Heritage
Lift history off the pages and explore historic England. With hundreds of award-winning heritage attractions, interactive museums and visitor centres, commemorative memorials and nearly 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites all crammed into one small country, you’ll trip over history at every turn. It’s virtually impossible to ignore this country's mythical and fabled characters, horrible histories, legendary monarchs and influential leaders as you discover Neolithic mounds and Roman ruins, thatched Tudor houses and spacious Victorian squares, prehistoric remains, spooky medieval gaols and historic towns in England. Hire a Blue Badge guide for an in-depth tour of your area of interest.
Sip Earl Grey where it was created: Howick Hall
Earl Grey tea is enjoyed – usually at around 4pm – all over the world, but few know it was invented in Northumberland for Charles, 2nd Earl Grey.
Location: Howick, Northumberland
Get kippered in Craster
Craster is the acclaimed home of the kipper – a breakfast favourite of the Queen. But there’s more to Craster than fishy tales.
Location: Craster, Northumberland
Discover Howick’s heavenly history
With a famous cup of tea, a stunning garden and its very own bathing house, the haven of Howick Hall is one of Northumberland’s true hidden gems.
Location: Howick, Northumberland
Marvel at prehistoric cliffs and caves
The magnificent coastline of South Tyneside tells a story that stretches far beyond the stunning aesthetics of the golden sands and rugged cliffs.
Location: Marsden, South Tyneside
Be royalty for a day at Scarborough Castle
Take an audio tour around the Castle, enjoy breathtaking views from the headland of the North Yorkshire Coast and have tea in a historic building.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Explore historic Whitby Abbey
Discover how over 2,000 years of history made Whitby Abbey one of England’s most important archaeological sites.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Delve into the story of Dracula
Probe into the dramatic history of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in the very place where the stories of the bloodthirsty vampire were born.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Walk through sand dunes to Bamburgh Castle
This seat of the former Kings of Northumbria tells a spellbinding tale from its awe-inspiring position on the edge of Northumberland’s coast.
Location: Bamburgh, Northumberland
Witness Northumberland’s violent history at its coastal castles
The Northumberland coastline is strewn with castles and time-ravaged ruins, providing great insight into the county's turbulent past.
Location: Craster and Warkworth, Northumberland
Take a modern day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Skim over the sands and causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and prepare to enter a world where a wealth of history and stunning views await.
Location: Lindisfarne, Northumberland
Discover the village that fell into the sea
One dark night in 1664, while local people were attending a wake, the whole village of Runswick slipped into the sea…
Location: Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
Discover the quirky side of Robin Hood’s Bay
Enjoy a traditional seaside break with a twist at this old smuggling and fishing village on the North York Moors National Park coast.
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby
Waterfalls, row boats and a pagoda in Peasholm Park
Explore this beautiful Grade II-listed oriental themed garden, set on the site of a medieval manor house with many activities to enjoy.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Discover history, beaches and fine art at Berwick
One of England’s most dramatic walled towns, handsome Berwick-upon-Tweed sits at the most northerly tip of Northumberland.
Location: Berwick, Northumberland
Sampling England’s national dish in historic Whitby
The traditional taste of fish and chips still comes out on top in the picturesque seaside town of Whitby.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
Journey to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
A visit to history-rich and beautiful Lindisfarne, cut off twice daily from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides, is an adventure not to miss.
Location: Lindisfarne, Northumberland
Have a traditional Victorian seaside experience
Head to the delightful seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea for a fun trip up a sea-cliff lift and dine on fish and chips with a view.
Location: Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
September events: Steam into autumn at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Get on board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway this autumn with a varied diary of events offering a great way to spend time with family and friends.
Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire
Pay homage to the written word in South Shields
Step inside The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, a state-of-the-art venue in South Shields.
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside