National Trust or English Heritage – which is better?

Telegraph Money compares the membership costs, perks and savings

Drawing in more than six million members between them, the National Trust and English Heritage are juggernauts of Britain’s tourism industry.
Hundreds of castles, stately homes, abbeys, gardens and beauty spots fall under their management, but which is better value for your money?
As spring starts to bounce into life, Telegraph Money compares the cost of memberships at both, the perks that come with them and how you could save.  
The National Trust introduced an inflation-busting price rise of 8.5pc to its membership fees on March 1, while English Heritage is plotting a 4pc rise from March 23.
At current rates an annual pass for the National Trust is £22.20 more expensive than English Heritage membership, while lifetime membership is a hefty £545 more costly.
The Trust says it is “acutely aware of pressures on people’s finances”, but is confident the new fees “represent fantastic value for money”.
The increases, which have seen adult annual membership jump from £84 to £91.20, came after a 9.4pc surge in 2023.
To be eligible for the discounted senior rate at National Trust you’ll need to be aged over 60 and have been a member for at least the last three consecutive years.
A new member aged 60 would not be eligible for the senior rate, and will need to pay the standard adult fee costing 25pc more.
Membership comes with the additional bonuses of free parking at most of its 800 car parks, a handbook and a magazine three times a year.
Like its counterpart, membership undoubtedly saves you in the long run if you’re planning multiple visits in a year, or in fact your lifetime.
For instance, a family ticket bought on the gate at Dover Castle, Kent, at a weekend in summer costs £92, or £83.60 without donation. The hefty fee nears the £120 price for an annual family membership. Therefore, if popular English Heritage sites are on your to-do list, a year-long pass makes better financial sense.
A non-member buying an adult ticket on the gate at Stonehenge could pay up to £37.
From March 23, membership prices will rise 4pc – in line with current inflation. An adult annual pass will rise from £69 to £72, while lifetime membership will go from £1,650 to £1,725.
Those who sign up receive a handbook and receive a members’ magazine and e-newsletter.
In the second week of April, members will benefit from free access to events at English Heritage sites across the country, virtual events and a 20pc discount in gift shops and cafes.
The Trust, which is the biggest membership charity in the country, dwarfs its rival in terms of membership and getting people through the gates.
Bosses said they were “pleased” after keeping its uptake steady at 5.7 million last year, however, the charity did fall one million short on its target of bringing in 25.1 million visitors through its ticketed doors. The figures were also below pre-pandemic levels.
In comparison, English Heritage drew in 5.4 million visitors to its paid-for sites last year, a fifth of the total brought in by the Trust.
As for its members, it has a tally of 1.2 million. 
Any seasoned visitor will have their favourite between the two. Lovers of formidable Norman keeps will prefer English Heritage, while fans of majestic aristocratic homes will most likely back the National Trust.
Of the 400-or-so sites English Heritage looks after, 98 charge an admission fee. 
In becoming a member, the North East is where you’ll get the value for money. North Yorkshire and Northumberland both share 24 ticketed attractions between them.
Kent, Cornwall, Cumbria and London each have six, but the home counties to the north and west of the capital are starved of English Heritage attractions. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire don’t have any paid-for sites.
As for the National Trust, the charity did not tell us how many of its 500-or-so sites charge an admission fee.
In stark contrast to English Heritage, Buckinghamshire boasts the highest number of Trust properties. The east of England, especially Lincolnshire, and swathes of the North have a limited number of sites.  
Little-known discounts on membership prices are available for those who don’t buy directly through the National Trust or English Heritage.
The quirkiest is to snap up an annual New Zealand Heritage membership. It may be the furthest country from Britain, but a New Zealand membership can save a Brit up to £111 a year on attractions over here.
A Kiwi heritage pass not only gives you access to historic New Zealand sites, but also the UK’s National Trust and English Heritage sites.
An annual adult membership can be bought by a non-Kiwi for just £96 (NZ$200). Buying both English Heritage and National Trust passes would set you back £160.20.
For family tickets, a NZ membership costs £168. If you buy them separately here, it would cost £279.
Pete Chatfield, of Household Money Saving, said the discount trick is one “which not a huge number of people are aware of”.
“It’s a very good saving which anyone can make use of. You don’t need to be a New Zealander to buy it.
“The only thing to look out for is the fact it doesn’t cover you for parking, so you might have to pay for that at certain English Heritage and National Trust sites.”
Another money-saving hack is to utilise the cheaper rate charged by the National Trust for Scotland.
Scottish membership per adult costs £69.60 and gives access to all National Trust sites elsewhere in Britain. This works out to be £21.60 cheaper than joining the English arm of the Trust.
As with the New Zealand trick, you don’t need to be a Scottish resident to sign up. 
Mr Chatfield also recommends utilising the discount at English Heritage offered by the CSSC (Civil Service Sports Club). Annual membership for the CSSC costs £59.88, and one of the key perks is free entry to all English Heritage attractions.
“Membership for a year is just under £60 so it can be a big saving,” Mr Chatfield said.
“Although it’s called the Civil Service club, you don’t need to be a member of the civil service. You need to know somebody who is a current member, and they can refer you and you’ll be able to join.
“You’ll then get free entry into English Heritage sites as a family.”
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In recent years, the National Trust has faced growing anger over a series of decisions that have prompted claims it is following a “woke agenda”.
Bosses have been accused of “dumbing down” by removing important items from display and turning historic homes into “theme parks” designed for children.
There was also a significant backlash after it emerged Christian ­holidays had been excluded from the Trust’s “inclusivity and wellbeing” ­calendar.
Telegraph readers told us the National Trust was “lost to me forever” due to its management, with others warning the charity will effectively “go woke, go broke”.
It’s more likely than not that you’ve come across a National Trust car park at a popular beauty spot.
Locations such as the White Cliffs of Dover charge for parking, but the sites are free to use for members.
If you’re a regular user of such car parks, membership could be a savvy option.
In the Lake District for example, there are multiple National Trust-run car parks charging up to £9 for stays longer than four hours. If you’re planning on a walking holiday around the Lakes, plus the odd visit to a stately home at some point in the year, an annual membership would likely be worthwhile.
A host of attractions are not open throughout the year, meaning members wanting to make use of quieter off-peak days could be left disappointed. 
Even the most popular sites, such as Dover Castle, are partially closed over the winter, with it only open on weekends between November and mid-February.
Meanwhile, smaller properties may only be open for a day or two a week throughout the year. If you want to see a particular place or object, check first in case of temporary closure or restoration work.
A quintessential English treat, cream teas are a staple of stately home and castle menus.
The cost of enjoying a drink and scone varies between English Heritage and National Trust, with the latter charging £1.35 more.
Both charge blanket pricing across their sites:
The National Trust has a significantly greater number of cafes, with 280 dotted around the UK.
At English Heritage, a membership loyalty scheme offers a 10pc discount in cafes and shops after the first annual renewal.
Formed 50 years ago, Historic Houses is a lesser-known association which looks after some of Britain’s most impressive heritage attractions.
Alnwick Castle (of Harry Potter fame), Highclere Castle (of Downton Abbey), Hever Castle, Holkham Hall and Arundel Castle are among the huge arsenal of properties run by the group.
Around 1,400 houses, castles, gardens and parks are managed by Historic Houses, where annual adult membership costs £68.
Joint membership is £108, and while family passes aren’t available, extra adults or children can be added for £30.
Which do you prefer, the National Trust or English Heritage? Join the conversation in the comments section below.