London

Bromley

Take your family on a fun adventure with a historical twist. Follow the quest through the gardens and complete all the challenges.

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The price you’ll pay depends on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Summer Explorer Quest At Down House

Join us at Marble Hill for a new interactive smartphone adventure.

BAFTA-winning game-makers Coney have worked in partnership with English Heritage and young people local to Marble Hill to create a game that explores the colonial and globalised history of the site, Watching the House.

Step into the house, pick up a pair of headphones and see if you can unfurl the stories lost in the shadows…

This is your first day on your new job as a Watcher at Marble Hill.

As a guardian of the house, your role is to sit quietly. To observe. To remain invisible and protect the treasures of the past.

But as you sit, you hear a voice. You hear many voices, asking you to take notice. Things are not always as they seem…

Launching on the 23rd June through to September, the game will be available to play at Marble Hill.

It is free to take part, all you need is your phone and a pair of headphones, and it lasts approximately 30 minutes. Please visit the house to start the game.

Live performances take place on Sunday 23 June, Saturday 20 July and Saturday 10 August, 12-4pm. For more information about the live events, please click here.

About the project:

Watching the House is the result of a new collaboration between Coney and English Heritage’s youth engagement programme, Shout Out Loud.

Our national youth engagement programme provides a platform for young people to explore heritage sites and collections across England, helping them to uncover untold stories from our past in new and exciting ways.

Over two creative weekends, a group of young people aged 16-18 worked with Coney artists, English Heritage historians and curators to explore the colonial history of Marble Hill, learn about game design and interactive theatre-making, and develop ideas for a new interactive smartphone game.

About Coney:

Coney is an acclaimed arts and social change charity on a mission to spark change through the power of play.

For over 15 years, Coney have been co-creating interactive experiences, ranging from bespoke games designed for individuals, to city-wide adventures for tens of thousands.

Interactive Smartphone Game At Marble Hill

Spend a lazy Sunday at Bolsover Castle listening to live music. Each week will bring a different genre, from Caribbean to Asian Fusion, for you to enjoy.

Bring along deck chairs and a picnic and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book online and save 15%.

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Lazy Sunday Music At Bolsover Castle

Jousting goes back to its roots in this no-holds-barred tournament of strength, skill and horsemanship at Belsay Hall.

Lancelot du Lac, The Wildman, The Wyvern, Jason on the Argonauts charge at each other at full speed with only mail for protection, it’s every knight for themselves in this thrillingly authentic 13th-century tournament, inspired by the brutal early days of jousting. Choose your champion and cheer them on to victory – or console them in defeat.

Don’t miss one of history’s most spectacular sporting contests. Book online and save 15%.

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Legendary Joust At Belsay Hall

Jousting goes back to its roots in this no-holds-barred tournament of strength, skill and horsemanship at Belsay Hall.

Lancelot du Lac, The Wildman, The Wyvern, Jason on the Argonauts charge at each other at full speed with only mail for protection, it’s every knight for themselves in this thrillingly authentic 13th-century tournament, inspired by the brutal early days of jousting. Choose your champion and cheer them on to victory – or console them in defeat.

Don’t miss one of history’s most spectacular sporting contests. Book online and save 15%.

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Spend a lazy Sunday at Brodsworth Hall listening to live music. Each week will bring a different genre, from African-Caribbean to folk, for you to enjoy.

Bring along deck chairs and a picnic and be entertained by a wonderful day of music.

Performances will take place at 12pm and 2pm

Book online and save 15%.

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  Sun 1 Sept Catherine Rannus Trio

Enjoy an eclectic mix from pop to jazz and classical to traditional. Find out more about Catherine here.

Sun 8 Sept Caribbean Harmony

Join us for the spectacular sounds of steel drum entertainment with music from the Caribbean. Find out more about the band here.

Sun 15 Sept Royal Bollywood Fusion

Enjoy beautiful music from Bollywood to Indian Folk and more. Find out more about the band here.

Sun 22 Sept Green Matthews, traditional British Folk

Join us for a relaxing afternoon of English Folk Music. Find out more about the duo here.

Lazy Sunday Music At Brodsworth Hall

Join us for an evening of medieval storytelling and performance in the grounds of Wrest Park.

  On selected evenings this September, the grounds of Wrest Park will come to life with medieval myths and legends as we tell stories of doomed lovers, witches’ curses and mounted knights.

  With theatrical staging, brilliant performances and a beautiful historic setting, Night of Legends promises to be an unforgettably entertaining theatrical event. Doors will be open from 6pm, so come early to enjoy delicious hot food and sweet treats while you soak up the atmospheric surroundings of Wrest Park.

  BOOK TICKETS THURSDAY 05 SEPT

BOOK TICKETS FRIDAY 06 SEPT  

BOOK TICKETS SATURDAY 07 SEPT

BOOK TICKETS SUNDAY 08 SEPT

Please note: Friday 06 is a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performance.

Night Of Legends At Wrest Park

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

Please meet outside the front of the café.

Community Walk At Marble Hill

Experience the story behind one of 18th century London’s most beautiful residences with a tour around Marble Hill house. Gain an appreciation for the life of the magnetic founder of Marble Hill, Henrietta Howard, and discover a special insight into these extraordinary premises.

Book your tickets online and meet outside the front of the main house at 10:30 to start this fabulous tour.

House Highlight Tour

Join Yorkshire Blue Badge Guide Sarah Milne-Day on a tour of the iconic town of Whitby. Starting at the spectacular Gothic ruined Abbey, we will head down the famous 199 steps into the picturesque town and harbour to discover all about the history, industry and characters hidden in the winding alleys that make this such a fascinating place. From Dracula to polar bears via Captain Cook and Alice in Wonderland, there are secrets to be discovered around every corner.

This tour is graded as challenging access, as it is a walking tour with steep terrain and few places to stop and sit down.

Members' Events:

Join historian Dr Susan Skedd on a new guided walk around Bloomsbury and discover where many of its celebrated former residents lived and worked. Find out about the lives of the pioneering figures who made Bloomsbury their home and explore the architecture of some of London's finest squares.

This event is graded as moderate access, as it is a walking tour on busy streets, covering 1.5-2 miles with few places to stop and sit down. There may be stairs and uneven terrain en route.

Join us for a Summer Soirée at Marble Hill. Come along after work for cocktails and street food surrounded by the beautiful backdrop of Marble Hill. Bring along friends, family and colleagues from 5-8pm and enjoy music and delicious food & drink in the park.

Free to attend. Please note the house will be closed during the event.

Summer Soirée At Marble Hill

Join us for a behind the scenes tour of Helmsley Archaeology store!

Guided by members of the collections team, these tours will explore how we look after and care for our collections, our current projects and highlight some of our favourite finds from across the North territory.

To book your place, please email the collections team on Helmsley.Stores@english-heritage.org.uk.

Please specify a date and include a list of all attendees in your email. Tours are free but contributions welcomed. Bookings will be made on a first come, first serve basis.

Helmsley Archaeology Store Tours

Come to Marble Hill and learn about our trees and the work we've done in regard to trees across the park! 

Meet at front of house at 1pm. This event is graded as moderate access as it will take place outside on sometimes uneven ground.

Tree Tour At Marble Hill

Start the weekend energised with a spot of Community Yoga against the stunning backdrop of Marble Hill and it's surroundings! Community based event, meet on the Oval Lawn (Behind House towards River) at 8am.

Event is weather dependent.

Community Yoga

Experience the exhilarating spectacle of speed and skill as four legendary knights compete for honour and glory in the Grand Medieval Joust. See lances shatter, feel the thunder of hooves and hear the roar of the crowd as reputations are won and lost.

Our fearless fighters and their magnificent horses will charge at each other at full speed in and unforgettable display of chivalry and sheer courage. Alongside the joust, soak in the atmosphere of medieval life and meet a host of colourful characters from the past. Watch falconry displays, listen to music from the era, and enjoy a jester show or two.

Choose your champion and cheer them on to victory – or console them in defeat.

Don’t miss one of history’s most spectacular sporting contests - Book online and save 15%.

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Legendary Joust At Eltham Palace

Towering above the river Swale in the heart of Richmond the castle has been a spectacular and imposing sight since its foundation in the 1070s. A bold statement of great wealth and power and an incredible survival of an early 11th century stone castle. Originally built to subdue the unruly North of England it is one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain.

Move forward 950 years to the present day and enter the encampment of Conquest, The Norman re-enactment society. Experience what life may have been like for the people of the time. See the surgery and armoury and heft a sword or try on a hauberk; discuss the fashions of the time or listen to the Norman cooks and try some of the foods that would grace the tables of the men who made up the garrison. Then observe as they train daily to keep their fighting skills in trim.

Over two days you can experience the sights and sounds of Norman life at the castle.

Richmond Castle Norman Invasion 2024

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. 

Summer Explorer Quest At Down House

English Heritage

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