Family Days Out
Experience our breathtaking castles, abbeys and stately homes, or stretch little legs and fire up imaginations with our family events and activities.
Looking for family days out this summer?
Have the perfect Great British Summer with our events inspired by traditional holiday traditions. Step back in time and enjoy traditional fairground activities for all the family.
Plus, castles are one of the coolest places you can be right now. Find a castle to visit.
Enjoy a Great British Summer
Celebrate a classic Great British Summer at our sites across the country.
Enjoy the fairground activities, pick up new tricks at the circus skills station and dive in to some puppet antics. Kick back in a deck chair with a delicious ice cream and soak up the summer.
Plus, kids can grab a souvenir passport and collect special stamps to complete their summer adventure.
Plan your summer days outHistory never looked so good
Experience spectacular colours in our historic gardens or discover a world of unbelievable stories that fire up your imagination.
Start a summer adventure and explore England’s past.
Start exploringKnights' tournaments and legendary jousts
Get up close to the action as rival knights compete in the ultimate tests of strength and skill!
Get thee to a Knights’ Tournament to be transported to the front row of 13th century action as you watch four armoured knights and their squires clash in a series of gruelling rounds of medieval hand-to-hand combat.
Or, experience the exhilarating speed and skill of a Legendary Medieval Joust and watch our fearless knights and their magnificent horses charge at each other at full speed in an unforgettable display.
Find a joust or knights' tournamentOur best history-themed playgrounds
Once you've finished exploring a castle, or wandering through the grounds of a stately home, head to one of our unique, history-themed play areas so your little adventurers can burn off their extra energy.
We've picked out our favourite outdoor playgrounds for you and your family to discover, including the new playground at Audley End, House and Gardens and Stokesay Castle.
Find a playground near youTop 10 castles
We asked English Heritage members which of our castles were their favourites. These are the results!
Check out which castles our members love and the reasons they think these unique sites are the best.
Check out our top 10 castlesJoin English Heritage
Become a member today and enjoy a year of unforgettable days out.
Enjoy a host of benefits including free unlimited entry for you and up to six kids to over 400 historic sites including Stonehenge, Dover Castle and Hadrian's Wall.
Join todayFamily Guides
Inspiration and top tips for visiting
It can be tricky to plan a day out with the little ones. To give you peace of mind for your visit, we've prepared helpful guides packed with useful info. Browse the guides, find out what you can look forward to, and get the answers to questions about our facilities at some of our favourite historic places.
Browse all family guides-
A Family Guide to Pendennis Castle
Discover the wartime tunnels and climb to the top of the mighty Tudor keep at Pendennis Castle. The recreated gun deck brings the noise and drama of a castle under attack to life.
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A Family Guide to Warkworth Castle
With imposing stone walls, huge fireplaces where kitchen staff worked over roasting spits, and restored furnished rooms, step into medieval life at Warkworth Castle.
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A Family Guide to Down House: Home of Charles Darwin
Step back into Victorian family life at Charles Darwin's family home. Explore the garden where Darwin conducted his most famous experiments and learn about his greatest discoveries.
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A Family Guide to 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
With a family exhibition and play area, as well as a new viewing platform on the rooftop of the gatehouse, explore the battlefield of a major turning point in England's story.
More to Explore
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Seasonal highlights
With summer approaching, now's the perfect time to plan your next spectacular days out.
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What's On
Make the most of the longer, lighter days with lots of fun things to do across the country.
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Become a member
As an English Heritage member you can delve far deeper into our history. Join today to get unlimited access to the spectacular places where history really happened.