Places in history

If our places could talk they'd have some stories to tell. Discover their rich histories and watch them spring to life before your eyes

A large tree in summer, next to a small wooden hut
An archive image of the people marching in the 1932 Kinder Scout trespass overlaid onto a modern day image of the landscape

Unearthing stories of passion and protest 

Many of our places have connections to protests, mass social movements and the development of the rights we enjoy today. This year as we mark 200 years since the Peterloo Massacre, a turning point in our democracy, we’ll be exploring these relationships with a year-long programme of events, exhibitions, podcasts and more.

Explore the tales of passion and protest
Processing Suffragettes c.1908

How we are challenging our history 

Challenging histories is a programme that explores some of the more hidden aspects of our places. This year we’re commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre by showcasing places in our national landscape which are important symbols of passion and protest.

Find out more and get involved

Significant places

Visitors on the drive to the west front at Montacute House, Somerset

Scandalous stories from our places 

The places we look after have rich histories, and some of them are hiding stories sordid enough to raise a blush. Intrigued? Read on…

The exterior of Greenway, Devon

Places that inspired great literature 

Some of the houses, gardens and landscapes we look after have inspired famous writers, playwrights and poets. Here's our pick of the best.

Children playing outside at Speke Hall, Garden and Estate, Merseyside

Tudor connections at our places 

The places we look after have many links to the Tudor period. They’ve received royal visitors, hidden Catholic priests and witnessed pivotal events.

The cast of Downton Abbey pose in front of the houses at Lacock

For film and TV lovers 

Find out which of our historic mansions and magnificent landscapes can be seen on-screen. You can look out for them in popular TV dramas such as Game of Thrones, and in brand new films.

The Marconi Centre at Poldhu, Lizard, Cornwall

Eight places that helped change the world 

From the house where Sir Isaac Newton first discovered gravity to the childhood homes of the Beatles and the site of the first radio broadcast, discover the places that inspired some revolutionary ideas.

See where history was made

Design through the ages

The Winter Parlour at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire

Interior design through the ages 

As fashions change over the eras, so do our homes. Discover centuries of design innovation through the places we care for.

A path winding through the garden at Dunham Massey, Cheshire

Gardens through the ages 

Learn about medieval, Tudor, Stuart, Georgian, Victorian and 20th-century gardens, and where to see our finest examples.

Visitors looking at open drawer of collections cabinet

Collections online 

Our collections are an important part of our heritage. From artistic treasures to the quirky and bizarre, you can explore more than 800,000 objects on our collections site.

Search our online collections

Heritage

Learn more about how we look after for the special places in our care and get a glimpse of some of the conservation projects we're working on at the moment.

Find out more on heritage