Travel back in time this Bank Holiday weekend

Calling all potential princesses, dashing knights and ‘Indiana Jones’ style crusaders! English Heritage’s action packed bank holiday weekend is guaranteed to entertain the whole family and make the most of the sunshine.

Engage in total historical merriment at some of England’s most magnificent properties, with events from medieval cookery class and Gladiator school to donkey tales and Darwinian style experiments.

‘Time Travellers Go’ launched in July and offers children of all ages the chance to venture into the past, try their hand at historic skills, and take on some of history’s greatest roles, whether it be an ancient archaeologist, secretive spy or one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men! To prepare for the adventure, children can visit timetravellersgo.org.uk and begin their historical investigation with games and quizzes.

If that’s not enough, the homage to the Tudor dynasty is in full swing, marking the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession. Feel the ground tremble as Tudor knights charge in a full contact joust or simply chill out and listen to classic Tudor tales.
For more information on English Heritage, visit english-heritage.org.uk.

GRUESOME QUEST FOR CHILDREN
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, East Sussex
Monday 24 – Monday 31 August, 10am – 5pm
Can you stomach the Gruesome Castle Quest? Find out about the smelliest and most ghastly aspects of life at the castle for a chance to win your prize.
Prices: Adults £6.70 / Concessions £5.70 / Children £3.40 / Family Ticket £16.80
English Heritage Members: Free

SPOOKY DAYS OUT
Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday), 10am – 5pm
Ghosts don’t wait until Halloween – so why should we? Join us for a spine-tingling day out with terrifyingly fun activities for all the family including a ghost tour led by spooky characters around the castle. You had better keep your wits about you, as who knows what or who you will bump into!
Prices: Adults £6.70 / Concessions £5.70 / Children £3.40 / Family Ticket £16.80
English Heritage Members: Free

STATION 43 – SPIES, SOLDIERS AND SECRETS
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
This weekend we travel back to the time of World War II, when the house was home to the Polish Branch of the Special Operations Executive. Meet soldiers and see how they would have lived and worked. Try your hand at fun code cracking activities but make sure you don’t miss the spectacular parachute drop!
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adults £10.70 / Concessions £9.10 / Children £5.40 / Family Ticket £26.80
English Heritage Members: Free

THE PIRATE CASTLE
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Saturday 29 – 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
A fun-packed weekend of Pirates, Smugglers, Privateers and Sea Dogs. Watch a wonderful musical adaptation of the great children’s classic ‘Treasure Island’, which tells the story of young Jim Hawkins as he sets sail on the Hispaniola in search of buried treasure. See duelling pirates, armed with cutlasses and swords, demonstrate their fighting skills and learn about their flamboyant lifestyle.
Prices: Adults £5.00 / Concessions £4.00 / Children £3.00 / Family Ticket £13.00
English Heritage Members: Free

TIME TRAVELLERS GO… MYTHS & LEGENDS
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Saturday 29 – 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
Step inside the Time Travellers Big Top and take a journey back in time to the magical medieval age of the myths and legends of King Arthur, Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Saint George. Transform yourself in our hands-on squire training and dressing-up games, listen to mythical tales, and get creative with arts and crafts activities.
Prices: Adults £5.50 / Concessions £4.70 / Children £2.80* / Family Ticket £13.80
English Heritage Members: Free* (*+£1 for every child over five, members and non members)

CLASH OF THE KNIGHTS
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August, 11am – 4pm
Come and witness medieval knights fighting for their honour in the castle grounds with awesome combat displays. Learn all about medieval weapons, and watch the children take part in a special kids drill. With traditional cookery demonstrations, this must-see event is guaranteed to delight all the family.
Prices: Adults £7.00 / Concessions £6.00 / Children £3.50 / Family Ticket £17.50
English Heritage Members: Free

KING HENRY’S JOUST
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
Witness the majesty, pomp and pageantry as Henry VIII arrives at Pendennis Castle. Actors, players, knights, soldiers and ladies accompany the enigmatic King and his Queen as they take part in mounted hunting games and are entertained with demonstrations of Tudor falconry. Courtly music helps set the scene with the highlight of each day being a remarkable display of Tudor horsemanship with a pair of fully armoured knights in a full contact joust.
Prices: Adults £12.00 / Concessions £10.20 / Children £6.00 / Family Ticket £30.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £6.00 / Concessions £5.10 / Children £3.00 / Family Ticket £15.00
Booking recommended.
english-heritage.org.uk/henry

HURRAH FOR HENRY VIII
Portland Castle, Dorset
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
What-ho Henry! Using their own unique style and with the help from children in the audience, the talented ‘Bzents’ entertain young and old alike in this unforgettable play about the most famous of king’s lives – Henry VIII. With drama, intrigue, love and terror this is a superb introduction to the life and times of this Tudor Monarch.
Prices: Adults £6.30 / Concessions £4.80 / Children £3.30 / Family Ticket £15.90
English Heritage Members: Free
english-heritage.org.uk/henry

ROMAN CITY LIFE
Corbridge Roman Town, Northumberland
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
The Roman town of Corbridge lives again with civilians and soldiers, traders and crafts people. Young visitors can take part in children’s craft activities and junior military drill sessions, while adults enjoy demonstrations of pottery, cooking and textiles, technology, games and pastimes. Superb displays of Roman games on horse back and horse racing will thrill the whole family who will also meet soldiers off duty from Hadrian’s Wall.
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adults £6.00 / Concessions £5.00 / Children £4.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £1.50 / Concessions £1.20 / Children £1.00

KNIGHTS OF THE MIDDLE AGES
Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August, 11am – 5pm
Bangs, clashes and knightly combat! Explore the evolution of the fighting man from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The castle will be brought to life with over 100 folk from the middle ages with spectacular arena shows and have-a-go drills for children.
Booking recommended.
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

LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND
Old Sarum, Wiltshire
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday), 11am – 5pm
This weekend take a look at British history through the ages, from the mighty Roman empire, to the tommies of World War II. The Normans have arrived - enjoy fantastic arena entertainment as they show off their skill at arms on horseback and the Norman cavalry and foot soldiers do battle. Fingers in ears as the Napoleonic redcoats will be showing off their weaponry skills and firepower. Visit the living history camps to meet Roman, Medieval and Tudor folk and for talks and demonstrations throughout the day. Plus, children can take part in our Knights Quest.
Booking recommended.
Prices: Adult: £7.00/ Concession: £5.30/ Child: £3.50
English Heritage Members: Adult: £2.00/ Concession: £1.00/ Child: £0.50