A group of children accompanied by adults sit on deckchairs pointing at a performer.

Family Days Out

Looking for family days out this summer?

Experience our breathtaking castles, abbeys and stately homes, or stretch little legs and fire up imaginations with our family events and activities.

Have the perfect Great British Summer with our events inspired by traditional holiday traditions. Step back in time and enjoy traditional fairground activities for all the family.

Many of our historic places are near beautiful beaches and coastlines, making them perfect for family visits.

SEARCH FOR FAMILY DAYS OUT

Search Near me  
Two children sit laughing in sunglasses and sunhats

Enjoy a Great British Summer

Celebrate a classic Great British Summer at our sites across the country.

Enjoy the fairground activities, pick up new tricks at the circus skills station and dive in to some puppet antics. Kick back in a deck chair with a delicious ice cream and soak up the summer.

Plus, kids can grab a souvenir passport and collect special stamps to complete their summer adventure.

Plan your summer days out
Two people dressed in Knights armour draw their swords with Kenilworth Castle in the background.

Knights' tournaments and legendary jousts

Get up close to the action as rival knights compete in the ultimate tests of strength and skill!

Get thee to a Knights’ Tournament to be transported to the front row of 13th century action as you watch four armoured knights and their squires clash in a series of gruelling rounds of medieval hand-to-hand combat.

Or, experience the exhilarating speed and skill of a Legendary Medieval Joust and watch our fearless knights and their magnificent horses charge at each other at full speed in an unforgettable display.

Find a joust or knights' tournament
A performer dressed in a black cloak as Dracula stands dramatically in front of Whitby Abbey ruins at night.

See Dracula at Whitby Abbey

Immerse yourself in the world of Dracula this summer at Whitby Abbey - the site that inspired it all.

From Saturday 25 July - Tue 1 September, enjoy our popular performer-led Dracula plays every Saturday to Tuesday, bringing the iconic story to life within the dramatic Abbey grounds.

Book your visit to Dracula at Whitby Abbey
A boy climbs a rope ladder in Stokesay Castle's play area while a girl stands behind.

Our best history-themed playgrounds

Once you've finished exploring a castle, or wandering through the grounds of a stately home, head to one of our unique, history-themed play areas so your little adventurers can burn off their extra energy.

We've picked out our favourite outdoor playgrounds for you and your family to discover, including the new playground at Audley End, House and Gardens and Stokesay Castle.

Find a playground near you
A young woman, man and three children walk in front of a large country house

Become a member with 25% off

Enjoy 25% off a year of unforgettable days out when you become a member this summer. Use code EHSUM26 and enjoy a Great British Summer with free unlimited entry for you and up to six kids to over 400 historic sites including Stonehenge, Dover Castle and Hadrian's Wall.

Join today

Family Guides

Inspiration and top tips for visiting

It can be tricky to plan a day out with the little ones. To give you peace of mind for your visit, we've prepared helpful guides packed with useful info. Browse the guides, find out what you can look forward to, and get the answers to questions about our facilities at some of our favourite historic places.

Browse all family guides

More to Explore

  • Seasonal highlights

    With summer approaching, now's the perfect time to plan your next spectacular days out.

  • What's On

    Make the most of the longer, lighter days with lots of fun things to do across the country.

  • Become a member

    As an English Heritage member you can delve far deeper into our history. Join today to get unlimited access to the spectacular places where history really happened.