The National Trust in Southeast England

The National Trust is a charity that own many historic buildings and gardens in the UK. This is a review of its properties in the southeast

Many NT places are country houses set in grounds, or in rural areas that are nice for a walk, so its best to visit them on pleasent days. Very few have public transport, so you really need a car to visit most of them.

Their pricing policy makes it expensive to visit an individual property, but the annual membership is very good value. Join via the website to get 25% off on your first year. Note that they send out your next's year membership pack after 9 months or so to 'force' you into renewing.

Kent (southeast of London)

• Knowle Palace: 4/5
  Large Bishop's palace set in a massive deer park. One of the biggies. Can walk from Sevenoakes train station. Nice tea room. Outside is stunning. Interior is a dimly lit (conservation) museum of very old furniture and faded portraits. The landscaped deer park is beautiful. Recommended.
  
  
• To Do
  Chartwell, Emmetts, Igtham Mote, Quebec House, Scotney castle, Sissinghurst, Smallhythe

Sussex (south of London)

• Nymans Gardens : 5/5
  A large, beautiful, word-class garden with a ruined house set on a hill. One of the biggies (for gardeners). Hundreds of different plants, shrubs and trees. South of London, just off the M23, between Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Waymarked walks down in the nearby forest. OK tearoom. Best when the garden is (spring and summer). Go there!
  
  
• Petworth : 5/5
  Very large house, almost a palace, containing a large selection of paintings and sculpture, set in a massive landscaped park. One of the bigges. Most of the ground floor is open (and some family rooms on weekdays only). Great for a walk or picnic. Go there!



• Uppark : 2/5
  Great looking house, and a great location on a quiet part of the South Downs. However the interior is very "cold", like an unlived in museum. Visit for a walk or picnic. Little information about the people that lived in it would have made for a much more interesting visit. No public transport. A long way southwest of London, near Portsmouth. Poor tearoom would be amazing if you could sit outside in summer, so best on a nice day.

Surrey

• Clandon Park and Hatchlands : 4/5
  2 country houses close to each other in parkland. Takes about 3 hours with a walk in the parkland
  
  
• Poleseden Lacy : 4/5
  Large country house overlooking a secluded valley. Formal grassed terrace with a view. Waymarked walks in the nearby forest. South of London, just outside the M25. OK tearoom (its being relocated). Recommended.
  
  
• Winkworth Arboretum : 3/5
  Pretty trees on a hillside

Hampshire (Southwest of London)

• To Do
  Hinton Ampner, Mottisfont Abbey, The Vine

Berkshire (west of London)

• Basildon Park : 2/10
  Nice, medium sized house in a park, close to the Thames. Little about the family. Takes 1 hour.
  
  
• To Do
  Ashdown House

Oxfordshire (west of London)

• To Do
  Buscot Park, Chastleton House, Greys Court

Buckinghamshire (northwest of London)

• Claydon House : 5/5
  Beautiful, medium sized house, remote location, near Stowe. Very homely. Highly recommended. Nice tearoom. Takes 1-2 hours.
  
  
• Stowe : 3/5
  A large park with many follies. One of the biggies. I was really looking forward to this place as I like follies, but it was a bit of an anticlimax. Takes about 2-3 hours to visit as you walk around. NB the house belongs to the school, and isn't NT.
  
  
• To Do
  Hughenden Manor, Waddesdon Park, West Wycombe Manor, Cliveden, Ascott