Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire

Join our volunteer bird watchers for a guided 5am bird walk to hear the dawn chorus and see our birds at Wrest Park.

The walk will last an hour and a half. Our cafe will also be open from 4.45am and throughout the morning for coffees and breakfast.

If you would like to visit us without the guided bird walk you are very welcome and we will be open continuously from 4.45am until last entry at 4pm.

This guided walk is included with your general admission to Wrest Park. Book in advance and save 15%. Members go free.

Dawn Chorus Guided Bird Walk At Wrest Park

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

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

Join us at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings for free family workshops this May half-term.

Sashiko Workshop with Anthea Renshaw

Tuesday 26 May, 10am to 2pm

Join artist, Anthea Renshaw as she explores English Maytime folklore and stories combined with the art of Japanese stitching to make your very own Sashiko coaster or bookmark to take home with you.

There is no need to book, just drop in. Sashiko making is aimed at those 7 and above, but for under 7s can make their own Aida cloth to take home with them. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Cats and Dragons Puppet Making

Wednesday 27 May 10am to 3pm

Thursday 28 May 10am to 3pm

Cats and dragons both feature as a big part of the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings story. Join us this May half term to find out why. Create your own cat and dragon paper puppets to take home. This is suitable for all ages. All children must be accompanied by an adult. There is no need to book, just drop in.

You can also visit the Mill exhibition which is open all week at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, 10am to 5pm, last admission is at 4pm. There is also a brand new dragon trail to follow within the exhibition space too. If you would like to visit the exhibition, please book in advance to save 15%, or pay for your admission on the day. Members go free.

May Half Term Workshops At Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

Enjoy a landscape walk, led by our knowledgeable volunteers. Learn more about Marble Hill's historic landscape and the changes made to it through time.

These tours run every first Friday of the month, all year round.

Please meet outside the front of house at 1pm.

Landscape Tours At Marble Hill

Join us at Richmond MayFest which takes place on the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

Expect loads of great music, dancing and drama in and around Richmond Castle and Richmond town centre. The castle hosts the Mayfair which is filled with fun, games, music and dance across the whole weekend

As a community festival, local residents (with these postcodes DL9, DL10 and DL11) get a discount on all ticketed events, as well as free admission to Richmond Castle on Saturday 2, Sunday 3 and Monday 4 May.

Mayfest At Richmond Castle

Join us for a family-friendly event at Chesters Roman Fort.

Step back to AD 400 and experience the final years of Roman Britain as the Comitatus, a Late Roman field army, brings the fort to life.

Watch live demonstrations of formation fighting and arms drill and see a wide range of authentic late Roman weapons and armour, including spears, swords and javelins. Learn about life in the late Roman army, and hear about the challenges faced by soldiers defending Britain as the Roman Empire began to decline.

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

End Of The Empire At Chesters Roman Fort

The Yarnies will be returning to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings on Saturday 2 May from 10am - 4pm for a day dedicated to celebrating the beauty and creativity of fibre. Whether visitors knit, crochet, spin, weave or simply enjoy being surrounded by colourful yarn, this is one to mark in the diary.

Guests can browse hand-dyed yarns, spinning fibres, beautiful tools and unique accessories, while meeting talented indie dyers, chatting with fellow yarn enthusiasts and discovering inspiration for their next project.

Demonstrations will take place throughout the day, offering plenty to see and learn, all set within this incredible historic venue. There may even be the perfect opportunity to add a few new skeins to the stash.

Everyone is welcome, from seasoned makers to those who are simply yarn-curious. 

BOOK TICKETS FOR 'YARNIES' AT SHREWSBURY FLAXMILL MALTINGS

Visitors can expect to find:

Hand-dyed yarns in stunning seasonal shades

Knitting and crochet supplies

Embroidery, felting, spinning & weaving materials

Beautiful buttons, patterns and haberdashery

Handmade gifts and artisan wares

Yarnies At Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

Enjoy listening to Yorkshire’s finest bands, as they perform against the stunning backdrop of Brodsworth Hall.

Bring along your deck chairs and relax with an afternoon of superb music. The perfect way to spend the early May bank holiday. 

Book online in advance and save 15%.

Swing Into Spring At Brodsworth Hall

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

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. 

Dawn Chorus Guided Bird Walk At Wrest Park

English Heritage

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