Gift card frequently asked questions

You can buy physical gift cards at most National Trust shops, on the online shop and in larger Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, John Lewis, Boots and WHSmith stores, plus Amazon.

Yes, these are available from the online shop. As they’re in digital format you can send these via email with a personal message from you. They're a great last-minute option.

The gift card makes a great reward due to the number of ways it can be spent giving it wide appeal to many and you’ll be supporting us to look after nature, beauty and history. For everyone, for ever. Email the team on giftcardteam@nationaltrust.org.uk to find out more.

You can redeem gift cards in National Trust cafés, shops (including the online shop). You can also use gift cards at our admission points to pay for entry to the places in our care or to buy a new membership. You can also use them for National Trust holidays when booked by phone and when you stay at a Historic House Hotel – Hartwell House, Bodysgallen Hall and Middlethorpe Hall.

National Trust holidays include stays in holiday cottages, bunkhouses and bothy stays, plus selected campsites.

We can’t take gift card payments over the phone for online shop purchases, but they can be used for online shop orders.

You can’t use gift cards online to pay for pre-bookable admission to the places in our care, or events run by us or external partners, such as the Christmas lights events.

When you’re ready to pay for items in your basket click ‘Proceed to Checkout’.

• Complete the ‘Delivery Details’ section

• In the ‘Review & Pay’ section tick ‘Use Gift Card’, which will reveal the spaces to enter the details of your card

• Enter the 16-digit gift card number, without any spaces or dashes

• Enter the 8-digit PIN (found under the silver scratch off panel, best removed gently with edge of a coin)

• Click ‘Apply’ and you’ll see the gift card amount added to the ‘Order Summary’ on the right

• Complete your purchase by continuing to pay any balance remaining.

You can only redeem at locations that operate the standard National Trust payment system. They can’t be used at properties that operate different payment systems. These are usually:

• Very small places in our care

• Places operated by others such as donor families, local councils or other organisations

• On-site outlets operated by other commercial organisations such as catering outlets.

The main exception properties are St Michael’s Mount, Porth y Swnt – Aberdaron shop, Tatton Park, Wakehurst Place, Buscot Park, West Green House and Ascott where you can’t purchase or redeem gift cards.

At Waddesdon you can only use gift cards at the Manor Shop & Manor Restaurant but not any of the areas located in the Stables, the Hatch, Coffee Bar, Five Arrows Hotel, shuttle bus, or for admission tickets or membership.

Cards cannot be used against stays in Hunter’s Inn or The Causeway Hotel.

You can’t use gift cards to purchase another gift card.

You can buy new memberships with a gift card at most visitor reception areas of places in our care.

Gift membership packs (for self-use) are available via the online shop and can also be purchased using gift cards.

You can only use gift cards to buy new memberships, not renewals.

We accept gift cards as part or full payment for holiday cottages, as well as bunkhouse and bothy stays when booked via the National Trust Holiday Contact Centre on 0344 800 2070. The booking agent will take the details of your gift card from you and the amount spent will be deducted from the gift card’s balance.

We’re unable to take gift card payments via the holidays online booking website.

Stays at our campsites can be part or fully paid for with a gift card by contacting campsite.bookings@nationaltrust.org.uk, open Monday to Friday: 10am-4pm. Unfortunately, gift cards cannot be used for payment for online bookings.

Visit www.showmybalance.com to check the balance and expiry date of your gift card directly online. Simply enter the card number and the card’s PIN/Online Access code found under the scratch-off panel or next to the gift card number on digital gift cards.

If the value of the item you’d like to buy is greater than the balance on the gift card then you can pay the difference by another means – cash, credit or debit card. You can also use more than one gift card.

You won’t receive change in cash after a purchase with a gift card. Instead, the remaining balance will be updated after each purchase and will be shown on your receipt. The new balance can be used for future purchases.

If you return an item that you bought using a gift card, the refund will be credited to your gift card or to a new card if you no longer have it.

There’s no cash alternative to a gift card – they can’t be exchanged for cash.

Gift cards will either expire 24 months after the date of issue or 24 months from the last transaction (which ever comes later). A transaction is a sale, or a top up, which is adding money to your card balance and can only be done at a National Trust location.

You can check your expiry date by visiting www.showmybalance.com and simply entering the 16-digit card number and the card’s PIN/Online Access code found under the scratch-off panel.

Any remaining balance is cancelled on expiry.

Please treat a gift card as if it were cash. We’re unable to refund or replace lost, stolen or damaged cards.

The following terms and conditions apply to our gift cards:

1. Gift cards can be redeemed at most National Trust properties (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), in our shops (including our online shop), cafés, and at admission points for entry or a new membership. They can also be used for National Trust holiday bookings by telephone and when staying at a Historic House Hotel.

2. Gift cards cannot be used for other telephone or online purchases, such as pre-bookable admission or events at National Trust places.

3. Gift cards are not valid against the purchase of more gift cards. Our gift cards cannot be accepted at certain on-site outlets not operated by the National Trust.

4. If you do not spend the entire amount on the gift card the remaining balance will be updated after each purchase and shown on your printed receipt. The balance can be used against future purchases.

5. Gift cards can be used as part payment for a transaction with the balance being paid by another accepted method.

6. If any product purchased with a gift card is subsequently exchanged for a product of lower price or a refund, any money owing will be issued as a gift card.

7. Gift cards cannot be exchanged for cash.

8. The gift card is not a cheque guarantee, credit, debit or charge card. The National Trust cannot be held liable for lost or stolen cards – please protect them as you would cash.

9. Your gift card will either expire 24 months after the date of issue or 24 months from the last transaction (which ever comes later). A transaction is a sale or a top up. Any remaining balance is cancelled on expiry. We reserve the right to amend terms and conditions of our gift cards at any time and take appropriate action, including cancellation of a card, if necessary, in return for an appropriate refund.

10. Nothing in these terms affect your rights at law (for instance, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015). Please see the Citizens Advice website at citizensadvice.org.uk for more details.

Please note: Gift cards can only be redeemed at locations that operate the standard National Trust payment system. They cannot be used at properties that operate different payment systems.