Mottisfont House - pushchairs not allowed

Bloody daft! Particularly if they are letting your DH in with a mobility scooter. That could cause more damage to floors etc than a pushchair with a toddler in. Its far safer to have a tethered toddler.
It sound as though some attendant had just got it wrong.

Quite Nelliem! Never mind, although we didn't get to go round the house the gardens are beautiful!

I can't stand the houses anyway! Love the gardens. And the tea rooms.

The kitchens are nice. Especially when they have been doing some baking and tasting is on offer.

Well done, National Trust for shooting yourselves in the foot yet again. A buggy is much safer than little ones "escaping" and as you say, if they allow disability scooters then there is no logic in this whatsoever. It does, however remind me of the "bad old days" when mine were tiny and I just couldn't go to art galleries/exhibitions etc unless I could get a babysitter because buggies were not allowed. I think most young Mums get a much better deal these days from a more family friendly environment. for you - no, actually for you!

Slightly off topic but DH and I were surprize when asked to leave the golf umbrella at the door of The Ashmolian "Ooh no sir, you can't bring that in here"

Surely this must have been a mistake on the part of an attendant. You can imagine how they would be lambasted if they refused entry to someone in a wheelchair.

No nt properties allow pushchairs inside. They loan free child on the hip carriers. Can't really see pushchairs working in these places. Often not enough space.

Perhaps inside the houses not the best places for small children. The grounds are great though. They do some good stuff for the kids - trails, outdoor toys, even eco playgrounds now. You can't fault them really.

But they allow mobility scooters, and presumably wheelchairs, jingl - must be room enough for them!

They can hardly ban wheelchairs! Not pc. And of course, unfair to the disabled.

I would hate to be tripping over buggies. (kids' ones) Toddlers don't need to look round old houses. Take turns waiting in the tea room with them. Or playing with them outside.

I keep reading buggies as budgies! I am daft! Its my budgies Barry and Graham's fault.

My moan about the NT is that you have to pay extra for Gchildren if you have an over 60s couple's ticket. Heritage throw in Grandchildren for free so better value as our Gch live full time with us and a family ticket would cost us more.

They do have to be child friendly at all times to keep going.

If you become a member and pay an annual subscription, you get your grandchildren registered on your card for free. And it works out loads cheaper after two or three visits.

Good tip...we are members but never thought of adding the GC...thanks, jingl!

If they have an actual pushchair ban in NT properties why can they not make it clear at the point of entry (the pay booth). There was no signage to say pushchairs were not allowed in the house. They should make it clear in the handbook too. We were not offered the alternative of a hip carrier.

Yes. They should have told you when you payed for the house ticket. It would be worth complaining about the lack of a sign in the paying booth.

We are members and they haven't offered us to get GC registered. Will look into it. thanks.

They don't offer much LullyDully you even have to ask for a "senior" discount membership rate. I suppose that most of their members are seniors so, by not giving it as a matter of course, they probably rake in a lot more money than they would if they advertised that you could get a special rate as you get older.

But, however much I may criticise, I do value their work and love visiting the properties they manage

I think the 'no pushchair' is for all NT properties, and well publicised in the booklet and website. Agreed it would be a good idea for it to be clear before you purchase ticket.

Wouldn't your grandson walk with you if he is just over two- and will supervised?

ooops - apologies, just checked. Pushchairs are allowed in some, but not all NT properties -as some are clearly unsuitable due to old floors, narrow corridors, etc. Some say pushchairs allowed but only if the property is not very busy- but Mottisfont website clearly says

Family activity packs
Children's trail
Baby-changing facilities
Pushchairs admitted
Hip-carrying infant seats for loan
Highchairs available in Kitchen Café

So I'd say your complaint with them is clearly justified and a refund due. Although as said before, maybe they decided a toddler of 2+ can walk with supervision.

I volunteer at a NT property where disability scooters are welcome and we don't ban push chairs. I cannot see why if one is allowed the other wouldn't be and think that perhaps there was a new volunteer on duty who didn't understand the rules. Some parents don't want the hassle of contolling a toddler who wants to walk and a cumbersome pushchair so we have a system for leaving pushchairs if the parent wants, and also Hippy Chicks for loan. (A lot of NT houses have Hippy Chicks and they're well worth borrowing.)

It's very much left to the carer who knows the child best.

By the way Nina, we would generally discourage a golf umbrella, especially if it was wet and drippy. I've seen men using umbrellas to point at things such as portraits, swinging them about the place in the most alarming way!