Festival

Tour

Shropshire

Telford and Wrekin

As part of the 2025 Heritage Open Days Festival, English Heritage are offering specialist free guide tours of Wenlock Priory with our Medieval Stonemason on Thursday 18 September 2025. The tours will take place at 11am and 1pm.

From Quarry To Chapter House Free Tour At Wenlock Priory

Audley End is celebrated for its magnificence: beautifully furnished rooms and fine objects, carefully arranged and presented for visitors. Yet above these showpiece interiors lies another, lesser-known world.

Running from May to November 2026, Behind Closed Doors is a new exhibition that offers a rare glimpse into the hidden second-floor rooms, long closed to the public. Once guest bedrooms and servants’ quarters, they now function as store rooms, revealing a quieter side of life within the house.

Through the photographs of Lachlan French and Clive Downes, these interiors evoke a faded splendour, carefully preserved as if a moment frozen in time.

In contrast to the rooms below, they offer a more subtle beauty, shaped by memory, atmosphere, and the traces of lives once lived behind closed doors.

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

Behind Closed Doors:

Join us at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings for a series of talks run by our knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers. These talks are free, but donation contributions to English Heritage will be welcome.

The talks will run on the last Saturday of the month at 1pm to 1.30pm in the Smithy at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings.

You can drop in on the day, but places are limited so to guarantee your place please email shrewsburyflaxillmalting@english-heritage.org.uk

Talks: 

Sunday 19 April at 1pm - 1.30pm - 'William Hazledine: Groundbreaking Iron Master.' Talk presented by Mike Rochfort.

Saturday 30 May at 1pm - 1.30pm - 'Off the Shelf - Archive Talk.' Talk presented by Penny Ward.

Saturday 27 June at 1pm - 1.30pm - 'Migration of Families.' Talk presented by Penny Ward.

Saturday 25 July at 1pm - 1.30pm - 'Development of the Iron Frame.' Talk presented by Bob Saunders.

Saturday 29 August at 1pm - 1.30pm - 'The Awesome Flax plant Through History.' Talk presented by Anthony Dunford.

Spotlight Talks At Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

This summer, Belsay Hall hosts a new exhibition in partnership with Northumbria University.

Make and Mend brings together around 20 artists, inviting their creative responses to Belsay’s rich heritage through a range of disciplines, including textiles, furniture, photography, and architectural studies.

The exhibition blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques, celebrating both the history of making and the ongoing art of preservation.

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

Make And Mend At Belsay Hall

Join us at Goodrich Castle on Saturday 28 June for Medieval Sword School and learn to wield a sword like a medieval knight.

Goodrich Castle's constable and his men will be training, honing their sword skills, and they're happy to teach you a trick or two as well!

There will be demonstrations at 11am and 2pm and more informal lessons throughout the day.

Medieval Sword School At Goodrich Castle

Calling all book lovers! Join us at Bayham Old Abbey for a Book Bonanza – a delightful day of browsing, discovering, and taking home your next great read.

Explore a treasure trove of second-hand books, from well-loved classics to hidden gems, with something for readers of all ages and interests. Whether you’re hunting for a page-turner, a cosy comfort read, or a surprise find, you never know what you might uncover.

Every donation helps support English Heritage, so you can stock up your shelves while giving something back to the care of special places like Bayham Old Abbey.

Bayham Old Abbey Book Bonanza

Join experienced BSL Guide Alan Murray for a tour of Wellington Arch. Learn about the history of the of one of London's most iconic landmarks and take in the panoramic views from the balcony.

This tour is included with your general admission to Wellington Arch which you can book below. Members go free but will need to pre-book tickets too. Select how many tickets you need, then select the date of the tour. There will be an option to add on the BSL Tour afterwards. Please see full booking instructions below.

If you need any help with your booking, or need more information, please email: apsleyhouse@english-heritage.org.uk

Access information:

Meeting Point: outside the main entrance of Wellington Arch. The What 3 Words address is https://what3words.com/become.bend.host.The closest tube station is Hyde Park Corner.

There is a lift to all floors or 65 steps to the top of the arch

Toilets: There is an accessible toilet

Parking: There is very limited parking on site at Apsley House (170m away) for blue badge holders, which must be booked in advance. Drop off at Apsley House is available and does not need to be booked.

British Sign Language Guided Tour Of Wellington Arch

Celebrate Henry VIII's 535th birthday at Gainsborough Old Hall this year with some fantastic activities!

Bring a picnic, make a crown, take part in a joust and create your own royal portrait inspired by Tudor artist Hans Holbein.

Inside the Hall families can dress up, prepare a birthday feast for the king and re-enact his grand entrance into Gainsborough.

This event is included with general admission. Book early and save 15%. Members get free entry.

Craft activities will run in the Education Room from 10am - 2pm and are free to drop in and take part in.

King Henry Viii's Birthday Party At Gainsborough Old Hall

Join us for a Classic Car show in the grounds of Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens on Sunday 28 June, from 10am - 5pm. 

There will be a range of cars from various eras and models throughout the grounds to see.

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

Classic Car Show At Belsay Hall, Castle And Gardens

Free outdoor sessions to help you feel better, move more, connect with nature, and meet new people—no gym needed!

Come and join us for relaxed, friendly group movement sessions at Dover's Western Heights.

Hike, stretch, breathe, run, and enjoy nature together. It’s all about feeling good in your body and mind, with no pressure and no cost.

We’ll help you learn how to use the Western Heights as a free outdoor gym, so you can make the most of this amazing landscape and keep moving in a way that feels good for you, both during the sessions and on your own.

There will be plenty of chances to connect with others, with sessions designed to help you meet people and feel part of something positive. Even better, we hope you’ll keep exercising together between sessions, exploring the Heights with new friends and supporting each other along the way.

Dont fancy the full four hours? Not a problem! There's a natural break halfway through the session, and we completely understand if you'd rather call it a day at that point. The most important thing to us is that you feel happy and comfortable.

  WHO?

Sessions are led by Primal Runners – friendly coaches trained to support all abilities and backgrounds.

Everyone is welcome, especially if you:

Feel stressed, lonely, or stuck indoors

Want to get moving but don’t like gyms

Are new to Dover or new to speaking English

Just want to try something different

Please note: These are active sessions. The route around the Western Heights is steep and requires good mobility. If you have any questions about accessibility, please get in touch. We're happy to help you work out if the sessions will be suitable for you.

  WHAT?

Each session includes:

A welcome chat

A walk or run through nature

Simple body movement (no equipment needed)

Breathing and calming exercises

Time to talk, share, and connect

No experience or fancy gear is needed. Just wear some trainers and comfortable clothes to move in.

  WHERE?

Meet us at The Rings in Dover's Market Square. We’ll head up to the Western Heights together.

There is pay-and-display parking available in Dover town centre. The nearest railway station is Dover Priory, a 5-minute walk from the Market Square, and Stagecoach buses stop nearby in Pencester Road and Priory Street.

Postcode | CT16 1NU

What3Words ///curl.cloth.tigers

  WHEN?

All sessions run from 10am - 2pm (with the option to finish at 12pm) on the following dates:

Sun 29 Mar 2026

Sun 26 Apr 2026

Sun 31 May 2026

Sun 28 Jun 2026

Sun 26 Jul 2026

Sun 30 Aug 2026

  THIS EVENT IS PART OF ENGLISH HERITAGE'S REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS PROJECT.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Reaching Greater Heights is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to restore historic chalk grasslands at Dover Castle and Western Heights, protect rare wildlife and heritage, and empower local communities through volunteering, learning, and activities.

Heights Not Weights:

Join us in the gardens for a relaxed outdoor performance of classic gospel and feel good music by local choir, the Thanet Jubilee Singers.

Thanet Jubilee Singers

In the eighteenth century, the beautiful music room at Kenwood House

was where the lady of the house would entertain her guests.

It is now peopled by paintings of beauties and celebrities of the age such as Kitty Fisher, Mrs Jordan and Emma Hart in portraits by Reynolds, Romney, Gainsborough and Hoppner. The lives of these painted ladies are brought to life with music for and about actresses, courtesans, milkmaids and the Blue

Stocking Society.

Join us at Kenwood for two 30 minute concerts running from 2pm - 2.30pm and 3.15pm - 3.45pm

We are grateful to the generous support of the Continuo Foundation

for making these concerts possible. Donations towards Kenwood are gratefully received.

Painted Ladies Saraband Concerts At Kenwood

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

In partnership with the National Garden Scheme, we’re delighted to offer you the chance to explore the beautiful gardens of Walmer Castle in the early evening of Tuesday 30 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 Walmer 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.

Members' Event:

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. 

From Quarry To Chapter House Free Tour At Wenlock Priory

English Heritage

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