Start your journey of discovery
Delve into history, get tips from our experts, learn a new skill and go behind the scenes of your favourite places.
Find out more about people from the past, discover remarkable art and collections and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens.
Discover the origins of maypoles, May Queens, Beltane bonfires and the May Day Bank Holiday through the paintings and photos in the collections we look after.
Be transported through time with our history podcast playlist. From the origins of drag performance to the boys who became the Beatles, discover stories from across the ages.
Delve into one of the world's greatest collections of art and historical objects. From paintings to sculptures, there’s something for every art lover to discover.
Spring's promise of new beginnings has been an inspiration to artists and designers for centuries. Discover spring through some of its most evocative depictions in the collections and objects we care for.
‘The Mask of Youth’ gave Queen Elizabeth I ageless beauty in art. Read more about the history and where you can see examples in the collections in our care.
Read the stories of people from history and learn about their connections to the historic places in our care, from Beatrix Potter to the Beatles.
Learn how William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, brought the natural world indoors with his wallpapers and textiles, which are still instantly recognisable today.
Learn about remarkable women in history linked to the places in our care, from the political player who helped make Charles II king to the archaeologist who helped discover a 7th-century Saxon ship burial.
Discover the places and collections we care for that have connections to black histories. Learn more about the people behind these connections, including the lady of the house at Dyrham Park and a Kenyan-born poet, novelist and civil servant at 575 Wandsworth Road.
Read up on architecture with in-depth articles about architectural styles, interior design through history and architectural structures.
Dovecotes were built by wealthy and aristocratic families from the Norman period onwards and doves were kept for both food, feathers and as status symbols.
Find out from our team of building surveyors how you can keep your own ‘stately home’ maintained to a National Trust standard this year
Learn how both social and technological change have influenced architecture throughout history, and find out where to see examples of each period at the places we look after.
Discover the history of the natural landscapes around you. From glasshouses to sunken lanes, understand more about how these gardens and green spaces were formed.
Tulips have been a popular flower for centuries. Find out where they came from, how they inspired the 'tulipmania' craze and learn about the different varieties you can still spot today.
Wander through our collections and gardens to learn the high-society origins of the ferns, orchids and pelargoniums in your home.
Brown designed landscapes that fitted in seamlessly with the surrounding countryside. So how do you spot the designs of one of the greatest gardeners of all time?
The history of the English landscape garden is infused with political meaning. Learn the history and political stories behind this garden style characterised by structured informality.
Delve into history, get tips from our experts, learn a new skill and go behind the scenes of your favourite places.