Immerse yourself in history
Meet people from the centuries gone by, learn about the unique artworks in our care and understand more about historic traditions.
Art and collections
Explore one of the world’s largest art and heritage collections. With more than one million objects at over 200 historic places, there's many stories to discover.
Stories from the collections
Wassailing: ritual and revelry
Wassailing is a Twelfth Night tradition with pagan roots, which aims to ward off bad spirits and ensure a good harvest the following season. Learn more about the tradition and its celebrations, which include music, song and dance.
Autumn scenes and stories in our collections
With its bright colours, natural spectacles and abundant harvests, autumn has inspired artists for generations. From paintings and tapestries to ceramics, discover autumn through the collections in our care.
Mysterious objects in our collections
There are many intriguing objects with connections to magic, mystery or death at the places in our care. From a witch's cauldron to death masks and a boat made of bones, discover some of the most mysterious objects in our collections.
Paintings in the collections
Where to see great masterpieces in our care
Works from Velázquez and Rembrandt are among the treasure trove of paintings from Europe that hang at the places we look after. Find out where to see them.
Spectacular skies: dawns and dusks in the collections we care for
Explore the stories behind the illustrations, sketches and letters of this legendary author, preserved at her former home in the Lake District.
Highlights from 100 paintings in the collections we care for
The 13,000 oil paintings in our care are nearly all displayed in the houses of their historic owners. Learn about the stories behind a selection of the artworks and their owners.
More about the collections
About the collections in our care
See the breadth of our collection of works of art, furniture and more: we care for around a million objects at over 200 historic places, there’s a surprise discovery around every corner.
Our latest collection acquisitions
Discover some of our most recent acquisitions and the stories behind them, from paintings and objects kindly donated to us, to others purchased at nail-biting auctions.
Loaning items to exhibitions
Explore just some of the paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and furniture that we lend to museums and galleries around the world, so they can be enjoyed by millions of people.
Cultural Heritage Publishing
We publish two illustrated research journals every year, containing expert insights into our places and collections, curatorial content, and the latest conservation news.
How to donate an object
Our collection continues to grow thanks to generous donors and supporters, helping us share new stories and perspectives on our historic places. Find out more about donating an object, including examples of what we're currently looking to collect.
Caring for your own collection
Expert tips for tackling insect pests that damage clothes, paper and furniture
A National Trust conservator explains how to identify insect pests like clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverfish and prevent the damage they can do in your home.
How to care for your precious objects
National Trust conservationists know a thing or two about protecting valuable items. Get some top tips to protect your precious objects.
