Top 5 things to do in September
This September, we’ve got plenty of ideas for things to see and do.
Explore our gorgeous gardens, brush up on your history for the new school year, enjoy some relaxing Sunday music, indulge in culture at Kenwood and experience golden-hour moments as the colours start to change.
1. Explore our gorgeous gardens
With the busy school holidays over but lots of flowers still in bloom and the weather still warm, September is the perfect time of year to get out and see our historic gardens.
Between 12 and 21 September, you can also visit lots of our sites for free as part of Heritage Open Days. Thanks to our amazing volunteers and partners across the country, we'll be offering free in-person events ranging from walking and guided tours to interior openings, short talks and more.
Find out about Heritage Open Days2. Brush up on history for the new school year
For many of us, the start of September generally means one thing: going back to school.
If you or your child will be studying history, why not get ahead of the game and check out our Kids' Area? You'll find online magazines, videos, activities, games, recipes and much more.
Explore our Kids' Area3. Enjoy some relaxing Sunday music
Bring your chairs or blankets to some of our most picturesque sites this September and unwind on the lawn as we provide the soundtrack to your Sunday.
Enjoy brass bands, steel drums, Bollywood fusion, jazz and more – and you can also pick up refreshing treats from our cafés.
Book Sunday music at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland
Book Sunday music at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire
Book Sunday music at Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden in Warwickshire
4. Indulge in culture at Kenwood
There's loads happening at Kenwood in London this September.
From 1 September, you can see The Guitar Player by Vermeer side-by-side with its ‘Twin’ for the first time in over 300 Years, in a new exhibition called Double Vision.
On 6 September, enjoy the FT Weekend Festival hosted by the Financial Times. Speakers include Yuval Noah Harari, Lyse Doucet, Peter Frankopan, Jeremy King, Sharon White, David Baddiel, Nicky Haslam and Jay Rayner, plus all your favourite FT writers and editors.
On 20-21 September, HowTheLightGetsIn, the world’s largest philosophy and music festival, will bring together over 200 visionary speakers and performers across eight vibrant stages for a weekend of debate, discovery and cultural celebration.
5. Experience golden-hour moments
As the sun starts to set earlier and the colours start to change, September's the perfect time to enjoy a moment of contemplation at our historic sites and capture those golden-hour, or magic-hour, photos.
And if the weather takes a turn and the rain comes in, you can rewatch our livestreams of sunset at Whitby Abbey and golden hour at Tintagel Castle.
Find a historic site near youThe month in history
- Poet Siegried Sassoon was born on 8 September 1886. He's best remembered for his First World War poems, first published as a collection in 1919. His former home in Kensington is now marked with a blue plaque.
- On 21 September 1915 Stonehenge was bought at auction by local landowner Mr Cecil Chubb, who three years later gave it to the nation. Find out more about this significant auction and the restoration of Stonehenge here.
- Queen Elizabeth I was born on 7 September 1533. The medieval fortress at Kenilworth Castle was transformed into a luxurious palace to impress the queen. Visitors today can walk in her footsteps on the castle walls and in the Elizabethan Garden.
- England’s most celebrated naval officer, Horatio Nelson, was born on 29 September 1759. A blue plaque marks his home at 103 New Bond Street in London, where he lived in 1798.
More to explore
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Inspire Me
We’ve handpicked our favourite articles, guides and stories to inspire your next day out. Find out what's new in our historic gardens, flick through the latest travel guides and read about seasonal scenic walks.
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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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