Six Legendary Adventures This Summer
This summer, seek out adventure at England's historic places.
Here's our pick of six extraordinary days out that will thrill the whole family — one a week throughout the summer holiday.
Book online to save 10% or enjoy a full year of days out when you join English Heritage as a member.
Conquer the Castle
Climb to the rocky summit of Beeston Castle, towering 500ft above the Cheshire Plain.
Boasting some of the best views in the country, Beeston Castle in Cheshire is the very definition of adventure. Kids will love crossing the dramatic entrance bridge over a deep moat, or peering down into one of the deepest castle wells in England — said to be the hiding place of Richard II's treasure.
Plus, don't miss the Woodland Park with winding paths and plenty of wildlife to be spotted along the way. Venture deep enough into the woods and you'll find a recreated Bronze Age roundhouse.
Visit Beeston CastleStep into Secret Wartime Tunnels
Journey down into the white cliffs of Dover and discover the nerve centre of wars throughout England's past.
Deep beneath Dover Castle in Kent, a network of tunnels served as a barracks during the Napoleonic Wars, a headquarters and hospital during the Second World War and later stood by to be a regional seat of government in the 1960s.
History lovers of all ages will be awed by this underground world, gaining a sense of what life was like for those who called the tunnels home for long periods of time.
Visit Dover CastleCross over into the world of myth
Feel the open air and watch the waves crash beneath your feet on a journey across the unique Tintagel Castle footbridge.
Built to recreate the historic passageway from the mainland to the headland, the slender footbridge gives a sensation of flying above the sea and beach below.
Once you're across, the legendary headland waits to be explored. Enjoy the wild coastal landscape, soak up spectacular views across the Atlantic and explore the awe-inspiring links to Arthurian legend.
Visit Tintagel CastleEXTRAORDINARY MEMBERSHIP FROM £51.75
Join today and get 25% off membership* allowing you unlimited access to hundreds of historic sites. You also get free entry for up to six children.
Offer runs from 1 July to 31 August
*Price based on one adult and by annual Direct Debit.
JOIN AND SAVE 25%Meet a Roman
Meet Roman soldiers, craftspeople and families to see how some of Britain's most influential settlers really lived.
Our popular Roman events through the summer bring military forts, towns and settlements to life.
Explore the encampments to see historical cooking, falconry and other skills of the period up-close. Young visitors will love meeting the soldiers, trying on armour and taking part in training drills.
Find an event near youCheer On Your Hero in a Medieval Joust
Choose your champion and cheer them to victory at our summer of jaw-dropping jousts.
Will it be Jason of the Argonauts, Sir Lancelot, The Wildman or The Wyvern who wins your backing? Each with their own trademark style, techniques and colourful livery, who will your favourite be?
You can even track the results throughout the season with our online league table. The joust has never been more exciting.
Find an event near youLearn to Talk Like a Pirrrrrate
A-yo ho ho and a whole lot of fun!
Take your 'hearties' down to Pendennis, Carisbrooke, Dover or Scarborough Castles this summer to meet salty sea dogs fresh in from the high seas. Hear their tales of booty and barnacles, try your hand with a cutlass and learn how to arrrr!-ticulate like the best of them.
Enjoy live shows and demonstrations, hands-on activities and the opportunity for lily-livered landlubbers to meet fearsome (but friendly) buccaneers in person. It's a day at the seaside with a difference.
Find an event near youExtraordinary Escapes this Summer
-
Cycling Guides
Our cycling guides offer a fun way to take in sites this summer. Wheel your way across the Isle of Wight, find serenity in North Yorkshire, or tour across the Wiltshire countryside and its 5,000 years of history.
-
Coastal Walks
Enjoy the great outdoors this summer and combine an invigorating seaside stroll with an inspiring visit to one of our historic sites, following these glorious routes along England's most beautiful coastlines.
-
Holiday Cottages
Situated in the grounds of our historic places and offering exclusive out-of-hours access to the sites in which they sit, your summer getaway doesn't get more extraordinary than an English Heritage holiday cottage.
-
Travel guides
Plan a weekend away or a short break in England with our regional travel guides. They're packed with ideas of historic sites to visit, things to see and do, places to stay and practical advice for getting around.