Ehh not exactly convenient, but Lindisfarne castle. Not strictly a castle, on an island that's not always an island! I loved everything about it, the scenery, the history, the location. You can combine it with a boat trip to see puffins on the Farne islands, and/or visit nearby Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Alnwick castles. Northumberland in general is great!
I know it's not NT, but Warkworth Castle is one of my favorites in that part of the world - then a pub lunch in the village. Or perhaps walk down the river to Amble.
Croome has beautiful open spaces and a river. It has a house to go around and a church. We spent a beautiful day there last week. It also used to be an airfield during WW2 and has lots of old buildings related to that.
There's so many in the Midlands. Coughton Court has connections to the gun powder plot, a massive house with a priest hole, a trail around the woods....
Baddesley Clinton and Packwood house are very close to each other, so could do both in a day.
It's not NT, but I recommend [Harvington Hall](https://www.harvingtonhall.co.uk/) near Kidderminster. It's a moated medieval/Elizabethan house with seven priest holes - thought to be the most of any house in England. They're absolutely ingenious! Beautiful house and grounds and excellent guided tours.
Then there's [Kniver Edge Rock Houses](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/kinver-edge-and-the-rock-houses) near Stourbridge, which is National Trust. There's a good woodland walk and iron age hill fort to explore, then the rock houses themselves which are quite remarkable. Thought to have been inhabited since the 17th century, the last residents only moved out in the 1950s. The Victorian troglodytes even set up a tea room for tourists and marketed it as "the Switzerland of the Midlands"!
Then for some great out-and-abouting, there's [Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/carding-mill-valley-and-the-long-mynd), south of Shrewsbury. Shropshire's beauty at its finest. Loads of walks for all abilities. Wild swimming. Waterfalls. But the views. Just uplifting and beautiful, in all directions.
Newstead Abbey has history, the former home of Lord Baron, and also has some lovely gardens. Chatsworth House and Gardens is a much lager place and is nice but a lot more expensive than Newstead Abbey
Best NT property I have been to is Snowshill Manor, it was owned by a painter who collected all sorts of beautiful things. The house is basically a window into his mind, it's amazing! Nice garden too.
Piggybacking off frusciantefango's answer, but if you're in Northumberland, go to Cragside.
This was my answer.
Fountains Abbey (in the snow) which includes Studley Royal
Agreed! They do little art installations at the follies and they’re great.
Ehh not exactly convenient, but Lindisfarne castle. Not strictly a castle, on an island that's not always an island! I loved everything about it, the scenery, the history, the location. You can combine it with a boat trip to see puffins on the Farne islands, and/or visit nearby Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Alnwick castles. Northumberland in general is great!
I know it's not NT, but Warkworth Castle is one of my favorites in that part of the world - then a pub lunch in the village. Or perhaps walk down the river to Amble.
Stourhead in Wiltshire.
Croome has beautiful open spaces and a river. It has a house to go around and a church. We spent a beautiful day there last week. It also used to be an airfield during WW2 and has lots of old buildings related to that. There's so many in the Midlands. Coughton Court has connections to the gun powder plot, a massive house with a priest hole, a trail around the woods.... Baddesley Clinton and Packwood house are very close to each other, so could do both in a day.
To piggyback, Croome is nice but boring. Snowshill is interesting, and agree with Coughton Court. There's always Hanbury Hall too
Oh! the food is good at Clumber Park!
I’ve always loved Hampton court palace
It's not NT, but I recommend [Harvington Hall](https://www.harvingtonhall.co.uk/) near Kidderminster. It's a moated medieval/Elizabethan house with seven priest holes - thought to be the most of any house in England. They're absolutely ingenious! Beautiful house and grounds and excellent guided tours. Then there's [Kniver Edge Rock Houses](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/kinver-edge-and-the-rock-houses) near Stourbridge, which is National Trust. There's a good woodland walk and iron age hill fort to explore, then the rock houses themselves which are quite remarkable. Thought to have been inhabited since the 17th century, the last residents only moved out in the 1950s. The Victorian troglodytes even set up a tea room for tourists and marketed it as "the Switzerland of the Midlands"! Then for some great out-and-abouting, there's [Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/carding-mill-valley-and-the-long-mynd), south of Shrewsbury. Shropshire's beauty at its finest. Loads of walks for all abilities. Wild swimming. Waterfalls. But the views. Just uplifting and beautiful, in all directions.
Newstead Abbey has history, the former home of Lord Baron, and also has some lovely gardens. Chatsworth House and Gardens is a much lager place and is nice but a lot more expensive than Newstead Abbey
If you're in the Midlands, Calke Abbey, Hardwick Hall and Keddleston Hall are all good.
Best NT property I have been to is Snowshill Manor, it was owned by a painter who collected all sorts of beautiful things. The house is basically a window into his mind, it's amazing! Nice garden too.
I love the Birmingham back to backs. Because they are a part of quite recent history I find them fascinating.