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How to get a free National Trust pass
The ticket, worth up to £40, will get you access to a historic house, incredible castle or stunning garden until late August
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The price of days out can spiral, and with annual National Trust membership now costing more than £100 per person, you might be looking for ways to save on costs
Thankfully, it’s possible to enjoy a free day out this summer by picking up a free National Trust day pass via regular National Trust pass giveaways.
If you manage to get your hands on one, the family pass, worth up to £40, enables up to two adults and three children or one adult and four children, to visit a National Trust property in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
The latest giveaway is now sold out.
If you manage to claim one in a future giveaway, you can use it for one visit to a National Trust site while it is valid.
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What is a National Trust family day pass?
With a family day pass, up to two adults and three kids, or one adult and four kids, can enter a National Trust property.
You could visit Coleton Fishacre House and Garden in Devon – rated the Best garden in England by Which? members. Or head to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Yorkshire – rated the best historic attraction in the UK, also by Which? members. Or there's Corfe Castle, a 1,000-year-old dramatic ruin in Dorset.
Just be aware that children must be 17 or under, and you never have to pay for under-fives.
Can adults without kids use a National Trust family pass?
Yes. Couples and individuals can use the pass.
How do I get a free National Trust pass?
Usually, during National Trust’s giveaways, Reach plc gives away passes in physical copies of papers, and online via papers including The Daily Star, The Daily Mirror and the Daily Express. But this giveaway has already been popular, and so passes in regional papers are the only ones left to claim. One free pass is allowed per household.
Where can I visit using the free National Trust pass?
There are hundreds of properties to choose from in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They include Chartwell in Kent – the former home of Sir Winston Churchill. There's medieval Bodiam Castle in Sussex, with its original moat, towers and portcullis, and Wentworth Castle in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, which has glorious gardens, woodlands and parklands to explore.
However, you can’t use the free pass at all National Trust properties. Find out which National Trust sites are included in the deal. It’s important to check before you travel there.
National Trust for Scotland and its sites aren’t included in the offer.
Here are nine more ways to save on a UK day out.
Do I need to book my visit in advance?
You may need to for some properties. Check the National Trust website to find out where booking is essential.
Is parking free with the National Trust during the open days?
No. Parking costs aren't included (although not all properties charge for parking).
Are there any other ways to enjoy a free family day out in the UK?
Yes. In our recent historic attractions survey, we discovered that 17 well-rated attractions (by Which? members) were free to visit.
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How to save on National Trust membership fees
An annual membership for the National Trust is now £108.80 per year for adults, or £176.40 for a family with two adults. Here’s how to cut the cost.
Use a cashback site
Cashback sites such as TopCashback and Quidco offer reimbursement of a percentage of the money spent if you purchase a pass via their sites.
TopCashback offers 3% back on the cost of any membership (excluding lifetime memberships), along with a free one-off guest pass to bring along someone else on your next visit to a National Trust property. The site is also currently running a promotion offering £15 extra to spend at its partners, including the National Trust. Another cashback company, Quidco, also offers 2.4% cashback on memberships.
Sign up to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) instead
Did you know you can use NTS membership to visit National Trust properties across the UK? Individual membership costs £79.20, joint costs £140.40, and family costs £157.80 — all significantly cheaper than the National Trust’s prices. You’ll get access to more than 100 NTS properties and most of The National Trust’s 500+ properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Just double-check if any properties you’d be keen to visit are included, as restrictions sometimes apply.
Senior citizen or under 26? Opt in to discounts
You might not be aware that senior members of the National Trust over the age of 60, who have been members of the National Trust for at least three consecutive years, are entitled to 25% off the cost of individual and joint membership, because it isn’t automatically applied. To get the discount, you can’t apply online or in person — you must instead call 0344 800 1895.
Those who require help visiting National Trust properties for accessibility reasons can also apply for an Essential Companion pass, which allows you to bring any carer or companion for free.
A young person’s National Trust membership (for those aged 18-25) is also significantly cheaper, less than half the cost of a standard membership at £50.40 a year, and those aged 5 to 18 pay £12.
Use a Blue Light Card discount
If you work for or are retired from the emergency services, NHS, social care sector, the teaching community and the Armed Forces, you’re entitled to a Blue Light Discount card, which unlocks discounts and offers to a wide range of brands and institutions, including the National Trust. Sign up for a card if you’re eligible, and you can buy a discounted shopping card, which can then be used to pay for a membership.
Offset other costs with National Trust partner discounts
Once you’re signed up to the National Trust, you’re entitled to a range of discounts with its partners, such as Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need, Snow+Rock and Craghoppers, along with many more. Those small discounts can add up to offset the cost of membership if you think you’ll use them.
