Top 5 Things To Do in May
Enjoy blooming gardens, May half-term activities for the whole family, exclusive Members’ events to Charles Darwin’s home and don't forget there are two bank holidays to make the most of.
Here are our top picks for things to do this May.
1. See our Blooming Gardens
With lush lawns, vibrant woodlands and beautifully blooming gardens, May is the perfect time to experience our gardens at their very best.
As National Gardening Week runs from Friday 1 to Friday 8 May, get out and see the results of our gardeners' work across our sites.
Explore our gardens this May2. Plan a fun day out for May Half-Term
Join us in the holidays to help us track down a top-secret message in our Mystery Missions at historic sites across the country.
Head to Stonehenge for special Playhenge events, where children can build an adventure playground using real tools and materials.
Plan your May half-term3. Enjoy exclusive events and offers during Members' Week
Between Saturday 23 and Sunday 31 May 2026, as a special thank you to our members, we will be giving you exclusive access to free events across the country, virtual events to enjoy from home, exclusive discounts and a fantastic prize to win.
During Members' Week we are offering an exclusive 20% off in our shops and cafés. You'll also be able to bring along a non-member for free when you visit our sites during this time.
Become a member to make the most our of our Members' Week.
Members' Week is proudly supported by Riviera Travel.
Find out more about Members' Week4. Explore Stonehenge in a brand new way
Spring is a great time to explore Stonehenge and delve into its mysteries.
Pick up our brand new book by Susan Greaney, former Senior Properties Historian at English Heritage and now Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Exeter. In this superbly illustrated book she draws on the latest research, explores who may have built the stone circle and why, and how it has shaped people’s lives over thousands of years.
Stonehenge: The Story of an Icon will be available in early May onsite and online and makes the perfect companion to your visit.
Explore Stonehenge5. Explore Darwin's World of Natural History
As we celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday on Friday 8 May, discover the remarkable story of natural history at Charles Darwin’s home, Down House.
Explore how Darwin’s groundbreaking ideas helped shape our understanding of the natural world today.
Plan your visit to Down HouseThe month in history
- Poet Alexander Pope was born on 21 May 1688. He's famous for his classic poetry and literature, but less well-known is his impact on historical garden design; he proposed plans for gardens at Chiswick House and Marble Hill in southwest London. A blue plaque marks his time living at Mawson’s buildings in Chiswick Lane South.
- The landscape and portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough was born on 14 May 1727. His portrait of Mary, Countess Howe can be seen at Kenwood, alongside famous works by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Reynolds.
- The British evacuation of soldiers from Dunkirk, also known as Operation Dynamo, began on 26 May 1940. The rescue was co-ordinated by Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay from the tunnels beneath Dover Castle. A total of 338,226 troops were evacuated by almost 1,000 ships, many of them civilian boats.
- The monk and scholar, The Venerable Bede, died on 26 May 735. Bede wrote about St Hild of Whitby, who, according to legend, banished a plague of snakes from the headland there with divine help. Learn more about the legend of Saint Hild in this short film.
More to explore
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Inspire Me
Spring is here and we’ve got lots of ideas to get you out and about.
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THE ENGLISH HERITAGE PODCAST
Every object has a story to tell - but how can one mystery item lead us on a journey through history, people and places? Amy Matthews explores tales from unexpected places.
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Become a member today
Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historical places with an annual membership. Plus there's free entry for up to six children!