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02 May 2025

How to get a free National Trust pass

The ticket, worth up to £50, will get you access to a historic house, incredible castle or stunning garden until the end of June

Lauren BellSenior researcher & writer

Family days out often cost a fortune, but you can get a free National Trust pass to enjoy one for nothing.

The pass, worth up to £50, enables up to two adults and three children, or one adult and four children, to visit one of the National Trust’s properties in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

You can use it to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Yorkshire – rated the best historic attraction in the UK by Which? readers – or Corfe Castle, a 1,000-year-old dramatic ruin in Dorset, among others.

Simply pick up a copy of the Daily Mirror, Daily Star or Daily Express between Saturday 3 May and Sunday 11 May to find the free voucher inside.

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What is a National Trust family day pass?

With a family day pass, up to two adults and three kids, or one adult and four kids, can enter a National Trust property. It would usually set you back between £25 and £50. But with the current offer, you can get one for nothing.

Just be aware that kids must be 17 or under, and you never have to pay for under-fives.

Can adults without kids use a National Trust family pass?

Yes. Couples and individuals can use the pass.

How do I get a free National Trust pass?

Pick up a Daily Mirror, Daily Express or Daily Star any day from 3 to 11 May 3. All three papers are cheaper to buy on weekdays, and the cheapest of the three is the Daily Star, which is £1.10 midweek.

You'll also find the voucher in the Sunday People on Sunday 4 and Sunday 11 May, as well as in OK! magazine and New magazine on Tuesday 6 May.

Additionally, there are lots of regional newspapers participating (see below, but beware that publication dates vary by newspaper):

Bristol Post
Birmingham Mail
Burton Mail
Cambridge News
Coventry Telegraph
Daily Post
Derby Telegraph
Grimsby Telegraph
Huddersfield Examiner
Hull Daily Mail
Leicester Mercury
Liverpool Echo
Manchester Evening News
Newcastle Chronicle
Nottingham Post
Plymouth Herald
South Wales Echo
South Wales Evening Post
Stoke Sentinel
Teesside Gazette
The Journal
Western Daily Press
Western Mail
Western Morning News

Inside these publications, you’ll find a voucher for a free pass. Cut it out and head for a National Trust location. Just be aware there are some exclusions.

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Where can I visit using the free National Trust pass?

There are hundreds of properties to choose from in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They include Chartwell in Kent - the former home of Sir Winston Churchill. There's medieval Bodiam Castle in Sussex, with its original moat, towers and portcullis, and Wentworth Castle in Barnsley, South Yorkshire which has glorious gardens, woodlands and parklands to explore.

However, you can’t use the free pass at all National Trust properties. Find out which National Trust sites are included in the deal. It’s important to check before you travel to the property.

National Trust for Scotland and its sites aren’t included in the offer.

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When do I need to use my free pass by?

You can visit a National Trust site using your free pass any time until Sunday 29 June 2025.

Do I need to book my visit in advance?

You will at some properties. Check the National Trust website to find out where booking is essential.

If you need to reserve a spot, go to the property you wish to visit on the National Trust’s website, select a member’s ticket when you book, and enter REACHSPRING25 when asked for your membership number. You must show your free pass and booking confirmation when you arrive at the property.

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Is parking free with the National Trust pass?

No. The pass doesn’t cover parking costs (although not all properties charge for parking).

Does National Trust offer free passes at other times of the year?

Yes. This promotion by Reach plc newspapers occurs frequently (most recently in January 2025).

In 2024, the National Trust also offered free passes in September and December.

National Trust participates in Heritage Open Days, 'England’s largest festival of history and culture' which runs for 10 days every September and offers free entry to heritage events and activities across England. This year, Heritage Open Days will take place from 12 to 25 September 2025.