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Now the Mini-Mastiles are here, we are finding ourselves doing more days out than we every imagined so we are considering getting an annual subscription to one of the above.
Mostly we will be going to places local to us (Harrogate, but travel up to about 1hr) but also going to Cornwall this summer.
So my question is - which of the above would provide the most value for money in terms of things to do as a family (such as adventure playgrounds etc).
Any thoughts most welcome...
Don't know much about RHS but we've had family membership of NT for a few years now. In our experience adventure playgrounds are a bit thin on the ground but some do have them.
We have planned UK holidays around how many NT places we can get to, including a Cornwall on a couple of occasions.
Despite the lack of playgrounds they can still be good fun walking in the grounds and looking round the houses, teaches them that there's more than just TV and video games out there.
The RHS place we have been to (Newby Hall near Ripon) had a great playground, boats, mini-train etc. That's the kind of things our 1yr olds will be liking in the coming year.
We have been NT members for ages. Apart from the fact that you get to wander round interesting properties, we often find it handy when on a long journey to break the trip by visiting NT properties for the "wees and teas" break.... far more pleasant than motorway service stations.
I shouldn't really say this, but the NTS works out cheaper than the NT, gets you into the same places, and perhaps they need the money more.
I shouldn't really say this, but the NTS works out cheaper than the NT, gets you into the same places, and perhaps they need the money more.
It's only £3 difference for two adults. First year is 25% discounted for NT as well- £60.
If you really, really must save money join the NZ equivalent, at about half the price, and get visiting rights. 🙄
We generally swap between EH and NT and take advantage of their 15 months for the price of 12 type things. I prefer the EH properties (ruined castles) to the NT (stately homes), and I think the kids do too.
EH has a specific club for kids, with events, activities, days out etc, more info here:[url= http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/timetravellers/ ]EH Time Travellers[/url]
And they have some good properties around your area.
I always preferred ruined castles and stuff to stately homes where you weren't allowed to touch anything!
I'd say
National Trust,
Free admission and parking at Fountains Abbey / Studley Deer park,
Brimham Rocks
all the sorts of places my nephew and neices loves to go when they are visiting
National Trust = evil
With NT you get free parking at loads of places, don't know about the others. On holiday in Cornwall last year it would have saved me enough to buy an extra pasty every day!
My NTS membership pays for itself on saved parking fees alone at riding spots. I never go near the stately homes!
The National Trust is great!
You can easily get your annual subs back on parking and a couple of visits during a two week holiday.
If you are a tightwad, the Scottish National Trust is a cheaper way of gaining the same access.
For children, most properties have free quizes. They simply have to spot stuff as they go round. Worked a treat when my two were little.
We chanced upon a family funday at one of the NT properties on the IOW last year. NT do events all the time, so look on their website for further info.
EH can be a pain to work for, but they do tend to have more stuff going on than NT.
Most EH castles will have people like me doing various re-enactment stuff over the summer months, kids love it and there is usually enough going on to keep them interested all day.
We have even had a couple of families book their summer holidays to co-incide with our shows at one castle!
as a father of three, i expect adventure playgrounds to be a little ambitious for 1 year olds?
All organisations for people that need their heritage spoon fed. Not real heritage either, heritage chosen by white, middle class, self appointed experts, presenting their own values and narratives of the great and good as though they are appropriate to us all and form what we all view as the national treasures. It's called the AHD, the authorised heritage discourse.
[url= http://www.sciencelive.org/component/option,com_mediadb/task,play/idstr,Open-feeds_ad281_museums_contemporary_society_ad281ahd1_mp3/vv,-2/Itemid,97 ]Don't take my word for it, listen here[/url]
If you're off to Cornlaand, then it's got to be NT, lots of lovely places there to visit, some meander down to the Fal estuary so take a picnic to the beach. If you take the wrong turning and end up in Pembrokeshire then the coastal carparks will be free as the NT own loads of coast down those parts.
We've had membership for many years and just about break even. Don't know much about EH but I'm contemplating the RHS thing.
Not sure how Brimham rocks, Nostel Priory and the like class as "spoon fed". Are there a great number of places other than this to visit?
For us the NT is a great addition and we get value for money out of it.
Don't forget the NT also own and look after large tracts of land although they do need to get their act together regarding mountain biking. I used to do a lot of voluntary conservation work for the trust. Got a bit hacked off with the not so landed gentry that ran it though. These I still get my fix of out door by digging trails on FC land (with FC support obviously).
EH I think is also semi-official and gets some government funding, NT is a stand alone charity.
iDave - Member
as a father of three, i expect adventure playgrounds to be a little ambitious for 1 year olds?
POSTED 3 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST
we have found swings etc they enjoy. And they won't be 1 yr old for long...
Shall check out that link from trailmonkey a bit later.
But the National Trust is a charity, no? Do you know what their ethos is? Years ago they didn't even publish their Annual Accounts.
English Heritage - a Government department I believe.
RHS - are they a charity?
I perfectly understand your reasons but would say save your money and utilise local parks.
Sorry, not being nasty but feel that you should consider what each organisation represents. 🙂
I'd say NT, but my wife actually is a member of the RHS. Mainly because we live so close to Wisley which is a lovely open space to visit, with a nice tea shop, and a great new tropical exhibit / greenhouse including waterfall and butterflies, which the girls love visiting.
Sorry, not being nasty but feel that you should consider what each organisation represents
Absolutely, the NT and EH have little to do with much of what could be considered heritage aside from starting a tradition of providing something to do with the kids on a Sunday afternoon.
Absolutely, the NT and EH have little to do with much of what could be considered heritage aside from starting a tradition of providing something to do with the kids on a Sunday afternoon.
I don't know about EH but the NT does a lot more than look after stately homes. It was only after WWII that they started to take on significant numbers of houses (many of which they couldn't afford to maintain or repair) as the owners couldn't afford the death duties. Up until that time it's main focus was the protection of the country side. That still is a significant part of their remit, it's just a shame they aren't more switched on to mountain bikes but they'll get there eventually. in the meantime they are protecting great swathes of land from unsympathetic development or exploitation. And yes they most definitely are an independant charity.