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Working holidays

Wake up in a beautiful location, spend the day helping out with conservation activities to keep places special, and make great new friends on one of our working holidays.

The team on a coastal conservation working holiday, North Cornwall

Working Holidays have been part of the National Trust for over 50 years. In that time participants have helped us to look after some of the UK's most important places. 

The range of locations and experiences are forever evolving, allowing participants to help care for some of the finest coast, countryside, historic houses and gardens in Britain.

It's not just about working in some amazing places. It's also an opportunity to gain new skills and enjoy unique experiences, work alongside, and learn from, the experts, and make lifelong friends. 

Volunteer taking photographs on a National Trust Working Holiday, during a guided walk around the landscape of Bosigran Farm, Cornwall

Types of holidays 

From archaeology to helping out behind the scenes at one of our houses, cleaning beaches to building walls, you can learn all sorts of new skills while helping keep places special.

Working holidays at 50: Bob shifts barrow loads of gravel

Working holidays 2018 (PDF) 

Download our information pack on the working holidays taking place in 2018.

Staff and volunteers at Basildon Park, Berkshire

Frequently asked questions 

Find out all the essential information you'll need to know about your National Trust working holiday

Last minute availability 

Whether you're feeling spontaneous or you just haven't had time to plan, now's your chance to book an unexpected getaway.

Find a last-minute holiday
National Trust working holiday volunteers on a beach holdiay Play Video
Video

A working holiday on the Devon Coast

Find out what a group of participants got up to when they went on a working holiday on the Devon Coast.

Celebrating 50 years of working holidays
Fort Victor-Emmanuel, a historic alpine fort in France.

Overseas working holidays 2018 

Spend some time in the sunshine, while knowing that you're helping conservation causes. We've teamed up with other organisations to provide a selection of overseas working holidays.

Volunteers on a Working Holiday at Poltesco, The Lizard, Cornwall, resting whilst looking over the bay

150 holidays and counting 

Working holidays leader, Bob Mclaurin did his first working holiday in 1993. 24 years later and he's now taken part in over 150 holidays.

Participant on a National Trust working holiday

The holiday that changed my life 

What makes a working holiday so special? For Sharon Groves, it was the chance to meet new people and make connections to last a lifetime.

Volunteers on a National Trust Working Holiday, at Bosigran Farm, Cornwall.

Working Holidays leaders 

Our Working Holidays are run by volunteer leaders, who work with Trust staff to ensure you have the best possible experiences. If you're interested in becoming a leader, find out more about the role.

More about becoming a leader
Child learning woodland skills from ranger on Clumber Park woodland holiday

Working holidays brochure 

You can find out more about our working holidays by requesting a copy of our brochure.

Order your 2018 brochure

Book a working holiday

To find out more about our working holidays, call the Holidays Team on 0344 800 3099.