English Heritage vs National Trust membership: Which is right for you?
The UK is home to a wealth of historic sites, natural wonders, and cultural experiences, and there are two major organisations that offer memberships to explore them: English Heritage and National Trust. With hundreds of sites and attractions across England and Wales, choosing between the two can be a difficult decision.
In this blog post, I will provide an overview of both English Heritage and National Trust, compare their membership benefits, fees, and other features, and help you determine which membership is best for you.
This article contains links to products and services that I think you will find useful. I may earn a commission on any purchases you make at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more HERE
English Heritage or National Trust – Which is best?
Let me start with the ending! There is no ‘better’ option. Both charities offer access to amazing properties and it will come down to what you want to see. English Heritage is better if you love history while the National Trust includes lots more outside locations and a wider variety of days out.
English Heritage Membership
English Heritage is a charity organization that oversees over 400 historic sites across the UK. These sites range from ancient ruins and castles to stately homes and gardens, and they offer a fascinating glimpse into the country’s rich history and culture.
In our household, English Heritage properties are known as the places where you can really explore and run around. They feel a little more relaxed and a little less stately.
Most popular English Heritage properties
- Stonehenge – A prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire and one of the most famous landmarks in England.
- Hadrian’s Wall – A 73-mile-long wall built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, stretching from the east to the west coasts of northern England.
- Tintagel Castle – A medieval castle located in Cornwall, famous for its connections to the legend of King Arthur.
- Osborne House – A former royal residence located on the Isle of Wight, which was once home to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
- Battle Abbey – A site located in East Sussex, which marks the spot where the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066, a pivotal moment in English history.
Benefits of English Heritage membership
By becoming a member of English Heritage, you’ll receive a range of benefits, these include:
- Free entry to over 400 historic sites and properties across England, including Stonehenge, Dover Castle, Hadrian’s Wall, and many more.
- Free or discounted entry to over 180 events held throughout the year, including historical reenactments, family activities, and guided tours.
- Free parking at English Heritage sites that have car parks, saving you money on parking fees.
- Exclusive access to members-only areas at some of the most popular English Heritage sites, allows you to enjoy a more relaxed visit.
- A free members’ handbook, packed with information about English Heritage sites and properties, as well as tips for planning your visits.
- A free subscription to English Heritage magazine, which is packed with articles and features about England’s history and heritage.
- Free or reduced entry to associated places including Cadw in Wales, Historic Scotland, OPW in Ireland and Manx National Heritage.
English Heritage membership levels and fees (Updated October 2024)
English Heritage offers a range of membership levels to suit different needs and budgets. These include individual membership, family membership, senior membership, and student membership. The fees for these memberships vary depending on the level you choose and whether you opt for an annual or monthly subscription.
| Type of Membership | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Join |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family – 1 adult up to 6 children | £6 | £72 | HERE |
| Family – 2 adults up to 12 children | £10.50 | £126 | HERE |
| Joint adult | £10.50 | £126 | HERE |
| Adult and senior | £9.25 | £111 | HERE |
| Joint senior | £8.25 | £99 | HERE |
| Individual adult | £6 | £72 | HERE |
| Individual senior | £5.50 | £66 | HERE |
| Young adult/student 18-25 | £3.50 | £42 | HERE |
| Lifetime individual adult | Single payment | £1750 | HERE |
| Lifetime senior | Single payment | £1400 | HERE |
| Lifetime joint adult | Single payment | £2250 | HERE |
| Lifetime joint senior | Single payment | £1800 | HERE |
National Trust Membership
National Trust is a charity organisation that protects and preserves over 500 historic houses, castles, gardens, and nature reserves across the UK. Their sites are open to the public throughout the year and offer a diverse range of cultural and natural experiences.
WILDLIFE OR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER? LEARN MORE ABOUT NT BENEFITS FOR YOU
Most popular National Trust properties
- Stourhead – A stunning 18th-century landscape garden located in Wiltshire, with a lake, grottoes, and a classical temple.
- Cliveden – A luxurious stately home located in Buckinghamshire and previously owned by the Astor family, with formal gardens and stunning views over the Thames.
- Giant’s Causeway – A natural wonder consisting of basalt columns located in Northern Ireland, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption.
- Bodiam Castle – A 14th-century castle located in East Sussex, with a moat, battlements, and a great hall.
- Sissinghurst Castle Garden – A world-famous garden located in Kent, designed by writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson in the 1930s.
Benefits of National Trust membership
- Free entry to over 500 historic sites, properties, and gardens across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including popular attractions such as Giant’s Causeway, Cliveden, and Stourhead.
- Free or discounted entry to hundreds of events held throughout the year, including family activities, outdoor adventures, and guided tours.
- Free parking at National Trust sites that have car parks, saving you money on parking fees. This includes coastal car parks and nature reserves owned by the National Trust.
- A free members’ handbook, packed with information about National Trust sites and properties, as well as tips for planning your visits.
- A free subscription to National Trust magazine, which includes articles and features about the UK’s natural beauty and heritage.
- Access to free reciprocal admission agreements around the world.
- A vote in the National Trust Annual General Meetings gives you a chance as a member to have your say. This is more important than ever as the work of the National Trust is under threat from outside influences.
GEt your National Trust Membership Now
National Trust membership levels and fees (Updated October 2024)
Like English Heritage, National Trust offers a range of membership levels to suit different needs and budgets. These include individual membership, family membership, senior membership, and student membership. The fees for these memberships vary depending on the level you choose and whether you opt for an annual or monthly subscription.
| Type of Membership | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Join |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family – 1 adult | £8.25 | £99 | HERE |
| Family – 2 adults | £13.25 | £159 | HERE |
| Joint adult | £10.50 | £126 | HERE |
| Individual adult | £7.60 | £91.20 | HERE |
| Young adult/student 18-25 | £3.80 | £45.60 | HERE |
| Junior 5-17 | Single payment | £12 | HERE |
| Lifetime individual adult | Single payment | £2195 | HERE |
| Lifetime senior | Single payment | £1640 | HERE |
| Lifetime joint adult | Single payment | £2735 | HERE |
| Lifetime joint senior | Single payment | £2060 | HERE |
| Lifetime family | Single payment | £2865 | HERE |
Comparison of English Heritage and National Trust membership
The main differences between
English Heritage oversees a slightly smaller number of sites than the National Trust but offers more discounts and benefits to its members. The membership fee for English Heritage is also slightly less but this reflects the number of places where the membership can be used.
National Trust, on the other hand, offers a wider range of natural sites and free parking at all of its locations which is valuable if you enjoy walking and exploring the landscape.
Which membership will help you save more money and make your money back?
If you use your membership to its full then you will cover the costs and more. If you visit two or more properties on either membership in a year then you will have covered your payments.
This is before you use the member discounts at other locations which include restaurants and associated attractions. If you like exploring the countryside and enjoying history then you will quickly make back your membership costs on either.
Which membership offers more variety?
National Trust Membership offers far more variety than English Heritage. As well as buildings, the National Trust manages large areas of the English and Welsh coastline and countryside. Your membership will allow you free parking which soon adds up over a summer of exploring.
As a photographer which would be better for me?
This is the only category where I would say National Trust is better. This is especially the case if you enjoy landscape photography. Many of the remote car parks in beautiful places are managed by the National Trust so membership saves you having to pay every day that you want to park.
Which charity is better if you are from abroad?
If you are visiting from abroad then there may be reciprocal arrangements for using your country’s heritage pass. The National Trust is part of INTO – the International National Trusts Organisation that includes, Italy, Canada and New Zealand.
There is a reciprocal arrangement between English Heritage and, Cadw, Manx National Heritage, OPW Heritage Ireland, Historic New Zealand and Historic Scotland so if you visit either of these countries while you may not get completely free entry there will be a reduction to your entrance fees.
English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass
If you are visiting the UK and want to explore a lot of English Heritage sites, then the Overseas Visitors Pass is really worth getting. You can buy the pass to cover 9 days or 16 days with an adult, joint adult and family option available. This then gives you access to over 100 English Heritage properties for free. You just need to bring proof of overseas residency so sadly not an option if you live in the UK and want to blitz a few properties during the holidays.
National Trust Touring Pass
National Trust offers a similar programme, the National Trust Touring Pass which is valid for 7 or 14 days and gives free entry to over 300 National Trust Properties. It can be purchased online and collected when you arrive. The pass does not include parking at all National Trust properties but where the parking is included in the entrance price it will be covered for you. Again you can only get this ticket if you have proof that you live outside the UK.
If you live in the USA then you can join the National Trust and the National Trust for Scotland then you can join through the Royal Oak Foundation.
Which membership is best for you?
Choosing between English Heritage and National Trust membership ultimately depends on your interests, budget, and location. If you’re a history addict who wants to explore a wide range of historic sites, English Heritage may be the way to go. If you’re interested in both cultural and natural experiences and want the convenience of free parking at all locations, National Trust may be a better fit.
Before you decide though check your postcode against the National Trust property map and the English Heritage website to see which has more properties in your area. Here in Somerset, we have lots of National Trust locations, but very few English Heritage properties making National Trust a better option for us.
Don’t forget you can have both memberships at the same time or alternate year on year. There are sometimes 12 months for the price of 10 so it is worth signing up if you see an offer. English Heritage will even refund the entry fee on the day if you sign up while you are there.
