Community

Exhibition

Derbyshire

Bolsover

Step into the mind of Margaret Cavendish at Bolsover Castle's MindFest!

Get stuck in with family-friendly activities and demonstrations inspired by Cavendish's ideas, designed with community members and young people. From hands on creative workshops to STEAM-based activities, there's something for everyone. Entry is free for Bolsover residents.

This event is part of our Margaret Cavendish Mind Lab project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Margaret Cavendish's Mindfest At Bolsover Castle

Gainsborough Old Hall's medieval beginnings deserve a celebration of all things medieval. Join us at the Hall throughout May for activities and events highlighting this turbulent, transformative and fascinating period in history when the Hall was built!

For up-to-date activities and timings, please check our Facebook page.

These events are included with your admission which you can book in advance below. Members go free.

Every day - Medieval trail and activities

A family-friendly trail and activity sheets are available for free for visitors to take with them round the Hall. See if you can finish them and earn a stamp or a sticker! Collect from the visitor desk on entry.

Every Saturday, 2pm - Medieval Feasting spotlight talk

Enjoy a fascinating 15-20 minute interactive talk by Caroline, one of our knowledgeable volunteers, on feasting in the Medieval period. It was quite different from how the Hollywood films depict it - etiquette rather than raucousness ruled the day! Free with entry, suitable for all ages.

Every Sunday, 1pm - Medieval Graffiti Tours

Join one of Rick's captivating tours as he shows you the plethora of medieval graffiti on the Hall's walls. Nods to royalty, protection marks and stonemason marks abound - see if you can spot any new ones! Free with entry, suitable for all ages. Tours last about one hour.

Monday 25th May, from 10am - Medieval Music & Dance Workshop

de Mowbray's Musicke return by popular demand to deliver their brilliantly fun music and dance workshop! Learn about medieval entertaining, instruments, dance and song with Peter and Kate. Free with entry, suitable for all ages and abilities.

Dates TBC - Medieval Crafts

Come along to one of our free crafting sessions to make a medieval-inspired trinket to take home! See dates and timings on our Facebook page.

Medieval May At Gainsborough Old Hall

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

Bring history to life with a guided site tour of St Augustine’s Abbey.

Founded in AD 598 by St Augustine himself, this once-great abbey marks the rebirth of Christianity in southern England. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you around the site, helping you imagine what the abbey looked like at its height centuries ago. After the tour, enjoy full access to the site—why not bring a picnic, relax in the grounds, and make a whole day of your visit?

Tour dates 2026:

Saturday 18 April, Thursday 14 May, Monday 8 June, Wednesday 22 July, Monday 10 August, Tuesday 18 August, Saturday 12 September.

These tours are £3 extra on top of your general admission ticket. Members go free. You can book a general admission ticket and a tour ticket below. If there are any spaces left on the day, it will be on a first come first serve basis.

The tours are suitable for ages 10+.

There are uneven grounds, so please wear suitable. Also, this tour is outdoors, so dress for the weather.

Tours At St Augustine's Abbey

Join us for a talk from celebrated author James Costa for the launch of his new book penned with Elizabeth E Yale ‘The Descent of Man- An Annotated Edition of Charles Darwin’s Classic Work’ followed by a tour of the garden with the Down House Head Gardener, Antony O’Rourke.

These tickets do not include admission to Down House. If you would like to explore the site too and are not a member, please purchase admission here.

The Descent Of Man Author Talk With Jim Costa At Down House

Bolsover Castle’s Festival of the Arts is a celebration of creativity, bringing together local artists, writers, poets and communities at the 17th century Cavendish pleasure palace.

From spoken word stages and art installations to live music and dance demonstrations, there’s a new passion for everyone to discover and treats to take home made by local artisan makers.

This year, Bolsover Castle are working with Derbyshire Makes combining both events’ festivities into a whole-day programme encompassing the whole of Bolsover town centre.

The full programme will be released soon, but you can look forward to hands-on making, talks, creative walks, exhibitions, performances, music, food and plenty more.

This event is included with general admission which you can book via the booking button below.

Entry is free for residents of the Bolsover district. Please use the code BOLNTQDG126 at checkout to claim your free entry.

Festival Of The Arts At Bolsover 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

Join us at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings as we host Spotlight Indie Live.

Spotlight Indie Live is a free to attend one-day celebration of indie fantasy, science fiction, horror and speculative fiction, art and storytelling, created for aspiring writers, fiction fans and independent creatives.

Attendees can expect a full day of panels and discussions exploring story craft and writing techniques designed to help bring fictional worlds to life. Writers will have the opportunity to gain practical advice on writing and publishing from our speakers, which include award-winning authors, publishers, editors, audio producers and bloggers.

For book lovers, Spotlight Indie Live offers the chance to discover and meet indie creators directly. The traders’ market will feature signed books, merchandise and original artwork, while facilitated Q&A sessions give audiences the opportunity to ask our speakers about their work. Plus, Spellbound Immersive Productions will bring works of fiction to life with live performances throughout the day.

Hosted by the incomparable Joel, aka the Shropshire DM, Spotlight Indie Live is the place to discover the joy of independent creativity - and your next favourite read.

FIND OUR MORE ABOUT SPOTLIGHT INDIE LIVE 

Event highlights include:

Panels and talks for writers of fantasy, science fiction, horror and speculative fiction

Practical advice on writing, indie publishing and the creative process

Insights from award-winning authors and industry professionals

Live performances by Spellbound Immersive Productions

Traders’ market featuring signed books, merchandise and artwork

Facilitated Q&A sessions with authors and creators

A friendly, inclusive space for writers, readers and indie creatives

Spotlight Indie Live At Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

A top-secret message has gone missing at Framlingham Castle – and we need you to find it before it falls into the wrong hands!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to follow the trail, track down the clues and crack the codes to uncover the secret message.

Keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious secret agent, who'll be roaming around the site. If you’re lucky, they might just be able to help you complete your mission...

Book early and save 15%

Mystery Mission At Framlingham Castle

A top-secret message has gone missing at Carisbrooke Castle – and we need you to find it before it falls into the wrong hands!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to follow the trail, track down the clues and crack the codes to uncover the secret message.

Keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious secret agent, who'll be roaming around the site. If you’re lucky, they might just be able to help you complete your mission...

Book early and save 15%

Mystery Mission At Carisbrooke Castle

Join the Goodrich Castle Investigation Unit this May Half-Term and help the Baron crack a 13th-century cold case!

A dangerous myth has spread that this fortress is purely Gothic. We suspect the original Norman creators left behind secrets that only a true forensic expert can find. Grab your survey kit and prepare to scour the ruins to complete your Evidence Files.

This isn’t just a walk through history—it’s a hands-on forensic survey where you’ll need to use all your senses to find the truth.

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

Norman Detective Trail At Goodrich Castle

A top-secret message has gone missing at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens – and we need you to find it before it falls into the wrong hands!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to follow the trail, track down the clues and crack the codes to uncover the secret message.

Keep your eyes peeled for the mysterious secret agent, who'll be roaming around the site. If you’re lucky, they might just be able to help you complete your mission...

Book early and save 15%

Mystery Mission At Brodsworth Hall 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. 

Margaret Cavendish's Mindfest At Bolsover Castle

English Heritage

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