Kedleston Hall

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

I stopped at Kedleston Hall for lunch on my way to Leeds.

Kedleston Hall

Kedleston Hall is one of the finest and most complete examples of an 18th-century show-palace and parkland in Britain. Step inside and discover the Curzon family’s collection of fine art, furniture, and Asian objects.

Current saving £75.85

Adult Ticket £15.00

Parking n/a

Total saving £15.00

Cumulative saving £224.65

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £90.85

There is a long drive up to the house. Continue reading “Kedleston Hall”

I didn’t go to Tyntesfield

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

I didn’t actually go to Tyntesfield, but my daughter used our membership to visit with a friend’s family.

Tyntesfield

An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive garden and parkland, just a stone’s throw from Bristol

Current saving £67.35

Child Ticket £8.50

Parking n/a

Total saving £8.50

Cumulative saving £209.65

Membership cost £133.80

Cumulative saving £75.85

Visiting Chirk Castle

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

Chirk Castle

A 13th-century Marcher castle, that from 1595 became the home of the Myddelton family for over 400 years.

Current saving £52.35

One adult £15.00

Parking free

Total saving £15.00

Cumulative saving £201.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £67.35

There is a lovely view as you drive to the car park. Continue reading “Visiting Chirk Castle”

Hughenden

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

Hughenden

Red brick manor set in the Chiltern Hills. Former home to Benjamin Disraeli and a secret World War Two operation.

Current saving £38.35

One adult £14.00

Parking free

Total saving £14.00

Cumulative saving £186.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £52.35

After parking at the top of the hill, you walk through a wood, past the stables (where the cafe and shop are) and find yourself at the house. Continue reading “Hughenden”

Brean Down

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

Brean Down

A natural pier with dramatic cliffs and Victorian fort.

Current saving £32.35

Parking £6.00

Total saving £6.00

Cumulative saving £172.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £38.35

I have been to Brean Down many times over the years, the last visit was back in 2020. Previous visit to that was literally the day before lockdown.

After parking you can either take the path, or climb the steps, we climbed the steps. Continue reading “Brean Down”

The Vyne

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

The Vyne

A former Tudor powerhouse turned 17th century family home, set in gardens, woodlands, and wetlands.

Current saving  £19.35

One adult £13.00

Parking free

Total saving £13.00

Cumulative saving £166.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £32.35

The entrance fees go up on the 1st March.

The house was an interesting mix of medieval cellars, Tudor palace, and a 17th century family home. Continue reading “The Vyne”

Wightwick Manor

Wightwick Manor

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

We went to this house on the way home after visiting a museum in the West Midlands. We arrived around 2:30pm and the last entrance to the house was at 3:00pm. So we walked up the drive to the house. It was an impressive house.

Wightwick Manor

Victorian half-timbered Manor House which was home of the Mander family, with a world-class art collection and Morris and Co. interiors.

Current saving  £5.20

One adult £9.10

One Child £5.05

Parking free

Total saving £14.15

Cumulative saving £153.15

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £19.35

As there was a partial house closure, the entrance fees were lower than normal.

The mock Tudor panelling gave the house an older look. Continue reading “Wightwick Manor”

Baddesley Clinton Hall

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

I actually went to Baddesley Clinton Hall, for two reasons, in the main to get a drink from the cafe as I was heading down the M5, and the other was to see what it was like, for a potential future visit. Though I had to take a little detour down the M42 and the M40 to get there.

Baddesley Clinton Hall

Moated manor house with late medieval, Tudor and 20th-century histories. Home to the Ferrers family for 500 years.

Current saving -£7.80

One adult £13.00

Parking free

Total saving £13.00

Cumulative saving £139.00

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving £5.20

So after this visit the membership has paid for itself and we still have eleven months left. Obviously without a membership I probably would have either not visited Baddesley Clinton Hall, or I would have spent much longer than I did to get my money’s worth from the visit. However for this visit, which was more of a journey break, for this kind of quick trip, a National Trust membership is really useful and makes sense. Continue reading “Baddesley Clinton Hall”

A quick visit to Hanbury Hall

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

I actually went to Hanbury Hall, for two reasons, in the main to get a drink from the cafe as I was heading up the M5, and the other was to see what it was like, for a potential future visit.

Hanbury Hall

A country retreat in the heart of Worcestershire. The William and Mary-style country house and garden, originally a stage-set for summer parties, offer a glimpse into life at the turn of the 18th century.

Current saving -£21.80

One adult £14.00

Parking free

Total saving £14.00

Cumulative saving £126.00

Membership cost £133.80

Cumulative saving -£7.80

Obviously we will need to visit some more places to make the membership cost effective and increase that cumulative saving. However for this visit, which was more of a journey break, for this kind of quick trip, a National Trust membership is really useful and makes sense. Continue reading “A quick visit to Hanbury Hall”

Montacute House

For Christmas I got a National Trust membership. It’s being a few years since I was last a member, but now looking forward to visiting new places and going back to places we have been to before.

Back in 2016 I did start to keep a note of how much we saved with the membership, but looking back over the blog, I never kept up to date with that, but with this membership I am intending to blog about the visits we do this year and the savings we made.

We had visited Montacute House before in August 2016.

Montacute House

Montacute is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of ham stone and surrounding garden and parkland, it is a place of beauty and wonder.

Current saving -£49.80

Two adults £28.00

Parking free

Total saving £28.00

Cumulative saving £112.00

Membership cost £133.80

Net cumulative saving -£21.80

Obviously we will need to visit some more places to make the membership cost effective and increase that cumulative saving. Continue reading “Montacute House”