Complete National Beehives

Complete National Beehives and Starter Kits

Start or expand your apiary with a complete National beehive designed around the widely used British Standard National format. Our collection includes traditional cedar hives, lightweight polystyrene hives, standard National brood configurations and deeper 14 × 12 National hives.

Choose from complete hive kits by specialist manufacturers including Swienty and Thornes, with options for beginners, hobby beekeepers and experienced apiarists. Selected bundles include pre-wired frames and beeswax foundation, helping you prepare a new hive for its first colony with fewer separate components to order.

What is a British National beehive?

The British National, often simply called the National hive, is one of the most popular beehive designs in the UK. Its square, modular boxes make routine inspections straightforward, while the wide availability of compatible frames, foundation and hive parts makes it easy to maintain and expand.

A complete National hive will typically combine the principal components needed to house and manage a honey bee colony. Depending on the kit selected, this may include:

• A hive floor and entrance

• A National brood box

• One or more honey supers

• A queen excluder

• A crown board or inner cover

• A weatherproof roof

• Frames and foundation in selected bundles

The exact contents vary, so check the individual product description before ordering bees or arranging to collect a nucleus colony.

Cedar or polystyrene National hive?

A cedar National beehive offers a traditional appearance and is naturally durable when correctly assembled and maintained. Flat-packed wooden hive kits are convenient to transport and allow beekeepers to build and finish their own equipment.

A National poly hive is made from high-density expanded polystyrene. Poly hives are lightweight and provide high levels of insulation, helping reduce rapid changes in temperature inside the colony. Their modular components are easy to handle and can be expanded with compatible brood boxes, supers, feeders and other parts.

Both styles can provide a suitable home for honey bees. The right choice depends on your preferred material, hive-management system and whether you want a flat-packed or ready-moulded setup.

Standard National or 14 × 12 hive?

A standard National brood box uses regular British National brood frames. A 14 × 12 beehive, also known as a National Jumbo hive, uses deeper brood frames and provides the queen with a larger continuous brood area.

Standard National equipment is familiar, widely available and easy to handle. A 14 × 12 hive may suit a prolific colony that would otherwise require a second standard brood box. However, its deeper frames hold more comb and stores, so they can be heavier to lift during inspections.

National beehives for beginners

A complete bee hive kit is a convenient starting point for a new beekeeper because its main components are designed to work together. Before introducing bees, assemble the equipment carefully, apply a suitable exterior coating where required and place the hive on a stable stand in an appropriate apiary location.

Remember that a complete beehive normally refers to the equipment rather than a hive containing live honey bees. Bees, protective clothing, tools and other beekeeping essentials may need to be purchased separately.

Gwenyn Gruffydd is a family-run beekeeping business in West Wales. We manage more than 400 hives ourselves and use that practical experience to help customers choose appropriate National beehives and beekeeping equipment.

Frequently asked questions

What comes with a complete National beehive?

Contents differ between kits. Most include the main hive boxes, floor, roof and internal covers, while selected starter bundles may also include supers, frames and wax foundation. Check the individual listing for an exact component list.

Does a complete beehive include bees?

Not usually. A complete hive is generally a set of beekeeping equipment supplied without bees. A nucleus colony or package of bees must normally be obtained separately.

How many frames fit in a National brood box?

A standard British National brood box is commonly configured for 11 brood frames plus a dummy board, although the precise arrangement can depend on the runners or spacing system used.

Are National hive parts interchangeable?

Components made to the same British National dimensions are generally designed to work together. Check compatibility carefully when combining wooden and polystyrene parts or mixing products from different manufacturers.

What paint should I use on a poly hive?

Only use a coating recommended as suitable for expanded polystyrene beehives, usually a water-based exterior paint. Avoid solvent-based products that could damage the material, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.