Any tips for getting National Trust membership discounted?

A question about : Any tips for getting National Trust membership discounted?

Have been dithering over National Trust membership for husband and myself wondering if I will get enough use to pay almost Ј70. We are going to Northern Ireland for a few days and will go to a couple of properties and several beaches where you pay for parking so would get some good use right away.
Just wondered if there were any offers anyone knew of? Thank you

Best answers:

• Although married, I have a single membership for the National Trust which is obviously cheaper than joint. Every time we go I only have to pay for OH and of course the parking at properties is covered by my membership.
  We find it quite amusing when some of the snootier NT stewards say "Perhaps your friend would be interested in joining" as they look him up and down. They obviously think we are an illicit couple LOL!
• I personally wouldn't bother. OH has membership but just to get the free parking when hiking.
• yes, actually it might be a good idea to get single - a lot of what I need covered when we go to Northern Ireland next week is parking. I will go back to the NT website and take another look.
  Would I have to be driving or is just being in car enough?
• I think as long as one of the people in the car, be it driver or passenger, has a National Trust membership that is OK to cover the car park.
  I don't drive and it has never been queried anywhere we have visited.
• Parking charges tend to be a lot lower than in Northern Ireland than England. The high charge I came across was Giants Causeway which is Ј6 until the 'visitor experience' opens when the parking charge is replaced by a visitor charge. However, you could avoid the Ј6 by parking at the nearby pub and having a drink there.
• Use a cashback site.
• I got mine through Quidco - I got 10% cashback on our membership.
  We go to Belton House alot, and Wimpole Hall. After three visits I made the initial outlay back in savings.
• Also, once you have been a member for a year, they send you an offer to renew.
• Many years ago we joined the Scottish NT which gives you access to all the English and Welsh NT places (not sure about NI) and was a lot cheaper than joining the English NT!
  If you pay higher rate tax you can get 25% tax relief on your membership, or if you claim tax credits you can offset it against the income you declare and get more in tax credits.
• NTS was available on Tesco Clubcard deals last time I looked. It was Ј20 for joint annual membership.
  Sadly, I forgot to cancel my current membership and they have just stung me Ј80.
• Always cancel the DD once the yearly payment has been taken (you must still tell them) no need to do this till the year is nearly up. Wait a week or so then re apply, otherwise youll pay full price.
• if NTS is valid in England too then its probably the best deal if you have Tesco points I should think - presumably not Wales just Scotland and England?
  In the end, I went for single membership as mostly in NI we wanted car parking which would have added up to about Ј15. It has worked out very well as we also went to just one house/garden (Mountstewart) and until end of first week July you can take a non member for free so didnt pay for husband.
  Am sure will use more than the value of my single membership and perhaps next year we will do single in husbands name.
  There are special offers and am sure they are sometimes better than others. I got free binoculars, I havent looked at them yet but, if nothing else, they will be enjoyed by the grandchildren.
  If you are going to pay to join rather than using Tesco points leave it till the last minute to max out your year - you get a temporary membership number by email within seconds of applying. And don't forget Quidco.
  This thread has been brilliant, thank you, when I posted I thought I would be lucky if I got one reply! I should have known better from MSE'ers!
• Hi i joined last month via Quidco, Ј21 cashback.