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 go to Hever Castle as it is nearby, it has a great water maze for the kids on a hot day and activities to keep them busy. Plus the Castle has historical value and it sparks their interest. My aim is mainly to have fun but also to learn some bits and bobs.

Are we not sufficiently cultured in the Northeast, or something

Mine both have SN and one of them can't access these organised events at all. The other prefers to do his own exploration.

We like a bit of both but doesn't have to be at the same time. DD and DH both love history so are really happy to walk around ruins. We also have days out that are just fun.

A special event does tend to encourage us out on a visit though. We loved seeing Father Christmas at Kenilworth Castle.

Another one for Hampton Court. Although a bit of a trog to get there, all my kids love it. Probably helped by the fact we go so infrequently there is always something new. The Magic Garden has been less of a hit than expected with the exception of the fancy dress which really captured their imaginations, despite it being targeted at their age group

Another one for Hampton Court. Although a bit of a trog to get there, all my kids love it. Probably helped by the fact we go so infrequently there is always something new. The Magic Garden has been less of a hit than expected with the exception of the fancy dress which really captured their imaginations, despite it being targeted at their age group

We have purchased family membership for the English Heritage & Blenheim Palace so we can visit those places as many times as we like. I've been taking my daughter to Hampton Court & Tower of London so many times and it feels like she has learnt something different & more each time. She made some research with her school and it helps with her learning. And it is a really fun day out too!

Peveril Castle really helped my children to understand the strategic roles of castles. The view from the top is so stunning that they suddenly understood how anyone in the castle could survey their land and spot invaders.
Also the climb is quite strenuous so the children slept well that night!

Stayed over at Warwick Castle which was a great way for the kids to really enjoy history coming alive - there were birds of prey shows (showing the types of birds of prey used for hunting), jousting (themed around the history of Warwick Castle), a working trebuchet demonstration (which really reinforced how hard warfare was in those days) and a horrible histories show which was based on the history of Warwick Castle and trying out archery with longbows (the instructors were great), which all 3 kids (ranging from 3 to 10) enjoyed. They also loved walking around the castle, going along the ramparts, whacking each other with swords (most of the evenings entertainment was knight school and jester school learning alternately how to whack each other with swords and learning how to plate spin... They also liked the maze which had areas themed around 5 different historical eras.

We've had some brilliant days out with English Heritage. Their Grand Medieval Jousts are great fun and always manage to sneak in some education for kids and adults, generally without them even noticing.

One of the best things ever for my dc was being able to bounce on the beds in a NT property - at Avebury Manor. That was SO exciting, compared to just looking at beds across a rope.

Dressing up, treasure hunts etc are always good, but bouncing on the bed has to beat everything.

Took the grandkids who are two years apart to Eltham Palace. The older one loved it but the younger one was bored. And I'm pretty sure we'll do the same visit in a couple of years and when the roles will be reversed.

Northumbria is fantastic, Hadrians Wall, Alnwick Castle

We live near Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and my son loves to go on the boats there and see how things were for the sailors years ago, they have great exhibitions and a good play area for kids with more interactive games, plus we get to go on boat trips around the harbour where we can see Portchester Castle and the old Portsmouth buildings.

I regularly take my daughter to the local natural history museum and the museum of Liverpool so she can learn about the city she's growing up in :)

Later this week, we are going to experience Norman Knight Time at Bolsover Castle - I'm as excited as LO!! There is a bit of everything - falconry, music, archery & storytelling - so hoping we'll be able to spend a full day there without anyone getting bored! Will let you know how we get on - if it's a positive experience, we'll look out for similar events in the future!

There are a few English heritage sites near us and only one is running and event over the summer, and sadly it is on a weekend we are Lready busy. Otherwise I would love to take my son and make history come to life for him.
I can still remember going to a "jousting" reenactment when I was a child, it stands out so clearly in my memory.
Please do more, especially at your little local sites (eg near me, titchfield abbey and portchester castle)

They loved Kentwell Hall - the recreation of Tudor life was so well done and so engaging

One thing I would say is that sometimes the 'obvious' ideas of dressing up don't work for children with ASD. My ds is often wary of people who dress up, won't speak to people and won't dress up himself as it's far from his comfort zone. However one place who do do a great job of engaging him is Alnwick Castle where he loves the range of quick, simple crafts that they put on - making a medieval tile from clay or a magic wand. The simplicity and speed means it's not overwhelming for him. Plus you take your work of art away immediately.

The other thing that's important for him is not to be taken around in a guided group - much more useful to have child friendly written signage for him to work through at his own pace. The one exception to this was at the Tower of London where the guide was such a masterful (slightly bonkers) storyteller that he forgot himself and was enthralled.

One thing I would say is that sometimes the 'obvious' ideas of dressing up don't work for children with ASD. My ds is often wary of people who dress up, won't speak to people and won't dress up himself as it's far from his comfort zone. However one place who do do a great job of engaging him is Alnwick Castle where he loves the range of quick, simple crafts that they put on - making a medieval tile from clay or a magic wand. The simplicity and speed means it's not overwhelming for him. Plus you take your work of art away immediately.

The other thing that's important for him is not to be taken around in a guided group - much more useful to have child friendly written signage for him to work through at his own pace. The one exception to this was at the Tower of London where the guide was such a masterful (slightly bonkers) storyteller that he forgot himself and was enthralled.

Ooh forgot to say - and I know this is out if your area - that both ds's loved the event at Scarborough Castle recently where there was a display of Birds of Prey and sword fighting.

DD 6 is not at all keen on dressing up and organised events. She does love going round castles etc to her own route and speed. Most of the historic Scotland places have kids quizzes which she enjoys doing.

We usually visit castles, Blackness and Dumbarton castles are current favourites although a recent visit to Tantallon was literally awesome! Successful recent trip to Stanley mills, DD spent ages in the interactive room playing with the different types of wheels and turbines.

Interactive stuff is always good, no kid wants a tour around some fusty property at adult speed, with hushed voices, and velvet ropes and do not touch signs. They want to be able to go around at their own speed, stopping to interact with things that interest them.

we are going to the largs viking festival and I'm looking forward to it

My 4 year old is totally into role play, so historical days or to castles and the line are perfect as there's plenty of 'let's pretend' along with the education.

My children and I love historical days out. One of the best we've had was The Tower of London. There were actors playing out the politics behind the civil war. By which I mean there was no battle scenes. The audience had to pick which side they wanted to be on. We lost
It's a period of history I am utterly clueless about so even i learned something that day.

I think all events with children have the possibility to be both fun and educational. (Even a trip to the park can involve learning the names of trees) and try to make all of our trips a bit of both.

I think historical days out are so important, we live near Sutton hoo which is fab and have been to other local historical outing which the kids love