History

Festival

County Durham

Darlington

Step back into the turbulent world of the Wars of the Roses at Middleham Castle. Once home to the young king himself, the castle provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend of living history, entertainment, and family activities.

Visitors can see history brought to life by historical reenactors, including the York City Levy, who will be recreating life with authentic tents, equipment, and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Families and younger visitors can enjoy a range of hands-on activities.

The festival will also feature performances from History’s Maid and their engaging show Top of the Chops — a hilarious and engaging look at some of history’s most infamous executions and the colourful characters who met their end upon the block.

More event details and timings will be announced soon.

This event is included with general admission to Middleham Castle. Book below in advance and save 15%. Members go free.

Richard Iii Festival At Middleham Castle

Visit our kitchen garden, where we have a selection of fresh produce for sale. All produce is grown by our volunteer kitchen gardeners, and proceeds support our beautiful house and gardens.

Expect to find fresh vegetables, cut flowers, and other seasonal produced.

Our Kitchen Garden is in the northeast corner of the park, by the sports block.

Card payments only.

This event is weather dependant and might be called off in short notice.

If you have any questions, please email our Senior Gardener: Harrison.Hulatt@english-heritage.org.uk

The Kitchen Garden At Marble Hill

The spectacular fort of Housesteads was once a vital component of Hadrian’s Wall that protected the frontier of the Roman empire for over 300 years.  It was also home to a thriving community of thousands.

Join Curator of History, Dr Andrew Roberts, to rediscover the sights, sounds and smells of this community via an interactive sensory tour.  We will explore what it was like to see the vivid colours of the soldiers clothing and painted emblems of the unit and their gods, to hear the sounds of making and mending in the workshops, to smell the day’s bread baking in the bakehouses, and to live in cramped quarters with your fellow soldiers and share heat and water in the communal baths.

This event has been graded as moderate access. There will be limited places to stop and rest during the walk and may include some uneven terrain and steps.

Meeting point: Housesteads Visitor Centre Car Park, Hexham, NE47 6NN

Bookings for this event will open on this page on Saturday 23 May.

Members' Event:

Book Fair

This is Belsay's first summer craft fair where there will be a range of local artisans selling a variety of specialist crafts and handmade gifts.

There will also be a range of stalls for dog owners, as we know people love bringing their dogs to Belsay. These will include accessories, treats and various services.

This event is included with general admission. Book in advance below and save 15%. Members go free.

Summer Craft Fair At Belsay Hall

Salisbury Cathedral is famously the cathedral that moved, leaving the windswept heights of Old Sarum for the valley below. Eight hundred years ago, the tombs of Bishops Osmund, Roger and Jocelyn were carried down the hill to New Sarum, marking the beginning of a new spiritual home.

To mark this anniversary, Old Sarum will come alive with medieval crafts, demonstrations and hands‑on activities. Explore a bustling medieval camp, meet the people of the 13th century, and watch carpenters, stonemasons, bakers and blacksmiths revive centuries‑old skills – a rare chance to see, hear and even smell the Middle Ages.

On Sunday, visitors are welcome to join a short service at 1.15pm led by the Bishop of Salisbury, followed by an optional gentle procession that echoes the historic journey made eight centuries ago.

With sweeping views, fresh air and history unfolding around you, it’s the perfect way to discover where Salisbury’s story began.

A Tale Of Two Cathedrals At Old Sarum

Join us for a community picnic by the coast, featuring live music, garden games, and delicious food vendors - the perfect way to spend time with family and friends! Dogs are welcome too.

This event is free for members and residents living at the following postcodes NE30, NE28, NE29, NE26 and NE25. Please bring proof of postcode with you. Or, if you are not a member or local resident this event is included with your general admission which you can book below.

Live Music:

Sax on the Tyne

The Linskill Community Choir and Can’t Sing Choir North Tyneside

Jamie Graham – The Highland Piper

The Jackdaws Duo

Entertainment:

Classes With Catherine - Zumba

Country With Catherine (Beginners Line Dancing)

Face painting with Jigsaw Entertainments (additional charge applies on the day)

There will be lots of food vendors, including Parm-O-Rama, Matchbox Pizza Co, Chilli Padi, The Greekster, Pacaccino Coffee, Anne’s Ice Cream Van.

Grab your picnic blankets, enjoy a glass of wine from our pop-up stall, and join us for what’s set to be a fantastic day.

Community Picnic At Tynemouth Priory And Castle

Enjoy the fresh air, pleasant surroundings, and community spirit of Marble Hill with our weekly Community Walk. The experience is led by our volunteers and is free to attend with no pre-booking requirement.

Meet outside the Coach House Café.

Community Walk At Marble Hill

Join a community of crafters for a weekly knit and natter in the Coach House Cafe at Marble Hill.

We’re a friendly and encouraging group, who work on our own independent projects alongside each other.

Open to all adult ages and abilities.

There is no booking required. For more details please contact chloe.cooke@english-heritage.org.uk

Knitting Group At Marble Hill

Come to Marble Hill on every second Friday of every month, from March - December 2026 and learn about our trees and the work we've done to allow them to thrive.

Our expert volunteer guides will lead you around Marble Hill Park, showing you our magnificent and varied collection of trees.

This is a free tour and no booking is required. Please meet your guide outside the Coach House Café.

Guided Tree Tours At Marble Hill

In partnership with the National Garden Scheme, we’re delighted to offer you the chance to explore the beautiful gardens of Boscobel House in the early evening of Thursday 18 June, when the site is closed to the public.

Meet the Head Gardener and members of their team for a tour of the gardens. Get an insight into how the team develop and enhance these wonderful spaces, carefully managed to ensure the way they are presented today reflects their rich history. You can also ask the team your own questions about the gardens as you explore.

Evening Garden Tour At Boscobel House

In partnership with the National Garden Scheme, we’re delighted to offer you the chance to explore the beautiful gardens of Audley End in the early evening of Thursday 18 June, when the site is closed to the public.

Meet the Head Gardener and members of their team for a tour of the gardens. Get an insight into how the team develop and enhance these wonderful spaces, carefully managed to ensure the way they are presented today reflects their rich history. You can also ask the team your own questions about the gardens as you explore.

Evening Garden Tour At Audley End

Join us at Down House on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June for a Bumblebee Weekend, in partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Find out about Darwin’s work on the behaviour of bumblebees and how this helped him to develop his theory of Natural Selection.

Learn about the different types of bumblebee and go on a ‘bee walk’ in the Down House gardens. Discover how bumblebees play a vital role in the pollination of plants and find out how we can make our open spaces more bumble-bee friendly.

Plus, for £2.00 per child, make your very own bumblebee!

These activities are included with your general admission to Down House.

Book early and save 15%. Members go free.

Bumblebee Weekend At Down House

Make Father's Day special this year and come along to Brodsworth Hall for a weekend of classic cars. Join fellow car enthusiasts to admire a stunning variety of vehicles, from vintage classics to modern motors from the eighties and nineties.

Car enthusiasts are invited to enjoy a celebration of classic motoring this summer, showcasing an impressive collection of vehicles spanning from the 1920s through to the 1980s and 1990s. Visitors can admire iconic models from renowned British marques including Austin Motor Company, Jaguar and Morris Motors, as well as performance cars like Lamborghinis’ and Bentleys’. 

Beyond the cars, guests can make a full day of the experience by exploring the surrounding gardens, enjoying the adventure play area, or relaxing with refreshments from the on-site tearoom.

Book early and save 15%.

Classic Cars For Father's Day At Brodsworth Hall And Gardens

Our celebrated World War Two event is back at Dover Castle for another spectacular Father’s Day weekend.

Watch action-packed scenes between the allied and German forces featuring striking pyrotechnics, see military motorcyclists perform tricks and get up close to vintage army vehicles. Get a taste of life on the Home Front with samples from cooking demonstrations as you explore the living history tents. Kids can get hands-on with activities in the field hospital, or take on the sergeant’s infamous assault course.

This event is included with your general admission to Dover Castle. Book early and save 15%. Members go free.

World War Two Weekend At Dover Castle

Join us at Pevensey Castle on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June to celebrate English Wine Week and midsummer with wine tastings in our shop.

Enjoy samples of English elderflower and strawberry wine, with our English wine available to purchase by the glass or bottle.

There is no booking required. Members get free entry, and non-members also get free entry into the shop for the tasting.

If you would like to explore the Pevensey Castle as well and are not a member, you can book in advance and save 15%, or pay for on the day of your visit.

Midsummer English Wine Tasting At Pevensey Castle

Join Blue Badge Guide Sarah Milne-Day for a tour of the famous resort town of Scarborough, this year marking its 400th anniversary of being a seaside town, a significant milestone in its history.

See the most iconic sights and hear the history of the church of Anne Bronte, Scarborough Castle and more.

This event has been graded as moderate access. There will be limited rest points on the walking tour and may include some uneven terrain. Please were sensible footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. 

Bookings for this event will open on this page on Saturday 23 May.

Discover a day of shopping, creativity, and heritage at our Summer Fair on Saturday 20 June.

Explore our medieval Great Hall, where local artisans and makers will showcase their works, including jewellery, pottery, artwork and more. More stalls including Plant stalls will be found on the Turning Circle.

Plus, join us on the South Lawn, where visitors can enjoy a realxed afternoon with music, or join in with self-led childrens lawn games, or have a wander in our award wining gardens.

Garden Tours will be held throughout the day at selected times.

Summer Fair At Eltham Palace And Gardens

English Heritage

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites - from world-famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of the empire to a Cold War bunker. 

Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. 

Richard Iii Festival At Middleham Castle

English Heritage

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