A glasshouse display of rows of orange, yellow and green autumn produce, including squash, gourds and pumpkins — Pumpkins, squash and gourds on display in the glasshouse at Tyntesfield | © National Trust Images/Peter Hall

Food

Find out why we champion sustainable, local and seasonal food, and try some National Trust recipes at home.

We love food and we've got some great recipes to prove it. Here are some favourites from our chefs and local experts.

A bowl of leek and potato soup, topped with a sage leaf and oil, with a chunk of brown bread and a spoon on the plate beside it

Recipe

Beningbrough leek and potato soup

This leek and potato soup from Beningbrough in Yorkshire puts a modern spin on a comforting classic. Try using a drizzle of rapeseed oil flavoured with fresh sage leaves for maximum flavour.

Recipe

Pumpkin, chard, feta and almond crumble

This satisfying, pumpkin and feta crumble recipe works equally well as a hearty side or a standalone dish.

Vegan 'creem' tea with jam and vegan clotted 'creem'

Recipe

Vegan 'creem' tea

These vegan scones and clotted 'creem' are quick to whip up for a tasty afternoon treat.

Freshly cooked cottage pie in a square dish

Recipe

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.

An arrangement of autumn fruits and vegetables on a rustic bench outside Low Sizergh Barn farm shop, Lake District

Article

History of seasonal food

Learn about the origins of fruit and vegetables grown in the UK, from ancient potatoes in Peru to the Victorian 'rhubarb triangle' in Yorkshire.

An ornate teapot set on a low table with a plate of scones behind

Article

Tea first arrived in Britain in the mid-17th century, when it was so expensive that only the incredibly wealthy could afford it. Find out the connections that the places in our care have to this simple brew.

Gardener picking fennel from the vegetable garden at Speke Hall, Liverpool

Article

Guide to seasonal food

Grow your own fruit and vegetables and help the environment by reducing food miles. Find out what to harvest, plant and buy each month with our handy guide to seasonal food.

The Community Allotments at Minnowburn, County Down, Northern Ireland

Article

Growing tips for allotments

Discover top tips on getting the most from your allotment or patch, and find out why growing your own fruit and vegetables is good for you in more ways than one.

A man sitting at a picnic bench with a takeaway cup and hills behind

Places to eat

Discover some of the best cafés, restaurants and tea-rooms located at National Trust places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

An elderly couple explore the walled garden at Felbrigg, with one of the visitors in a mobility vehicle. To the left are garden beds full of vegetables and on the right are garden borders full of flowers.

Article

Top kitchen gardens

Visit our pick of the best kitchen gardens around the UK. Growing fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, these busy kitchen gardens are rich in history, and some of their produce is still served in our cafés.