History at Home

We’re still here to help you discover the best stories from England’s past.

On this page we’ve gathered all of our stay-at-home favourites, from videos and podcasts to old-fashioned recipes and historical how-tos.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Family Fun and Games

Explore history with our crafts, videos and activities

There are plenty of ways to engage the family in discovering our nation's past.

Explore our collection of teaching resources and creative ideas for things to make and do while at home, whether it’s building a model roundhouse, colouring in a Roman street scene, or designing your own coat of arms.

THINGS TO MAKE AND DO

HOME LEARNING TIPS

Read our tips on how to create the best learning environment for children, including how to approach teaching the same topic to different ages and abilities.
TEACHING RESOURCES

Our free learning resources are packed with everything you need to give your learners a deep insight into the history of our places. Browse by theme, key stage and region.
QUIZZES

Test your history know-how with our quizzes. Whether just challenging yourself or hosting a virtual quiz with family and friends, we've got your history rounds covered.
History at Home Live!

Join TV's Ben Shires and our expert historians for a series of live-streamed history lessons, covering topics such as Castles, Tudors, Romans, and more!

Kids Home

Learn about England’s history and discover more about everyday life in the past, from the rich and famous to the general population, through fun facts, illustrated stories and games.
Kids Rule! Videos

Travel back in time with our videos and have fun with history. Watch as we interview Henry VIII, put your Roman knowledge to the test with Rattus Rattus, go on an animated journey through the story of England and more.
Tasty Historical Makes and Bakes

Serve up a slice of history with these delicious recipes from the past. Whip up a batch of Mrs Crocombe's favourite Queen Drop Biscuits, bake a medieval pie, watch our interview with a Tudor cook and more.

Learn to Cook the Victorian Way

How to Cook the Victorian Way with Mrs Crocombe is the definitive guide to the life, times and tastes of YouTube's favourite Victorian cook.

Alongside specially adapted Victorian recipes and insights into the culinary world of the Victorians, you'll find beautiful photography, social history, and - for the first time - the full manuscript of Mrs Crocombe's handwritten recipe book. An absolute must-have for fans, foodies and anyone with an appetite for the past!

BUY THE BOOK

History From Above

See our sites from the skies

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic sites across England, each with their own story to tell. From Castles to Abbeys, monuments to gardens, these sites are even more remarkable when viewed from the air.

Join us as we take to the skies to explore these places from the past from a whole new perspective.

WATCH THE PLAYLIST

CARLISLE CASTLE, CUMBRIA

Carlisle Castle is a dominating presence - a fortress with a long and sometimes grim history, standing proud in the city it has watched over for nine centuries.
FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE, SUFFOLK

Once a fearsome fortress, muster your courage and explore Framlingham Castle's towering walls. It was behind these walls that Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen of England.
GOODRICH CASTLE, HEREFORDSHIRE

Surrounded by open countryside, Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire is perhaps one of the finest and best preserved of all English medieval castles.
OLD SARUM, WILTSHIRE

The lost city of Old Sarum crowns a ridge with sweeping views towards modern Salisbury. Iron Age people raised its mighty prehistoric earthworks in about 500 BC, but the ruined walls are still clearly visible today.
OSBORNE, ISLE OF WIGHT

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's family home. Take a glimpse into the private life of the royal family and enjoy the vast estate and gardens.
RIEVAULX ABBEY, YORKSHIRE

‘Everywhere peace, everywhere serenity’ - that's how Rievaulx Abbey's most famous abbot, Aelred, described this beautiful place.
STONEHENGE, WILTSHIRE

Float in the footsteps of Neolithic people at Stonehenge – one of the wonders of the world and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe.
WREST PARK, BEDFORDSHIRE

Wrest Park is a real treat for the senses - 90 acres of idyllic, award-winning gardens that reflect England's love affair with landscape.

THE ENGLISH HERITAGE PODCAST

Step into England’s story with our weekly podcast.

Join presenter Charles Rowe as we bring the history of our sites to life with news, views and expert interviews across 50+ episodes.

LISTEN NOW

History In Focus

Chart the movements of the sun, moon and planets above the iconic stone circle via our Stonehenge Skyscape online experience.

Explore site histories authored by top historians, or listen to Speaking with Shadows, the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot.

Plus, go in-depth and discover fascinating stories, from wartime wardrobes and the remarkable life of Alan Turing, to video games inspired by English history and the humble origins of the biscuit.

DISCOVER MORE

2000 years of board games

We are all familiar with classics like Monopoly™ and Scrabble™, but the first known board games originated from Egypt around 5,500 years ago and have evolved across cultures and societies ever since.
The History of Costume

Today fancy dress remains a hallmark of mainstream celebrations. But where did fancy dress begin in England, and why was dressing-up sometimes given a dressing-down by society?
Pirates of England

Beyond the thrills and spills of fiction, who were the real pirates? English Heritage's Senior Historian Paul Pattison reveals the unexpected faces of England's notorious pirates. It turns out, the truth is far grittier than the fiction.
ENGLAND: A SPORTING NATION

England has often been at the forefront of creating and codifying games and sports. Sports historian Nigel à Brassard takes a closer look at seven highlights from England’s sporting past.

Blue Plaques

DISCOVER THE STORIES BEHIND THE PLAQUES

Heroes of Health

Advances in the control, treatment and cure of illness and disease have depended on the work of many talented individuals, working in a variety of different fields.
Pioneering Women

Discover some of the figures in London’s history who took the historic first steps to open up new opportunities for women, and are commemorated by blue plaques.
London's Black History

From musicians to politicians, discover some of the pioneering black figures whose achievements are celebrated with London’s blue plaques.
London Pride: LGBT Stories

From Oscar Wilde to Virginia Woolf, explore London’s LGBTQ history through the stories associated with the city’s blue plaques.

Behind the Scenes

Caring for over 400 historic places covers everything from essential building repair works and restoring paintings, to planting historic gardens and keeping them blooming throughout the year.

Join us as we go behind the scenes to find out more about what it takes to protect England's past.

WATCH THE PLAYLIST

HOW ARE BLUE PLAQUES MADE?

Frank and Sue Ashworth have been making London's blue plaques for English Heritage since 1984. We visited them at home in Cornwall to find out more about the process and their role in the scheme.
KITCHEN GARDEN: POT TO PLATE

Go behind-the-scenes at Walmer Castle’s kitchen garden and discover how an expert team of gardeners, volunteers and kitchen staff grow and prepare delicious seasonal produce all year round for visitors to enjoy.
Behind the Scenes at Osborne

Hear from the collections care team, the gardening team, volunteers and curators at Osborne, and see what they do on site during the winter in preparation for the new season.
Wall Painting Conservation

Find out the history behind the wall paintings at Longthorpe Tower in Cambridgeshire, and how conservators from the Courtauld Institute of Art are currently restoring them using original techniques.

39 WAYS YOU CAN EXPLORE HISTORY - FOR FREE

Our website and social channels are packed with ways to discover England’s past, but there are also plenty of other options around to help you get your fix of world history.

Take a look at our favourite history-themed websites, apps, podcasts and videos, all of which are available to enjoy for free.

Discover more