What's On
Make the most of autumn with historic days out for all the family.
Step into the scene of England’s most famous battle with our Battle of Hastings re-enactment this October.
There's plenty of Halloween half-term fun for the whole family, or explore our sites after dark with ghost tales exclusively for adults.
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Battle of Hastings Weekend: 11 - 12 October
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.
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.
Book early and save 15%.
Book tickets for the Battle of Hastings WeekendHalloween half term
Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at an English Heritage site this half-term. Solve creepy clues to complete our Halloween quest and gather round to listen to spooky stories.
This event is included within the standard entry price. Book early to save 15% off your tickets!
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, East Sussex
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, South Yorkshire
Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Dover Castle, Kent
Eltham Palace and Gardens, London
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
Ghost tales (adults only)
Do you dare to explore our historic sites in the dark this Halloween?
Join our storytellers as they guide you on a journey through the past, with tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from history.
This event is for over-16s only. Don’t forget to bring a torch – things are going to get dark…
Book for Ghost Tales at Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Book for Ghost Tales at Carlisle Castle, Cumbria
Book for Ghost Tales at Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits
Discover the fascinating American women who crossed the Atlantic to marry British aristocrats. These women include a war-time nurse and the first sitting female MP.
John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) 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, this exhibition at Kenwood, London, is a salute to Sargent and 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.
Book your tickets for HeiressBook ahead for Christmas
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Father Christmas at Dover Castle
Weekends from 29 Nov - 21 Dec 2025 Dover Castle -
Christmas Fair at Belsay Hall
Sat 22 - Sun 23 Nov 2025 Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens -
Christmas at Wrest Park
Sat 22 & Sun 23 Nov, Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov, Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec, Sat 13 & Sun 14 Dec, Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec 2025 Wrest Park -
Festive Shopping Evenings at St Augustine's Abbey
Sun 23 Nov and Sun 7 Dec 2025 St Augustine's Abbey
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More to explore
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Top 5 things to do in October
This October, we’ve got plenty of ideas for fun days out, inspiring events and ways to get involved in heritage. Dive in for spook-tacular suggestions!
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Family days out
Looking for somewhere where you and your family can get together and create memories? Our special historic places are full of adventures for adults and children alike.
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