Celebrating England’s history and heritage in 2016

There are always plenty of good reasons to visit England for a vacation, from the sights and sounds of London, to the beauty and tranquillity of the rolling countryside, but here are five reasons why 2016 is an extra special year to take a tour to England.

2016 is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, England’s greatest landscape gardener. Associated with over 260 sites, including Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth, Highclere Castle and Syon Park, ‘Capability’ Brown's landscape gardens are synonymous with England's green and pleasant land. A nationwide festival of events is planned, with the opportunity to visit over 150 Brown gardens and landscapes in England, including some not usually open to visitors.

We have designed an eight day tour in celebration of the 300thanniversary of the birth of Capability Brown. Please click here to find out more.

William Shakespeare, England’s greatest playwright, is being commemorated in his home county of Warwickshire in 2016, to mark 400 years since his death. There will be an exciting programme of events in and around his home town of Stratford upon Avon to celebrate his life and his work. New Place, his family home in Stratford upon Avon, is currently being transformed and reimagined for a 21st century audience, telling the story of Shakespeare’s mature years as a successful writer and citizen of Stratford upon Avon. It is due to open in April 2016.

The 200th anniversary of the birth of English novelist and poet CharlotteBrontë is commemorated in 2016. Charlotte Brontë was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels have become classics of English literature. She first published her works (including her best known novel, Jane Eyre) under the pen name Currer Bell. Visitors to the village of Haworth in West Yorkshire, where the sisters grew up, can discover more about the authors at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

On the 14 October 1066, the Battle of Hastings, the most famous battle in English history took place. A number of events, both historical and contemporary, are being planned to mark the 950th anniversary. On 14 October 2016, there will be a day of events in the town of Battle, East Sussex, and a ceremony at Battle Abbey, near to the site where King Harold was killed. Over the weekend of 15 and 16 October, there will be a re-enactment of the battle on the historic battlefield itself. Additionally, an international arts festival will take place, giving contemporary artists the opportunity to explore and offer new perspectives on the most famous date in English history.

2016 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of author Beatrix Potter. Born in London in 1866, Beatrix Potter was best known for her imaginative children’s books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She spent many childhood holidays in the Lake District of North West England, an area that was a huge influence on her later writing. The film "Miss Potter", starring Renée Zellweger, has brought a surge of interest in the writer’s Lake District connections.

To find out more about these anniversaries and how we can create a customised tour for you to enjoy these and many other special events, please do contact us.