Top 5 Things To Do in November
This November, we’ve got plenty of ideas to help inspire your visits.
Discover the fascinating true story behind bonfire night, enjoy memorable days out and get ahead with the Christmas shopping. Read on to discover fascinating history, unmissable events and captivating places.
1. Experience memorable days out
There’s something for everyone at our fantastic events around the country.
Enjoy one of the Midlands’ biggest firework displays at Kenilworth Castle. Embark on an evening of dancing and high society as The Duke's Guest at Apsley House. Venture on special guided tours at Osborne and delve deep into the stories of the royal household. Lastly, don’t forget the festive craft workshops at Belsay Hall, Bolsover Castle and Marble Hill.
Struggling to choose your next destination? Check out our list of places to visit and pick from over 400 fascinating sites.
Find out more2. Prepare for captivating Christmas events
Make this Christmas magical with experiences that the whole family will love.
Gather your loved ones for a trip into the enchanting world of Narnia at Wrest Park. Prepare to follow a dazzling light trail through the ruins of Battle Abbey, or plan to embark on a theatrical journey around Eltham Palace.
Get into the Christmas spirit with carol services and wreath-making workshops. Book a storytelling session with Father Christmas and fill your weekends with Christmas joy at our Festive Fun events.
Find out more3. Get ahead with the Christmas shopping
Give unique presents this year with our range of history-inspired festive gifts.
Food connoisseurs can enjoy a delicious range of seasonal drinks and snacks. History enthusiasts will appreciate the selection of books and replicas. Our craft kits and toys are ideal for sparking an interest in history. And for Boxing Day board games, we have a historical twist on all the classics.
Or why not give the gift of membership this year and your loved ones can enjoy unlimited access to over 400 historic places.
Find out more4. Discover the real story behind Bonfire Night
Every year the 5 November is marked with firework displays and huge bonfires. It is a time for celebration with food and cheer, but the festivities mark a surprisingly dark event in English history.
Most people know the basics of Guy Fawkes’ failed plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Yet there are many details of the tale that get overlooked.
Discover the true story of the Gunpowder Plot and how Bonfire Night celebrations have changed over time.
Find out more5. Learn about London’s war memorials for Remembrance Day
November marks the anniversary of the end of the Great War. We care for six of central London’s finest First World War memorials. Each monument reveals different approaches to honouring the dead.
Britain’s main national war memorial is the Cenotaph. Its name means ‘empty tomb’ and the monument is dedicated to the dead of both World Wars as well as later conflicts. It is the focus of our national ceremonies of remembrance, held annually since 1919.
Several of our sites also have unexpected connections to the First World War. Wrest Park was used as a base hospital and there was an aerodrome at Stonehenge.
Find out moreThe Month In History
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Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was published on 24 November 1859. The work set out Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, the foundation of evolutionary biology. Much of Darwin's research was carried out at his family home, Down House.
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Elizabeth I became Queen of England on 17 November 1558. Elizabeth was the only English Queen never to marry, despite a string of noble suitors. One was the Earl of Leicester Robert Dudley, who transformed Kenilworth Castle into a magnificent pleasure palace to impress her. The queen stayed at Kenilworth for 19 days of festivities in 1575
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On 18 November 1852, an extravagant procession and state funeral was held for the Duke of Wellington. The Duke's body was carried on a 10-tonne carriage made of bronze from cannons used at the Battle of Waterloo. It passed his home, Apsley House, and Wellington Arch before continuing to St Paul's Cathedral.
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Rock legend and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury lost his battle with pneumonia on 24 November 1991. His family home in Feltham is commemorated with a blue plaque.
More to Explore
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Inspire Me
Our historic sites offer something for everyone. Here we have gathered some of our favourite features, events and things to do to inspire your next visit.
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THE ENGLISH HERITAGE PODCAST
Join presenter Charles Rowe as we bring the history of our sites to life with news, views and expert interviews across over 150 episodes.
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Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historical places with an annual membership. Plus there's free entry for up to six children. Memberships start from £42 a year.