HISTORY TRIP Spend a day at Britain's most famous heritage sites

PAST TIMES

Take the family on magical history tours of the UK’s famed castles, palaces and cathedrals

HEVER CASTLE, KENT

The childhood home of Anne Boleyn is as enchanting as the dark-haired queen, who bewitched Henry VIII before losing her head. Portraits and letters are on display in the castle, above, as part of the Becoming Anne exhibition (until 9 November). In the magnificent grounds, spend a day at the jousting tournament, where the Knights of Royal England fight on horseback and on foot for king and honour (until 29 August), or dress up for Spellbound Summer, where resident sorcerers entertain young witches and wizards (until 31 August). hevercastle.co.uk

BLENHEIM PALACE, OXFORDSHIRE

In the splendid grounds of the World Heritage Site, above left, one of Beatrix Potter’s best loved characters, Peter Rabbit, is brought to life as he celebrates his 120th anniversary. Through storytelling, puppetry and live performances, families join the adventure and save Peter from Mr McGregor’s rabbit pie. Guests will be led through private areas of the estate’s vegetable gardens, greenhouses and potting sheds, meeting Jemima Puddleduck and many more along the way (until 3 September). blenheimpalace.com

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL, KENT

“There is no lovelier place in the world than Canterbury,” wrote Virginia Woolf. Indeed one could spend a day exploring the medieval canals and sampling cream teas. However, a trip to the 1,400-yearold cathedral, left, is not to be missed. New for 2022 is an exhibition in the Crypt which allows visitors to view artefacts up close for the first time – including the battle shield of Edward The Black Prince, and fragments of Thomas Becket’s shrine. canterbury-cathedral.org L