Some of our places we care for in the South East of England will be opening with guided tours, so you’ll need to pre-book before your visit. These tours will be led by expert volunteers and will show the places in a new light. You may also need to book in advance at some other larger places, where visitor numbers need to be carefully managed for practical reasons.
Oxfordshire is brimming with opportunities to enjoy some simple summer fun. This summer holiday, head to our places for skimming stones, classic garden games, butterfly tracking through wildflower meadows and all the leap, bounce and splash you can handle. It's going to be a barefoot kind of summer at our places and we're looking forward to seeing you.
Gardens are blazing with colour around Oxfordshire. This year there's pastel planting at Waddesdon and splashy peonies and damask roses to see in the walled gardens of Greys Court, The sweet peas are fragrant and the blue delphiniums are striking in the herbaceous borders at Basildon Park. And over at Chastleton the kitchen garden has a lovely cottage feel alongside the formal topiary in the Best Garden.
Oxfordshire is perfect for country walking. There are wildflower meadows on the Buscot and Coleshill estate along the river in west Oxfordshire. White Horse Hill offers incredible views over six counties and there are rolling hills for gentle walks on the Greys Court estate in Oxfordshire.
It doesn't take much to encourage a British person to think about a picnic. A glimpse of sunshine, a sniff of scotch egg or finding a blanket in the back of a car. Here are some great picnic spots near you.
From Greys Court in the Chilterns to the east to Buscot and Coleshill estates in the Vale of the White Horse to the west, there is plenty of beautiful countryside to explore in Oxfordshire.
Want to get more out of your summer blooms? Our gardening experts are sharing their tips on how to garden during the warmest season. This month we've got lots of advice on roses and composting.
Fill your summer with delicious food. We've got some great recipes for you to enjoy and share with loved ones. Whether you're looking for easy picnic snacks, recipes for a summer feast or family-favourite bakes, discover some tasty recipes.
Delve into our garden shed of fun activities for the kids throughout the seasons. Explore things to do, games to play and recipes to bake. There's lots to be done outdoors in nature or indoors on a rainy day
Visitors in the landscape gardens at Stowe, BuckinghamshireNational Trust Images / John Millar
There are loads of friendly National Trust supporter groups in the Thames Valley. They help support our places like Stowe, Hughenden and Greys Court by volunteering and fundraising. They also get together for fun days out, holidays and lectures.
