Visit Heritage Blog

You might have noticed that May only has one bank holiday this year thanks to the extra bank holidays we get for the Platinum Jubilee, but did you know that May used to have a national holiday on 29^th? This holiday was known as oak Apple Day and at one time, it was one of the most important holidays of the year. So, what happened?

This year the whole of Britain is celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – not only is this an amazing achievement for Her Majesty reaching such a milestone, but she is also the first British monarch to have done so!  

This May half-term, families can enjoy a programme of special craft activities to celebrate the Jubilee week at the Roman Baths, Fashion Museum and Victoria Art Gallery.

Anne Boleyn is probably one of the most divisive female figures in history. As the second wife of Henry VIII she is credited with influencing the reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries and for the ensuing religious chaos which lasted years after her death and of course, she is the mother of one of the world’s best loved queens.

The second ever World Topiary Day is fast approaching, this year falling on 12^th May. Launched in 2021 by Levens Hall, home to the world’s oldest Topiary Garden and EBTS UK, the day is a celebration of the timeless art of clipping and shaping trees.

Outlander has returned for another season and if you can’t get enough of the Frasers and their family drama, then why not plan a trip to Scotland to see some of the locations used in the show?

Aside from being St George’s Day and World Book Day, 23^rd April is also the birth (and death) day of William Shakespeare, perhaps one of Britain’s greatest playwrights, so to celebrate his legacy, here’s everything you need to know about William Shakespeare.

As Easter creeps nearer, you might wonder why we, as a nation, do some of the things we do. There are a host of British traditions that take place at Easter, so here are some of them and why we do them.

As one season ends and another begins, we thought we would look at some of the supposed last words that are attributed to notable figures throughout history and maybe even dispel a few myths at the same time.

Now that the final series of Peaky Blinders is out in the world, we thought we’d investigate the true stories of the real-life Birmingham gang that lent their name to the hit show. You might not know this, but the Peaky Blinders were a real-life gang and show creator, Steven Knight, has even talked about his own family connections to England’s criminal underworld and how this inspired him to create the Shelbys and their various misdeeds.

English Tourism Week is back for 2022 and kicks off on 18^th March! The annual campaign celebrates the diverse and vibrant tourism industry across England and gives holiday makers and industry professions the chance to raise awareness of English destinations.

There are a host of events and activities celebrating the Jubilee across the UK and the Commonwealth, not just over the actual Jubilee weekend but in the months leading up to the event.