The closest you'll get to true wilderness in Essex
More than 135 gardens and parks are now open through advance booking, as well as hundreds of coast and countryside places. A number of houses are also open in England and Northern Ireland. Read this article to find out what's open and what to expect from your visit.
A remote island in the Blackwater Estuary and cut off at high tide, visiting Northey's a unique pleasure.
Northey was to become the oldest recorded battlefield in Britain when Viking raiders used the island as a base during the Battle of Maldon in AD991, an encounter also mentioned in England's earliest known poem.
Today the island's a little more tranquil, having arranged access, crossing the causeway at low tide is still an exhilarating experience. A peaceful haven for wildlife, a bird watchers paradise and an excellent spot for twitching. In winter our pastureland becomes home to 5,000 Brent geese, along with redshank and plover.
An island at the heart of the new Marine Conservation Zone designation, we're also a pioneering site for managing coastal change in East Anglia.
Please note: To help us care for Northey, access is by arrangement only; please email northeyisland@nationaltrust.org.uk to arrange a visit. Northey House and outbuildings are let on a private lease and are not open to visitors.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Please email northeyisland@nationaltrust.org.uk to arrange your visit in advance, so we can advise the best times to avoid getting caught by the tide and being stuck on the island for longer than you had planned.
