Summer Days Out With A Difference
| Published: 22nd June 2007 12:26 |
English Heritage stages a summer season of days out worth talking about.
Summer is nearly here and English Heritage is offering a jam-packed programme of events to entertain everyone. Travel through history and learn the ancient art of sword fighting at Knight School or swagger and swashbuckle your way through the day as Captain Jack Sparrow at the Pirates Party.
Events take place across the country and there are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on with everything from Roman pottery and cloth weaving, to fascinating and gruesome displays by medieval surgeons, to Viking invaders!
So, pull on your armour, raise your sword and be prepared to get excited about history.
English Heritage's 2007 events programme is supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance, a leading specialist insurer of listed and heritage property. Steve Wood Managing Director of Ecclesiastical's UK and Ireland insurance business, said: "It is in all our interests to keep our history alive, and these events are the perfect way to fire people's imaginations. Our heritage really matters, and it's worth protecting for the future."
For a free diary of all events please call 0870 333 1183 or visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk for further details.
London and East of England
Have a go Archery
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Wed 8 - Sun 12 Aug 11am - 5pm
Have a go at archery in the beautiful grounds of Audley End House & Gardens and see who's got the best aim in your family? Just £2 for 6 arrows.
Prices: Adults £5.00/Concessions £3.80/Children £2.50/Family ticket £12.50
Garden entry included, admission to House extra.
English Heritage Members: Free
Fool School
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Wed 15 - Sun 19 Aug 11am - 5pm
Are you silly enough to take part in our foolish workshops? Try some juggling and diabolo, learn about ‘fool-ish etiquette' and try your hand at a little stage fighting with English Heritage's very own Fool.
Prices: Adults £6.00 / Concessions £4.50 / Children £3.00 / Family ticket £15.00
English Heritage Members: Free
(Admission does not include entry to House)
Knight School
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Wed 29 Aug - Sun 2 Sep 11am - 5pm
Ever fancied training as a knight? Take part in our exciting training sessions and try on some armour for size, learn the art of chivalry and enjoy some swash buckling sword play!
Prices: Adults £6.00 / Concessions £4.50 / Children £3.00 / Family ticket £15.00
English Heritage Members: Free
(Admission does not include entry to House)
South East
Battle Boot Camp
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, East Sussex
Sat 4 & Sun 5 August, 11am- 5pm
Have you got what it takes to be a Norman or Saxon warrior? Come and try your hand at archery skills and soldiers drill. For the kiddies there is hobby-horse racing, skill-at-arms, children's drill, fun lessons in battle tactics and a fun mock battle. For the less energetic join in music-making and dancing, art workshops, and watch the skills of the chain mail and weaponry maker.
Prices: Adults £6.30 / Concessions £4.70 / Children £3.20 / Family Ticket £15.80
English Heritage Members: Free
Pirates of Land and Sea!
Dover Castle and the Secret Wartime Tunnels, Kent
Sat 18 & Sun 19 Aug 10am - 5pm.
Join us for a spectacular day in the company of desperate buccaneers and dashing highwayman. Hear the roar of cannon from the pirate gun deck and enjoy enthusiastic performances of the 'Highwayman's Petticoat' - a fun melodrama complete with horses! Plus storytelling and children's activities for apprentice highwaymen!
Prices: Adults £9.80 / Concessions £7.40 / Children £4.90 / Family Ticket £24.50
English Heritage Members: Free
The Worst Days Out in History!
Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Sun 19 & Mon 20 Aug 10am - 5pm.
Have a horrible weekend by experiencing the smelliest, goriest and most gruesome aspects of history. Can you stomach the 17th century surgeon complete with live leeches? Or the horrors of Milly Molly Manky and the long-nosed Nostridamus, the Singing Plague Victims? Find out who has got the worst job in the castle, could it be the rat catcher or the servant who empties the guarderobes. Discover the horrors of medieval disease, and even have your face painted with the pox!
Prices: Adults £5.60 / Concessions £4.20 / Children £2.80 / Family ticket £14.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Grand Medieval Joust
Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Sat 25 - Mon 27 Aug ( Bank Holiday) 10am - 5pm
Watch in awe as our fearless knights collide at speeds of up to 60mph in this real life battle of skills. Be amazed by the show of skill at arms as knights on horseback practise for the joust by spearing cabbages and the straw man. Laugh at the fun antics of Peterkin the fool and join in the jester workshop in what promises to be a truly exhilarating and entertaining day. Discover how a knight is armed by his squire and be entertained by music from the time. At 3pm each day the grand medieval joust itself begins. Choose your favourite knight and cheer him on as he comes face-to-face and lance-to-lance with his adversary.
Pre-booking Recommended 0870 333 1183
Prices: Adults £8.50 / Concessions £6.40 / Children £4.30 / Family ticket £21.30
English Heritage Members: Adults £2.90 / Concessions £2.20 / Children £1.50 / Family ticket £7.30
South West
World War II Weekend
Old Sarum, Wiltshire
Sat 25 - Mon 27 Aug (Bank Holiday) 11am - 5pm
Journey back to the 1940s as Old Sarum re-lives the days of World War II. Watch army demonstrations and living history displays, take part in games and activities and enjoy music and theatre from the decade in this historical extravaganza and experience what is might have been like to live through WWII. The festivities culminate in a fantastic aerial display as the great planes of World War II take to the skies on Bank Holiday Monday.
Pre-booking Recommended 0870 3331183
Prices: Adults £4.00 / Concessions £3.00 / Children £2.00
Please note non-member prices on Monday: £6/£4/£3/NA
English Heritage Members: Free
Pirates - of Land and Sea!
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Tue 31 Jul - Thu 2 Aug 11am - 5pm
Join us for a spectacular day in the company of desperate buccaneers and dashing highwaymen. Cannons will fire, horses will gallop and duels shall be fought. This swashbuckling extravaganza will include the roar of cannon fire from our recreated pirated gun deck, performances of 'The Highwayman's Petticoat', storytellers, musicians and children's activities for apprentice bandits.
Pre-booking Recommended 0870 3331183
Prices: Adults £7.60/Concessions £6.00/Children £4.00/Family ticket £20.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £3.00/Concessions £2.00/Children £1.50/Family ticket £7.50
Pirates at Dartmouth!
Dartmouth Castle, Devon
Tue 28 & Wed 29 Aug 11am - 5pm
Two clumsy old pirates have found themselves washed up at the castle with nowhere to hide! Join them for swashbuckling capers and plenty of skullduggery. Performances at regular intervals throughout the day.
Prices: Adults £4.50 / Concessions £3.40 / Children £2.30
English Heritage Members: Free
The Midlands
Festival of History
Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire
Sat 11 & Sun 12 August, 9:30am-6pm
Experience over 2,000 years of history from the Romans to the swinging sixties in a weekend of action-packed historical entertainment. See dramatic battle spectaculars, jousting knights, aerial displays and colourful living history camps as well as an unrivalled celebrity lecture programme. Browse the traditional street markets and pick up unusual gifts and keepsakes. Enjoy music and dance from a range of historical periods. Visit www.festivalofhistory.org.uk for more information. Supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance.
Prices: Adults £17 / Concessions £13 / Children £9 / Family Ticket 42.00
English Heritage Members: Adults £9.00 / Concessions £7.00 / Children £5.00 / Family Ticket £22.00
Knight School
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Mon 6 - Fri 10 Aug 11am - 5pm
What better way to learn the skills required of a medieval warrior than to get 'armoured up' for battle, have sword-fighting lessons and participating in a mock battle in defence of the Realm! A fantastic and unique opportunity to get a real slice of the sword-fighting action, all in a fantastic setting.
Prices: Adults £6.00 / Concessions £4.50 / Children £3.00 / Family ticket £15.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Knight School
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Mon 13 - Fri 17 Aug 11am - 5pm (also 20 - 24 Aug)
As above.
Prices: Adults £6.80 / Concessions £5.10 / Children £3.40 / Family ticket £17.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Early Music Mania
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Mon 6 - Fri 10 Aug 11am - 5pm
Bring along your own musical instrument and help recreate the music, song and dance of Merrie England with our minstrels. Download music at www.english-heritage.org.uk/events and practice in advance.
Prices: Adults £6.80/Concessions £5.10/Children £3.40/Family ticket £17.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Hands On Medieval Life
Stokesay Castle, Shropshire
Wed 1, Wed 8, Wed 15 & Wed 22 Aug 11am - 5pm
Join us for great holiday entertainment for the children throughout August. With different 'have-a-go' activities every week, this is your chance to find out what life was really like living at Stokesay Castle in the 15th Century and get some real hands-on experience a a different craft each week.
1 Aug - A glimpse into the world of textiles, have a go at spinning and felt making.
8 Aug - Make your own simple remedies with this look at early medicines.
15 Aug - Learn about food and diet of our ancesters and make some medieval confectionary.
22 Aug - Get creative and make you own piece of medieval art work.
Prices: Adults £4.90 / Concessions £3.70 / Children £2.50 / Family ticket £12.30
English Heritage Members: Free
North of England
Viking Invaders and Viking Village
Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire
Sat 21 - Fri 27 July, from 11am
Encounter the terrifying Vikings as they spread a wave of terror and turmoil with their raids and invasions of the North Eastern coast of England. Explore their large encampment to discover the rigours and entertainments of Viking campaigning. Witness grisly displays of combat culminating in a full-scale, deadly battle against the Saxon hearth-troops with the re-enactors of The Vikings. Step inside a re-created Viking longhouse and sample the atmosphere of Viking life with displays of skills of the Viking household. Warriors and craftspeople populate a surrounding encampment with displays and storytelling each day.
Prices:
Viking Invaders - Sat 21 & Sun 22 July - Adults £5/ Concessions £4/ Children £3/ Family ticket £13
Viking Village - Mon23 - Fri 27 July - Adults £4.20 / Concessions £3.20 / Children £2.10 / Family Ticket £10.50
English Heritage Members: Free
Wartime Weekend Spectacular
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Sat 28 & Sun 29 Jul 11am - 5pm
The Castle returns to the 1940's where uniformed soldiers practice their drill and battle tactics. A tented garrison is stationed at the castle together with displays of military vehicles. See soldiers being put through their paces, learn for yourself how to spot the enemy with children's activities too. Plus spectacular aerial displays of an authentic vintage Spitfire with a full scale battle finale each day
Prices: Adults £5.50 / Concessions £4.50 / Children £3.50 / Family ticket £14.50
English Heritage Members: Adults £1.50 / Concessions £1.00 / Children £0.75 / Family ticket £3.75
Pirates of Land & Sea
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Sat 25 - Mon 27 Aug (Bank Holiday) 11am - 5pm
Join us for a spectacular day in the company of desperate buccaneers and dashing highwaymen. Cannons will fire, horses will gallop, ladies will swoon and duels shall be fought. Plus music, storytelling and children's activities all day long that's sure to keep the whole family amused.
Prices: Adults £5.00 / Concessions £4.00 / Children £3.00 / Family ticket £13.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Children's Roman Festival
Birdoswald Roman Fort, Cumbria
Sat 4 - Sun 5 Aug 11am - 5pm
Discover life as a Roman the fun way with a family weekend of hands on activities. Join in drill practice with the Children's Roman Army, weave your own cloth, try dressing up and hear some great stories from the Romans themselves Learn about Roman science and technology with live experiments everyday . You can even have a go at making your own Roman pottery or find a volunteer to be buried - Roman style!
Prices: Adults £5.60 / Concessions £4.40 / Children £2.80
English Heritage Members: Adults £1.50 / Concessions £1.10 / Children £0.75
Hands on History Crew: Dinosaur Fun
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Mon 6 - Fri 10 Aug 11am - 4pm
A week of hands on activities and crafts for children - with a dinosaur theme! Children can learn about dinosaurs with games, arts and crafts all aimed at getting kids inspired by prehistoric friends and learn a little about natural history along the way.
Prices: Adults £4.00 / Concessions £3.00 / Children £2.00 / Family ticket £10.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Hands on History Crew sessions are supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
Hands on History Crew: Crafty Romans!
Chesters Roman Fort, Northumberland
Mon 13 - Sun 19 Aug 11am - 5pm
This Roman themed event is fun for all the family with plenty of craft activities and storytelling sure to keep everyone entertained all day long and you'll pick up plenty of new skills along the way!
Prices: Adults £4.10 / Concessions £3.10 / Children £2.10
English Heritage Members: Free
Hands on History Crew sessions are supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
Hands on History Crew: The Romans are coming!
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Mon 13 - Fri 17 Aug 11am - 5pm
A week of hands on activities and crafts for all children. With a roman theme children can learn about the Roman army with dressing up, children's army drill and family games and crafts.
Prices: Adults £4.00 / Concessions £3.00 / Child £2.00 / Family ticket £10.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Hands on History Crew sessions are supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
Hands on History Crew: Pirate Party
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Mon 20 - Fri 24 Aug 11am - 5pm
A week of hands on activities and crafts for all children. With a pirate theme, children can learn about the real pirates with dressing up, walking the plank, family games and arts & crafts.
Prices: Adults £4.00 / Concessions £3.00 / Children £2.00 / Family ticket £10.00
English Heritage Members: Free
Hands on History Crew sessions are supported by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group
Roman Festival
Corbridge Roman Town, Northumberland
Sun 26 - Mon 27 Aug 11am - 5pm
The Romans are coming! An action packed weekend in the company of the Imperial Roman Army. See a magnificent duo of Roman-British cavalry soldiers gallop through their horseback skills. Watch the colourful ranks of foot soldiers and their Centurion practice military skills in full armour from the time of the Roman conquest. Witness spectacular falconry with a variety of birds depicting the Roman nobility. Roman burials and plenty of hands on fun complete this unique Roman Experience.
Prices: Adult £5.60 / Concessions £4.40 / Children £2.80
English Heritage Members: Adult £1.50 / Concession £1.10 / Children £0.75
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