Volunteer at Knole

Staff and volunteer showing plates to visitors at Knole, Kent — Volunteers with visitors at Knole | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

There is more to volunteering at Knole than meets the eye, and from welcoming visitors to the property to engaging with visitors in the parkland, there's something for everyone. Discover how to volunteer at Knole and find out what you can gain from the experience.

Enjoy a varied experience at Knole

As well as roles in the showrooms and parkland, there are opportunities for volunteering in visitor welcome in the courtyards and the private gardens, events and school visits. You could find yourself taking part in something a little bit different either on a flexible or regular basis.
Recent examples include:

Assisting the Collections & House team with their conservation clean
Supporting the Facilities team with opening and closing the site to visitors and undertaking associated duties
Promoting membership and events in the Visitor Centre

To make sure you feel welcome and confident in your role, we provide a full induction programme and training. Volunteers enjoy a varied programme of social activities, including outings, walks, social get-togethers, and lectures.

Watch this video to find out more about volunteering at Knole, the roles available and the benefits it can offer: Volunteering at Knole.

Join us as a room guide

Are you warm and friendly and do you enjoy sharing stories and talking to people? Then the showrooms at Knole could be the place for you. Knole is a house of such age and complexity that visitors often appreciate more information to help them understand what they are seeing. Our House Experience team are an essential part of the overall visit and are always on hand to engage visitors with a welcoming smile.

You don't have to know Knole's history to become a House Experience volunteer, as training is given on how best to share its fascinating stories and how to tap into our visitors’ varied interests.

Join the outdoor team

Are you happier outdoors? Would you love to engage with the public about the flora, fauna and the deer herd at Knole? Then joining our outdoor team could be for you.

Kent’s last medieval deer park, with its meandering paths and bustling wildlife, is managed alongside the Sackville family’s Knole Estate. Our Outdoor Visitor Experience team is formed of Deer Rangers and Park Walkers. They are a vital part of engaging with our visitors, highlighting the special seasonal and historical features within the parkland, such as its flora and fauna and the wild deer herd that inhabit this unique SSSI site.

Why join us?

There are lots of reasons to join us; making the move to volunteer could be the best decision you ever make.

Become part of a friendly and dedicated team
Meet people from all walks of life and forge new friendships
Utilise your existing skills and learn new ones
Strengthen your CV and help to develop your career
Enjoy the great outdoors
Learn about the history of this special place.

An interior photograph of the Cartoon Gallery at Knole in Kent with two white alabaster statues sitting on either side of a dark wood table topped with two porcelain blue glazed vases — The Cartoon Gallery at Knole in Kent | © National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel

Volunteer coffee mornings

We run regular coffee mornings throughout the year, where you can talk to current volunteers and find out about the roles that are available. Book your place here:

Volunteer coffee mornings