The National Trust has reached a record 6.2 million members in 2025, cementing its position as the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom. The milestone comes at a time of intense controversy, with the heritage charity embroiled in culture war battles over colonial history, LGBTQ+ programming, and environmental policies. Yet despite fierce criticism from conservative politicians and media, membership continues to grow, visits are at record levels, and the Trust's financial position is the strongest in its 130-year history.
The success reveals a paradox: while the National Trust dominates headlines for its supposed "wokeness," the British public is voting with its feet—and its wallets—to support an organisation that combines heritage conservation with progressive social values. For millions of members, the Trust offers something increasingly rare in modern Britain: beautiful spaces, historical depth, and a sense of continuity in a rapidly changing world.
The Numbers: A Membership Boom
The National Trust's membership has grown steadily over the past decade, but the post-pandemic period has seen particularly strong growth:
- 2015: 4.2 million members
- 2019: 5.6 million members (pre-pandemic peak)
- 2020: 5.3 million members (pandemic dip)
- 2023: 5.9 million members (recovery)
- 2025: 6.2 million members (new record)
This represents a 48% increase since 2015 and a 5% increase in the past two years alone. The Trust is now larger than all UK political parties combined, and its membership exceeds the population of Scotland.
Annual visits to National Trust properties reached 28.3 million in 2024, recovering to pre-pandemic levels. The most visited properties in 2024 were:
- Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal (Yorkshire): 420,000 visits
- Stourhead (Wiltshire): 380,000 visits
- Clumber Park (Nottinghamshire): 350,000 visits
- Attingham Park (Shropshire): 310,000 visits
- Waddesdon Manor (Buckinghamshire): 290,000 visits
The Trust's financial position is strong. In 2023-24, it generated £682 million in income, including:
- £350 million from membership subscriptions
- £180 million from property admissions and commercial activities (shops, cafes, holiday cottages)
- £95 million from donations and legacies
- £57 million from investments and grants
The Trust manages a property portfolio valued at over £1.2 billion, including 500+ historic houses, 780 miles of coastline, and 250,000 hectares of countryside. It employs 14,000 staff and relies on 53,000 volunteers.
The Culture War Controversies
The National Trust's membership growth is all the more remarkable given the sustained attacks it has faced from conservative politicians, media, and campaign groups. The controversies fall into three main categories:
1. Colonial History and Slavery
In September 2020, the National Trust published a report titled "Interim Report on the Connections between Colonialism and Properties now in the Care of the National Trust, Including Links with Historic Slavery." The report examined 93 properties with connections to colonialism, including profits from slavery, colonial administration, and the compensation paid to slave owners after abolition.
The report was intended as a historical resource, providing context for visitors and acknowledging uncomfortable aspects of the Trust's properties. But it triggered a furious backlash. Conservative politicians accused the Trust of "rewriting history" and "denigrating Britain's heritage." The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail ran front-page stories condemning the report as "woke" and "anti-British."
Several high-profile figures, including historian David Starkey and former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, cancelled their memberships in protest. A campaign group called Restore Trust was formed to "save the National Trust from woke activists" and fielded candidates for the Trust's council elections.
But the backlash had little impact on membership. Polling by YouGov found that 68% of National Trust members supported the colonial history report, and only 12% opposed it. Membership continued to grow, and the Trust stood by its work, stating that "understanding the full history of our properties is essential to our mission."
2. LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Pride Events
The National Trust has actively promoted LGBTQ+ inclusion, hosting Pride events at properties, highlighting LGBTQ+ historical figures, and supporting staff and volunteer networks. In 2021, the Trust launched "Prejudice and Pride", a programme exploring LGBTQ+ histories at its properties, including the lives of queer artists, writers, and aristocrats who lived in Trust houses.
This too generated controversy. Conservative critics accused the Trust of "politicising" heritage and "imposing" modern values on historical properties. The Telegraph published articles claiming the Trust was "alienating" traditional members with "woke" programming.
Again, the evidence suggests otherwise. Polling shows that 71% of members support LGBTQ+ inclusion events, and Pride events at properties like Fenton House and Osterley Park have been well-attended and positively received. The Trust argues that highlighting LGBTQ+ history is not political—it is historical accuracy, acknowledging the lives of people who were often erased from official records.
3. Rewilding and Environmental Policies
The National Trust has committed to ambitious environmental targets, including:
- Net zero carbon emissions by 2030
- Restoring 25,000 hectares of wildlife habitat by 2025
- Planting 20 million trees by 2030
- Transitioning to renewable energy across all properties
These policies have included controversial "rewilding" projects, where intensive farming is scaled back to allow natural habitats to recover. At some properties, this has meant reducing livestock grazing, allowing scrubland to regenerate, and reintroducing native species.
Farmers and rural campaigners have criticised these policies, arguing that they threaten traditional farming and rural livelihoods. The Countryside Alliance accused the Trust of "abandoning" farmers and "turning productive land into wilderness."
But environmental policies are popular with members. A 2024 survey found that 79% of members support the Trust's nature recovery work, and 68% want the Trust to do more on climate change. The Trust argues that rewilding is essential to reversing biodiversity loss and that its properties must adapt to the climate crisis.
Why Is Membership Growing?
Given the controversies, why is National Trust membership at record levels? Several factors explain the growth:
1. Value for Money
At £84 per year for an individual or £144 for a family, National Trust membership offers exceptional value. A single adult admission to a National Trust property costs £10-15, so membership pays for itself after 5-6 visits. For families who visit regularly, the savings are even greater.
In a cost-of-living crisis, the Trust offers affordable days out, free parking, and access to green spaces—luxuries that are increasingly expensive elsewhere.
2. Quality and Variety
The National Trust manages an extraordinary range of properties, from grand stately homes like Chatsworth and Castle Howard to wild coastlines, ancient woodlands, and industrial heritage sites. There is something for everyone, whether you are interested in history, gardens, nature, or simply a pleasant walk.
The quality of conservation and presentation is consistently high. Properties are well-maintained, staff and volunteers are knowledgeable, and the Trust invests heavily in interpretation, events, and family-friendly activities.
3. Escapism and Wellbeing
In turbulent times—Brexit, pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, political chaos—the National Trust offers escapism. Its properties are spaces of beauty, calm, and continuity, where visitors can disconnect from the noise of modern life.
Research shows that spending time in nature and historic environments has significant mental health benefits, reducing stress and improving wellbeing. The Trust's properties provide this in abundance.
4. Trust in the Brand
The National Trust is one of the most trusted brands in the UK. It is seen as competent, non-partisan, and genuinely committed to conservation. Even people who disagree with specific policies generally trust the Trust to manage heritage responsibly.
This trust has been earned over 130 years of careful stewardship. The Trust has saved hundreds of historic buildings from demolition, protected coastlines from development, and preserved landscapes that would otherwise have been lost.
5. The Controversies Are Overblown
The culture war controversies generate headlines, but they do not reflect the views of most members or the general public. Polling consistently shows that members support the Trust's work on colonial history, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and environmental policies.
The critics are a vocal minority, amplified by sympathetic media. For most members, the controversies are irrelevant. They join the Trust to visit beautiful places, not to fight culture wars.
The Trust's Strategy: Heritage and Inclusion
The National Trust's leadership has been clear that it will not be deflected by culture war attacks. Director-General Hilary McGrady has stated that the Trust's mission is to preserve heritage "for everyone, for ever," and that this requires engaging with difficult histories and making properties accessible to diverse audiences.
The Trust's 10-year strategy, launched in 2022, includes:
- £1 billion investment in nature recovery, including rewilding, tree planting, and habitat restoration
- Renewable energy transition, with solar panels, heat pumps, and wind turbines at properties
- Diversifying audiences, with targeted outreach to ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and disabled visitors
- Digital access, with virtual tours, online collections, and educational resources
- Community engagement, with local partnerships, volunteering opportunities, and co-curated exhibitions
The strategy is ambitious and progressive, but it is rooted in the Trust's founding mission. Octavia Hill, one of the Trust's founders, wrote in 1895 that the organisation should preserve "beautiful and historic places" for "the benefit of the nation"—not just the wealthy, but everyone.
Challenges Ahead
Despite its success, the National Trust faces significant challenges:
1. Climate Change
Many Trust properties are threatened by climate change, including coastal erosion, flooding, and extreme weather. The Trust estimates that 70% of its coastline is at risk from rising sea levels, and historic buildings are vulnerable to heat, damp, and storms.
Adapting properties to climate change will require massive investment and difficult decisions about what can be saved and what must be abandoned.
2. Funding Pressures
The Trust receives no regular government funding and relies on membership, admissions, and commercial income. A recession or prolonged cost-of-living crisis could reduce visitor numbers and membership renewals.
The Trust has built up reserves to weather short-term shocks, but long-term financial sustainability depends on maintaining public support.
3. Political Attacks
The culture war attacks show no sign of abating. Conservative politicians and media continue to target the Trust, and there is a risk that a future government could strip the Trust of its charitable status or legal protections.
The Trust must navigate these attacks without compromising its mission or alienating its members.
4. Balancing Conservation and Access
The Trust must balance its duty to preserve properties with its mission to make them accessible. High visitor numbers can damage fragile buildings, gardens, and landscapes, but restricting access undermines the Trust's public purpose.
Finding the right balance—through timed tickets, visitor limits, and conservation investment—is an ongoing challenge.
The Bottom Line
The National Trust's record membership shows its enduring appeal and the British public's hunger for heritage, nature, and beauty. Despite fierce culture war controversies, the Trust has remained true to its mission, combining conservation with progressive values and making its properties accessible to diverse audiences.
The success is not just about nostalgia or escapism—it is about trust. In an age of political chaos, media hysteria, and institutional decline, the National Trust is an organisation that works, that delivers, and that genuinely serves the public good.
The challenges ahead are formidable, from climate change to political attacks. But if the Trust can maintain its focus, its integrity, and its commitment to "everyone, for ever," it will continue to thrive for another 130 years.
Frequently asked questions
Why has National Trust membership grown so much despite the controversies?
The controversies are largely driven by media coverage and a vocal minority of critics, but they do not reflect the views of most members or the general public. Polling shows that 68% of members support the Trust's work on colonial history, and 71% support LGBTQ+ inclusion events. Most people join the Trust for practical reasons—access to beautiful properties, gardens, and countryside—and value its conservation work. The culture war battles are a sideshow to the Trust's core mission, which remains popular.
What does National Trust membership include?
Membership costs £84 per year for an individual (2025 rates) or £144 for a family, and includes free entry to over 500 historic houses, gardens, and nature reserves across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Members also get free parking at most sites, discounts in Trust shops and cafes, and access to members-only events. Membership also grants reciprocal access to National Trust for Scotland properties and some overseas heritage organisations. For regular visitors, membership pays for itself after 5-6 visits.
Is the National Trust a charity or a business?
The National Trust is a charity, founded in 1895 and granted special legal status by the National Trust Acts of 1907 and 1971. It is independent of government and receives no regular public funding (though it does receive grants for specific conservation projects). The Trust is funded by membership subscriptions (£350 million/year), property admissions, commercial activities (shops, cafes, holiday cottages), and donations. Its charitable purpose is to preserve historic buildings, landscapes, and coastline 'for the benefit of the nation.'