The top 6 National Trust day trips to 20th century houses (including homes of The Beatles in Liverpool)

Looking for some inspiring 20^th century architecture, modernist design, or an insight into life in the 1920s-50s? Here are my top 6 National Trust day trips.

The National Trust is Europe’s largest conservation charity looking after historic sites and natural landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  2025 marks the 130^th birthday of the National Trust.  This is one of a series of blogs on great days out at some of the less well known National Trust properties.  The National Trust is famous for its conservation of large, stately homes and gardens.  These are amazing places but sometimes overshadow smaller hidden gems.  In this series of guides I highlight the top National Trust places to visit that are not all stately homes.  Some are very quirky places to visit, some are ancient sites in the care of the National Trust, others are homes of famous authors.  In this guide I explore 20^th century homes but also read my guides to inns, islands and sites that celebrate the industrial heritage of the UK.   

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Why these 20^th century National Trust properties are worth a visit

The 20th century was a period of immense societal and cultural transformation which reshaped how people lived and worked.  Artistic movements such as modernism challenged traditional aesthetics and perspectives.  Science and technology leaped forward and music, fashion, and youth culture influencing generations.  These National Trust properties cover the 20^th century from the early 1900’s to 1930s modernism, 1950s design and 1970s city living.

Read my guide on whether paying for annual membership of the National Trust is worth the money or whether it's cheaper to 'pay as you go'.

The top 6 20th century National Trust day trips 

1. The Beatles' Childhood Homes, Liverpool – Mendips, the childhood home of John Lennon, and 20 Forthlin Road, Paul McCartney’s family home, offer a unique insight into the humble beginnings and history of the Beatles.  This is where the Beatles met, composed and rehearsed many of their earliest songs including ‘Please Please Me’, ‘I Call Your Name’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and ‘She Loves You’.  It also provides a snapshot of living in 1950’s Liverpool.  Entry is by pre-booked mini-bus tour only with two local pick-up options.

2. The Homewood, Esher, Surrey (see top image) is as far away from a typical 1930s house as you might imagine.  It was architect Patrick Gwynne’s modernist vision of the future and his home until 2003.  It features large walls of glass, a 1930’s cocktail bar and sprung dance floor.  The Homewood sits in a beautiful woodland garden which is also open for visitors to explore.  The garden is a carefully planned naturalistic series of rooms and vistas with mature trees, azaleas, rhododendrons, and naturalised pond. Entry is by pre-booked tour only.

3. 2 Willow Road, Hampstead, London has modernist design integrated into both its exterior and interior.  It was designed and built by architect Erno Goldfinger in the late 1930s when Hampstead had a burgeoning artistic and cultural community.  There was some controversy over the design of the building when it was first proposed but it integrates modernist design whilst retaining an affinity to the local Georgian buildings.  Much of the furniture is also bespoke modernist design and Goldfinger’s modern art collection is also on display.  Visits must be pre-booked and are by guided tour for most of the day with some self-guided slots available at the end of the day.

4. Mr Straw's House, Worksop, Nottinghamshire is a simple, red-brick, semi-detached house that was home to the Straw family who were local grocers in the 1920s.  After the sudden deaths of Mr and Mrs Straw in the 1930s their sons William and Walter continued to live in the house for a further 60 years but changed little.  The house is frozen in time in the 1920s.  As well as being a time-warp to normal domestic life in the 1920s you can visit the garden that is home to a fruit orchard and a greenhouse housing Walter’s cacti collection.  Given the size of the house entry is by timed ticket slot.

5. Birmingham Back to Backs, West Midlands is the last surviving example of back to back housing, located in the heart of Birmingham, and bring to life what living and working in this basic housing would have been like.  Back to back housing was typical of large cities from the late 1800s through to the mid-20^th century.  Each house was literally build back to back, with one house facing the street and one facing a courtyard which was home to the wash house and toilets.  Many of the street-facing houses were turned into shops, the last being a tailors shop vacated in 2001 by George Saunders.  Some of his designs now form a unique collection open to visitors.  Entry to the back to backs is by pre-booked guided tour only.  

6. The Hardmans' House, Liverpool is a time capsule of life in the 1950s and an deep insight into the photographic studio and business of Edward Chambré and Margaret Hardman.  The photography studio and dark rooms take up a large part of the house with the living quarters occupying just three rooms.  The most iconic of these is the kitchen – a perfectly preserved example of a1950s kitchen.

You may be interested in my other day trip guides to places managed by the National Trust:

• 10 tips for beating the crowds at Stonehenge
• 6 ways to spend a day on Lundy
• Day trip to the Giant’s Causeway