is a review for wasdale head national trust campsite: beautiful location and great for hiking!
The staff are rude and keep changing the prices! And have different views what a green discount means. I booked a tipi, and was told when I arrived that the cost will change (‘that is going to change, you will be charged more’ from what I was previously agreed when I provisionally booked it). It was the staff’s tone and rude manner. They not efficient and charge you a different price from what you agreed before. If you travel by public transport and don’t have a car so therefore can’t drive as you are being ‘green’ you are expected to pay a ridiculous amount to pitch a tent on their campsite. they claim their green discount means you have to walk all the way from your starting destination! If you are using public transport that is ‘green also, as you do not own a vehicle!. Stay here if you want to be in this beautiful part of the Lake District but the staff all disorganised and have zero customer service skills, inefficient and they all say different things about costs, travel, what the term ‘green discount’ means etc! I was given a green discount for a tipi then only to be told when I arrived at the campsite that is going to change. they emailed me with the cost with the green discount long before I arrived, so be be told I have to pay more is not good customer service. There was one staff manner who seemed to know what they were doing and had good customer service skills and was efficient, courteous and polite, all the things you would expect from an organisation.

Wonderful volunteers but a distant management who are accountable to a small cohort and an autocratic control
Whereby the chair can use all
Votes not used by members to overrule any attempts to open up the trustee body that would be more representative of the Trists heritage and primary responsibilities

The National Trust calls itself a 'conservation charity' but it appears to have lost its way.
We live near a 15th century, grade 1 listed tithe barn owned by the National Trust and three years ago we informed the N.T. that some roof tiles had slipped from the barn and needed to be replaced. Some one did come and look at it, but since then, in spite of various reminders from us and neighbours, no repairs have been made and the roof is now worse than it was.
My last three emails, including one to the director general, Hilary Mcgrady have been acknowledged but not replied to. My wife has also emailed photos of the roof, but again no answer.
During this time I have received three emails from the N.T. telling me how 'excited' they are to be taking part in a local parade, nothing to do with conservation, and inviting me to join and they will supply T shirts, flags and banners free of charge.
Is this really what the National Trust should be spending time and money on?

We visited the Giant’s Causeway and really benefited from the guided tour. Keith was amazing- both funny and informative. We were there with our two teenage children. When our kids are laughing as well as their parents, it’s got to be good!

We were the first party into Clouds Hill, the rural retreat of T. E. Lawrence, on Thursday 5th June. The weather was awful; the volunteers were friendly and welcoming. Our primary guide, Trevor, was exceptional. What a shame I didn't have such an enthustiastic and knowledgeable history teacher at school. Top marks all round.

We were on our holiday so got an overseas pass. I have to say that at most places we felt welcome and had a great time. But that said because we had the pass we weren't that picky what to choose. But if I had to pay £6,50 for the Avebury museum, what really isn't a museum but a collection of some stuf, I would have been cross. Not worth it!!!! But even worse, when we got in, we had to get tickets by showing are pass. The guy said to us that I had to pay for our car. But in the mail from the national trust it states that its free. So he wouldn't give us the tickets before I paid. He said that it was only free parking with a yearly subscription. So I had to look it up and when I showed him the text, he was cross and really rude. He said (really angry) it maybe say so but it isn't, but okay. When I said can I have our tickets, he gave them but not nicely. I understand that somebody can make a mistake but then say; I'm so sorry or something in this direction. The people around me looked at me(I even let people go before me when I looked it up), because he made it look like I was wrong. When you go on the grounds afterwards I felt not fine and it gave me a awful feeling.

National Trust doesn't care about your dietary needs. They claim they cater for coeliacs at most sites - a complaint response assured me at least 50% of their menu has no gluten containing ingredients. However, at every site within a 2 hour drive of our house they don't. The brownie isn't even gluten free any more claiming it was changed due to "declined popularity".
Some people don't get to choose their diets but National Trust has chosen no to cater for those with genuine dietary needs.

I have just discovered this review site for National Trust. My sister and I had a holiday in Nightjar Cottage in August 2018 but I have had to use a different date in order to get this seen. The description of the ground floor apartment states that ‘on occasion some sound may be heard from the apartment above’. This is definitely understated because we could hear the occupants walk across the floor, use the toilet, flush the toilet, and we could hear which television programme they were watching.
At the time of our visit pre Covid there was a National Trust shop adjoining the cottage. One evening the smoke alarm in the shop went off, triggering the alarm in our cottage. The whole row of cottages evacuated and we all stood outside waiting for the fire engine to arrive. On investigation it was found that dust in the smoke alarm in the shop had triggered the alarm.

The visitors book in the property is full of complaints about the noise from upstairs which is really unbearable at times, and about the fire alarm triggering randomly. Why is the visitors’ book not monitored, and actions taken to improve matters?

We could not wait to leave the property and as a consequence of our experience would never book a NT holiday cottage again. We still return to Dunwich but stay in the village. It’s such a shame as Nightjar cottage would be idyllic if these issues were sorted out.

What a wonderful talk by Graham, a volunteer walking history tour guide based at Arlington Court. Graham came and gave a talk to our monthly library group for Age Concern Barnstaple & North Devon. It was a visual, interesting, and insightful talk with just the right amount of humour. It enabled a group that wouldn't necessarily be able to visit to experience a little slice of Arlington from the comfort of their chair - thank you Graham, what a gem you are.

Following on from my last review and your reply which was totally incorrect. I received a letter from yourselves stating that you had missed the first payment back in march, so please you have all of the information from your own records. Also customer services said they couldn’t help and I would have now pay in one go. Please check your records before indicting that I have got this wrong. I will not be contacting you again as last time there was no help

We visited Sheffield Park Gardens on Tuesday, 20/05/2025, and hadn’t booked a mobility scooter, due to us not knowing you should book.
On arrival, we were told that all scooters had been booked… then Terry remembered there was one not booked… one that could go on the road, too. A Tramper.. it was brilliant.
It was a lovely day, and we enjoyed our visit immensely.

I canceled my membership just for the website to tell me that I will still continue to be charged until my membership runs out I’m sorry but to me that is theft and I will not ever be re renewing my membership it isn’t worth the money am actually disgusted with this policy and am very tempted to contact the financial ombudsman and report them for theft I am so outraged that they are still trying to charge me despite me cancelling my membership

I find Ascott House. Choose book tickets. Then get asked 'What are you looking for?' and given options that have nothing to do with Ascott House. Really frustrating! 😡