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View from the moat of the east front at Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire
View from the moat of the east front at Tattershall Castle | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

History

Find out more about people from the past, discover remarkable art and collections and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens. 

Seasonal highlights

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

Warding off evil with witch marks 

Learn about the mysterious markings our ancestors carved into doorways, fireplaces and joists to ward off evil and protect their homes from witches and demons.

The superstitious mark in one of the ceiling timbers in the Great Parlour at Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

Great women artists 

Throughout history, women artists have had to overcome many obstacles in order to pursue careers in the fine arts. Discover great women artists and their artworks through the collections we care for.

An oil painting showing a female painter next to a canvas of a painting of herself

Who were the Classical heroes? 

Read about the heroes of classical mythology and find out how they feature in the collections at National Trust places.

The lead statue of Hercules made by Andries Carpentiere in the workshop of John van Nost, in the garden in July at Powis Castle, Powys, Wales.

Art and collections

Delve into one of the world's greatest collections of art and historical objects. From paintings to sculptures, there’s something for every art lover to discover.

More art and collections

The stories behind the works of Beatrix Potter 

Explore the stories behind the illustrations, sketches and letters of this legendary author, preserved by the National Trust at her former home in the Lake District.

A notepad with a watercolour painting by Beatrix Potter being held up to the camera

The art of illusion in historic houses 

Learn about some of the misleading objects, paintings and architectural features in the historic houses we look after, and discover the truth behind these optical illusions.

A detailed trompe l'oeil painting of statues of the four Doctors of the Church on the north wall of the Chapel at Wimpole Hall

See great masterpieces in National Trust collections 

Masterpieces by Velázquez, Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch and El Greco can be seen in the collections at the properties in our care across the UK.

A painting of a young man casually lying on the ground in a green woodland glade. He wears ornate blue and white Elizabethan-style trousers and bodice and he has a dark brown beard and moustache. Behind him, in another woodland glade, there are two horses and another figure.

Country house communication through the ages 

Learn how innovations in country house communication technology, from sprung bells to early telephones, transformed the ways servants could be called upon.

Servants bells, above the door to the study, for Lord Grey's room and dressing rooms at Dunham Massey

People

Read the stories of people from history and learn about their connections to the historic places in our care, from Beatrix Potter to the Beatles.

More historical people

How has the South Downs landscape influenced musicians? 

Discover the musicians throughout history who have been inspired by the natural landscape and human stories in the places we care for in Sussex and the South Downs.

September at Devil's Dyke, South Downs, West Sussex

What was the Bloomsbury group? 

Discover the artists and writers at the heart of the Bloomsbury group, a group of influential intellects brought together by their modern views and artistic interests.

The Sitting Room at Monk's House with dark wooden beams, mint green walls and an arrangement of furniture including a writing desk, dining table and chairs, standing lamp and paintings on the walls.

Beatrix Potter 

Discover how Beatrix Potter’s Victorian upbringing and fascination with animals culminated in a successful career as an author and illustrator and a passion for conservation.

Visitors looking at a copy of Two Bad Mice at Hill Top, near Sawrey, Lake District

Architecture

Read up on architecture with in-depth articles about architectural styles, interior design through history and architectural structures.

More architecture

What is Baroque? 

Explore the Baroque cultural movement and discover how its opulent, theatrical style swept across Europe in the 17th century, influencing art, architecture and music.

The North Front of Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland

What is a Hermitage? 

A hermitage is both a place where religious men lived to escape the temptations of the world and a retreat for 18th century aristocrats to take rest on their walks. See these architectural features across Britain.

A little thatched building sits in a wooded glade with warm evening light on the foreground grass

Top tips for maintaining your own ‘manor’ 

Find out from our team of building surveyors how you can keep your own ‘stately home’ maintained to a National Trust standard this year.

Gardener cleaning the roof from a cherrypicker at Knightshayes, Devon

Gardens and landscapes

Discover the history of the natural landscapes around you. From glasshouses to sunken lanes, understand more about how these gardens and green spaces were formed.

More gardens and landscapes

A potted history of houseplants 

Wander through our collections and gardens to learn the high-society origins of the ferns, orchids and pelargoniums in your home.

Interior of a greenhouse with pelargoniums, succulents and other plants potted on a bench, and other larger houseplants on the floor

What is a deer park? 

Status symbol, hunting ground and a source of building materials. Discover the important roles deer parks played in aristocratic and royal society.

Charlecote Park and House in Winter with Deer and Does

What was the open space movement? 

Open space campaigners sought to preserve countryside for recreation. Discover the history of the movement and how it inspired our work.

Castlerigg Stone Circle in winter, Borrowdale, Cumbria. Surrounded by the fells of Skiddaw and Blencathra to its north and Castlerigg Fell, High Rigg and Clough Head to its south, this ring of 38 stones, set within a ring of mountains, has stood at Castlerigg for about 4,500 years since it was created by Neolithic farming communities.
A child bending down to inspect plants with a magnifying glass at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

Start your journey of discovery

Delve into history, get tips from our experts, learn a new skill and go behind the scenes of your favourite places.

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