History

Tour

Cheshire

Cheshire West and Chester

Join Blue Badge Guide John McFerran for an exploration through history in Chester's Northwest Quarter.

Hear stories of railways, cheese, horse racing and smallpox, as well as some of the hottest historical gossip!

This tour is graded as moderate access as it's a walking tour covering up to three miles with few places to stop and sit down.

Not suitable for under-16s.

Members' Event:

Do you dare explore Osborne in the dark this Halloween?

Join our storytellers as they guide you on a journey through the past, with tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from history.

Over 16s only, and don’t forget to bring a torch – things are going to get dark…

Ghost Tales At Osborne

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

A team of eight Monster Hunters have assembled at Kenilworth Castle for Halloween! Each Hunter is a specialist in dealing with a particular type of spooky creature. Explore the castle grounds and seek out all eight Hunters. Each one will share their knowledge, stories, and expertise about the creatures they face.

Complete your adventure and receive a Monster Hunter Certificate to recognise your bravery!

Book early and save 15%.

Halloween Half Term At Kenilworth Castle And Elizabethan Garden

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Audley End House and Gardens this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Join our very own pair of Victorian ghost hunters as they take you on a spooky (but not too scary!) adventure..

With interactive mysterious tales and macabre stories, they’ll share spooky insights into the ghost-hunting techniques of the 19th century. Join them and discover how the Victorians tried to speak with spirits from beyond the grave…

Book early and save 15%.

Halloween Half Term At Audley End House And Gardens

Join our volunteers at Gainsborough Old Hall Education room on Saturday 25, Sunday 26 and Thursday 30 October 2025 for free Halloween crafts during October half-term from 10am - 2pm.

No booking required, just drop in to the Education room at Gainsborough Old Hall from 10am - 2pm. You do not need to pay entry to the site to take part in these workshops.

Halloween Craft Workshops At Gainsborough Old Hall

Double Vision brings together two paintings both known as The Guitar Player. One painting, a treasure from Kenwood’s Iveagh Bequest, is signed by the great Johannes Vermeer (1632-75). The origin of the other, on loan from the John G. Johnson Collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA, remains a mystery.

Philadelphia’s painting depicts the same young woman playing a guitar, but with a number of small differences. Thought to be by Vermeer by John G. Johnson who bought the picture and eventually gave it to the city of Philadelphia, the question of who painted it and when has been the subject of intense debate for the past 100 years.

This new display, marking the 350th anniversary of Vermeer’s death aged 43 in 1675, sees the paintings side by side for the first time in over 300 years.

Double Vision:

Walmer Castle will be hosting the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition 2025 for the first time!

Join us from 3 September - 3 November to immerse yourself in nature as you enjoy an exhibition featuring select higher-placed winners from both the International Garden Photographer of the Year and the dedicated Special Award "The Wonders of Walmer".

This stunning exhibition will be on display in the grounds of Walmer Castle. While you're there, explore more than eight acres of award-winning gardens in the grounds of a Tudor fortress turned country house. Built on the orders of Henry VIII to defend England's southern shores, Walmer Castle later became a home for the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports — among them the Duke of Wellington and the Queen Mother, for whom a beautiful garden was created to mark her 95th birthday.

Please note 3 Nov is for group bookings only as the castle will be closed to visitors.

International Garden Photographer Of The Year

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Wrest Park this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

From ghostly tales to spooky sword school, there’s plenty to keep little monsters busy! Learn how to fend off vampires, zombies and werewolves, join in with silly games, and uncover eerie local folklore brought to life by our storyteller.

Book early and save 15%.

Halloween Half Term At Wrest Park

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Brodsworth Hall this half-term. 

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues, and gather round to listen to spooky stories.   

Step right up for a monster-hunting show full of silly shenanigans, daring escapes, a touch of magic and plenty of fun as our mischievous meddlars try to outwit the creatures of the night!

Take part in a spooky gameshow where families can discover some of history’s creepiest characters – and the strange ways their stories came to an end. Packed with laughs, surprises and plenty of chances to join in, it’s frightful fun for all ages.

Gather close and listen as our storytellers spin eerie tales and local legends. Not too scary, but just enough to send a playful shiver down your spine!

Book early and save 15%. 

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Brodsworth Hall

Join us for spooky times as we celebrate Halloween and October half term at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. Make your own spooky mask and wand and listen to fantastic stories by the magical Jake Evans in our free events on: 

Wednesday 29 October

10am to 3pm – Spooky masks and magical wand making in the Dye House

Thursday 30 October     

10am to 3pm – Stories by Jake Evans in the Dye House (on the half hour every hour)

10am to 3pm – Spooky masks and magical wand making in the Dye House

Friday 31 October

10am to 3pm – Spooky masks and magical wand making in the Dye House

Saturday 25 October - Sunday 2 November

10am to 4pm – Creepy trail in the Mill Exhibition (Mill exhibition charges apply)

Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult throughout these events.

We thank the support of the UK Government, Shropshire Council and Vibrant Shropshire: A Cultural Compact.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as part of Vibrant Shropshire’s ‘This is Shropshire’ Festival.

Spooky October Half Term Fun At Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Bolsover Castle this half-term. 

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues, and gather round to listen to spooky stories.   

Get ready for a frightfully fun mix of games, storytelling and spooky adventures! Try your hand at our Spooky Sword School, where young monster-hunters can learn how to fend off vampires, zombies and werewolves. Gather round to hear local legends and ghostly tales and enjoy plenty of family fun for Halloween.

Book early and save 15%. 

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Bolsover Castle

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Framlingham Castle this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Step inside the Witchfinders’ Tent and uncover the secrets of the 17th-century witch trials. Take part in the lively interactive show Art Thou a Witch? Try on armour, handle “torture” tools, and even accuse your friends! Plus, don’t miss foam sword-fighting games for brave young knights.

Book early and save 15%.

Halloween Half Term At Framlingham Castle

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Belsay Hall this half term. Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Step into a world of bogles, basilisks and dragons!

Join our band of monster-hunters for a magical theatrical quest through the grounds of Belsay, where you’ll meet curious characters and help protect the world from fearsome beasts. Then, put your courage to the test in a Monster-Taming Workshop – with crafty creations, silly games and plenty of laughter. A monstrously good day out for brave adventurers of all ages.

Book early and save 15%.

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Belsay Hall

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Scarborough Castle this half term. Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Ready to face history’s most dreadful characters? Take part in our spooky game show, Monster Hunting: The Game of Death and discover the grisly fates of villains past. Then sharpen your skills at Spooky Sword School – but beware, only the bravest will survive!

Book early and save 15%.

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Scarborough Castle

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Carisbrooke Castle this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues, and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Step into the shadows with our Ghost Hunters and Mediums. Listen to chilling tales of the ghosts of Carisbrooke and discover whether you dare to believe!

Book early and save 15%.

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Carisbrooke Castle

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Battle Abbey this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Join our spooky performer for gruesome tales and gory games! With interactive shows running throughout the day, there’ll be plenty of frightful fun for the whole family.

Book early and save 15%.

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Battle Abbey

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Whitby Abbey this half term. Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Calling all ghost hunters! Join in our ghoulish games, craft your own ghostly adventure, and settle in for spooky stories among the haunting ruins. A frightfully fun family day out awaits…

Book early and save 15%.

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Whitby Abbey

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Eltham Palace and Gardens this half-term.

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

Get ready for spooky surprises as our performer brings gruesome games and frightful fun to life! With interactive activities scheduled throughout the day, there’s plenty to keep little ghouls entertained.

Book early and save 15%.

Halloween Half Term At Eltham Palace And Gardens

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Dover Castle this half-term. 

Follow the quest to solve creepy clues, and gather round to listen to spooky stories.   

Who better to teach you about monsters than the creatures themselves? Meet a mischievous Vampire and a wily Witch as they reveal the secrets of the Monsterverse. Packed with interactive shows, stories and silly scares, it’s monstrously good fun for all ages.

Book early and save 15%. 

Your admission price will depend on the day you want to visit. Find out more about our pricing.

Halloween Half-Term At Dover 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.

The Kitchen Garden At Marble Hill

Get creative this Halloween with ghoulishly good crafts at Goodrich Castle.

Join us from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November, from between 11am – 3pm each day to design and build your very own Ghoul Puppet.

With a mix-and-match selection of creepy body parts to choose from, kids can let their imaginations run wild and create a monster that’s spooky, silly, or somewhere in between.

This event is perfect for families looking for hands-on half-term fun — and a frightfully fun souvenir to take home.

Craft activities are included with admission which you can book via the button below.

Spooky Halloween Crafts At Goodrich Castle

Fragments of Belsay will be a site-specific installation that explores the hidden histories of the architecture, people and seasonal rhythms of Belsay Hall through the lens of archival research and making. Drawing on Sir Charles Monck's (the patron and designer of Belsay Hall) Common Place Books and journals, this project will reimagine a year in the life of Belsay, told through etched fragments of text, image, and found material from the estate.

During the pop-ups, we will be making 12 engraved plates, each representing a month of the year and bearing a quote taken from Monck’s personal writings. These are paired with 12 more intimate “moments,” uncovered from historical plans, diaries, and family notes, offering a layered and personal insight into the everyday life of the estate in the early 19th century.

On the day of the workshop, visitors are invited to stop by the pop-up studio in the library to observe, ask questions, and take part in elements of the making process.

Watch as historical research is brought to life through traditional and experimental printmaking and bookbinding techniques, and add your own reflections and responses to the story of Belsay.

This is a drop-in workshop, included with site admission to Belsay Hall.

Live Making Workshop At Belsay Hall

Step into the shadows on a one hour guided tour on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October, where eerie tales and hidden secrets bring the abbey’s past to life with a chilling twist.

Your journey ends atop the Campanile Mound with sweeping views of the abbey, if you dare to look back.

Arrive from 3.30pm to wander the museum, browse the shop, or make use of the facilities before the tour begins. Please wear suitable footwear for uneven paths. The tours will start at 4pm.

This tour is suitable for ages 12+.

Shadows Of The Abbey:

Join our ghost-hunting storytellers on a family-friendly walk through the shadows of Belsay Castle. With tales full of strange and spooky goings-on, this Halloween walk is sure to get you into the spirit of the season.

This is an outdoor, early evening tour. It’s ideal if you’re after a more light-hearted Halloween event for children aged 5-10. Please wear suitable shoes, and be sure to dress for the weather.

Book early and save 15%. 

Your ticket is only for entry to the event. Members get a discount on the ticket price. You’ll need to book a time slot using the link above. Please bring your booking confirmation with you on the day.

Spooky Woodland Walk At Belsay Hall

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. 

Members' Event:

English Heritage

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