Experience the past with English Heritage

Have you ever wanted to walk in the shoes of a great monarch, or the sandals of a Roman centurion? What about the donning the armour of a jousting knight, or the leather apron of a medieval surgeon? This May, join English Heritage for a host of events that will have you experiencing British history like never before.

To find out more about English Heritage’s events and great membership offers, visit english-heritage.org.uk.

Event Information:

9 - 10 May

VICTORIAN BEACH LIFE AT AUDLEY END
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 May, 11am – 5pm
Take a trip to the Victorian beach at Audley End. Enjoy traditional seaside activities, Victorian style, with Punch and Judy, beach games, ice creams and plenty of sandy fun for all. Don’t forget your bucket and spade!
Prices: Adults £10.70 / Concessions £9.10 / Children £5.40 / Family Ticket £26.80
English Heritage Members: Free

ART DECO FAIR
Eltham Palace, London
Saturday 9 May, 12pm – 5pm & Sunday 10 May, 10am – 5pm
Returning for another year due to popular demand, our much-loved Art Deco Fair gives you the opportunity to buy original 1930s objects in the magnificent Art Deco surroundings of Eltham Palace. Browse everything Art Deco, from jewellery to furniture.
Prices: Adults £8.30 / Concessions £7.10 / Children £4.20 / Family Ticket £20.80
English Heritage Members: Free

23 - 25 May

WWII WEEKEND
Dover Castle, Kent
Saturday 23 – Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 10am – 5pm
To mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day, join us at Dover Castle for our WWII Weekend. Experience the living history encampments and find out what life was really like from English, German and French soldiers. Throughout the day watch skirmishes, practice your drill with Sergeant de Forges, and take instruction from a WWII nurse to learn how to dress a wound.
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adults £10.00 / Concessions £8.00 / Children £5.00 / Family Ticket £25.00
English Heritage Members: Free

THE ENGLISH VILLAGE GREEN
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Saturday 23 – Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
The English Village Green comes to life at Audley End with fun activities for the whole family. Try your hand at a traditional coconut shy or hoopla. Meet Mr Alexander and enjoy magic shows at his travelling theatre or take part in games and races with prizes given by none other than Queen Victoria herself!
Prices: Adults £10.70 / Concessions £9.10 / Children £5.40 / Family Ticket £26.80
English Heritage Members: Free

WARTIME WEEKEND
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Saturday 23 – Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
The Northern World War II Association brings over 100 soldiers and civilians for our spectacular 1940s Wartime Weekend in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War. With two explosive battle re-enactments each day, children’s activities, 1940s music, sing alongs and demonstrations on the ABC of UXB, visitors should prepare to be amazed!
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adults £6.00 / Concessions £5.00 / Children £4.00 / Family Ticket £16.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £2.00 / Concessions £1.50 / Children £1.00 / Family Ticket £5.00

TUDOR TRAIL FOR CHILDREN
Eltham Palace, London
Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
Try and find Henry VIII and his six wives in this trail around the gardens of Eltham Palace. Fun for all the family!
Prices: Adults £8.30 / Concessions £7.10 / Children £4.20 / Family Ticket £20.80
English Heritage Members: Free

MEDIEVAL COURTLY PLEASURES AND PURSUITS
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
Get caught up in the buzz of activity at Bolsover Castle as you enter the genteel yet cut-throat world of the medieval court. Observe as costumed ladies and nobles demonstrate the refined pursuits of singing, dancing and storytelling. Equally, the darker side of medieval life will be on display as you watch medieval knights being armed for combat, before clashing in a Tournament of Foot and demonstrating the skills of war.
Prices: Adults £7.00 / Concessions £6.00 / Children £3.50 / Family Ticket £17.50
English Heritage Members: Free

WARTIME WEEKEND
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
To mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day, join us at Pendennis Castle for this special trip down memory lane. Learn more about life as a soldier and civilian by visiting the living history encampments, vehicle displays and home front kitchen. Enjoy music from the fantastic 1940s singer Tricia Dibb, and join in with Newquay Jive Club's dancing demonstrations. The highlight of each day will be an awe inspiring parachute drop by the Royal Artillery Parachute Display team and a fantastic aerial display by a WW2 aircraft. A truly memorable day out for the whole family.
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adults £8.50 / Concessions £6.50 / Children £4.50 / Family Ticket £21.50
English Heritage Members: Adults £3.00 / Concessions £2.00 / Children £1.50 / Family Ticket £7.50

ROMAN WARRIORS & SOLDIERS
Birdoswald Roman Fort, Cumbria
Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
Come face to face with Roman soldiers from the time of the invasion of Britain to the end of Roman rule. Witness the drill and tactics of these soldiers. Plus, marvel at the skill and horsemanship of a fast paced duo of cavalry soldiers from this epic period in history.
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adults £5.70 / Concessions £4.50 / Children £3.50
English Heritage Members: Free

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
Sunday 24 – Friday 29 May (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
This half term join us for an action-packed, fun-filled festival especially for kids. Learn what it takes to become a knight of the realm, take part in our circus skills workshops, enjoy puppet shows, falconry displays, have your face painted, follow the treasure trail, play games and have a whale of a time making sand castles at our Victorian beach!
Prices: Adults £8.50 / Concessions £7.50 / Children £5.00 / Family Ticket £22.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £2.00 / Concessions £1.00 / Children £1.00 / Family Ticket £5.00
This event is supported by Ecclesistical.

N.B The castle car park will open at 09.30am with a charge of £2 to park for all visitors. There will be a free Park & Ride service running from 10am – 6pm. Visitors are advised to park in the Kenilworth town centre car parks and catch the free shuttle bus from the clock tower bus stop. Buses will run every 10-15 minutes.

THE MAKING OF ENGLAND… AGINCOURT 1415
Kelmarsh Hall, Northampton
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th May,*
Once more unto the breach! Brand new for the Festival of History 2009, stand firm alongside Henry V's knights and archers to re-live the epic Battle of Agincourt, when the flower of French chivalry met their match and a prince finally proved himself a King.
*Please visit english-heritage.org.uk to confirm event times and prices.

23 – 31 May

FAIRY TRAIL FOR CHILDREN
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, South Yorkshire
Saturday 23 – Sunday 31 May, 10am – 5.30pm
Concealed within these enchanting gardens are the mini model Victorian fairies who promise a fun sticker to those who can find them.
Prices: Adults £8.30 / Concessions £7.10 / Children £4.20
English Heritage Members: Free
N.B Includes admission to the hall and gardens

TUDOR TRAIL FOR CHILDREN
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk
Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 May, 11am – 5pm
Take part in traditional games at the castle and see if you can spot King Henry and all six of his wives hidden within the walls.
Prices: Adults £5.70 / Concessions £4.80 / Children £2.90 / Family Ticket £14.30
English Heritage Members: Free

TIME TRAVELLERS GO… HOBBY HORSES
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Tuesday 26 – Friday 29 May, 11am – 4pm
Travel back to the time when Bolsover Castle was brimming with wannabe horse masters. Join us and try your hand at some of the training exercises on our trusty hobby-horse steeds. See if you can make the grade and join the elite ranks of famous equestrians associated with the castle!
Prices: Adults £7.00 / Concessions £6.00 / Children £3.50* / Family Ticket £17.50
English Heritage Members: Free* (*+£1 for every child over five, members and non members)

TIME TRAVELLERS GO… SECRETS & SPIES
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Tuesday 26 – Sunday 31 May, 11am – 5pm
Calling all super sleuths, secret agents, and private eyes! Make the most of the spring half-term by joining our brand new hands-on history club just for children. This week the Time Travellers will take a journey back to the 1940s. Sharpen your detective skills with our hands on spy training and discover techniques used by real spies and agents during the Second World War.
Prices: Adults £4.50 / Concessions £3.80 / Children £2.30* / Family Ticket £11.30
English Heritage Members: Free* (*+£1 for every child over five, members and non members)

SPY QUEST FOR CHILDREN
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Tuesday 26 – Sunday 31 May, 10am – 5pm (4pm on Saturday)
Follow the clues around the castle, try to crack codes and ciphers to win your secret prize.
Prices: Adults £5.70 / Concessions £4.80 / Children £2.90 / Family Ticket £14.30
English Heritage Members: Free

VICTORIAN BEACH LIFE
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Wednesday 27 – Sunday 31 May, 11am – 5pm
Take a trip to the Victorian beach at Audley End. Enjoy traditional seaside activities, Victorian style, with Punch and Judy, beach games, ice creams and plenty of sandy fun for all. Why not bring a picnic and soak up the atmosphere as the Merrie Month of May concludes. Just don’t forget your bucket and spade!
Prices: Adults £10.70 / Concessions £9.10 / Children £5.40 / Family Ticket £26.80
English Heritage Members: Free

MEDIEVAL CLASH OF KNIGHTS
Beeston Castle, Cheshire
Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 May, 12pm – 5pm
Brave, bold and noble knights from the Harlech Medieval Society demonstrate the reality of medieval combat with a series of thrilling living history displays that will bring the pageantry of medieval England to life.
Prices: Adults £5.50 / Concessions £4.50 / Children £3.00
English Heritage Members: Free
(Car parking charge applies)

For more information, visit english-heritage.org.uk.