National Trust or English Heritage or Not?

My partner and I both enjoy going places to take photos (as I'm sure many of us do) For the last year or so we've had National Trust membership and it has more than paid for itself in days out...

Renewal time just came around and discussion was held as to whether we should this year go for English Heritage membership instead...

Unfortunately we can't afford both...

We decided to keep National Trust this year but to switch next year...

Just wondered what other forum members thought of both National Trust and English Heritage...

There seems to be more English Heritage sites south of the boarder (by which I obviously mean Sheffield but will accept Birmingham for the sake of avoiding argument) so I have tried to look at this in the poll (which I hope will be of some use to all)...

Have the Heritage, unfortunately we don't seem to make the most of it, but after the first year on renewal the membership covers a reasonable discount on the Scottish heritage sites, again it appears to be well underused.

So this year may not renew, will worry about it when the reminder drops through the letterbox.

NT and EH manage different sorts of properties, so it's not really an either/or in that sense.

We are members of both and find that the best way to cover things when visiting a new area. Plus of course there are the old favourites to re-visit.

Hi Dave

Having initially being an EH member - I switched to NT about 5 years ago.

My decision was purely based on the fact that the more interesting properties in this area (N Yorks) are NT and I live 5 miles form Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Deer Park which we tend to visit several times a year (in fact will be there this afternoon for their medieval re-enactment event)

Personally - it has never appeared to me that they manage different types of property - certainly up here they both have their share of ruined castles, stately homes, Abbeys, land etc - and a quick flick through both sets of properties on-line does not suggest any vast difference

Just out of interest have done a quick comparison on number of properties

North Yorks NT 15 - EH 7
West Yorks NT 4 - EH 0
South Yorks NT 0, EH 4
Derbyshire NT 10, EH 9
Lancashire NT 5 - EH 4
Cumbria NT 23 - EH 26

At the end of the day Dave - choosing one really comes down to which you would visit most and get the best value from

Carl

What an Anglocentric poll!

However membership of the National Trust for Scotland costs less than the National Trust and gives full reciprocal membership of the English version.

No option in Poll to be a member of both NT & English Heritage. I joined both for my last visit to Scotland. Should have done what Ken suggested and joined NT for Scotland to save a little bit. I've used NT membership much more than English Heritage but did get value for money from both last year. The benefits of being retired.

A valid point Ken - and of course members of the England, Wales and N Ireland Trust also get full reciprocal membership in Scotland and around the world.

Had not realised though that Scotland was cheaper - a quick look tells me that the standard family price is £9.50 cheaper and you get 25% discount in the first year - again similar to the English version. Pity my renewal has just gone through - looks like the thing to do is alternate between England and Scotland and that way you will save every year!

In fact looking at it

Family membership England is £93.50 or £70 for first year
Scotland is £84 and £63 in the first year

So alternating between the 2 - regardless of where you live in the UK will save you money every year!!

Carl

I'm not a fan of the National Trust on the basis that they have spread their remit too far. Fine if they want to preserve interesting buildings, but I object to them buying up tracks of land and preventing it's "natural" development. For that reason I ceased membership a few years ago.

I'm a life member of the NTS - we took out a joint membership many many years ago - certainly paid off when the kids were young

Me too. I still have my old cardboard membership card too.

I'm also member of both....

I recall when joining EH there wasn't any reciprocal deal for the first year, it only applied after renewal so my trips to the castles in Wales had to wait (most are under the guardianship of CADW).

EH offer half price arrangements in the first year, thereafter it's free as in England.

And living in the Midlands?

Bernard

Those of us living in the north and south know that the midlands is not a real place... What we argue about is where the boarder lies...

Could John add 'Member of both' to the Poll? Maybe? Please?