We’ve picked a selection of our favourite heritage gifts for those with a passion for the past.

1. A holiday in a dream cottage

Give someone a holiday in a dream cottage this Christmas. The Landmark Trust has an amazing choice of spectacular buildings to stay in, from picturesque pavilions to medieval long-houses. Buy a gift voucher towards a memorable experience.

2. New book on Woolies

Woolies was a treasure trove; the source of sweets, books, records and much-loved toys. Nostalgia-lovers can rediscover the classic buildings that lit up our high streets with this new illustrated book that traces the story of Woolworth’s through the prism of its stores across Britain. Buy the book.

3. Make them a member

Membership is the gift that lasts all year. English Heritage has hundreds of amazing sites to visit from ruined abbeys to grand stately homes, as well as an action-packed events programme. Membership is also available from many heritage organisations including the Twentieth Century Society, the Victorian Society and the National Trust.

 4. Restoration courses for home owners

One for DIY lovers. Choose from any of the expert-led courses run by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) to help owners look after their historic buildings.

5. Experience days on Kent & East Sussex Railway

The perfect gift for railway enthusiasts. An exclusive opportunity to spend a day with a knowledgeable guide behind the scenes at this rural light railway. The day includes a visit to a carriage and wagon workshop where you’ll see craftsmen at work on current restoration projects as well as a tour of a loco yard and signal box. Book a behind the scenes tour

6. A glimpse through England’s past

An exhilarating journey through 150 years of English history via beautifully-preserved photographs from the Historic England Archive. The book reveals fascinating new insights into the history of photography and the development of our built environment. Buy Picturing England.

7. Help fund a book on Capability Brown

Help crowd-fund a book about landscape architect, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to mark the tercentenary of his birth in 2016. As well as receiving a copy of the book, each donor’s name will be saved for posterity by being listed in every copy.

8. Christmas gifts celebrating places you love

Search through our extensive collection of images of England past and present which can be made into beautiful framed prints and gifts to give this Christmas. Choose an image from our galleries and we’ll do the rest. Order now and claim a 10% discount by entering the voucher code: HEWELCOME at checkout.

Coming soon: new exhibition on post-war public art 

Loved or loathed, public art brought a spirit of optimism to the embattled post-war British. Our first major exhibition, Out There: Our Post War Public Art, traces its story. Displayed in the East Wing Galleries at Somerset House from February 3rd, Out There will be part of Somerset House’s year of utopia-themed programming to mark the 500th anniversary of the publication of Sir Thomas More’s classic book. Tickets will be available very soon; sign up to our mailing list  to keep up to date or see our webpage for more information.

More

Search more of our publications in our catalogue