Photo of someone taking a selfie in front of the daffodil-covererd mound at Clifford's Tower in York on a sunny day

Top 5 Things To Do in February

This February, we’ve got plenty of ideas to help inspire your visits. Search out the signs of spring, become a half-term adventurer, have a historic Valentine's Day, explore the history behind Bridgerton, and read about history's great innovators.

Photo of snowdrops in the grounds of Audley End House and Gardens in Essex on a sunny day

1. Find the year's first flowers

February marks the transition from winter to spring, and there's nothing more cheering than spotting the first flowers emerge.

They look even better set against the backdrop of a historic site, so take this opportunity to read our guide to where you can find the signs of spring and get to know your Galanthus from your Primula.

Discover 8 signs that spring is coming
Photo of two young children sitting on a bench in winter clothing at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire

2. Become a half-term adventurer

Make history this February half-term and create your own family adventure at historic sites across the country.

Download our new Adventurer's Checklist (or pick one up at an English Heritage site) and colour in the badges as you complete each task.

And if that's not enough of a challenge, you can download and print off our Spring Explorer spotters' guide.

Find things to do for February half-term
Photo of two people standing underneath an umbrella and smiling in front of a fountain at Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden in Warwickshire

3. Have a historic Valentine's

Find a historic place near you to take that special person in your life - spend a day exploring leafy woodlands, enchanting ruins and iconic castles and see where some of history's most interesting characters have lived and loved.

You can also find top tips for writing a Valentine's love letter, discover romantic gift ideas from our online shop, and find a picturesque holiday cottage for that special weekend away with your loved one.

Find ideas for Valentine's Day
Photo of Ranger's House in London on a sunny day as seen through the front gates

4. Explore the history behind Bridgerton

Binging the new season of Bridgerton?

Find out how Ranger's House in London and Wrest Park in Bedfordshire have been featured in Bridgerton and learn about dating in the Regency era - you may even pick up some useful tips for Valentine's Day...

And if you're an English Heritage member, you can join Dr Megan Leyland at Ranger’s House for a talk on royal scandal, intrigue and lavish parties.

Explore the history behind Bridgerton
Black-and-white headshot photo of Alan Turing
© National Portrait Gallery, London

5. Read about great innovators

The theme for this year's LGBTQ+ History Month is Science and Innovation, and we're celebrating three blue-plaque recipients who've made important contributions to this field:

  • Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in computer science can justifiably be said to have changed the way we live;
  • John Maynard Keynes, the economist remembered for Keynesianism, the system of deficit finance that bears his name;
  • Henry Havelock Ellis, pioneer in the scientific study of sex. His book Sexual Inversion was the first English medical study of homosexuality.
Explore LGBTQ+ history

The Month In History

  • The great English landscape gardener, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, passed away on 6 February 1783. Brown is remembered for designing over 250 idyllic landscapes, including parts of the grounds at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and Audley End House in Essex.
  • British women over the age of 30 obtained the right to vote on 6 February 1918 following a long-fought campaign for representation. You can read more about the road to women's suffrage.
  • Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded on 8 February 1587 after being implicated in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth I. This followed 19 years' imprisonment in Carlisle Castle.
  • Charles Darwin, author of On the Origin of Species, was born on 12 February 1809. Darwin spent 40 years living in Down House where he wrote his theory of evolution by natural selection. You can follow in the great scientist’s footsteps by exploring the rooms and award-winning gardens where Darwin worked.

More to explore

  • Inspire Me

    We’ve got plenty to inspire your next day out. Find out what's new in our historic gardens, flick through the latest travel guides and read about seasonal scenic walks.

  • THE ENGLISH HERITAGE PODCAST

    Every object has a story to tell - but how can one mystery item lead us on a journey through history, people and places? Amy Matthews explores tales from unexpected places.

  • Become a member today

    Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historical places with an annual membership. Plus there's free entry for up to six children! Memberships start from £42 a year.