Holiday FAQs and essential information

Why have you stopped producing a brochure?

As a charity, we were severely affected by the coronavirus crisis, and as a result we've had to change how we do things. This includes reducing marketing and print spend in favour of digital, so we won't be producing a printed holidays brochure. Please browse our website or speak to the advisors in the Holidays Service Centre if you're looking for inspiration for your next holiday.

How far in advance can I book?

For cottages, bothies and bunkhouses, you can usually book up to two years in advance, although we may release later dates to meet demand.

For camping and glamping, please check the information on the relevant campsite page of the website.

You can get more information about our hotels, by contacting the individual hotels.

What's the preferred changeover day?

While our accommodation operates with preferred changeover days, please check the availability calendar for specific arrival days. This will be shown with a price in the availability box.

None of the cottages or bunkhouses allow holidays to start on Sundays. Some of the bothies will allow Sunday arrivals. Please check the relevant website page for up to date information.

What if I want to book several cottages in one location?

It's possible, but it’s likely these will have different changeover dates, so please get in touch with the Holidays Service Centre who will be able to discuss this with you.

What are short breaks and when can I book them?

A short break is any booking lasting fewer than seven nights. Please be aware the cottages and bunkhouses operate on a minimum night stay for short breaks. Please check the availability calendars for availability of short breaks for your preferred cottage on your preferred dates.

Short breaks of a minimum of four nights for the festive season can be booked from eight weeks in advance.

Is your accommodation suitable for disabled people or people with limited mobility?

For information on our accessible accommodation, please use the accessibility filter when searching for a holiday on our website. The accessibility guide on the relevant accommodation pages of the website will help you further.

Deaf or hard of hearing visitors can have a fire alarm provided, which triggers a vibration on capturing the sound of the main alarm. Please let us know in advance of any members of your party who require this facility.

Please let us know if you are taking an assistance dog with you.

Is your accommodation suitable for families and children?

Most of the accommodation is suitable for children. If there are any restrictions, we'll let you know when booking. Children aged two and over count towards the maximum occupancy number. We have indicated the accommodation that is suitable for children under two as these will have a travel cot, highchair and nursery guard provided, however these will need to be requested at point of booking. Please note, no bedding, linen or towels are provided for cots or rubber under-sheets for young children using the beds. Depending on the accommodation, a stairgate may be available upon request but will not always be fixed in place when you arrive so you can put it where it suits you.

If we do not supply a travel cot or highchair it means that the accommodation has not been deemed suitable for little ones.

Can I still get free access to National Trust places on my holiday?

Details of how to get free access will be provided in your confirmation email or key and directions document. Parking charges still apply. Please note that some properties may require you to book in advance. Please visit the webpage of the property you're planning to visit for further information about booking.

Is there access via public transport?

The best place to check this is Traveline for England and Wales. For Northern Ireland, it's Translink.

Do National Trust members get a discount?

As a charity, we are governed by regulations which mean that we are unable to offer financial or monetary rewards to our members. We claim gift aid on our membership fees which means we gain 20% on every membership purchased. To be able to do this, HMRC put rules in place: one of them is charities are not allowed to offer benefits back to members above 25% of the membership value.

Offers appear in the National Trust magazine as they are reader offers – it’s not an exclusive membership magazine.

Is travel insurance provided?

No, we recommend that you take out travel insurance as soon as you have made your booking to cover any unexpected changes to your personal circumstances or if severe weather stops you from travelling. Please also familiarise yourselves with the cancellation policy in the terms and conditions.

What time can I arrive?

Check-in time for all accommodation is 4pm. Please note we cannot facilitate earlier arrivals as change-over days are used for preparing the accommodation for you, carrying out compliance checks and giving time to contractors to carry out any necessary work.

What time do I have to leave?

We kindly ask that you leave promptly at 10am on your departure day to ensure we’re able to get the accommodation ready for the next guests.

If you are leaving on a Sunday, you will benefit from a 4pm check-out in cottages and bunkhouses. Please note this doesn’t apply to bank holidays or bothies.

On campsites, the check-out is 10am every day.

Can I bring my pet?

Dogs are welcome in a lot of the accommodation at no extra charge. Please check the accommodation page of the website or brochure for the number of dogs allowed. Please don't bring dogs to non-dog friendly accommodation, respecting that many guests book these cottages and bunkhouses because they have allergies. If you do bring a dog to non-dog accommodation or other pet to any of the accommodation, you will be asked to leave with no refund and will incur a deep cleaning charge.

For all dogs, we respectfully request that dogs are always kept on the ground floor (or upper floor if the living space is inverted). Dogs should not be allowed on the furniture or left unattended in the accommodation. In the event of your dog fouling the gardens, we require you to clean up and dispose of this in the correct manner. We reserve the right to charge for any damage caused to the accommodation by your dog.

We regret that no other pets are allowed at our accommodation.

Can we take more guests to the accommodation than those stated?

The number of guests shown for each accommodation is the maximum number of guests. If we offer a travel cot and highchair, we allow one additional guest under the age of two. We cannot allow others to stay over due to managing fire risk and ensuring we have adequate insurance to protect guests in the event of any incident. We will ask you to leave the premises where over occupancy occurs.

Can we invite additional day guests to the accommodation for a celebration or party?

Cottages and bunkhouses are equipped with enough crockery and cutlery for an additional two day guests. If you would like to use a cottage or bunkhouse for a celebration, please click here to submit an enquiry before booking. Further information can be found in Section 11 of our Holiday cottage, bunkhouse and bothy terms and conditions.

Most campsites are not suitable for parties. Please click here to submit an enquiry before booking for all groups, including large families, friends or organised groups e.g., Scouts. Further information can be found in Section 11 of our Camping and glamping terms and conditions.

Can we take camper vans/tents/blow up beds, etc for additional guests?

The number of guests shown for each accommodation is the maximum number of guests. If we offer a travel cot and highchair, we allow one additional guest under the age of two. While most accommodation has sufficient crockery for two day guests, we cannot allow others to stay over due to managing fire risk and ensuring we have adequate insurance to protect guests in the event of any incident. We will ask you to leave the premises where over occupancy occurs. This includes additional guests staying within the boundaries of the accommodation.

Can we use a barbecue?

If your choice of accommodation offers a barbecue, this will be shown on the relevant page of the website. Please only use a barbecue if it is provided. Many of our cottages are listed buildings. This, along with the age and structure of the cottages, simply makes barbecues too much of a fire hazard and will void our insurance. Using a barbecue where it is not provided may result in your booking being terminated with no refund.

On campsites, more information about the use of barbecues and fire pits will be in the site information on the relevant website page.

Can I bring my bike or other sports equipment?

If you bring your bikes and/or sports equipment (e.g. kayak), please store them outside. We know people can be very protective of their bikes, but the historic buildings have to take priority. Some of the accommodation benefit from designated outside storage areas. Please check the notes on the relevant website page for more information.

Can I smoke?

It is not permitted to smoke in any National Trust accommodation. This includes the use of vapours and e-cigarettes.

Can I charge my electric vehicle?

In some areas we provide electric vehicle charging points and you can find a guide to National Trust electric vehicle charging points.  Please only use proper electric vehicle charging points and don’t extend wires from the accommodation as this creates a trip hazard and can also cause supply problems. Zap-map will be able to help you find the nearest charging points.

Can we book our wedding and accommodation with the National Trust?

For the latest updates on weddings, please visit our weddings page.

Will I have a mobile phone signal?

Please note there may be little or no mobile signal in the area you are travelling to. Advice can be sought from your mobile phone provider, or by visiting Signalchecker.

Is there a payphone nearby?

If there is a telephone in the accommodation or in a shared area this will be mentioned on the website. There is a payphone directory which provides details of the nearest payphone.

Why do only some of your holiday cottages and campsites have telephones or WiFi provided?

We recognise guests may like a telephone or WiFi provided at the accommodation and where it is feasible to do this, we will provide them. Over 50% of the cottages either have a telephone, WiFi or both installed.

Much of the accommodation has free WiFi available. Those that do will have it mentioned on the website. This public WiFi is supported by BT and therefore any sensitive information should only be accessed using a VPN type system. Please note intermittent connection problems can occur due to the remoteness of the accommodation. As a result of this, line speeds can vary as can coverage within the building and therefore the connection is unlikely to be suitable for gaming or streaming movies. Where consistent coverage across the cottage is not achievable, we endeavour to ensure the sitting room will receive the strongest signal.

Many of the cottages are based in rural locations which means that it’s not always feasible to install WiFi and telephones. We continue to review new technology which may increase the portfolio of accommodation with WiFi.

Where we do provide telephones, it may be on a shared basis, for example in a shared laundry or shared hallway. The telephone facilities are described on the relevant website pages.

What do I do if I have an issue with the WiFi while on holiday?

In the event you have an issue, a lot of the answers should be available in the Accommodation User Guide located in the accommodation. If you have any other concerns, please call us on the number provided in your key and directions information as we want every opportunity to put it right.

What is access to the accommodation like?

Most of the accommodation has car parking close by, but at some you may need to carry your luggage from a car park or even across a field. In some cases, there may be steep or irregular steps and footpaths to the front door, which are an essential part of the character of the building. Others are in secluded locations and can only be reached by driving down a rough track. If you have any concerns, please have a look at the accessibility guide on the website.

Can I arrange for deliveries before my arrival or during my holiday?

We recommend arranging your supermarket delivery for the morning after you arrive in case you get delayed. We regret we cannot accept any deliveries prior to your stay as we cannot accept any responsibility for receiving or storing any items until your arrival.

Why do you charge for bothies?

Unlike some organisations we do charge for bothies. We do this because the modest income we raise from bothies supports their maintenance and conservation projects in the local area.

How can I pay the balance on my holiday?

Holiday cottages, bothies and bunkhouses balance payments:

You can pay the balance of your holiday by any of these methods:

Online:

It's quick and easy to pay your balance online by following the link. You'll need your reference number and surname as well as your payment card details.

By Phone:

You can call into the Holidays Service Centre on 0344 800 2070 where one of the advisors will be able to take payment over the telephone. The Service Centre is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.

By Bank Transfer:

You can pay for any outstanding balance using the bank transfer details below. Please remember to quote your booking reference.

Barclays Bank, Belgravia Branch

Account Name: National Trust Enterprises (please note some banks may require National Trust Enterprises LTD or have THE in front of the name)

Account: 20680109

Sort: 20-06-05

SWIFT: BARCGB22

IBAN: GB03 BARC 2006 0520 6801 09

Campsite balance payment:

Camping guests pay in full at the time of booking.

By Gift Card

To use a National Trust gift card to pay for your holiday, please contact:

• Holidays Service Centre on 0344 800 2070 for cottages, bunkhouses and bothies, or email holiday.enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

• Outdoors bookings office for campsite bookings on campsite.bookings@nationaltrust.org.uk with details of the gift cards.

How much will my deposit be?

For cottages, bunkhouses and bothies, you will be asked to pay a third at the time of booking or the full amount if your booking is less than £100 or within two months of departure date.

For camping and glamping payment in full is required at the time of booking.

Can I pay in instalments?

You can put money towards your holiday at any time, either by calling into the Holidays Service Centre or making a bank transfer using the details above.

Can I transfer my holiday to another date or accommodation?

Please refer to the terms and conditions. Please contact the relevant booking office to discuss.

Can I add extras after I have booked?

You can add extras (where applicable) such as a change to bed configuration, a cot or logs up to a week prior to travel. Please call the Holidays Service Centre to arrange this. Late notification of any requested additional services may incur a charge.

Can I order additional linen?

If you’ve got different guests coming to stay during your time with us, you can ask for additional linen. Please let the Holidays Service Centre know at least seven days before your stay so it can be ordered. There will be an additional charge for this.

When will I get key and direction details?

You'll receive key and directions details approximately three weeks prior to departure. If you have booked within three weeks of departure you will receive this information within 24 hours of receipt of full payment.

What happens in the case of bad weather?

If your accommodation becomes inaccessible due to bad weather, we will try and relocate you. This may be in a different area. We regret we will be unable to offer any refunds and therefore it is strongly recommended that you take out travel insurance after confirming your booking.

Where the accommodation is inaccessible and no alternative accommodation is available, we will allow a transfer of the booking to another time of year at the same accommodation. Any additional costs incurred will be payable.

What’s it like to stay in a heritage building?

Staying in a characterful and historic building is a wonderful experience; however, there are a few things to consider. Plumbing and heating systems are often sensitive and are less efficient than in a modern home. More information will be provided in the welcome folder at the cottage or please contact us if you need help during your stay.

Please don't move furniture during your stay as it can cause damage to the furniture itself and the property.

Bats and other wildlife may be present. Any disturbance caused by wildlife should be reported to us immediately and we will take reasonable steps to assist. Please remember that bats and some other species are protected and it's illegal to interfere with them or their habitat.

Service cleans

We're no longer carrying out mid-stay cleans to limit personal interaction for the safety and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and guests. However, we’ll provide a spare supply of towels and linen for guests staying for 10 nights or more.

Welcome tray

You’ll find a welcome tray with enough tea bags, filter coffee, sugar and UHT milk for your first drink, along with some National Trust cookies. We’ve chosen to keep the treats on our trays safe and simple, doing our best to avoid common allergens and fresh items that require temperature-controlled transport and storage, and to reduce waste.

Why do you only provide UHT milk?

Providing milk on the welcome trays is a personal touch that our guests enjoy, but there has been concern over both the amount of wastage and control of the temperature of the milk provided. Any milk that is spoiled must be disposed of carefully as it can introduce bacteria to the environment if poured down drains, particularly in properties where there is a private treatment plant. Long-life milk has a lower carbon impact than fresh milk, and by providing smaller quantities, there should be less wastage, particularly with the longer shelf life, should guests choose not to use the milk provided. Initially our concern with long-life milk was the use of plastic packaging, so we’re really happy to have found a great solution with long-life milk provided in small glass bottles, which are fully and easily recyclable.

Why are you not providing flowers anymore?

As a conservation charity, we feel that cut flowers, wrapped in plastic and which have often travelled many miles do not meet our objectives to protect land and nature.

What can we expect in the accommodation?

All the accommodation is self-catering. It's kitted out with a standard inventory, and this includes most things you'd need to cook a meal or bake. You'll need to bring all food and condiments with you.

To help you get started, we provide two toilet rolls per toilet, washing up liquid, handwash and a dishwasher tablet for each day, plus two extra. We also provide environmentally friendly anti bac spray and toilet cleaner. Where there is a fire or wood burner, it will be laid ready for the first evening with enough logs for one fire and a couple of firelighters. There will be a box of matches in a match tin.

Bed linen, towels (one bath and one hand towel per person), tea towels, a bathmat (where applicable) and an oven cloth are provided unless otherwise stated in your booking confirmation. There are a few cottages and bunkhouses where this isn’t supplied, so please check the notes on the relevant accommodation page of the website. If you're travelling with young children, we would advise bringing your own rubber sheets. We don't supply linen or bedding for travel cots. Please note that we supply oven cloths rather than oven gloves.

We do not supply any linen in the bothies.

Travel cots

Please note the travel cots are pop up ones with a removable base. If you require an additional mattress, we recommend bringing your own.

If we don't provide a travel cot, the accommodation has not been deemed suitable for children aged one and under.

Garden

Where there is a garden, there will be an outside seating area which may be a bench or chairs and a table. We don’t supply sun loungers, recliners, deckchairs or parasols.

What happens if I break something during my stay?

We appreciate that sometimes accidents can happen. If you have a breakage, please complete the form in the Welcome Folder for a member of the Holidays team. We reserve the right to charge for breakages and damage to the accommodation.

Do you allow overnight parking in National Trust car parks?

We don't allow overnight parking due to the impact on nature and wildlife, staff resource and visitors. However, motorhomes and campervans are very welcome at our campsites. You can find your nearest campsite in our guide.

Why can’t I book for one night?

Most campsite guests stay in our places for several days (or even weeks!) so the default in our booking system is set to a minimum two or three nights to enable these bookings. Many of our campsites are very busy, or full, particularly in school holidays. Single night stays are most likely to be available for midweek stays (Monday to Thursday nights) outside of school holiday periods. If you would like to stay in a campsite for just one night, please contact our Outdoors booking team who will be happy to check availability for you.

Can I book a tent box at an NT campsite?

Tentboxes (tents attached to the roof of vehicles) are welcome at many of our campsites. You’ll need to book a campervan pitch as many of our tent areas have restrictions on vehicles to keep the impact low in our special places. As some of our campsites are in woodlands, please use the note box on your booking to let us know the total height of your vehicle when the tent is erected. Please note that as Tentboxes do not have onboard toilet facilities they are not permitted at Kingston Lacy, Stourhead, Llanborth or Dolaucothi campsites as there are no toilet facilities at these sites. If you have any questions, please contact the Outdoors booking team.

What can we expect in your bothies?

Please note that if you’re coming to one of the bothies, you’ll need to bring all your own supplies such as cooking and eating utensils, bedding, and logs.

Some bothies have may have additional facilities. Please refer to the webpage for the accommodation for more information.

Please note that toilets and washing facilities will be basic in the bothies.

Are we expected to clean the bothy?

We don’t clean the bothies. We respectfully ask guests to clean up at the end of their stay and take all their rubbish away.

Why don’t you offer working holidays anymore?

Like most organisations, we were hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus. When the country went into lockdown we closed all our houses, gardens, car parks, shops, cafés and holidays and stopped all events, quickly losing tens of millions of pounds of support. In response, we had to change the way we operate and reduce our payroll and budgets, and as a result we made the difficult decision to stop offering working holidays.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who gave their time and passion for working holidays and conservation over the years. And while overnight opportunities to volunteer aren’t available, conservation volunteering activities continue through other schemes.

National Trust Volunteer (NTV) groups offer a similar way to carry out conservation volunteering. You can sign up to the NTV group local to you, or there are opportunities to create your own group, with volunteering activities running throughout the year, both locally and nationally. Working in the company of likeminded volunteers, you might be constructing a footpath, building a fence or helping to restore natural habitats on the coast. Visit our supporter groups page for more information.

*Book a last-minute holiday starting in the next 14 days using code LASTMINUTE for a 25% discount. Offer valid 17.09.24 - 30.12.24. Code valid for stays starting in the next 14 days only. Discount is shown once code has been entered. Valid on a selection of cottages, bothies and bunkhouses only. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

**Book a last-minute holiday to somewhere special. From weekend adventures to mid-week breaks, you're sure to find somewhere unique to stay with our late availability holiday accommodation. Offer valid 06/06/24 – 02/01/25 for stays taken 06/06/24 – 02/01/25. Offer valid on a selection of cottages only. The discount available depends on the cottage, length of holiday and dates chosen. Value of any discount is shown with price once dates have been selected. If your holiday starts in the next 14 days, you can save 25% with code LASTMINUTE. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

***Choose from a selection of cottages from two collections - By a National Trust garden, By a National Trust attraction, and save 10% on new bookings. Offer valid Offer valid 23/08/24 – 3/01/25 for stays taken 01/09/24 - 31/01/25. Offer valid on a selection of cottages only. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

****Choose from a selection of cottages from the Barns & Stables collection and save 15% on new bookings. Offer valid 18/10/24 – 15/12/24 for stays started 18/10/24 – 15/12/24. Offer valid on a selection of cottages only. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

*****Find a rare spot of availability at one of our most popular holiday cottages. Offer valid 06/06/24 – 31/01/25 for stays taken 06/06/24 - 31/01/25. Offer valid on a selection of cottages only. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

******Choose from a selection of cottages from the Tiny Cottages collection and save 10% on new bookings with code TINY. Offer valid 08/10/24 - 02/01/25 for stays started 08/10/24 - 02/01/25. Offer valid on a selection of cottages only. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

*******Choose from a selection of cottages in the 'Grand houses & halls' and 'Large farmhouses' collections, and save 25% on new bookings. Offer valid 05/11/24 - 28/02/25 for stays started from 01/01/25 and 28/02/25. Offer valid on a selection of cottages only. Cottages may be added to or removed from offer. Subject to availability. Cannot be used with any other offer. Where more than one offer is available, the one that offers the greatest discount will apply. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Standard Holidays terms and conditions apply.

• The prize draw is not open to National Trust employees.
• All information made available to guests as part of the process of entering the prize draw forms part of these terms and conditions.
• There is a limit of one entry per booking. Every entry must be linked to a holiday booking.
• By submitting a review guests consent to the National Trust using the email address provided for the purposes of the booking to contact them if they win the prize.
• A completed Feefo review must be received by 23:59 on 31 December 2024 to qualify for the prize draw. One winner will be drawn at random from those guests who have submitted a review. The winner will be notified by email on or before 30 January 2025. If a winner cannot be contacted or declines the prize, the National Trust reserves the right to select another winner from the eligible entries.
• The prize is a £500 discount off any National Trust Holiday to be booked and taken by 30 November 2025. Destinations can be found on the National Trust Holidays website. Please note this excludes Historic House Hotels and accommodation managed by third party providers.
• Travel to the holiday destination is not included and you will need to make your own travel arrangements. National Trust Holidays are self-catering. The prize does not include food or other extras.
• No cash alternative will be made. Prizes are non-transferable.
• The surname and county or country of the winner of the prize will be made available on request. If you object to the your surname and county / country being made available, or wish to reduce the amount of information to be made available, please contact the National Trust at guestrelations@nationaltrust.org.uk.
• Subject to the prize-winner’s consent, the National Trust would aim to use the winner’s details and photograph in post-event publicity on National Trust channels including the website and magazine. The winner will be contacted prior to any such publicity.
• Events may occur that may render the prize draw itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the National Trust’s control and accordingly the National Trust may vary or amend the promotion. The National Trust will do everything it reasonably can to ensure that the winner receives a prize of at least equal value.
• Personal data supplied during the course of this prize draw will be processed as set out in the National Trust’s privacy policy - Privacy policy | National Trust
• By entering the prize draw, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
• These terms and conditions are governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
• This prize draw is promoted by The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty (Registered Charity Number 205846) of Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA.