Visiting a National Trust propertyVisiting a National Trust property is something we often do at a summer weekend, during the school holidays or during a holiday break. It’s a great way to combine history, art and culture with the wonders of nature and beautiful gardens. I really enjoy visiting new places, but sometimes they can be so busy it is difficult to feel truly relaxed. The key though is to pick out the right properties to enjoy the peaceful and restful nature of the day. Without a bit of insider knowledge though, it can be difficult to pick out the right places to go.
A new National Trust survey has revealed where the most peaceful National Trust estates and areas in the country are, just in time for Easter school holidays and the long weekend.
The top five places include three Surrey locations -Winkworth Arboretum, Claremont Garden and Sheffield Park. The other two locations are in Northern Ireland’s County Down (Rowallane Gardens) and North Yorkshire (Fountains Abbey Estate).
The study was conducted by wellness experts at UK Saunas, who trawled thousands of visitor reviews of National Trust properties this month to find out which most frequently mentioned the words “peaceful”, “quiet”, “relaxing”, and “tranquil”.
Full Findings
| Estate | County | Quiet | Peaceful | Relaxing | Tranquil | Of Total Review |
| Winkworth Arboretum | Surrey | 35 | 47 | 22 | 29 | 23.05% |
| Claremont Garden | Surrey | 24 | 21 | 23 | 12 | 21.16% |
| Rowallane Garden | County Down | 8 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 20.14% |
| Sheffield Park | Surrey | 37 | 66 | 41 | 33 | 14.41% |
| Fountains Abbey Estate | North Yorkshire | 69 | 198 | 88 | 86 | 10.98% |
| Mottisfont | Hampshire | 32 | 55 | 44 | 33 | 10.81% |
| Clumber Park | Nottinghamshire | 41 | 48 | 53 | 17 | 10.75% |
| Stourhead | Wiltshire | 56 | 93 | 82 | 42 | 10.55% |
| Nymans | West Sussex | 21 | 41 | 42 | 13 | 9.69% |
| Cliveden | Buckinghamshire | 34 | 34 | 30 | 10 | 9.57% |
Please note: The results were determined as a percentage of the overall reviews to find a proportional representation for each property.
Full Study
Researcher Comment:
“We wanted to conduct this research in time for Easter, when many parents and families will be looking for quieter spots to take their children and spend quality time with their time off. National Trusts have always been a popular choice for parents who want to introduce their children to green spaces – especially as many properties boast Easter Egg hunts and other seasonal activities. However, with flight delays, cancellations and living cost hikes, a lot of families are opting to stay home this spring instead of going away, which means footfall in these areas will go up as a result”
“Something the top 5 properties have in common is that there are plenty of peaceful hideaways, relaxing water-spots and open spaces. This means children feel they almost have the place to themselves as they explore and discover wildlife – which is hugely important for their learning and for parent’s mental wellbeing.”
Methodology
Using visitorship figures from 2020/2021, UK Saunas identified the 50 most popular National Trust properties and analysed TripAdvisor reviews for mentions of words relating to peace.
Words analysed:
- Quiet
- Peaceful
- Relaxing
- Tranquil
The results were then determined as a percentage of the overall reviews to find a proportional representation for each property.
Why this is Relevant Now
-Easter weekend is especially popular for visits to National Trust properties. Because of this, many families in the UK will be searching for places where they can beat the crowds with their time off.
-The winter just passed saw record numbers of membership to the National Trust, with a new member joining every 23 seconds in October and November
-With many UK flights grounded due to staff shortages, and flight prices rising over the April and May holiday season, many people in the UK are opting to stay at home and enjoy the local area this Easter.
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