Visitor watching wildlife at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Discover and learn

Would you like to dig a bit deeper into history, find gardening tips or even make your own World Heritage Site? Discover more about the places we care for and pick up some new skills.

Learn about people and places from the past and explore remarkable works of art, architecture and gardens.

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Country house communication through the ages

Learn how innovations in country house communication technology, from sprung bells to early telephones, transformed the ways servants could be called upon.

Servants bells, above the door to the study, for Lord Grey's room and dressing rooms at Dunham Massey

Disability histories at the places in our care

Many of the places and collections we care for tell the stories of disabled people throughout history. Discover more about the people behind these connections.

Portrait of Cecilia Strickland by George Romney. She is a young woman from 18th century dressed in a pink and white gown.

Unearthing Britain's history: archaeology through the eras

Discover the different eras of British history through the archaeological artefacts and sites in our care. From stone circles in the Prehistoric Era to military remains of the 20th century, learn more about our ancestors and Britain's past.

Aerial view of earthworks in the landscape at Whitesheet Hill, Wiltshire

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.

Interior of a greenhouse with pelargoniums, succulents and other plants potted on a bench, and other larger houseplants on the floor

Get closer to nature with our guides on identifying fauna, spotting wildlife in their natural habitats, enjoying the outdoors responsibly, and much more.

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Ancient and notable trees

Ancient trees are links to our past, they're species-rich habitats that support countless other organisms. Discover what makes a tree ancient and how to recognise them.

A wide shot of a few cedar of Lebanon trees bordering the lawn at Upton House, Warwickshire

Facts about fungi

Fungi play a vital role in the natural world and decomposition process, helping break down organic woodland material. Discover everything you need to know about these important organisms.

Fungi growing on the woodland floor next to a fallen tree trunk

Red squirrel spotting tips

Find out how to spot red squirrels, the best times to see them and how to tell them apart from grey squirrels.

Red squirrel sitting on a mossy rock eating a nut

Common fossils to find at the coast

Do you know your ammonites from your devil’s toenails? Learn how to identify some of the fossils commonly found around the UK coast and where you might see them.

Close view of fossils at the disused Loftus Alum Works, North Yorkshire

Try some of our recipes at home and find out why we champion sustainable, local and seasonal food.

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Recipes

Browse a selection of recipe ideas, from cream-tea classics and family-friendly treats to meat-free dishes and seasonal delights.

A National Trust tasty vegan one-pot recipe, packed with vegetables and chickpeas.

Cottage pie

Treat the family this winter to this comforting classic cottage pie. Layered with beef mince and fluffy, buttery mash, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Bread pudding

Tuck into this comforting recipe for delicious bread pudding using up leftover bread, for a moreish treat after dinner or with a cuppa in the evening.

Guide to seasonal food

Discover which vegetables and fruit to harvest, plant and buy each month with our handy guide. Growing your own fruit and vegetables reduces food miles, which helps the environment.

Two gardeners crouched down to work on the vegetable patches in the Walled Garden at Llanerchaeron, Wales

Discover top tips from our expert gardeners and learn how to make the most of your garden, plot or window box.

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Gardening tips for winter

Keep your garden or green spaces thriving with our winter gardening tips. There are plenty of jobs to keep you busy, from protecting your plants and wildlife to planning ahead for warmer days.

A gardener at work on the Laburnum Arch in January at Bodnant Garden, Conwy

How to grow a balcony garden

Learn how the right plants can transform your balcony into a vibrant green space, which will also help to support wildlife and improve wellbeing.

Contestant balcony as part of our Sky Gardening Challenge 2024, in Manchester

Guide to peat-free gardening

We've committed to going peat free as an organisation, and all the plants we grow, buy and sell are potted in peat-free compost. Discover top tips for peat-free gardening in your own green space.

Green cuttings sprouting in natural plastic-free pots and peat-free compost

Growing tips for allotments

Find out how to get the most from your allotment or patch, and learn why growing your own fruit and vegetables is good for you in more ways than one.

The Community Allotments at Minnowburn, County Down

Follow our step-by-step craft guides and create something new, from eco-friendly gifts to projects that help the wildlife on your doorstep.

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How to make a twig heart

Find out how to make a heart from twigs in your garden or local park to give as an eco-friendly gift or to decorate your own home.

How to make a leaf print tote bag

Create your own nature-inspired tote bag using leaves gathered from your local park or garden with this guide. Simply hammer leaves on to cotton fabric and they'll release their natural pigments for a simple and effective design.

Looking down onto a table where someone is hammering leaves onto a cotton tote bag to create a pattern.

Build your own World Heritage Site

Challenge yourself to build a World Heritage Site or ancient place with whatever you have at home and create your own piece of history.

Making bug houses in the garden at Washington Old Hall, Tyne & Wear

Make a cosy draught excluder

Follow our easy guide to sewing a simple draught excluder that will keep the heat in this winter. Make one for your own home or gift one to friends and family.

Draught excluder made with fabric printed with pictures of dogs

Immerse yourself in nature, beauty and history from the comfort of your own home with virtual exhibitions, behind-the-scenes videos or our podcasts.

More virtual visits

Podcasts

Tune into award-winning stories of history, nature and adventure linked to the places in our care with our podcasts.

A view down a hill with a woodland and the sea in the background. Three people are walking up the hill recording a podcast.

Online exhibitions

Delve into our online exhibitions, where you can explore artworks and discover the history of the places and collections we look after from your seat.

The bowl is painted showing male figures in Manchu dress mounted on horses carrying bows and arrows, one appears to hold a matchlock, perhaps with a bayonet, they are chasing deer and a leopard,

Explore Holnicote Estate

Take an interactive 360° virtual tour of the diverse landscapes and habitats on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset. Roam around beaver enclosures, ancient oak woodland and saltmarshes, and learn how conservation is shaping the future of this estate.

Wildflower meadow at Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Step into the spotlight and explore the real-life locations behind your favourite films and TV shows, from grand estates in period dramas to magical landscapes in fantasy worlds.

More film and TV