Photo of two people in winter clothing and a dog walking up a slope at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall

Stop hibernating. Start exploring.

Days out are back and we’ve got lots of ideas to get you out and about in 2026.

Check out our brand-new Adventurer’s Checklist: it’s the best way to get your family and friends back out exploring English Heritage sites together.

And if you fancy something more relaxing, we've got suggestions for peaceful walks, top tips for taking photos, and a selection of inspiring collections to visit.

ADVENTURER'S CHECKLIST

Our brand new Adventurer’s Checklist is the best way to get your family back out exploring English Heritage sites together.

Whether you tick off every activity or try just one, the Adventurer’s Checklist will get you moving, laughing, discovering and exploring. There’s no right or wrong way of doing it – it’s all about trying new things and making memories along the way.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST (PDF, 731 KB)
Photo of a child sitting on the side of a grassy bank in winter clothing at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire

Top 10 family days out

Here are your top 10 choices for the best English Heritage places to take your family - find out what makes these places so special!

Find great family days out
Photo of an adult helping a toddler to walk at the play area at Marble Hill in London on a sunny day

Top play areas

These are the best playgrounds at English Heritage sites. Your kids will love them!

Find a great play area near you
Image: a woman and teenager look out from the battlements on top of Bolsover Castle

Top 10 castles

Check out the top 10 castles as chosen by you - did your local fortress make the list?

Find a castle near you

Relaxing days out

  • Peaceful escapes

    Ever feel like you need to escape the 21st century? The ruins of a great abbey or priory are the perfect place for reflection, contemplation or just a bit of peace and quiet.

  • Top tearooms

    There's nothing better than ending (or starting!) a winter walk with a warm drink and a snack. Check out our top tearooms and cafés across the country.

  • Gardens in winter

    Our castles, halls and stately homes are enchanting in the colder seasons, and now's the perfect time to make the most of rewarding garden walks and sparkling wintry views.

  • Travel guides

    Plan a weekend away or a short break with our regional travel guides. They're packed with ideas of historic sites to visit, things to see and do and practical advice for getting around.

Things to spot for kids

  • Spotters' guides

    Download our fun spotters' guides and head out to your nearest English Heritage site to start exploring!

  • Folktale creature trails

    Explore three exciting trails jam-packed with fairies, dragons and mythical beings at historic places near you.

  • Find the flock

    Grab a trail map this January and track down 12 super-sized sculptures of Shaun the Sheep designed by different artists.

Photo of someone wearing winter clothes taking a photo with a camera at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire

Where and how to take great winter photos

Check out our top technique tips and then put them into practice at a historic site near you:

 

  • Seek out deliberate lens flare from the winter sun glinting off the Stone Circle at Stonehenge in Wiltshire
  • Take a 360° panoramic shot of eight counties from the top of Beeston Castle in Cheshire
  • Capture a close-up of frost on the trees in the Capability-Brown-designed grounds of Audley End House in Essex
  • See how much of Hadrian's Wall you can fit into one shot from spectacular Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland

Close-up photo of a bust of Homer in the Adam Library at Kenwood in London

Discover a historic collection

We care for a remarkable collection of over a million historic objects - here are our suggestions for an inspiring collection to visit near you:

 

Photo of two people in winter clothing walking through the snow-covered grounds of Osborne on the Isle of Wight

Explore a country house

The grounds and interiors of country houses are particularly stunning this time of year - here are some top ones to explore: