Northumberland

Exploring the theme of ‘Making space work harder – Big is not always Better’, architects Dr David Morton and Tarek Ahmed will show architectural models, drawings and concepts from their development of an innovative modular pavilion imagined for Belsay Hall's quarry garden on Friday 10 October.

Suitable for 16+. All materials will be provided.

Entry to the workshop is included with your site admission which you can book via the button below.

To book your place for this workshop, please email belsay.hall@english-heritage.org.uk

Architects’ Talk At Belsay Hall - Making Space Work Harder

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

This autumn Belsay Hall's library will host a number of creatives from the Northumbria University Schools of Design and Architecture in a pop up studio.

See the development of creative projects across a range of media including textiles, furniture, photography and architectural studies. All works will draw inspiration from the Hall, exploring making traditions linked to the site, while showcasing contemporary techniques and approaches.

Belsay Hall has always inspired creativity and craft skill, and its creation was a catalyst for creative skills in the North East. The library was used as a workshop during the building of the Hall, so it’s a natural fit for a studio. Make & Mend will bring creating back to the Hall, and inspire new generations of budding creatives.

The finished products will go on display in early 2026.

Creative projects include:

A collection of homeware and lighting that explore contemporary uses of scagliola (plaster-based imitation stone, as used at Belsay Hall)

Camouflage fabrics that draw on the colours and foliage found on the estate. The project links to how the house was occupied by the army during the Second World War

A photographic study that explores the in-between spaces not often seen by visitors, such as landings and corridors

Large format photography that documents the layers of decay, repair and patina found in the Hall

A new typeface alphabet based on examples of graffiti left by soldiers based at Belsay during the Second World War

This event is included in your admission to Beslay Hall. Book early and save 15%.

Make And Mend At Belsay 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.

The Kitchen Garden At Marble Hill

Fought on 21 July 1403, the battle of Shrewsbury saw the defeat of a rebellion led by Sir Henry 'Harry Hotspur' Percy by the forces of King Henry IV. It was the first battle where English longbowmen fought each other on English soil and the casualties included Hotspur, who was killed, and the future Henry V who was wounded in the face by an arrow. Join Julian Humphrys of the Battlefield Trust for a walk that follows the course of the fighting and includes a visit to the church which was subsequently built on the site of the battle. There will be the opportunity to purchase refreshments both before and after the walk.

This tour is graded as challenging access due the walk covering several miles over uneven terrain.

Members' Event:

Join historian Dr Susan Skedd on a guided walk around the streets of Notting Hill and Holland Park and discover where some of its most notable former inhabitants lived and worked. Find out about the lives of the political figures, scientists, writers and artists who formerly lived here, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

This walk is graded as moderate access, as it entails walking for up to 2 miles with few places to stop and sit down.

Come to Marble Hill and learn about our trees and the work we've done in regard to trees across the park! Our wonderful guides will lead you around Marble Hill Park, showing you our wonderful collection of trees!

   Meet at the cafe at 1pm.

  This event runs every 2nd Friday of the Month.

Tree Tour At Marble Hill

Join us at Marble Hill House on Friday 10 and Wednesday 29 October for a literary talk on 'The Birth of the Gothic Novel at Twickenham' with readings from ‘The Castle of Otranto’ by Horace Walpole.

Join us for a drink from 5.30pm. A glass of bubbly or a non-alcoholic alternative is included in the ticket price. The tour will take place 6-7pm.

This talk will be delivered by Alison Stacey. Alison has always had a love of history. She was a local teacher of English and the Classics for over 35 years and joined Marble Hill as a volunteer in 2020. Since joining the team, Alison has revelled in the nuances of the Georgian era. She has a fascination with and a deep understanding of the historic links between the house, the life of Henrietta Howard and the creative world that she inhabited.

Please meet your guide inside the house.

This talk is not sutiable for children under 13.

Halloween Talk:

Start the weekend energised with a spot of Community Yoga amongst the backdrop of Marble Hill and it's surroundings! Community based event, meet on the Oval Lawn (Behind House towards River) at 8am.

Community Yoga

This October, step into the scene of England’s most famous battle. Witness warriors clash and mud fly as over 300 re-enactors bring the Battle of Hastings to life on the very spot where it was fought in 1066.

Take the day to explore all the action in the rival Saxon and Norman camps. See the chain mail and weaponry makers while they’re hard at work. And meet the falconers and their birds of prey alongside them. Weave your way through the tents where there’s food to prepare, logs to chop and clothes to mend. Come and see – and smell – what’s cooking.

Kids can take up arms and try their hand at archery or join in sword school. And don’t miss the dramatic retelling of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Then take your spot for the highlight of the day as the hard-hitting armies clash in combat and battle rages.

Book early and save 15%.

Battle Of Hastings

Join us on the second Saturday of every month for our FREE open day. Explore the fort, bring a picnic and hear about the history of this fascinating site and see the Fort Cumberland Guard display.

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

There are loud bangs on open days when the Fort Cumberland Guard are on site.

Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Fort Brockhurst Open Day With Fort Cumberland Guard

Join Deaf BSL Guide and artist Olivier Jamin for a tour of Kenilworth Castle.

Kenilworth Castle’s story begins in the 1120s. Over 900 years it has been strengthened by some kings and attacked by others. And 450 years ago, it even hosted a famous visit from Queen Elizabeth I.

Meet Olivier at the Visitor Centre where he will lead you around the site and share with you some of the most exciting tales from Kenilworth’s past. The tour is free but places do need to be booked.

EMAIL ACCESS@ENGLISH-HERITAGE.ORG.UK TO BOOK

You will also need to buy a ticket for the castle (members get free entry, just show your English Heritage membership card when you arrive). If you book in advance, you can save 15% on the ticket price. Book your tickets to Kenilworth Castle here. Free essential companion or carer tickets are available online or at the ticket desk.

There is a car park near the entrance with standard spaces, accessible bays, and overflow parking on grass. If you’re not a member of English Heritage or Blue Badge holder, you need to pay for parking here.

The tour route covers some steep, rough and uneven ground, including grass and gravel. There thre are accessible toilets, including one at the Visitor Centre, which is the meeting point. For more information about accessibility please visit our access page.

British Sign Language (Bsl) Tour Of Kenilworth Castle

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.

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

  WHO?

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 walk to 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

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  WHEN?

All sessions run from 10am - 2pm on the following dates:

Autumn 2025

Spring 2026

Sun 7 Sep 2025 Sun 15 Mar 2026

Sun 28 Sep 2025 Sun 29 Mar 2026

Sun 12 Oct 2025 Sun 19 Apr 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:

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. 

Architects’ Talk At Belsay Hall - Making Space Work Harder

English Heritage

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