posted by Catherine on Feb 27
That’s exactly what the National Trust in the UK are offering to everyone who fancies it!
They are opening up all their sites for 2 days this month with no entry fee - that’s a saving of up to £15 a person at the larger sites, so well worth investigating.
Check your diary for Saturday the 20th of March and Sunday the 21st - and make sure they are free!
Many of the larger properties have huge grounds for you to explore - and some even have their own deer herds…..
There are great lakes, hidden follies, secret churches, trout-filled streams, rose gardens, miles of glass houses and acres of woodland walks - and that’s just a few of the things you can find with the National Trust.
And the fact that they have properties all over the country means that you don’t need to travel too far to make the most of their offer either. You could be just a few miles away from something magnificent!
So, here are a few of the best sites, and the normal price for 2 adults and 2 children under 16 - kids under 5 are usually free (but do check for exact prices for your group before you go!).
Wakehurst Place - West Sussex: (Family: £22.70)
This huge landscape is also the home of Kew Gardens Millennium Seed Bank, and also has plants from around the world in distinct gardens.
A family could spend hours walking through the pine woodlands or along the scary limestone ‘wall’ where trees have grown almost out of the very rock itself! There are great water worlds and a few bird hides too.
The Japanese garden is a delight and there is a wonderful walled garden to explore for the adults - and of course you can all marvel at the amazing challenge of collecting every single seed from every single plant from every country in the world!
Stourhead - Wiltshire: (Family: £18.30)
This world-famous 2,650 acre landscape is set within it’s own valley and has miles and miles of chalkland trails - including 2 iron age hill forts - and has a view over 3 counties.
With a huge lake, classic temples and follies with many rare and exotic trees to discover, this could be a great place to wear out the kids whilst learning about some unusual and totally native plants and habitats.
St Micheal’s Mount - Cornwall: (Family: £21.75)
Take your kids to the most amazing place on the south coast - well actually, just off the south coast - this place is an island.
However, there is no boat involved - you have to walk across the sea floor at low tide to get to the island - and be off before you get wet feet!
There is a cobbled causeway (covered in crabs and seaweed) leading up to the gates of this property, and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore inside. A castle with narrow passages dominates the island and the house, monastery ruins and church can fill the rest of your day.
Have a look at all their sites on the website and see if something appeals to you and your family - you need a voucher for the free admission - so don’t forget to print it out before you go!
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