May bank holiday fun
Join in the fun across the May bank holidays and experience some living history first hand at a range of great family events at some of English Heritage’s finest properties. Events take place over both holiday weekends and give visitors a chance to learn the covert techniques of spying, marvel at a medieval joust or watch Victorian history brought to life. There really is something for everyone and the events offer families a perfect way to enjoy some of England’s most beautiful historic properties as they relax over the long weekends.
MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY - SPY SCHOOL
Dover Castle, Kent
Saturday 3 - Monday 5 May (Bank Holiday), 10am – 5pm
Have you got what it takes to become a top secret agent or super sleuth? Come and join in a day of clue cracking and cipher decoding to discover your skills of detection. Need a good disguise? Have fun with weird wigs and mad moustaches and see if mum and dad still recognise you with your new identity! Find out how real double agents and spies hid secret information in everyday items and then, just like “Q” in the James Bond films, have a go making some spy gadgets yourself.
Prices: Adults £10.30/ Concessions £8.20/ Children £5.20/ Family Ticket £25.80
English Heritage Members: Free
A GRAND MEDIEVAL JOUST
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Sunday 4 & Monday 5 May, 11am – 4pm
Enjoy the thrills and spills of medieval jousting as this genuine battle of skill returns by popular demand. Be entertained by fantastic falconry and wandering minstrels and let the kids find out if they’ve got what it takes to be a medieval knight!
Pre-booking recommended
Prices: Adults £10.00/ Concessions £8.00/ Children £5.00/ Family Ticket £25.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £5.00/ Concession £4.00/ Children £2.50/ Family Ticket £12.50
A TIME OF CHIVALRY
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Sunday 4 & Monday 5 May, 11am – 5pm
March “once more unto the breach” in an exciting build up to the Battle of Agincourt. Galloping knights on horseback, foot soldiers and a dedicated team of archers join forces to fight for honour, glory and valour. Escape into this chivalrous time with Living History displays ranging from cookery to religious exhibits, from a busy market to falconry. Also be entertained by a puppet show, music, dance and storytelling.
Prices: Adults £8.00/ Concessions £5.30/ Children £3.50/ Family Ticket £19.50
English Heritage Members: Adults £2.00/ Concessions £1.00/ Children £1.00/ Family Ticket £5.00
WHITSUN BANK HOLIDAY - LIVING HISTORY SPECTACULAR
Dover Castle, Kent
Saturday 24 – Monday 26 May (Bank Holiday), 10am – 5pm
Take a trip back through time to meet Romans, Tudors and soldiers from World Wars I and II. Experience the atmosphere of a bustling medieval market place and mingle with courtiers and servants in the towering castle keep. Be thrilled by the displays of skill from the Norman cavalry and laugh at the antics of jesters and performers from the Middle Ages. Have fun as you try your hand at medieval games, music and dance, but make sure you behave yourself as the Victorian policeman is on patrol!
New for 2008 – Discover more about the Great War. Take the Trench Experience where tales from re-enactors provide a thought-provoking look at life in the trenches during World War I. Get up close to a replica World War I plane and learn more about the bravery and skills of the Royal Flying Corps in their static display.
Prices: Adults £13.00/ Concessions £14.40/ Children £6.50/ Family Ticket £32.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £2.70/ Concessions £2.20/ Children £1.30/ Family Ticket £6.20
A GRAND VICTORIAN FAYRE
Audley End, Essex
Saturday 24 – Monday 26 May, 11am – 5pm
All things Victorian descend on Audley End this weekend. Marvel at the horsemanship at the gymkhana and Victorian sideshows. Meet redcoat soldiers, try your hand at Victorian dance and even get recruited for Queen Victoria's army!
Prices: Adults £10.50/ Concessions £8.40/ Children £5.30/ Family Ticket £26.30
English Heritage Members: Free
TREASURE ISLAND, SMUGGLERS AND SALTY SEADOGS
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Saturday 24 – Monday 26 May, from 11am
A packed weekend of nautical fun, complete with pirates, smugglers, privateers and sea dogs. Watch a children’s musical adaptation of the classic ‘Treasure Island’ which tells the story of young Jim Hawkins as he set sail in search of buried treasure. See duelling pirates armed with cutlasses and swords demonstrate their fighting skills and learn about their flamboyant lifestyle. Meet Mrs Cook (played by one half of comedy duo Inner State Theatre) – mother of Whitby’s most famous son, Captain Cook as she boasts of her boy’s many exploits.
Prices: Adults £5.50/ Concessions £4.50/ Children £3.00/ Family Ticket £14.00
English Heritage Members: Free
KNIGHT SCHOOL
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Saturday 24 - Friday 30 May, 11am – 5pm (4pm on Saturday)
What better way to learn the skills required of a medieval warrior than to get 'armoured up' for battle, have sword-fighting lessons and participate in a mock battle in defence of the Realm!
Prices: Adults £5.50/ Concession £4.40/ Children £2.80/ Family Ticket £13.80
English Heritage Members: Free
WEAPONS OF WAR
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Sunday 25 May – Sunday 1 June, 11am – 4pm
Join us for this exploration of weapons through the ages, and even take the chance to try your hand at firing a model cannon.
Prices: Adults £7.00/ Concessions £5.60/ Children £3.50/ Family Ticket £17.50
English Heritage Members: Free
ELIZABETHAN WEEK
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Sunday 25 – Friday 30 May, 11am – 5pm
Enjoy a week of Elizabethan-style entertainment in preparation for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth I. Visitors will experience the music, games and riddles, and sword fighting that were the traditional entertainments of the time. See how life really was in Tudor times as Tudor folk take over the castle on the Sunday and Monday of the bank holiday weekend.
Prices: Adults £7.70/ Concessions £5.20/ Children £3.30/ Family Ticket £18.70/
English Heritage Members: Adults £2.00/ Concessions £1.00./ Children £1.00/ Family Ticket £5.00
Why not become an English Heritage member? English Heritage members get free or reduced-price entry to events, as well as free entry to over 400 unique historic sites - join online at English-heritage.org.uk/membership quoting EVEN.
