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

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We find the days out that work best are the ones where there's is a bit of education, but lots of fun activities for the kids. Warwick Castle did this very well last year with various Horrid Histories activities around the grounds. We were disappointed when we returned this year to find only two HH activities (which were OK, but not great).

I have a 21 month old and I've recently started taking him to local historical sites. Last week we went to Castle Coch in South Wales. It was lovely. Considering how young he is, we had a great time looking around and DS loved pointing out the animals on the wallpapered drawing room. He enjoyed walking around in the beautiful grounds and we threw stones and found sticks in the woodland around the Castle.

I think that lots of events seem to be overly active/loud and aimed at older children and that's fair enough if you want to attract a crowd on the weekend but it was so lovely to spend some time with DS and just have beautiful surroundings for him to do normal toddler activities.

My two are a bit young to appreciate historical sights (3 and 1) but I loved them as a child. I am hoping when they get a bit older they will enjoy them too. There is a lovely photo of me as a little girl sitting on a canon at Carisbrooke Castle.

I love taking the kids to historical days but to be honest sometimes the entry fees are a bit out of the normal family price ranges, especially if you add the cost of a visit to their souvenier shops. We tend to look for deals or wait until the 'doors open days' where entry is free, that way kids get the fun experience while learning about valuable history without realising it.

A fee years ago i took my daughter to Clitheroe Castle, they had an event on with knights and staged fighting, we went around the grounds and she absolutely loved it! Great day out, hoping to drop into London for the day when we go on hols

We visited Pendennis Castle a few years back. It was amazing, the views just stunning. There was a reenactment going on which was done superbly, I have very fond memories of the visit.

visit a castle! oxford castle is nice!

Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, Chiswick House, we have enjoyed many historical days out and enjoy discovering how people lived in the past and how they shaped the future. Always something to interest all ages.

I think it's important to make history relevant and fun to engage children and encourage them to learn

My son, age 3, loves castles so we have visited quite a few. He loves the drawbridge, the moat (especially if it has fish or ducks in), and the fact we follow the visit with a picnic.

I'm North and West but we regularly visit English Heritage sites with out children and they always enjoy them. My oldest is six but we've been visiting since he was tiny. We've loved some of the events at Beeston Castle, for example.

I'm a firm believer in bringing my children up so that history is all around them and this allows them to learn through play and for it to become familiar to them. I find that even the smallest children can understand it in their own way and then this can really help their learning as they grow.

I'm in north Scotland and we have more castles than you can shake a stick at one of our best days out has been medieval days at Castle Fraser in Aberdeenshire, with jousting, falconry, food, archery to try etc. Always a great day with loads to keep the kids amused.
We also really enjoyed a visit to Hampton Court last year. Interesting exhibits, very friendly and involved staff and the children loved the cafe in the "dungeon" as they called it, plus of course the maze and tour of gardens in the horse drawn carriage. Would def recommend this for a good day out which suits kids of various ages.

We went to Saltrum House near Plymouth recently. My son was doing a project on the Georgian era which was why we went but my daughter still loved it. There was loads for them to learn, all about the history of the era and it was lovely to have the chance to see all the artefacts. I don't think days out have to be purely educational but it's really good to spark an interest.

The National History Museum is such a brilliant place to take the kids especially the Dinosaur exhibition! Would highly recommend!

We've been to lots of fascinating English Heritage sites over the years. It really brings history to life. Carisbrooke Castle is a particular favourite of ours. It is in such a beautiful setting and the boys loved the donkey and the well!

I'm a national trust member. There are some fantastic historical sites to visit and with a membership it works out cheap and forces us to visit more places. The information boards are usually concise and interesting, which means you don't feel like you are back on a school trip.

English heritage also do an annual pass but there are less destinations near us so less appealing.

When I pick a new town or village to visit with the kids I look for the nearest tourist information centre. It often has an abundance of historical information about the area and the best places to visit.

If I know that it is not going to be interactive and action-filled then either making a historical site a destination or doing preparation means the children won't be bored. By this I mean having a long walk/climb/cycle with eg a castle or ruin as the end point where we promise an ice cream or something or planning eg a treasure hunt where we will need to find a specific picture or carving or grave.

My sister lives in the cotswolds and my daughter and her cousins absolutely love going to sudeley castle which I think is great to be honest, they enjoy the gardens, get to run around and ask all sorts of questions about history and kings and queens which is good for their learning. Shame so many are so very expensive to visit though I think

I think its great to attend these events and bring history to life. I have found that some grab the interest of the kids more than others though!

Hampston court been going for years would recommend it to everyone

I'm a national trust member excellent historical buildings/homes o n their list.History is all around us let's get all ages involved its amazing .

My family had an absolutely brilliant day out at Carisbrooke Castle this year at a jousting event. The staff were excellent and got the children involved in pretending to load the cannons and sword fights.

DS who is 4 years old had a lot of fun at the event. DS also had a fantastic time walking around the top of the castle wall (twice!) and see the views. He learnt a little bit about Charles the first, and told his key worker at nursery all about "the king that couldn't get through the window"!

DD is 18 months old and enjoyed seeing the donkeys and the walled flower garden which I also enjoyed walking around.

Definitely a great family day out!

One of the best historical days out we went to was a battle reinactment of a historical event that happened there. Everyone was dressed up and there were medeval stalls, food and games, dressing up for everyone, . It was educational and fun!

We will definitely be making an effort to attend one of the reenactment days.

As English Heritage members, who have visited a few castles as a family, I must admit that our DC age 4 soon gets bored at the sites. But I'm sure she would love the re enactments and it would make it more interesting fro her, bringing history to life.