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.
History
Find out more about people from the past, discover remarkable art and collections and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens.
Art and collections
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.
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Autumn scenes and stories in our collections
With its bright colours, natural spectacles and abundant harvests, autumn has inspired artists for generations. From paintings and tapestries to ceramics, discover autumn through the collections in our care.
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Great tapestries in our collections
We look after the largest collection of tapestries in Britain and one of the largest in the world. Discover some examples of this outstanding craftmanship at the places in our care.
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Advent calendar of Christmas treasures
Get into the Christmas spirit with our Advent calendar of 24 festive objects from the collections in our care. Find out what today's object is and delve into the origins of the Advent calendar.
People
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.
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Black histories and the National Trust
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 in South Gloucestershire and an exiled emperor at Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester.
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Remarkable women in history
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.
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Who was Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown?
Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was one of the UK's most celebrated landscape gardeners. Find out how this Georgian gentleman created the quintessential English landscapes that we see at many of the places in our care today.
Architecture
Read up on architecture with in-depth articles about architectural styles, interior design through history and architectural structures.
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What is a Dovecote?
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.
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Top tips for maintaining your own ‘manor’
Find out from our team of building surveyors how you can keep your own ‘stately home’ maintained to a National Trust standard this year
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What is Gothic Revival?
Discover how it became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries to style literature, architecture, art, music and more after the features of the late medieval Gothic period.
Gardens and landscapes
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.
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A potted history of houseplants
Wander through our collections and gardens to learn the high-society origins of the ferns, orchids and pelargoniums in your home.
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What is a deer park?
Status symbol, hunting ground and a source of building materials. Discover the important roles deer parks played in aristocratic and royal society.
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The development of the English garden landscape
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.