Where will you visit next?
Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.
Special exhibitions
The special exhibitions at the places in our care showcase contemporary artwork and share items from the collections we look after. Explore history, celebrate connections with people, and get closer to nature, beauty and history when you visit.
Exhibitions in London and the South East
Visions Unreel at Basildon Park, Berkshire
Basildon Park is one the National Trust's most popular filming locations. This exhibition of artefacts celebrating the many productions that have been shot at the house and in the grounds over more than 20 years. Its film and TV credits include Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton, The Gentlemen and The Crown.
Permanent
The Jurors at Runnymede, Surrey
Take a seat in this ancient landscape, where the Magna Carta was signed more than 800 years ago. Twelve bronze chairs are intricately worked, with images representing key moments in the struggle for freedom around the world, as well as flowers, keys and other significant symbols. Hew Locke’s jurors’ chairs invite you to reflect on the histories and issues on display and to debate the meaning of justice.
Permanent
Writ in Water at Runnymede, Surrey
At Runnymede more than 800 years ago, the feudal barons forced King John to seal the Magna Carta. Now, Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger, in collaboration with architectural practice Studio Octopi, has created a tranquil space that gives visitors the chance to consider the ongoing significance and influences of this historic agreement. This work was commissioned in association with independent arts charity Situations.
Permanent
Exhibitions in the Midlands
Pages from Nature at Croome, Worcestershire
Two hundred years ago, Croome's botanic gardener, William Dean, documented more than 6,000 plant varieties from the gardens in his book, Hortus Croomensis. Learn more about the book, the people who influenced the gardens at the time and how their legacy can be seen at Croome today.
Open until 1 March 2026
Woven Worlds at Hardwick, Derbyshire
Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, built Hardwick Hall to emphasise her social position. It was filled with treasures to display her wealth and portray her as the strong woman she'd become. You can still see Bess's 16th-century textile collection at Hardwick today, including the Gideon Tapestries – the largest set to survive in Britain.
Exhibition ongoing
Exhibitions in the North
Wordsworth the Influencer at Allan Bank, Cumbria
Uncover Wordsworth’s role as a conservation pioneer and find out how the poet helped protect the Lake District. You can take a look at rare 19th-century photos, original illustrations, and a first edition of his travel book, 'Guide to the Lakes,' which is on display.
Exhibition ongoing – see website for opening times
Whispers of the Wilderness at Beningbrough, Yorkshire
Step into a world where art and nature intertwine in a celebration of Beningbrough’s Wilderness Garden. Artist, Laura Ellen Bacon brings the garden's essence indoors with large-scale willow sculptures. Inspired by nature, they capture the movement and energy of the wild. Look out for shapes creating movement, like grass swaying in the wind, or explore a huge knotted thicket inviting you to step into its curves and tangles.
Exhibition ongoing – open until 12 April 2026
Exhibitions in Northern Ireland
Artificial Sunshine at The Argory, County Armagh
This neon-light installation, designed by Northern Irish artist Kevin Killen, places a bespoke contemporary display inside a historic house. Inspired by the glow of the acetylene gas flames that at one time lit The Argory, Artificial Sunshine gives a modern take on this once-popular form of lighting.
Permanent
Exhibitions in the South West
The World of William Blathwayt at Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire
Featuring short videos and interactive displays of items from Dyrham Park's collections, this exhibition takes visitors back to the 1690s when leading civil servant William Blathwayt set about rebuilding the estate. It introduces the transforming local, national and global climate of the period and links historic events and contemporary figures that shaped Blathwayt's world and home.
Exhibition ongoing
Unseen Colour by Werner Bischof: Photography Exhbition at Lacock, Wiltshire
Known for his black and white photojournalism of the post-war world, Bishof used a Devin Tricolor camera for fashion, still life and documentary work. After his death, his son Marco discovered unseen negatives and worked with a scanning specialist to recreate the lost prints. This exhibition presents a treasure trove of previously unknown colour images from the late 1930s and early 1940s which are on display at the Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock.
31 May 2025–31 May 2026
Meet Rembrandt: a slow-looking experience at Kingston Lacy, Dorset
What might you discover by spending some time with a great work of art? Take your time to examine one of the National Trust’s greatest treasures: a self-portrait by Dutch master, Rembrandt. Also on display will be the recently-conserved 'Portrait of a Man, possibly King Uzziah’. This is a copy of a Rembrandt painting (now at Chatsworth), and was bought by Sir Ralph Bankes, owner of Kingston Lacy, in 1659 during Rembrandt’s lifetime.
On display from 12 September until 16 November 2025, then from 12 January until 22 March 2026
Exhibitions in Wales
A State Bed restored at Erddig, Wales
Visit the Print Room to see a display of the original 18th century bed hangings from Erddig's State Bedroom, now back after an eight-year restoration. These delicate white silk textiles, embroidered with Chinese figures, pagodas, birds and flowers, were saved by Louisa Yorke after the First World War. Her journal forms part of the display alongside fragments of material, including patches of flowers and butterflies, found in her workbook.
Exhibition ongoing – see website for opening times
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What's on
We've got plenty of events and activities on at the places in our care. From exhibitions and guided walks to outdoor theatre events, discover what's on near you.
Connecting people and places through creativity
Creativity and art can enhance our everyday lives and bring us closer to beauty, nature, history and each other. Find out how we're connecting people and places through art, and learn about past, present and upcoming projects.
Online exhibitions
Delve into our online exhibitions, where you can see artworks and explore the history of the places and collections in our care from the comfort of your own home.
Art and collections
The art and heritage collections we care for rival the world’s greatest museums. Learn more about the collection of paintings, decorative art, costume, books, household and other objects at historic places.
