Summer activities at Heritage properties

Want to spend the summer exploring British heritage? Here are some of the events and activities you can enjoy over the next few months at the UK’s leading heritage properties

Northern England

Enjoy a spot of Shakespeare with an alfresco performance of the Tempest at Leighton Hall in Lancaster. Taking place within the hall’s garden, the play will be performed by an all male cast, in keeping with Shakespeare’s original casting decisions and will also feature original music. Find out more here.

In August, you can relive Richard III’s final days by heading to Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre for this year’s Bosworth Medieval Festival. This hugely popular two day event often attracts thousands of people every year, so make sure to get your tickets early! The programme includes a chance to take part in your own version of the battle, as well as talking to the reenactors to learn more about the battle itself and the War of the Roses. Find out more here.

If you are interested in the War of the Roses and history generally don’t miss out on a chance to see the Terrible Tudors live on stage at Stockport Plaza. Find out more here.

Or you could learn more about the Victoria era with family crafts at Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse in Cheshire. Find out more here

Southern England

There are several activities taking place throughout the summer at Greenway, Agatha Christie’s holiday home in Devon.

The house is now managed by the National Trust who are kicking off the summer in July with their Festival of Archaeology. Christie might have been known as the Queen of Crime, but she was also interested in history and the past and went on several archaeological digs with her second husband, Max Mallowan. During the Festival of Archaeology, there is a chance to see some of the items found on their own digs, as well as learning more about archaeology in general. Find out more here.

Throughout the summer holidays, there is also the Summer of Play at Greenway, featuring Cirque du Summer. All summer of play activities are free once entry costs are paid and are suitable for all ages. Find out more here.  

Elsewhere in Devon, you can also get involved with the Summer of Play at Coleton Fishacre, another National Trust property, located in the Dartmouth area. Find out more here.

While you’re in Devon, head over to Tiverton Canal where you can enjoy their 50^th anniversary celebrations. With one of the only remaining horse drawn barges in the UK, plus a host of heritage canal walks and the UK’s only floating beer garden, there’s plenty to do here. Find out more here

For a chance to enjoy nature and the great outdoors, head to Iford Manor in Wiltshire for their annual Nature Day in partnership with Butterfly Conservation. This free event will allow you the chance to explore two of the manor’s meadows where you can take in the butterflies and wild orchids and catch up with representatives from other conservation groups. Do be aware that you will need to purchase separate tickets to visit Iford Manor’s gardens. Find out more here.

At Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, the whole family can get involved in Pirates at Carisbrooke Castle! See some of history’s best known pirates duel, talk about their lives and crimes and even learn the ropes and become a pirate yourself! Find out more here.

Or how about joining Henry VIII on tour? He’ll be stopping off at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire in August. It’s a great way to learn more about what goes on on Royal Progress and to meet the man himself. Find out more here.

You can find more information about events and activities taking place across the summer here.