Top 5 Things To Do in January
'Tis the season to stop hibernating - and start exploring! With hundreds of historic sites to discover, days out are back and we’ve got lots of ideas to get you out and about.
Revisit or find a new favourite walk with your dog during Walk Your Dog month, look out for Shaun the Sheep at Wrest Park and Belsay Hall, and see if you can spot early signs of snowdrops emerging at some of our historic gardens.
Discover an art collection, plan a café catch-up with family and friends, or start planning your year of fun ahead. What better way to start 2026?
1. Start exploring
It's the New Year - we've all made resolutions that we're determined to keep, and one of them may well be spending more time outdoors.
Well, we're here to help! Now's the time to put your phone down, throw your warm clothes on and get outside again to explore England’s extraordinary places.
From castles and abbeys to stately homes and Neolithic monuments, there are lots of options for blowing away those Christmas cobwebs.
Find a place to start exploring2. Let the dogs out
January is Walk Your Dog Month, and your furry friend can be the perfect companion for getting outdoors and burning off those Christmas calories.
Read our suggestions for dog-friendly days out to take your pooch on an adventure that will really get their tail wagging.
And even if you don't have one of your own, why not sniff out the top dogs at English Heritage sites? There are canine paintings, statues, skeletons and more to be found.
Queen Victoria, who died 125 years ago on 22 January 1901 at Osborne on the Isle of Wight, reportedly loved animals and dogs, and many can be seen commemorated at Osborne.
3. See it now before it's gone
Early January is the last chance to see Double Vision at Kenwood in London, an exhibition bringing together two paintings both known as The Guitar Player. One painting is signed by the great Johannes Vermeer - the origin of the other remains a mystery.
This month is also the last chance to track down the 12 super-sized sculptures of Shaun the Sheep at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland and at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire. Can ewe find them all before they disappear?
4. Go behind the scenes
Exclusively for English Heritage members, our Members' Events offer behind-the-scenes access to our sites and expert tours. From London blue-plaque walks to visits to our archaeological stores, you can get up and close to heritage with our historians - and there are plenty of events to book onto for 2026.
If you're not currently an English Heritage member, why not join today? As well as access to Members' Events, you can enjoy a whole year of unlimited days out at over 400 historic places for free - plus kids go free with all memberships.
5. Tune into our podcast
Received a streaming subscription for Christmas? Why not start 2026 with a new podcast - specifically, The English Heritage Podcast!
Each week, comedian and writer Amy Matthews brings you entertaining tales from unexpected places. We begin with a mystery item and with the help of English Heritage experts and special guests, Amy explores what our past can tell us about our present and perhaps our future.
Listen to The English Heritage PodcastJanuary in history
- Captain James Cook's ship, the Resolution, became the first vessel to cross the Antarctic Circle on 17 January 1773. A slate plaque marks the site where his London house used to stand.
- On 28 January 1547 Henry VIII died at Whitehall Palace. He spent much of his childhood at Eltham Palace, where the magnificent medieval Great Hall still survives today.
- The classic horror novel Frankenstein was published anonymously by Mary Shelley on 1 January 1818. Tilbury Fort on the bank of the Thames features in the story and is one of our many sites with literary links.
- Virginia Wolf was born on 25 January 1882. She was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, writing ground-breaking novels such as Mrs Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927) and Orlando (1928). Her former home in Fitzrovia is now marked by a blue plaque.
More to explore
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Inspire Me
We’ve handpicked our favourite articles, guides and stories 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.
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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.
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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.