National Trust Bucket List

The National Trust is home to over 300 historic buildings, from the grand and imposing to the small and quirky.

I’ve been a member of the National Trust for two years – not because I like giving to charity, but because I genuinely enjoy the National Trust places I’ve been to.

I’ve already done a blog on my favoruite National Trust Houses, so I thought I’d share the ones I want to visit in the future, when life gains some normality.

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Hardwick Hall is one of the finest Elizabethan buildings in the country. When you look in the National Trust guide book it stands out as a beautiful home and the surrounding grounds look like a place you can explore for hours.

I really want to visit Hardwick in the future because of how beautiful it looks, but also it was used when filming Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows part one.

The design of Malfoy Manor was based on Hardwick Hall, an Elizabethan manor built in Derbyshire in the late 1500s. pic.twitter.com/e3krJIVbPQ

— Potterhead Posts (@PotterheadPosts) December 22, 2019

 

Lacock, Wiltshire

Lacock was founded in 1232 by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery. It was then turned into a private house after the Dissolution of the Monasteries by William Sharington.

Both the abbey and village at Lacock are instantly recognisable from a variety of film and television productions.This includes Cranford, Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Monday morning moment of peace – late winter morning sun paints the old stone of Lacock Abbey golden. There's something really special about going on early morning walks this time of year, when the air is crisp and fresh and the light is gentle.@NTSouthWest @VisitWiltshire pic.twitter.com/JRREUy7U4q

— Lacock (@LacockNT) March 2, 2020

 

Wordsworth House, Cumbria

Wordsworth House and Garden is the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William and his sister Dorothy.

In the garden are 18th-century vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers, just as it would have been when William played – and learned his love of nature. I love Wordsworth Poetry, so visiting his home would be a dream.

We're nearly, but not quite, at peak apple blossom!!#exciting #SpringTime #GardenersWorld #FridayFeeling@CumbriaNGS @KeswickTourism pic.twitter.com/JBFZUv1Wfb

— Wordsworth House (@WordsworthNT) April 26, 2019

 

Grey’s Court, Oxfordshire

The de Grey family settled on this site by the time of the Domesday Book. In 1347, the 1st Lord de Grey, was granted a license to crenellate. What was once there is now in ruins, but the modest Tudor house which was built in the courtyard is still very much intact.

Grey’s court has featured in TV shows such as Downton Abbey and Agatha Christie’s Poirot.

Beautiful hyacinths in vibrant colours are blooming in the Cromwellian garden and the pink and purple border, producing a wonderful fragrance.

What’s your favourite spring flower?

Photo credit: Laurie G#spring #hyacinth #nationaltrust pic.twitter.com/oDXXoyhGCu

— Greys Court (@NTGreysCourt) April 4, 2020

 

Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire

Shugborough Estate includes a grade-I listed mansion house and 900 acres of land.

Shugborough was originally a compact, 2-storeyed brick house built for William Anson, Earl of Lichfield, whose fortunes were founded by Admiral Lord Anson, ‘Father of the British Navy’.

I drive past the sign for this on the motorway and it looks interesting as well as amazingly stunning.

Our off peak admissions pricing ends on 1 March, plan a day out at Shugborough this February for just £10 per adult and £5 per child, family prices included. pic.twitter.com/vkDIDVS384

— Shugborough (@shugboroughNT) February 2, 2020

 

Stowe, Buckinghamshire

In 1589 John Temple purchased the Stowe Manor and estate. The landscape garden at Stowe is one of the most remarkable legacies of Georgian England.

The house was established, not by a member of the nobility, as you might expect, but by a prosperous sheep farmer. I love the story behind Stowe House, it’s sounds like an amazing story which I would like to experience first hand.

Good morning from the Grecian Valley ☀️ #wednesdaymorning #goodmorning pic.twitter.com/giLmFROc74

— National Trust Stowe (@NTStowe) May 6, 2020

So there you have it, my National Trust properties Bucket List. There are still many more houses I want to visit, but these are the six that spark my interests the most.