Watch this short animation to discover how castles developed during the middle ages. We trace their evolution from early motte and bailey castles in Norman times to the sophisticated structures of the late medieval period, and explain why castles were as much about status as defence.

There were many different religious communities in medieval Britain. Many of English Heritage’s religious sites were once home to one of the four major monastic movements – the Benedictines, Cluniacs, Carthusians and Cistercians. But do you know the difference between these religious orders? Watch this animation to find out more.

Scattered across the English landscape are hundreds of prehistoric monuments, spanning almost four millennia. Can you tell a henge from a hillfort? What was a stone circle used for? What’s the difference between a long barrow and a round barrow? Watch this animation to discover the answers to these and many other questions about England’s prehistoric monuments.

To mark the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, pupils from across the country put their 1066 questions to Dan Snow in our live schools event from Battle Abbey.

We sent young Members Flo and Alfie Tyrrell to quiz prehistoric expert Will Lord, and find out what life was like at a prehistoric flint mine at Grime's Graves in Norfolk.

English Heritage members Amy and Peter head up to Hadrian's Wall to meet Marcus, a Roman legionary. They find our what life was like on the frontier of the Roman Empire.

We follow young English Heritage Members, Tom and Hana Ellingham as they visit Offa's Dyke on the Anglo-Welsh border to interview Osmund - the Anglo-Saxon Warrior. Discover what life was like at this great frontier earthwork built by Offa, King of Mercia from AD757 to AD769, how the Saxons made their weapons, who they worshiped, what clothes they worse and why there probably had terrible breath!

We sent young English Heritage Member Will back in time to interview King Harold and William the Conqueror to find out about why they went to war in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Discover why both men thought they were the rightful heir to the English throne, the events leading up to battle and how they (and their armies) planned to win.

Young English Heritage Members Emily and Sam visit Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire to meet St Aelred, its most famous abbot, to discover what life was like in this Cistercian monastery. Find out what the monks used to eat, how they dressed and why they communicated using sign language.

Follow young English Heritage Members, Felicity and Olivia, on their visit to Framlingham Castle, in Suffolk, to learn all about the life of a medieval noblewoman. Find out what life was like in a medieval castle, how noblewomen behaved, dressed and learnt good table manners.

Experience what it was like to cook in a Tudor kitchen, through the eyes of young English Heritage Members’ Adham and Olivia. They go inside the grounds of Gainsborough Old Hall to meet Tudor cook, Thomas Griffin, cook to Lord William of Burgh, to find out what life was like working in a Tudor kitchen.

The Battle of Hastings is a well-known event in history, but why was there a succession crisis in England in 1066 and who had the strongest claim to the English throne – Harold Godwinson or William of Normandy?

What exactly happened at the Battle of Hastings and how did the Normans defeat the Saxons?

Learn how to make a cardboard sword before you go on a day out to one of our historic places.

Learn how to make a cardboard shield before you go on a day out to one of our historic places.