History

County Durham

Darlington

Step into the 11th century at Richmond Castle on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July and experience the sights and sounds of Norman life.

Explore the armoury – try on a hauberk or feel the weight of a sword

Chat with cooks and taste dishes that once graced a garrison table

Learn about Norman fashions and daily life

Watch the soldiers train hard to keep their fighting skills sharp (and hopefully avoid the surgeon!)

Bring the whole family for an unforgettable weekend of history brought to life.

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

Conquest:

This summer we are proud to guide you into the delightfully chaotic world of The Pickwick Papers, where misadventure and merriment collide in a whirlwind of Dickensian absurdity!

Join the lovable Mr. Pickwick and his eccentric band of companions as they bumble their way through confusing courtships, courtroom shenanigans, questionable duels, and carriage rides gone terribly wrong. Expect fast-paced wit, slapstick, more multi-rolling mayhem, and a cast of larger-than-life characters in this brand new and hilarious adaptation.

Dickens has never been this delightfully unpredictable! Secure your seat, pack your picnic and prepare for an uproarious adventure with the Pickwick Society—where the only certainty is a thoroughly good time to be had by all!

Doors open at 6.30pm. Bring your own seating and picnics.

BOOK TICKETS TO THE PICKWICK PAPERS

The Pickwick Papers At Goodrich Castle

Spend a Sunday at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Brodsworth Hall

Spend a Sunday at Eltham Palace and Gardens listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Eltham Palace And Gardens

Spend a Sunday at Bolsover Castle listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Bolsover Castle

Spend a Sunday at Walmer Castle and Gardens listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Walmer Castle And Gardens

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

Spend a Sunday at Down House listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Down House

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

Spend a Sunday at Audley End House and Gardens listening to live music, plus a special opening on Saturday 4 July.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Audley End House And Gardens

Spend a Sunday at Wrest Park listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Wrest Park

Spend a Sunday at Battle Abbey listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Book early and save 15%

Sunday Music At Battle Abbey

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:

Spend a Sunday at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens listening to live music.

Bring your chairs or blankets, grab a refreshing treat from our café and enjoy a wonderful day of music.

Join us on:

Sunday 5 July – Harworth Brass Band

Sunday 12 July – Deepcar Brass Band

Sunday 19 July – Dinnington Brass Band

Sunday 26 July – Leeds Community Concert Band

Sunday 2 August – Thurcroft Welfare Band

Sunday 9 August – Lofthouse Brass Band

Sunday 16 August – Maltby Miners Welfare Band

Sunday 23 August – Barnsley Brass Band

Sunday 30 August – Oughtibridge Brass Band

Book early and save 15%

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

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. 

Conquest:

English Heritage

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