The Council is the guardian of the spirit of the National Trust and of its long-term objectives. The Council’s key responsibilities are appointing the Board of Trustees and holding them to account.
- Simon Jenkins (Chairman) Appointed 2008
- Sir Laurie Magnus (Deputy Chairman) Elected 2003
- Ms Sophie Andreae Elected 2006
- Mr Christopher Boyle Elected 2006
- Ms Nicola Brentnall Appointed 2007 by the Princes Trust
- Mr Martin Bull Elected 2003
- Mr John Burton Elected 2006
- Mr Roger Cadbury Appointed in 2007 by the Soil Assoc
- Mrs Marian Campbell Appointed in 2004 by the Society of Antiquaries
- Mrs Helen Carey Appointed 2004 by the National Federation of Women's Institutes
- Mr Patrick Casement Appointed in 1998 by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Penelope, Viscountess Cobham Appointed in 2004 by VisitBritain
- Mr Charles Collins Elected 2003
- Mrs Annette Cotter Appointed in 2003 by the Ramblers Association
- Ms Gillian Darley Appointed in 2008 by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
- Sir Crispin Davis Appointed in 2004 by the Confederation of British Industry
- Mr John Farley Elected 2002
- Mr Richard Farrant Appointed in 2008 by Sustrans
- Ms Jane Farrington Elected 2007
- Mr Hugo de Ferranti Elected 2003
- Mr Colin George Elected 2008
- Mr Harry Goring Elected 2004
- Mr Martin Green Appointed in 2002 by the Youth Hostels Association
- Mr Richard Haslam Elected 2005
- Mr John Hoare Appointed in 2007 by the Campaign to Protect Rural England
- Mr John Hughes Appointed in 2006 by The Wildlife Trust
- Mrs Valerie Humphrey Elected 2006
- Ms Nichola Johnson Appointed in 2008 by the Museums Association
- Ms Diana Kershaw Elected 2007
- Professor John Lee Appointed in 2001 by the British Ecological Society
- Mr Rodney Legg Appointed in 2001 by the Open Spaces Society
- Dr David Leigh Appointed in 2007 by the Institute of Conservation
- Mr John Lloyd Jones Appointed in 2009 by the Countryside Council for Wales
- Mr Hugh Matheson Elected 2000
- Mr Rodney Morgan-Giles Appointed in 2007 by the CountryLand and Business Association
- Mr Robert Morley Appointed in 2001 by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
- Mr Pat Morris Elected 2007
- Mr Robin Page Elected 2003
- Mrs Pamela Paterson Appointed in 2001 by the Garden History Society
- Mr Michael Quicke Elected 2004
- Mrs Margaret Richardson Appointed in 2002 by the National Amenity Societies
- Mr Ian Rowat Elected 2008
- Mrs Prunella Scarlett Appointed in 2007 by the Royal Horticultural Society
- Mrs Sophie Scruton Elected 2005
- The Hon Nicholas Soames MP Elected 2006
- Mr Michael St John Parker Elected 2008
- Mr Simon Timms Elected 2002
- Ms Caroline Tisdall Elected 2007
- Mr Guy Trehane Appointed 2003 by the Royal Agricultural Society of England
- Mrs Mary Villiers Elected 2001
- Mrs Nesta Waine Appointed in 2004 by the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies
- Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Elected 2001
- Dr Rowan Whimster Appointed in 2007 by the Council for British Archaeology