Share your thoughts on historical days out and events with your children - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

It can be difficult to keep kids’ boredom at bay during the school holidays. English Heritage sites in London and the East are putting on events throughout the summer to help keep children entertained and they’d like to hear your thoughts surrounding historical days out and events you’ve attended with your children.

Here’s what English Heritage have to say: “English Heritage have a host of sites across London and the East that are perfect to keep your little ones entertained throughout the summer holidays. With a new themed activity each week at each property, your little adventurers will be thoroughly entertained (and may secretly learn a thing or two along the way!) during those long hot (here’s hoping!) holidays.

From London to Suffolk to Derbyshire and everything in between, English Heritage have castles, manor houses and sites with acres of beautiful gardens that are sure to keep even the most active of children busy! Not only are the sites fantastic, but each has a varied event programme for children throughout the school holidays. From becoming a home front hero to learning the ropes as a budding knight; from being inspired by Darwin’s science experiments to taking to the stage 1920s style and from going on a bug safari to playing games like a Victorian – your little time travellers will get hands on with history with English Heritage this summer.”

So, have you been on a really great historical adventure or attended an event which really brought history to life for your children? Do you think events you take your children on should be educational, or purely fun? Maybe you think that they should always be both? Whatever your thoughts or stories surrounding events and days out for your children, share them with English Heritage below.

All those who leave a comment below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher from a store of their choice.

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

My children have enjoyed so many 'historical' days out both here and abroad. Through English Heritage We've visited the Battle of Hastings reenactment; Dover Castle for various special events but also just to explore; Audley End, Framlingham; Grimes Graves were a particular highlight; Down House for beginning to understand Darwin; Rochester and Upnor castles and a few more I can't remember at the moment. Abroad we've been to a few castles in France as well as the Bayeux Tapestry. They've picked up so much and now, at 8 and 10, have a really good understanding of a timeline, i.e. who ruled when, significant dates in history, as well fascinating facts that they seem to remember and I don't! I'm positive that these days out and visit is have taught them so much more about history than they can learn in school. They also watch a lot of Horrible Histories, so I guess that could be the source of their knowledge!!

My DD loves going to historical sites - especially castles. We haven't really been to any specific events, although occasionally we have visited somewhere to find small scale re-enactments.

One of the best ones that the whole family enjoyed was when there were lots of historic outdoor games set up in the garden for everyone to have a go at. And another time there was no published trail, but one of the staff on the door just told DD a few things to look out for, which kept her absorbed for ages.

DD is still of an age where she loves the dressing up box and arts and crafts table - though she is slightly less keen on following a trail.
I like it when places have a simpler, condensed explanation next to a display for children (or those in a hurry) to read, as well as a more in-depth one.

Love these days out but tend to prefer the low key versions so we can explore for ourselves. Sometimes, what works for a 6 year old is tedious for a slightly older sibling. A simple trail with things to see/spot works well for us.

My dd loved a jousting event last year. Castles only hold her interest for a very short time, but is they can be combined with ice cream and a walk it makes a nice day out.

Nothing can quite live up to the original Kentwell Hall Tudor re-enactments which were just unparalleled in their scale! However, it's great how much more live interpretation there is around these days. We were very impressed by Henry VIII at Hampton Court, who really drew the visitors into the story by getting us to advise him on what to do about the Pope.
Easter Egg hunts, however, should be banned. The kids just zoom around looking for the clues to the chocolate with no interest in the actual place.

I live in South East London, and the lovely Eltham Palace isn't that far away, so we do visit fairly often.

Its a great venue for young children too as there is a great play area, that my 2.5 year old loves running around. I normally sit down with a coffee and slice of cake with my 5 month old while the toddler runs around.

A few weeks ago they had a 1920's cocktail party theme day, with actors dressed up in 20's gear. They even had a cocktail masterclass, which was fun to watch. Plus dressing up for kids, and grown's up too if you wanted to join in!

Do make sure they are open before going along, as I dont think they are open Friday's or Saturdays and do try to get there early as the car park can get busy!
I think its lovely to have an explore around.

cornflakegirl - er, the printer had a long conversation with my DD about taking her on as an apprentice ...I think he has probably had exactly the same conversation with about a thousand children....Still a great day out though, and he (and the others too) were very enagsging.

Just thought of another: Bodiam Castle in Sussex. Great medieval castle with a surprising amount still there.

These sort of days out are the highlight of the hols for our family but that's what comes of having two History grads as parents. Top picks for us as family over the years have been Osborne House, Sutton Hoo, Arundel Castle, Hampton Court, Hartland Abbey and theTower of London. This summer it has to be Eltham Palace, a visit long overdue.

My DD is young so historical homes aren't really her thing, although we are to London soon so will look up the English Heritage events. We like activities where events and stories are brought to life - one of our favourite ever days out was watching the Giants come to Liverpool.

We also visited a mock trenches set up which DD was fascinated with.

We've never been on one like that, although have explored local castles and country estates in our area. The kids love it, but I would imagine they'd love it more if there were interactive features or exhibitions.

Longleat is a favourite in our house for the house and dressing up.

We went to a WW2 event at a railway - my daughter was really interested in the period music being played. It was a really good way of bringing things to life - albeit she is too little to understand the significance of the war itself

Bolsover Castle and Languard Fort are the two that immediately spring to mind that we have have found really interesting. We do hope though that they don't go too far in making everything polished, refined and too entertaining as in the end this just leaves you not feeling the history. Your imagination does not have the freedom to explore if there is too much noise, too many entertaining things thrust at you. Some places we have thought to visit have advertised too many events weekend after weekend, so are off-putting. If we want entertainment there are places to go for that which can do it in the right setting. Audio with the extra options where you can have the option of hearing from someone who lived in the era are very entertaining ours love to make use of such things.

Landguard not Languard

We went to History Live at Kelmarsh Hall two years ago and it was absolutely fantastic. There were costumed reenactments from various periods in history including Roman gladiators, medieval knights jousting, a battle from the American war of independence and WW2 including a spitfire fly past.

We went with DC aged from 7-19 and had a fabulous time. We joined EH and used our membership to visit a couple of sites in Norfolk when we were on holiday and a few more here in Northamptonshire.

Although now living in Scotland we're English heritage card holders, love visiting Dover, Deal and Walmer castle.. working our way through other sites too.. was at Beeston castle last year - great event with civil war re-enactment, carlisle castle have also visited with re-enactor talking through things and 'recruiting' kids - they had a great time! Belsay Hall in Northumberland was also great - great gardens.. then working our way through the sites along hadrians wall....so many options and lots of fabulous events!

We love going to events like this if they are not too crowded and have plenty of things going on without having to queue for a long for them.

We have enjoyed everything from jousting to flag designing to learning about butter making and old farm machinery.

I think the older chidlren are, the more educational the activites should be but they should always have an element of fun.

Family areas in the cafes or picnic areas would be a good idea so that those without kids can enjoy the peace and parents don't get glares from those without when things get noisy!

Good toilet facilites at larger events are a most - tiny port-a-loos are not great with little ones and certainly no good for nappy changing!

One of my best days out as a child was to see jousting at Knebworth House. I've since taken my dd and her friend and they loved it too!
I think it's pretty easy to interweave fun and educational but fun is definitely the most important.

2 days spring to mind

Taking ds and a friend to castle rising. Bought them a sword each at the little shop and they spent all afternoon playing Knights. They both loved it.

The other is history live. Fantastic day out. The trenches were a highlight, but having so much to see in one day kept them interested. WWII battle at the end of the day finished it off. All the reinactors were friendly and answered questions. Educational with out it being obvious.

When DS1 and DD1 were little, we were members of the Glasgow Viking Society, and spent quite a lot of the summer holidays dressed as Vikings! DS1 had better kit than me!

We have really enjoyed horrible history exhibitions at the war museum in Manchester, it really brings that time alive and makes history fun to learn. They have a great time and take in so much information without realising it

Recently I took my 5 year old to Audley End for a Queen Elizabeth I event. The day was fantastic in every way. He learnt how to dance like a gentleman of the day, even asking a 'lady' to dance with him......OK, she was only about 3 years old but they looked super cute together. He tried on various garments and headgear and tried out the armour and weaponry which enthralled him. Later on we watched how a knight prepared for battle and sat by the lake watching a jousting enactment. The venue is stunning and the whole day was extremely authentic. We had an amazing day and he never wanted to leave. I think these sort of events really bring history alive for both young people and adults alike. We have a family membership to EH which has enabled us to experience some marvellous days out.

When our lg was born we got a national trust card as it is a great day out with a wee one visiting historical castles etc. Now she's a bit older we try to get out and about for walks with her and our local castles and gardens are the perfect place to explore. She loves running about looking at the flowers and bugs and having a cake at the end. We are so lucky to have so many places like this on our doorstep.

Harlech castle was great for dd1 - really simple, it had a map to follow and letters to spot to spell out a word. Kept her busy for ages. Days out are educational by default as well as being fun.

I love visiting castes down the Welsh border. I don't tend to push history on my kids, but when they show an interest, I tell them about what is around us, dates and such like (I did history a level so I do like all that...)

I hope in years to come they'll still be interested..

But I love visiting sites because of the open space.. Often you can take picnics and the little ones can run about (mine are under 1 and 3)..