National Trust days out from London without your own car: the ten nearest houses and gardens, and a driver for the day
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National Trust membership is one of the best-value cards in Britain — £100.80 a year for an adult, £176.40 for a family, free entry and free parking at more than 500 places. The problem for a Londoner or a visitor without a car is that the great houses near the capital sit at the end of country lanes with a station three miles away. A car with a driver for the day, at a fixed price, turns the membership into what it was meant to be.
Membership in 2026
| Membership | Annual price | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (26+) | £100.80 | £8.40 |
| Young person (18–25) | £50.40 | — |
| Joint (two adults) | £168.00 | — |
| Family (two adults + children) | £176.40 | £14.70 |
| Family (one adult + children) | £109.20 | — |
| Junior (0–17) | £12.00 | — |
From nationaltrust.org.uk, 2026. Short-stay visitors can instead buy an Explorer Pass for 4, 8 or 14 days (from £75 individual, £64 family with two adults for 4 days).
The ten nearest, and how far by car from central London
| Property | County | Car from central London | Nearest station (and the gap) | Best paired with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cliveden | Buckinghamshire | 60–75 min | Taplow, 2 miles, no bus | Windsor Castle |
| Hughenden (Disraeli's house) | Buckinghamshire | 60–75 min | High Wycombe, 2 miles uphill | West Wycombe Park |
| West Wycombe Park & Village | Buckinghamshire | 60–75 min | High Wycombe, 3 miles | Hughenden |
| Polesden Lacey | Surrey | 55–70 min | Box Hill & Westhumble, 2 miles | Box Hill |
| Chartwell (Churchill's home) | Kent | 60–80 min | Edenbridge, 4 miles | Emmett Garden, Knole |
| Knole | Kent | 50–70 min | Sevenoaks, 1.5 miles | Ightham Mote |
| Ightham Mote | Kent | 60–80 min | Borough Green, 3 miles | Knole |
| Ham House & Garden | Richmond | 40–55 min | Richmond, 1.5 miles + walk | Kew, Hampton Court |
| Osterley Park | Hounslow | 35–50 min | Osterley (Piccadilly), 15-min walk | Heathrow — 15 min away |
| Morden Hall Park / Sutton House | London | 35–50 min | Morden / Hackney Central | — |
Ham, Osterley and Morden are reachable by public transport; the rest are car territory. Opening days vary by season — check each property page before booking.
How a car-and-driver day works
We collect you from home or hotel at an agreed time, drive to the property, wait (or return at a set time), move on to a second property or a pub lunch, and bring you home. It is priced as a fixed total for the day rather than by the mile: a Surrey or Kent day (Polesden Lacey plus Box Hill, or Chartwell plus Knole) from about £260 in a saloon for up to four people; a Buckinghamshire day (Cliveden plus Hughenden) similar; an MPV for six from about £320. Members get free parking, which the driver uses; non-members pay at the gate.
For visitors: the Explorer Pass and a Heathrow start
Visitors on a short trip can buy a 4-, 8- or 14-day National Trust Explorer Pass (entry plus free parking at most places) and start the day from Heathrow: Osterley Park is 15 minutes from the terminals, Cliveden 25, and Windsor sits between them. See Heathrow layover ideas and Windsor Castle from Heathrow.
- Quote and book online at any hour — the fare is fixed at the moment you confirm.
- Driver details (name, vehicle, registration, direct mobile) arrive the day before.
- Flight tracking on every airport pickup: if your flight is early or late, the pickup moves with it at no charge, with 60 minutes' free waiting after landing.
- Pay by card when you book. No cash, no meter, no surge.
Sources
- National Trust — join
- National Trust — places in and near London
- National Trust — Explorer Pass for short-stay visitors
Frequently asked questions
- How much is National Trust membership in 2026?
- £100.80 for an adult, £168 joint, £176.40 for a family with two adults, £50.40 for 18–25s and £12 junior, with monthly payment options.
- Which National Trust places near London can I reach without a car?
- Osterley Park, Ham House, Morden Hall Park and Sutton House are on or near the Tube and rail network. Cliveden, Chartwell, Polesden Lacey, Hughenden and Knole are realistically car-only.
- How much does a car and driver for the day cost?
- A fixed price quoted for the itinerary — typically from about £260 in a saloon for a Surrey, Kent or Buckinghamshire day with two properties and waiting included.
Essentials for international visitors
Flying in from abroad? The six things that catch people out, in one place. Full detail, with official links, in our UK visitor essentials guide.
Entry
Most visitors from Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia need a UK ETA (£20, apply in the UK ETA app, valid two years) — airlines have enforced it since 25 February 2026. eGates from age 8 for EU, US, Canadian, Australian and most other visa-free passports. More ›
Money
Pounds sterling; cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, contactless taps up to £100. Choose to pay in pounds when a terminal offers your home currency. Prices include VAT and there is no tourist tax refund. More ›
Phone
Free Wi-Fi at all London airports; UK SIMs and eSIMs from £75 in every arrivals hall; EU roaming depends on your operator. WhatsApp +44 20 8888 9988 works from any country. More ›
Getting around
Tap in and out with any contactless card or phone on the Tube, buses and the Elizabeth line — no ticket needed, fares capped daily. A fixed-fare car wins for families, groups, late arrivals and days out the train does not reach. More ›
Children & luggage
Child seats on request when you book. In a licensed private hire car children may travel without one if none is available (under-3s on the rear seat). Tell us the bag count and the right size of car turns up. More ›
Emergencies
999 or 112 for police, fire or ambulance; NHS 111 for urgent advice; A&E is free at the point of use, but bring travel insurance. Plugs are Type G, 230 V; traffic drives on the left — look right. More ›
Car and driver for a National Trust day
Tell us the property or two you want to see and where you are starting from; we quote a fixed price for the day with waiting included.
