The trust is governed by a twelve-strong board of trustees, appointed and overseen by a council of twenty-six people elected by the members of the trust, and twenty-six appointed by other organisations whose work is related to that of the trust, such as the Soil Association, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Council for British Archaeology.
A National Trust é gobernada por unha comisión de doce membros, nomeada e supervisada por un consello de vinte e seis persoas elixidas polos membros da National Trust, e outras vinte e seis nomeadas por outras organizacións cuxo traballo está relacionado co da National Trust, como a Soil Association, a Royal Horticultural Society e o Council for British Archaeology.