National Trust reopening: Which houses are open to the public?

On 13 July the trust begun a staggered reopening of properties around the UK

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The National Trust has opened a small number of properties to visitors for the first time since they closed in March due to the UK-wide lockdown.

By 17 July, a total of seven houses will be open in England and Northern Ireland – 130 gardens and estates have been open since 3 June.

The “phased reopening” was first announced on 29 May, during phase one of lockdown easing when people were still required to stay at home where possible. Parklands have only been opened if they are deemed suitable for social distancing.

National Trust director general, Hilary McGrady, said: “The fresh air, bird song, big skies and open spaces people have missed will be there, but things will be very different, particularly at first. We want to thank people for their patience and support while we gradually begin reopening and welcoming our visitors.”

But all visitors must continue to book in advance in a bid to manage numbers. So which properties will be opening and how can you get tickets?

Which properties are open?

On Monday 13 July, the following National Trust homes will reopen:

• Barrington Court in Somerset

• Kingston Lacy in Dorset

• Lyme in Cheshire

• Oxburgh in Norfolk 

• Petworth in West Sussex 

On Wednesday 15 July:

• The Argory in County Armagh

On Friday 17 July:

• Packwood in Warwickshire 

How do I book a visit?

To ensure the number of visitors is limited (parks and gardens are allowing about a third of their normal capacity), the National Trust is asking people to book tickets in advance.

Members and non-members alike must book (although the former won’t have to pay an entry fee), and at some places you will also need to book a spot in the car park.

Tickets can be booked via each individual property’s website. Non-members will have to pay in advance.

You’ll need to book one ticket per person, except for children aged five or under who don’t require a ticket.

Choose a 30-minute arrival time slot for the day you want to visit – this is for your arrival time only. The length of time you can stay will depend on the opening times of the property.