Blewcoat School
The Blewcoat is a historic building in London originally built in 1709 as a charitable school for poor children. It later served various roles including a National Trust shop and is now a boutique for a fashion designer.
London
London is a historic, multicultural global capital known for its landmarks, extensive public transport, green spaces, and vibrant arts and finance scenes.
Fenton House, Hampstead
Fenton House is a 17th-century merchant's house in Hampstead, North London, featuring historically significant interiors, a notable collection of early keyboard instruments, paintings, and porcelain, alongside extensive walled gardens including an orchard and kitchen garden. It offers visitors a combined indoor and outdoor heritage experience.
2 miles from Meet the Experts: Wet-Nursing the Foundling Babies
9 Oct
A talk exploring the history of wet-nursing in England and its role in feeding babies brought to the Foundling Hospital. Attendees can hear about the experiences of wet nurses and infants, followed by an opportunity to ask questions; the talk is available in person or online.
Red House
Red House in Bexleyheath, London is a seminal Arts and Crafts building designed by William Morris and Philip Webb, featuring medieval-inspired architecture and original Pre-Raphaelite art. It serves as a historic house museum managed by the National Trust, showcasing Morris' pioneering design ethos and craftsmanship.
Near The Positive Necessities of Life
8–9 Oct, 15–16 Oct…
An exhibition at Red House presents personally significant domestic objects selected by architects, designers, local residents and young people from Bexley, exploring the memories and stories connected with everyday possessions. It can only be visited as part of a guided tour of the house.
2 Willow Road
2 Willow Road is a Modernist terraced house in Hampstead, London, designed by architect Ernő Goldfinger, featuring a notable spiral staircase and a collection of 20th-century art, open to the public under the National Trust.
Near Wonder Women: The Baroque's Forgotten Composers
16 Oct (next Friday)
Obsidian Baroque perform instrumental chamber music by women composers of the Baroque era, alongside a new work by a contemporary female composer. The concert also explores the composers’ stories and their place in music history.
St John's Jerusalem
St John's Jerusalem is a National Trust property in Kent featuring a 13th century Knights Hospitaller chapel and a garden moated by the River Darent, with historical medieval buildings and landscaped grounds accessible to the public.
The Homewood
The Homewood is a Grade II listed modernist house near Esher, Surrey, designed by architect Patrick Gwynne and preserved by the National Trust. Visitors can explore its distinctive modern architecture, flexible living spaces, original furnishings and artworks, as well as its terrace, garden with ponds and swimming pool. The house offers a unique insight into mid-20th century English modernist design combined with a harmonious integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.
Near Tuesday Tree Walk
9 Jun, 7 Jul…
A Heritage Volunteer leads a one-hour guided walk around Claremont Landscape Garden, exploring a different tree-related subject each month. Attendees can learn about the garden’s trees and see areas of the grounds along the way.
Lindsey House
Lindsey House is a historic Grade II* listed villa on Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, known as the oldest house in Kensington and Chelsea. Owned by the National Trust and open only by special arrangement, it features distinguished gardens designed by Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, and has been home to notable figures including engineer Marc Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Ham House
Ham House is a well-preserved 17th-century Stuart era house in London known for its rare survival of original interiors, lavishly furnished state apartments, and extensive formal gardens along the River Thames. Visitors can explore the historic interiors, art collections, and enjoy the restored gardens, with facilities including a café. It is also a popular location for film and television productions.
Osterley Park
Osterley Park is a Georgian era country estate in west London featuring a historic house with notable neoclassical interiors by Robert Adam and extensive parkland open to visitors. The National Trust manages the property, which includes a café, formal gardens, and woodland footpaths suitable for outdoor walks and cultural exploration.
2 miles from Exhibition – Unfinished Business: The Mystery of Margate and Turner’s Bequest
8–25 Oct (another 16 days)
An exhibition explores J.M.W. Turner’s painting *Margate (?), from the Sea* and the history of his bequest to the nation. Visitors can see the painting alongside archival documents, letters and works by artists influenced by Turner.
Rainham Hall
Rainham Hall is a well-preserved Georgian merchant's house in London with historic interiors, exhibitions, and an on-site café, showcasing a unique blend of domestic and commercial history from the 18th century onwards.
Near Rainham October Discovery Walk
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Join National Trust staff and volunteers on a gentle circular walk from Rainham Hall, exploring the garden and the hidden history of Rainham Village.
George Inn
The George Inn is a Grade I listed historic public house in Southwark, London, known as the only surviving galleried coaching inn in the city. Visitors can enjoy a traditional pub experience in a partly timber framed building with historic significance including ties to Charles Dickens and medieval London theatre.
2 miles from Bloomsbury’s Best-Kept Secrets Walking Tour
11 Oct (this Sunday)
A guided walking tour through Bloomsbury explores stories of people and events that shaped the area, including its literary and LGBTQ+ history. The tour starts outside the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel and ends at the Foundling Museum.
Claremont Landscape Garden
Claremont Landscape Garden is a historic 18th-century English landscape garden in Surrey, featuring original design by notable landscape gardeners and landmarks like the Belvedere Tower and an amphitheatre. It offers an outdoor experience with scenic lakes, historic structures, and gardens.
Near The Squirrels Who Squabbled at Claremont Landscape Garden
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Families can follow an interactive garden trail based on Rachel Bright’s children’s book, helping squirrels Cyril and Bruce work together to find the last nut of the season. The trail includes games and takes place along the pathway around the lake.
575 Wandsworth Road
575 Wandsworth Road is a Georgian terraced house in London, decorated with intricate Moorish-inspired fretwork by Kenyan poet Khadambi Asalache, now open to the public for pre-booked guided tours as a museum.
Carlyle's House
Carlyle's House is a historic Georgian terraced house in Chelsea, London, preserved as a museum showcasing the home and belongings of Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle. Visitors can explore well-maintained Victorian period interiors, original furniture, books, artworks, and a small garden. The house offers a unique glimpse into literary history and Victorian middle-class life.
Sutton House, London
Sutton House is a Tudor manor house built in 1535 located in Hackney, London, featuring historic interiors and operated as a museum with a café, art gallery, and community programs for children. It offers visitors an immersive combination of indoor historical exploration and outdoor access to its Tudor courtyard.
2 miles from Abolition Song and its Legacies
16 Oct (next Friday)
A six-musician ensemble performs rarely heard British anti-slavery songs from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, alongside readings from Black writers of the period. The concert concludes with an open discussion about the music’s legacy, memory and ongoing struggles for justice.
East Sheen Common
East Sheen Common is a spacious urban park in London featuring woodland, sports facilities including a cricket field, tennis courts, and a bowling green, as well as a newly added woodland play area and nature trail for children.
2 miles from Knitting Group at Marble Hill
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
A weekly adult knitting group where crafters work on their own projects alongside one another and enjoy a knit and natter at the Coach House Cafe.
Wey and Godalming Navigations
The River Wey and Godalming Navigations offer a 20-mile navigable waterway in Surrey, featuring historic locks and scenic towpaths managed by the National Trust, with connections to other canals and a visitor centre at Dapdune Wharf showcasing historic barges.
2 miles from Home Education Open Day
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
A home education open day at RHS Garden Wisley for home-educating groups and families, with planting, seed exploration, herbarium sessions, talks, mini-beast activities, pond dipping, habitat mapping, leaf activities and access to library collections. Most activities are drop-in, while herbarium sessions require booking.
Roman Baths, Strand Lane
Strand Lane Baths in London comprise a 17th-century water cistern later converted into a Georgian cold plunge bath, reputed but not actually Roman, preserved by the National Trust, and accessible to the public primarily during special events like Open House London and guided tours.
Eastbury Manor House
Eastbury Manor House is an Elizabethan Grade I listed manor house in Barking, London, open most of the year as a museum presenting its rich historical heritage and architecture.
Selsdon Wood
Selsdon Wood is a 200-acre local nature reserve woodland in Croydon, London, offering outdoor trails, wildlife corridor, and historical significance as a preserved natural area within the London green belt.
Morden Hall Park
Morden Hall Park is a large National Trust park in Morden, London, featuring historic buildings including Morden Hall, snuff mills, and a garden centre, set on the River Wandle with extensive parkland, footbridges, and a dog-friendly café.
3 miles from Stranger Folk Digital Adventure at Morden Hall park
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A digital folklore adventure in which groups use the Stranger Folk app to follow magical tasks, find mythical creatures and decide their fate while exploring Morden Hall Park. It is designed for children aged 7–11 to play with imaginative adults.