"An Ode to Leaving"

6 January 2026

60s

There and back again.

The woman in this thoughtful National Trust commercial is a leaver, not a fighter. Every time she visits one of the five hundred or so places run by the advertised charity, she knows it'll be time to go home sooner than she'd like. Rather than regret these moments (or sit on the floor and pout like DAVID did as a child), she celebrates them.

Directed by Simon Ratigan and lensed by Spike Morris, 'An Ode to Leaving' does what it says on the tin: waxes lyrical about the ends of visits, not the start of them. When it’s time to call it a day, she leaves with all sorts of mementos, including sand, crumbs, wet shoes, and warm skin. These are physical reminders—the mental and emotional ones inspire her next move.

To help ensure others feel what she's felt over the years, she leaves a legacy gift in her will for the National Trust. The charity hopes viewers are persuaded by a good-humoured performance and lush shots of Lyme Park, Bodnant Garden, Penrhyn Castle, Porthdinllaen, et cetera to follow in her footsteps.

UK

Tourist Boards