Our Top 5 National Trust Locations (South East)
We’ve been National Trust members for quite sometime now, making the most out of it when T started walking.
What we love about the locations within the National Trust is that you’re always spoilt for choice when it comes to what to do. The majority of the locations often come with historic buildings, but if that’s not your cup of tea then there is always a picturesque walk to enjoy – whether it’s woodland, gardens, or open fields. And if that doesn’t float your boat then there’s always the cafe that serve some of the best tea and cake!
Trying to pick a favourite location is like trying to pick your favourite chocolate bar. It depends on your mood. Sometimes I fancy exploring a castle. Sometimes I want to walk through the woods. But whatever I fancy, I know that the National Trust will be able to provide.
With this in mind, I’ve decided to share my top 5 favourite locations incase you’re just as stuck as me when it comes to choosing where to go next. It was a tough decision, as they’re all so unique in their own right, but here it is…
My Top 5 National Trust locations within the South East.
5) Bodiam Castle. We visited Bodiam Castle for the first time exactly one year ago today and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. T wasn’t walking yet, but he enjoyed touching the old castle walls and watching the ducks swim around the moat! Did you know that Bodiam Castle is one of the very few castles that still have a working moat?
4) Nymans. I think I must visit Nymans at least once a month. It’s just the right distance away from us to squeeze in a nap in the car as well as being just the right size for a toddler to explore without wanting a carry halfway round. Nymans has a lovely choice of gardens to explore as well as a wood if you have a dog in tow.
3) Standen Park. This was a recent find just a few weeks ago when everyone was back to their normal self after sickness and broken bones. Standen Park could easily be our number one thanks to their glorious open spaces and thick woods but I just wish it was that little bit closer to us. I don’t mind a drive, but they’re often reserved for weekends when we can make a day of it.
2) Scotney Castle. We visited Scotney Castle after our underwater photoshoot, and what a find it was. After exploring the gorgeous country house you’re suddenly presented with a moat house within the woodland estate! On top of this is your choice of romantic gardens and trails. We didn’t have time to fit it all in when we visited, but we’ll certainly be revisiting here when the weather gets better.
1) Sheffield Park. *sigh* Sheffield Park. It has the best of everything. Although one of the very few locations that don’t have a house or manor to explore, it makes up for it in ornamental gardens and lakes! I thoroughly enjoy visiting Sheffield Park as the flat paths are perfect for wobbly toddlers and the woods that run on the outskirts of the lakes are perfect for dog walks and a picnic.
Fancy Your Own National Trust Adventure?
If you’re not a National Trust member don’t worry! The lovely folks at the National Trust have very kindly offered a family pass for TWO lucky winners (one each) to celebrate T turning two in just under a months time! One lucky winner will win one family pass to explore a location of their choice (although some exclusions do apply – please check terms and conditions within the link!).
To enter, follow the link below:
Win a National Trust Family Pass!
Terms & Conditions
(further T&C’s do apply and can be found within the link)
Open to UK residents only.
Two (2) winners will win one (1) ‘National Trust Family Pass’ each. The prize will be sent via ‘The National Trust’ and not via LesBeMums.
Family single-admission passes: National Trust family admission passes admit two adults and two children aged 5-17 (or 1 adult and 3 children) for a single use at one of hundreds of participating National Trust places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – see pass for exclusions and full terms and conditions of use.
No cash alternative. Prize is non-transferrable.
Closing date: Midnight (00:00) on 09/04/17. Winner chosen between 09/04/17 and 11/04/17. Winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner has one month from the closing date to claim their prize, after which point a new winner will be chosen.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.
This giveaway is run by Lesbemums in conjunction with ‘The National Trust’.
If you have any additional questions – feel free to send us an email!
Good Luck!
Psst! Fancy a little something for your toddler to ride around whilst enjoying these lovely locations? Pop along to our other giveaway where you could also win a Toddlebike2!
Brodick Castle and gardens on the Isle of Arran – beautiful scenery and views and it has a lovely coffee shop in the garden where the scones are out of this world!
GREAT PRIZE
Love the Giants Causeway on the North Antrim coast – amazing place, full of folklore and history x
Red House in Bexleyheath – small but perfectly formed, I can easily while away the time in the garden in the summer 🙂
Basildon House near Pangbourne
Basildon House near Pangbourne
My favourite NT place is Wakehurst Place in Surrey. It is joined with Kew Gardens as it is the national seed bank and you can go and look around the seed bank which is fascinating. The grounds at Wakehurst are enormous and divided into separate areas. There is also a really wild section with a limit placed on the number of daily visitors to help keep it that way. You can see Kingfishers from a bird hide at the lakes, you can walk through Japanese style gardens, picnic in wild meadows or stick to the more manicured areas and duck pond. The cafe is nice with an outdoor seating area too. The house has weddings and art exhibitions. The only slightly less positive thing about this NT place is that itmohe of the very few where you gave to lay to park, but given that it’s such a great place you can benefit from purchasing a yearly car park pass to help keep costs down. It’s really a great place for kids, they will never get bored here.
Cliveden National Trust – Lots to explore and lots to look at.
Brimham rocks – the rock formations are just incredible. I don’t know anywhere else like it.
Oh wow… Must visit the UK.
I love Chartwell House – former home of Winston Churchill. Walking around you get a sense of the ordinary life of a great man. Letters and photos are on display as are several of his uniforms and suits. His painting studio is inspirational. The grounds are beautiful.
Sudbury Hall is near to us. Its a lovely venue just off the A50. It has a childhood museum which my children love to see the old fashion toys and games set in beautiful countryside
Sudbury Hall is near to us. Its a lovely venue just off the A50. It has a childhood museum which my children love to see the old fashion toys and games set in beautiful countryside
Sherringham park because of the beautiful rhododendrons and azaleas
Chatsworth house I loved it has a child and I love going round the gardens
What a fantastic prize, how exciting!
Tyntesfield, it’s about a 45 minute drive from us and I love walking around the grounds it’s beautiful
Croome Park is near us and is great for walking.
I love Stourhead – it’s so romantic & beautiful.
We have visited Belton house when at my parents and that has a great playground for the kids
Mostly Old hall is our family fav! so beautiful, relaxing and we love the coffee shop. theirs homemade cakes are amazing!
My fave is nostell priory because I used to go there when I was younger with my family
Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, I love the NT’s conservation choices on this property, leaving it in a state of disrepair.
Thoroughly a great British day out for all the family..
My favourite is Ightham Mote as it’s local to us and is really interesting
Llanachaeron is my local national trust house. It has lovely woodland walks that are all free
Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk coast because it has a conservation site set up by the Trust to protect seals, which used to be the target of hunters. Now the Trust shields seals from visitors walking near them, but you can see them by boat.
I don’t think I have ever been to a National Trust property but I want to visit the old water mill near me in East Anglia.
our favourite NT place is Formby Beach for the red squirrels and views!
Fountains Abbey as it’s one of the largest and best preserved Cistercian monestaries in the UK, in an isolated area of beauty with lots of walking opportunities.
I’ve never been to any of these places but they all look really nice. I personally love ullswater and Windermere over in Cumbria. Stunning scenery and so relaxing on a weekend x
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Not having national trust membership I havent got a favourite, but my daughter who does have membership has a favourite – attingham Park, shropshire
Powis Castle…It had lots to see great castle there were lovely gardens & the food was great.What more could you ask for a great day out.
Looking forward to visiting shugborough hall now Stafford / when opened again now owned and run by NT
I love Ightham Mote, it’s local and they put on so many events for the family. Such lovely woodland trails and the house is amazing!
Lyme Park. It’s set in the most gorgeous spot and the playground is brilliant for kids. We love it there and visit regularly.
Bodnant Gardens in North Wales – beautiful gardens, lots of flowers and amazing trees for the children to marvel at and a fab café!
There’s not much near us in the north east but we do have Wallington Hall with the ‘tree-climbing tree’.
It also has 3 separate play areas including one based on a train, one with zip wire and one where you can build dens.
You can also sit in a boat and have your picnic there if you feel like being the famous five. My 2 still love it and they’re coming up 10 and 13 (and i’ve just looked out of the window to see the older one up a tree outside and we’re not at Wallington Hall today!)
The Jane Austen house museum. I love all things Austen & this has some wonderful history in a beautiful setting
Stowe Landscape Gardens – it’s close to home, we never tire of it, and it’s beautiful whatever the weather or season
I love Clumber Park, a beautiful part of the world with lots to do 🙂
BROCKHAMPTON BY BROMYARD
Lyme Park. – fantastic views and a great place to take the kids, beautiful.
I haven’t visited many National Trust properties and that is why I’d love to win this prize, so I can visit lots in a year.
I love Bodnant Gardens in North Wales because it has beautiful gardens pretty flowers and it’s a lovely day out # WeLoveNT
We love going to Formby, walking through the sand dunes and spotting the red squirrels in the woods.
Sudbury Hall is a favourite of ours. We first went there as school children. The museum of childhood is fascinating.
Never been to the top 5 but would love to take my little 1s on some adventure to all od them
We’re lucky to have some gorgeous ones near us. Chirk Castle has to be a favourite though. Beautiful views and some lovely walks.
We had membership last year and didn’t use it enough, so many lovely places to visit and family freindly
The National Trust has some wonderful properties 🙂
Lanhydrock Cornwall
the kids love riding their bikes around the grounds and through the trees
Wordsworth House and Garden 🙂
Bookham common, where my in-laws live!
Nymans gardens because there is always something fun and interesting happening.
Leeds Castle, there’s always something to keep the kids occupied, great Easter egg hunt at Easter.
We like Souter Lighthouse.
Petts Wood and Hawkwood
Overbecks in Devon, the gardens and views are spectacular.
We love going to Rievaulx Terrace in Yorkshire. It’s a beautiful area and a peaceful day out
Hidcote it’s just up the road from us
Bodiam castle it is so stunning.
Nymans is just beautiful and my nephews loves to play in their gardens!
I’ve been to Chirk castle a few times in Chirk, Wrexham. Such a beautiful place i loved exploring
Oxburgh hall only up the road
Porth O’er( Whistling Sands) beach on the LLeyn Peninsular in North Wales. A beautiful paradise beach!
Clandon Park is on our doorstep.
Hidcote Gardens
Love Gibside! Such a lovely walk and dogs allowed too 😉
Saltram house the grounds are great
Has to be cragside house … very special
Love Gibside and Wallington
Polesden Lacey. So relaxing to picnic on the lawns whilst the kids run up and down the hill!
Chatsworth house all the way
Sudbury is great for slightly older children as the museum of childhood is very well laid out with activities they can do
Kynance Cove is my favourite NT location, because we have had many happy family days there.
Giants Causeway
I love Lanhydrock, beautiful stately home with lovely gardens, really used to enjoy visiting as a child. Great prize. Good luck everyone 🙂
Ashridge forest, especially at bluebell time, such a beautiful place to explore
Cliveden National Trust – Lots to see and explore.
I love Chartwell House – former home of Winston Churchill. Walking around you get a sense of the ordinary life of a great man. Letters and photos are on display as are several of his uniforms and suits. His painting studio is inspirational. The grounds are beautiful.
Awesome giveaway I’m always looking for adventures with my kids
It’s fantastic, I love Powys castle !
There’s so many beautiful places, nothing better than lugging the kids in the car and setting off on a journey!
Thanks for this chance! 🙂
Have never been so would love to visit a few.
Shugborough in Staffordshire, been going there for years and its recently been overtook by the national trust
Sudbury Hall lovely muesuem there
We love the South West Coastal Path – takes you through some amazing landscapes and with fantastic views – stunning
we love attingham park in shrewsbury we love walking the grounds and seeing the deer
We live next to the National Trust Runnymede, it’s a beautiful site and a lovely walk with our children
Coughton Court as it is very close to us and has a house with a fascinating history and packed full of original things and of course some lovely walks too.
Thanks for offering this great giveaway
My favourite is Stonehenge. It is absolutely amazing there and the history intrigues me.
mine has to be formby we love looking at the red squirrels and going onto the beach
Chatsworth house is so magnificent xx
Powys castle is fantastic 🙂
We had a lovely day at Standen!
Belton house, it’s just down the road from us and the perfect day out with children.