'Going to National Trust sites is a cute day out'

The number of 16 to 25-year-olds buying National Trust memberships has risen by more than a quarter in the past year, according to the charity.

It said memberships among young people increased by 26% compared with the previous year, with 50,600 new members signing up.

Charlotte Beaver, visitor experience manager at Belton Estate, near Grantham, said they had witnessed a "real passion among young people for nature".

University of Lincoln student Olivia Stevenson, 21, said going to a National Trust site was "a cute day out" and added: "It's nice to keep these things going as well."

Stevenson, who is a National Trust member, said young people visiting the sites was not unusual.

"Every one's got a little bit of a niche," she said. "But it is cute and I think young people do enjoy doing history and culture things."

Tom Hallam and his partner, who are both from Lincoln, bought a membership last weekend to "fill a void" while they are looking for jobs.

Hallam said he was "curious" about exploring the history of the local area.

"We're still trying to explore where we can go nearby," the 24-year-old said. "We're really looking forward to getting into that."

However, 20-year-old University of Lincoln student, Bear Coates, said the increase in young people visiting National Trust sites was surprising.

"I would have thought that would be in decline," he said. "In my mind, it's a thing for older people, like my grandparents."

Fellow University of Lincoln student Lauren Wright agreed. The 21-year-old said: "I feel like it's more of like an older generation thing.

"I definitely went to National Trust parks and houses when I was younger with my parents, but I wouldn't really do it now."

Beaver said she thinks the mental and physical benefits of being in green spaces are encouraging younger people to become members.

She said their passion for the climate was another reason.

"I think it's really important that we engage with young people," Beaver said.

"They are the future members for the National Trust and, as a charity, we rely on membership to support the great work and the conservation work that we do."

According to the charity, Stourhead in Wiltshire, Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, and Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury, were the three most popular sites visited by young members in 2025/26.

Calke Abbey saw an increase in visitors since the airing of the Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, which was shot at the site.

It comes after "set-jetting", where travellers journey to the filming locations of popular shows and films, was named as one of Expedia's top travel trends in 2024.

Beaver said Belton Estate had also seen a rise in visitors after Netflix's Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was filmed there.

"We had a trail on after the filming to talk about where different scenes were shot," she said.

"We've seen people come to have their photos and selfies taken where the characters were. We have seen people come specifically for that."

The charity is now encouraging young people to visit its sites for free this weekend, when the annual Heritage Open Days festival takes place.

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