We visited Nostell near Wakefield with a free National Trust ticket through Sky with some family. It was a fair drive but there aren’t many in Lincolnshire! Normally it would cost £30 for a family ticket. We started by looking around Nostell Priory which was interesting. They had lots of tour guides who were very knowledgeable and friendly. There was lots to see. The family had overspent on some of the house and run out of money to refurbish the rest of the house! There was an impressive dolls house which wasn’t for children to play with, it was for upper-class women to ‘express their taste, practice household management and play out social customs’ (National Trust sign).

Outside the front of the Priory, they had garden games to play with (it was the summer holidays) which was good, and the children there were enjoying them. We headed to the courtyard area quite typical of some National Trusts to eat our picnic. It was a nice area and we followed up with an ice cream from the shop. They also had a couple of other shops there (second hand book shop and plant shop).

After lunch we went to the playground which was really good. It was made of natural materials and there was plenty to play on with some quite different equipment there. The children enjoyed a go on the big zip wire. We spent a long time here and left after this but we would have liked to have a walk around the grounds as there were a couple of walks to do but we ran out of time.

This is a good National Trust to visit with children as the playground will keep them entertained for a good while!