A girl enjoying the new play area at Dover Castle.

Inspire Me

Summer is a wonderful time to visit our historic places and make the most of the great outdoors. We have gathered some of our favourite features, events and things to do to inspire your next visit.

Discover our historic gardens, travel guides, historic walks, Victorian recipes and fun activities for all the family. All the inspiration you need is right here.

A reenactor playing a pirate entertains two girls.

Top 5 things to do in July

We’ve been gearing up for a feel-good summer, and it's all kicking off this July. Our top picks this month include new destinations to explore, superb savings and the start of our legendary summer events.

Read on to discover fascinating people, must-see sites and explore this month in history.

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Were you born in the wrong era?

Are you Roman, Tudor, Victorian or medieval? Take our fun quiz to find your perfect era. Then check out the suggestions below to find the English Heritage places where you'll feel perfectly at home.

Culture

A strawberry tart on a plate.

Tthe history of the English strawberry

Summer wouldn't be the same without a bowl of strawberries drizzled with cold cream.

 

Here, food historian Sam Bilton grabs a spoon and takes us through the fascinating history of the English strawberry. Plus, we share a traditional English recipe for Strawberries with snow cream below.

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Characters from the TV show Bridgerton.

The History behind Bridgerton

Bridgerton has undoubtedly brought a sense of renewed interest to the Georgian period. An era of great social, political and cultural change, but was it anything like the regency world that Netflix has created?

 

Find out all you need to know about Georgian society that continues to inspire the world of Bridgerton.

© Netflix Inc, 2024

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Swing boats at a traditional fair.

All the fun of the fair

Whether visiting a travelling funfair or enjoying a trip to an amusement park, we all love the bright lights and the thrill of fairground rides.

 

Historian Dr Allan Brodie traces their story from the humble swing to today's death-defying rides. And follows this national love affair from the fairs of the Middle Ages to the modern theme park.

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How to Make Italian Jelly — The Victorian Way

Today Mrs Crocombe is preparing a simple but popular dish using aspic jelly and hard cheese. Known as Italian Jelly, this layered savoury dish is ideal for a luncheon entrée.

Relax your mind with videos from our sites

Put on your headphones and relax to the ambient sights and sounds from a selection of our historic sites across the country.

  • BRODSWORTH HALL AND GARDENS

  • PENDENNIS CASTLE

  • WITLEY COURT AND GARDENS

History for Kids

Image: Illustration of character with dragon and horse

Are you ready to go back - way back - in time to learn all about England’s history? Read our magazines and discover our online pages where you can explore each of the key periods, from the Stone Age right through to the Second World War.

Find out what life was like at the time through fun facts, illustrated stories, games and more. 

Explore our history for Kids

More to Explore