Things to Do
An image of the sun rising over a grand stately home. The garden in front of the house has several statues and neat flowerbeds with sculpted hedges. In the background is a tall, rectangular, clock tower.

Top 5 Things To Do in January

This January, we've got plenty of ideas to help inspire your visits.

Make the most of the season with a visit to our winter gardens, revive a medieval tradition and discover the highlights of our collection. Read on to discover fascinating history, unmissable events and captivating places.

An image of a family in winter coats walking around the grounds of a large castle.

1. Learn something new at our events

This winter enjoy captivating stories and discover hidden gems with our guided tours. Explore the rich history of Bolsover's Little Castle and delve into the secrets of Queen Victoria's royal household at Osborne. There's even the opportunity to go deep underground at Dover Castle to discover the Dumpy level. This was a space intended to be occupied by Regional Government in the event of nuclear war.

Now is the perfect time to plan for the upcoming February half term. Prepare to join characters from the past for heritage-inspired hijinks and hands-on shenanigans. With events taking place across the country, there's plenty to choose from that will ensure a fun day out for all ages.

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An image of a snowy landscape with a small castle keep at the centre. There is a light amount of snow on the roof of the castle and around the crenellations.

2. Wander through winter gardens

There's nothing like a fresh winter walk through a beautiful historic garden. Our castles, halls and stately homes are enchanting in the colder seasons. Make the most of rewarding garden walks and sparkling wintry views.

Highlights include Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens’ 28m Douglas Fir sprinkled in snow, Kenwood’s ponds and woodlands sparkling in the winter frost, and the scented orchids at Down House. Even your local sites offer something new in the winter season.

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An image of the interior of a historic building with a Christmas tree at the centre. The tree has a large amount of eclectic decorations as well as several colourful wrapped presents at its base.

3. Revive a medieval tradition

The theory that it's bad luck to leave Christmas decorations up beyond Twelfth Night (around 6 January) is a more modern one. During the Medieval period, decorations were kept up until Candlemas (2 February). This date marked the official end of Christmas and was celebrated with great feasts. Candles intended to be used in churches in the coming year would be blessed on that day. Bring cheer to the winter months and keep your Christmas decorations up through January.

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An image of a piece of broken ceramic pot with a human face sculpted into it.

4. Discover our collection

We care for more than 700,000 objects spanning over 5,000 years of history.

Some of our most intriguing items include Aldborough Roman site’s face pot, Rievaulx Abbey’s chess pieces and Bayham Abbey’s pilgrim badge. There is also the impressive Wernher Collection of medieval and early modern European art at Ranger’s House.

Every piece in our collections tells a story about England's past and helps us to understand our present. Your donations help to preserve these objects and ensure they last for future generations.

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An aerial image of a rural landscape. Several small dry stone walls and earthwork mounds map out where houses used to stand.

5. Explore our spectacular free-to-enter sites

Combat the January blues with a stroll through one of our free-to-enter sites.

During the winter months, many of our smaller outdoor sites remain open throughout the week. From mysterious prehistoric monuments to Roman ruins, there’s plenty of England’s past to enjoy in peaceful settings.

Our members help to protect these important sites. By becoming a member you can enjoy unlimited access to 400 sites, free entry for kids and an exclusive members’ magazine.

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The Month in History

  • Captain James Cook's ship, the Resolution, became the first vessel to cross the Antarctic Circle on the 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

  • Inspire Me

    Our historic sites offer something for everyone. We've gathered together some of our favourite features, events and things to do to inspire your next visit.

  • 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.