Christmas

Essex

Uttlesford

Join us at Audley End House and Gardens for a festive day out the whole family will love.

Make magical memories as you explore the house and grounds and enjoy festive activities. Soak up the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas past and present.

Book online and save 15%.

More information coming soon.

Make your visit even more special - book your slot to meet Father Christmas during Festive Fun weekends.

Festive Fun At Audley End House And Gardens

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

Spend a lazy Sunday at Brodsworth Hall listening to live music. Each week will bring a different genre for you to enjoy.

  Bring along deck chairs and a picnic and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music.

  Book early and save 15%.

Sunday Music At Brodsworth Hall

Spend a lazy Sunday at Belsay Hall listening to live music.

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

Book early and save 15%.

Sunday Music At Belsay Hall

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:

Come and enjoy a weekend full of plants, talks, and inspiration at Eltham’s Autumn Plant Fair. With over 20 stands, there's plenty to explore.

Take a seat in the beautiful Italian Drawing Room and enjoy free talks from 15 expert speakers, including authors, head gardeners, historians, and horticulture professionals.

Whether you're a keen gardener or just enjoy the outdoors, there's something for everyone.

Admission to the plant fair is included in your ticket to visit Eltham Palace and free for all members.

Eltham Palace Autumn Plant Fair

Spend a lazy Sunday at Bolsover Castle listening to live music. Each week will bring a different genre for you to enjoy.

  Bring along deck chairs and a picnic and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music.

  Book early and save 15%.

Sunday Music At Bolsover Castle

Experience the power and glamour of John Singer Sargent’s portraits in Kenwood's new exhibition; Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits.

Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits reveals the real stories behind the fascinating American women who crossed the Atlantic to marry British aristocrats in an exchange of money for titles. These women include a war-time nurse and the first sitting female MP.

Sargent was one of the most sought-after artists of the Gilded Age and was ‘the artist’ to depict these intriguing women. On the centenary of his death, the exhibition will be a salute to John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), the most admired and sought-after portraitist of the Gilded Age on both sides of the Atlantic. These portraits represent some of his most glamorous and powerful works. In addition to full-length oil paintings, masterful charcoal portraits also feature, depicting their subjects in a candid and perceptive light.

Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits is curated by English Heritage with the charity drawing upon the expertise of Richard Ormond CBE. The renowned Sargent scholar and the artist’s great-nephew is the exhibition’s consultant.

Heiress:

Spend a lazy Sunday at Belsay Hall listening to live music.

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

Sunday 31st August: Caribbean Harmony

Join us for an afternoon of steel drum entertainment with music from the Caribbean.

Sunday 7th September: Bollywood Fusion

Enjoy an afternoon of live music from the east with Bollywood strings.

Sunday 14th September: Miss Marina Mae

An afternoon of music from across the decades awaits with this amazing vocalist. 

Sunday 21st September: Sounds of Time

Enjoy an afternoon of live music from the delightful duo.

Performances will start at 12.30pm & 2.30pm.

Book early and save 15%.

Join us at Audley End House and Gardens for our monthly Pop-Up Markets, held on the second Sunday of each month from June through September. These special events take place in the historic dining parlour of the main house, offering a unique and atmospheric setting with stunning views across the gardens.

Discover a vibrant mix of local artisans, independent makers, and small businesses – all showcasing original, handcrafted goods and creative goods. These markets are the perfect addition to a full day out at Audley End.

Support the local economy and creative community, while enjoying everything Audley End has to offer – beautiful gardens, historic architecture, and now, a curated marketplace of exceptional local talent.

Upcoming Market Dates:

Sunday 13th July

Sunday 10th August

Sunday 14th September

Audley End House And Gardens Pop-Up Markets

Spend a lazy Sunday at Brodsworth Hall listening to live music. Each week will bring a different genre for you to enjoy.

  Bring along deck chairs and a picnic and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music.

  Sunday 31 August: Sounds of Time

Sit back and relax as Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer perform folk music from ages past to the modern day. 

Sunday 7 September: Generation Groove

Join us for an afternoon of swing, jazz, pop, and more with this great community band.

Sunday 14 September: Catherine Rannus Trio

Enjoy an afternoon of stunning music with this great Trio.

Sunday 21 September: Take 2 Big Band

Enjoy an afternoon of Big Band with its complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms.

Performances will start at 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

Book early and save 15%.

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.

Visitors can 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

Every September, thousands of volunteers across England host events to celebrate the country’s rich history and culture as part of Heritage Open Days. It’s a unique opportunity to discover hidden places, enjoy new experiences, and explore remarkable sites – all completely free of charge.

Join us at St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury on Monday 15 September for our annual Heritage Open Day. Come and explore the site, learn about its fascinating history, and take part in this nationwide celebration of heritage.

FIND OUT MORE ON THE HERITAGE OPEN DAYS WEBSITE

Heritage Open Day At St Augustine's Abbey

English Heritage in partnership with the National Garden Scheme is delighted to be offering you the chance to experience the beautiful gardens of Osborne in the early evening 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 how they are presented today reflects their rich history.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions of the team as you experience the gardens at this very special event.

Proceeds from the event will go to fund nursing and health charities through the National Garden Scheme, which raises millions of pounds per year for organisations like Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, and Hospice UK. Find out more, and discover other special garden visits near you, on the National Garden Scheme website.

Exclusive Evening Garden Tour At Osborne

As part of the 2025 Heritage Open Days Festival, English Heritage are offering specialist free guide tours of Beeston Castle with our Medieval Stonemason. The tours will take place at 11am and 2pm on Tuesday 16 September.

Normal admission charges into the site apply.

From Quarry To Chapter House - Exclusive Tour Of Beeston Castle

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

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. 

Festive Fun At Audley End House And Gardens

English Heritage

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