The National Trust cares for more than 20,000 buildings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and holds protective covenants over many more.

Buildings in vernacular styles and local materials, set in rural landscapes, are well represented. There are both modest dwellings and great houses with associated landscape parks, gardens and temples. Town and industrial buildings are also held.

Historic houses with collections and fine interiors are open to visitors under controlled conservation conditions to ensure their permanent preservation. There are also many inhabited villages and working farms, where preserving the appearance and historic fabric of buildings is equally important.

In the following sections the main architectural types of building held by the Trust are introduced.