If you are considering getting a National Trust or English Heritage Membership, I’ve done the legwork for you. If you are based in the UK and want to explore more historical sites or spend days out with the kids, you might be wondering, National Trust Vs English Heritage – which is better in 2026? Here’s all you need to know, and you can decide which scheme is best for you. Let the battle commence!
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English Heritage Vs National Trust
If you’re like me, when on a staycation, I love to explore historic houses, stately homes, heritage properties, and gardens. These are also brilliant places to stop and stretch your legs on a long journey, let the kids run around, or walk the dog. If you’re lucky enough to have these places on your doorstep, you don’t need to travel. However, there are some things to consider when debating National Trust Vs English Heritage.
Both the National Trust and English Heritage celebrate Britain’s history, and membership allows you to visit the sites free of charge, as many times as you like.
So, do you get a National Trust or English Heritage Membership? What is the difference between the National Trust and English Heritage, and which one is better?
Table of Contents
National Trust Review
With your membership to the National Trust, you can visit over 500 houses, gardens, parks, and castles in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
One frequently asked question is, do National Trust members get free entry to the National Trust for Scotland? Yes, you can get free or reduced admission. Also, as a member of Manx National Heritage, you’ll enjoy complimentary access to National Trust sites in the UK.
You can also use your card in 14 other countries with the International National Trusts Organisation, including Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Jersey, Guernsey and Australia.
The National Trust membership includes:
- Unlimited free entry to all of the properties.
- An essential companion card where you can bring up to two carers with you if you have a disability. These can be different people; the card is in your name.
- Free parking at the majority of car parks. Some National Trust car parks are in other nature reserves, like beaches and countryside walks. You can save money just by using their car parks!
- Annually, you’ll be sent a handbook full of information about the properties. However, the website is easy to navigate, finding places to visit by area or postcode.
- Regular members’ magazine, sent three times a year.
- Regular e-newsletters.
- Join by direct debit and get a £10 gift card to spend in the National Trust shops or café.
Perks to visiting National Trust properties:
- The majority of National Trust sites are dog-friendly. However, going inside the historic buildings can be tricky, as dogs can’t always go in them, or all areas. If you go as a couple or a group, you can take it in turns.
- There are plenty of activities for children, such as things to find in the gardens and walking trails. Many of them also have play parks.
- If you are going for history, you may have to do your own research.
- National Trust definitely wins in nature, as the properties have lots of grounds, long walks, gardens and nature areas such as the South West Coast Path.
How much is National Trust membership?
Memberships can be purchased in monthly or in total, by direct debit or as a gift voucher. They are for a year, like an annual pass. These can be purchased online: Get yours here.
- Adult Membership (age 26 plus) = £96 a year (£8 per month)
- Joint Membership (2 adults) = £160.80 a year (£13.40 per month)
- Young Person Membership (age 18-25) = £48 a year (£4 per month)
- Junior Membership (age 6-17, under 5’s are free) = £12 a year
- Family Membership (f2 adults) = £168.60 a year (£14.05 per month)
- Family Membership (1 adult) = £103.80 a year (£8.65 per month)
- Senior Membership (1 adult) = £72 a year (£6 per month)
- Joint Senior Membership (2 adults) = £102.60 a year (£10.05 per month)
Use Top Cash Back when purchasing your membership
I’ve been a member of TopCashBack UK for several years and have earned over £1000 from it to date. Trust me, it’s a no-brainer. You can make extra money by shopping online. Currently, you can get 3% back on your National Trust membership.
Are you going to get your money’s worth?
Firstly, I would recommend checking what National Trust properties are in your local area. Having these nearby can make it more convenient for you to visit regularly, potentially maximising the benefits of your membership.
I live in Cardiff, and there are two places to visit within a 20-minute drive of home – Tredegar House and Dyffryn Gardens. Both are perfect for walking the dog or taking a picnic to enjoy the good weather. Both are £13.20 per adult (with Gift Aid). I only have to visit once a month to get my money’s worth, which covers our joint membership.
Just across the Welsh border in Bristol, there are several National Trust properties. Tyntesfield House costs £19.80 per adult, Clevedon Court costs £10 per adult, and Dyrham Park costs £20.90 per adult. With my membership, I save on the annual visit to the sunflower fields in Wales and the car parking at Rhossili, which is £8. I also save on the car parking at Pen y Fan, which is £7.50 for non-members.
Our National Trust joint membership also enhances our staycations throughout the year. We primarily discover Devon and explore Cornwall, and the drive can take up to 4 hours. Visiting a National Trust site on the way is a great way to stretch our legs and add variety to our trips. We’ve visited Cotehele in Salthash, Castle Drogo near Dartmoor, and Killerton in Exeter, all of which are £16.50 per adult.
National Trust Cafes and Places To Eat
Eating at a National Trust site offers a delightful experience with a variety of locally sourced and sustainably produced food options. The National Trust Cafes often feature seasonal menus, typically soups, sandwiches, pasties, plus homemade cakes and scones. Prices can be slightly higher than average, but proceeds support the preservation of heritage sites. However, you are welcome to bring your own food and use the shared scenic outdoor areas.
The cafe at Castle Drogo is the best. A vast selection of foods includes jacket potatoes, loaded chips, and homemade classics like homity pie. They also have a large savoury and sweet scone selection.
Top Tip – Not a big eater? The kids’ meal is £4.50 for a single sandwich (plain ham or cheese), a drink, and three items – such as fruit, crisps and chocolate bars.
Devon Hampers
Food, drink and the West Country are close to my heart. Devon Hampers, send the best of the South West to your front door. The cream tea and afternoon tea hampers include scones, clotted cream and jam. There are also cheese hampers, chocolate, cider and BBQ hampers.
Devon Hampers Promo Code
Get 5% off hampers or create your own. Order anything from a clotted cream tea for two or a large hamper full of goodies. There is no minimum order amount. Use DEVON5 at the checkout.
50 things to do before you’re 11¾
The National Trust’s 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11¾ is aimed at encouraging children to engage with nature and the outdoors. This list of activities includes fun and adventurous tasks like climbing trees, building dens, hunting for bugs, and stargazing. There is an accompanying book, if you wish to purchase it, where you can tick off activities and mark where you completed it.
Visitor Passport
I wish I had known about this on my first visit! The National Trust Visitor Passport is a charming and engaging way for visitors to record their adventures across National Trust properties. This passport-style booklet allows you to collect unique stamps from each site they visit, serving as a personalised memento of their journeys. When you have 30 stamps, there is a page at the back you can send off to receive a certificate in exchange. Plus, it’s only £5!
There’s also a free Pooch Passport, so your dogs can take part too, but this is only available at a limited number of sites.
National Trust Membership Review
See here for a full list of the National Trust sites I’ve visited and their individual reviews.
National Trust Holidays
National Trust Holidays offer a selection of holiday cottages, campsites and bunkhouses set in spectacular locations. Sleeping 2 – 12 guests, they have everything you need for a night away, from kitchen facilities to cosy gardens to relax in during warmer weather. Some are also dog-friendly.
English Heritage Review
The English Heritage looks after over 400 historical monuments in England, including castles, ruins, and ancient sites. Some of the most famous destinations are in the South West, including Tintagel Castle, Pendennis and Stonehenge. Check out this list of English Heritage Places to Visit in Devon.
The English Heritage membership includes:
- Unlimited free entry to all English Heritage sites.
- Free entry for up to six children (aged under 18). They don’t have to be your children. They could be nieces, nephews and friends’ children.
- Free access to English Heritage properties for assisting companions or carers for a disabled member. (This can be a different person each time!)
- Free parking at English Heritage car parks.
- Reduced price events, such as Christmas Lights at Eltham Palace or jousting at Pendennis Castle.
- A member’s handbook is sent annually.
- Exclusive members’ magazine, sent four times a year.
- Online magazine for children, including videos, games, activities and recipes.
- Regular e-newsletters.
- Member’s rewards scheme where you can access over 60 partners. Includes food and drink, discounted hotels and places to stay and other tourist attractions.
- Reduced entry to CADW (in Wales), Historic Scotland, and Manx National Heritage properties in your first year and free admission after year one. Free access to Ireland Heritage automatically.
English Heritage Membership Benefits:
- Many of the attractions are dog-friendly, but not as many as the National Trust. Best to double-check before you visit. Going inside the buildings can be tricky, as dogs can’t go in them. However, if you go as a couple or a group, you can take it in turns.
- There are plenty of activities for children, although some come at an extra charge or are members only.
- English Heritage is a clear winner if you’re interested in history, as this is their main focus.
How much is English Heritage membership?
The membership English Heritage are available by direct debit or can be paid in full for the year.
- Individual Membership (age 18 plus) = £72 per year (£6 monthly)
- Senior Membership (age 65 plus) = £66 per year (£5.50 monthly)
- Student Membership (age 18-25 with an NUS card) = £42 per year (£3.50 monthly)
- Joint Membership (2 adults) = £126 per year (£10.50 monthly)
- Joint Membership (2 seniors ) = £99 per year (£8.25 monthly)
- Adult and Senior Membership (1 adult and 1 senior) = £111 per year (£9.25 monthly)
- Family Membership – as children go free, the prices are the same as individual and joint
- Adult Life Membership = £1,725
- Joint Life Membership = £2,250
- Senior Life Membership = £1,400
- Joint Senior Life Membership = £1,800
Use Top Cash Back when purchasing your membership
I’ve been a member of TopCashBack UK for several years and have earned over £1000 from it to date. Trust me, it’s a no-brainer, and you can make extra money by shopping online. Currently, you can get 5% back on your English Heritage membership.
Are you going to get your money’s worth?
Again, I would see what properties are in your local area. Are you likely to visit these regularly if you have a membership?
My joint membership is dormant for most of the year, but becomes a key to a treasure trove of history when we travel. During our week in Gunnislake, we visited Tintagel Castle, which costs £20 per adult. We also visited Launceston Castle, Okehampton Castle, and Restormel Castle on the same trip – all were £8.50 per adult. Instead of paying individually, the membership saved us £19. So, when we visited Stonehenge, a whopping £28 each, and Berry Pomeroy Castle near Exeter (£11.50 per adult), it was like visiting for free.
The membership also gave me 50% off on CADW sites here in Wales for my first year. Sometimes, they even let me in for free! (Sshhh, don’t tell anyone!) I get free entry now that I’m in my second year of membership. Castell Coch is on my doorstep, and entry should have cost me £9.50, Caerphilly Castle £10.90, and Raglan Castle should have been £10.
English Heritage Food and Drink
Typically, the larger English Heritage sites have tea rooms. Most offer a vending machine selling hot drinks, including tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, and the on-site shop also sells a selection of snacks and cold drinks. Some sites have no refreshments at all; you may want to double-check before you visit.
You are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds. Most places have benches, or bring a blanket to spread out to enjoy the stunning views and surroundings.
Children can Collect Pop Badges
Kids love collecting English Heritage Pop Badges. They add an element of fun and excitement to visiting historic sites. Each badge features unique designs related to different landmarks, events, or historical figures.
Collect a pop badge to remember your day whenever you visit an English Heritage site. There are nine designs based on historical time periods and limited edition designs.
Is National Trust or English Heritage better?
Which is the best, the National Trust or English Heritage? It really does depend on which one suits you. Go through what is included in the membership and the perks. See which ones are near you and which ones you can realistically visit.
On paper, English Heritage looks like a better value and is if you have a family. However, I use my National Trust membership more. This is simply because there are more properties and car parks close to where I live. Also, because our dog, Ivan the Irresistible, travels everywhere with us, and he is welcome. There are water bowls outside the cafes and toilet blocks, and dog-friendly ice cream is available in the shop.
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Is it worth having both memberships?
I get the full value of both a National Trust and English Heritage Membership. When I book a trip, I see what we can visit nearby using our membership. If we don’t know what to do at the weekend, it’s so handy to plan a visit.
National Trust vs English Heritage Cost
If you love getting out and exploring the outdoors and historic houses, then it is worth getting both memberships. We pay by direct debit, so it’s only £18.60 per month. But I get that it’s not affordable for everyone.
English Heritage V National Trust – Other frequently asked questions
Are National Trust and English Heritage the same?
National Trust sites focus on gardens, landscapes, and local history, while English Heritage sites are predominantly about history and culture.
Can you use your National Trust membership at English Heritage?
Do National Trust members get free entry to Heritage? Can National Trust members visit English Heritage sites? No, you cannot. Apart from Stonehenge (see next question) and parts of Hadrian’s Wall
Is Stonehenge National Trust or English Heritage?
Stonehenge is English Heritage. However, National Trust members are permitted free entry because Stonehenge is such a famous and significant site. The same goes for parts of Hadrian’s Wall.
Can National Trust members get free entry to Kew Gardens?
Kew Gardens, also known as Wakehurst, is owned by the National Trust but managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. So, National Trust members do get free entry. However, car parking charges apply.
Is St Michael’s Mount National Trust?
Yes, St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall is managed by the National Trust in partnership with the St Aubyn family, who still live on the island. It has been a National Trust property since 1954. Members must book in advance.
Can National Trust members bring a guest?
Life members can bring a guest free of charge. Otherwise, standard entry prices apply.
Do National Trust members get a discount at English Heritage?
One frequently asked question is: Do National Trust members get free entry to English Heritage, or do they get a discount? Quite simply, no, you don’t.
Do English Heritage members get discount for National Trust sites?
No deals or discounted entry to National Trust sites with your English Heritage membership exist.
Can English Heritage members take a guest?
You can bring an adult guest or two children with a life membership.
Are English Heritage and Historic England the same?
English Heritage and Historic England are the same thing. Historic England was rebranded to English Heritage on 1 April 2015.
Are memberships available for overseas visitors?
Yes, overseas visitors can get a National Trust Membership. Options include purchasing an annual membership directly, buying a temporary National Trust Explorer Pass (4, 8, or 14 days) for sites in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
There’s also an English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass, designed for non-UK residents to access over 100 historic sites. These passes are valid for 9 or 16 consecutive days and can be purchased online and collected at any staffed site.
In Wales – CADW
CADW is the Welsh alternative to English Heritage. Many outside Wales do not know the name, and they often search for “English Heritage in Wales” on Google.
Do English Heritage members get free entry to CADW?
Can English Heritage be used in Wales? During your first year of membership, you can access CADW sites in Wales for half price. From year two, you get free entry.
Can CADW members get free entry to English Heritage?
During your first year’s membership, you get 50% off English Heritage sites, and it is free from year two.
Do National Trust members get free entry to CADW?
There is no free or discounted entry to CADW sites with your National Trust membership.
Can CADW members get free entry to National Trust?
There is no discount or free entry to National Trust sites for CADW members.
In Scotland – Historic Scotland
English Heritage in Scotland. Historic Scotland is the Scottish alternative to English Heritage.
Do English Heritage members get free entry to Historic Scotland?
Can I use my English Heritage card in Scotland? During your first year of membership, you can access Historic Scotland sites for half price. From year two, you get free entry.
Can Historic Scotland members get free entry to English Heritage?
With your Historic Scotland card, you can get 50% off entry to English Heritage during your first membership year. From the second year, it is free entry.
Do National Trust members get free entry to Historic Scotland?
No, National Trust members do not get free entry to Historic Scotland.
Can Historic Scotland members get free entry to National Trust?
No, Historic Scotland members do not get free entry to the National Trust.
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