This summer has felt a bit like a dream come true – teaming up with English Heritage!! For years we’ve admired the incredible work they do looking after some of the most breath taking places in the country. Now, to be part of the fun of filling those places with families, laughter, and a whole lot of imagination… there’s been quite the buzz at Rusticus HQ.
It feels like a great time for us as the traditional events programme at English Heritage shifts to include embrace imaginative immersive experiences for families. That’s what we’re all about too — opening the gates of castles, gardens, and ruins and saying: what can we imagine here together?
And wow, what places they are. We’ve already had the joy of staging our very silly Knights of the Round Table at Bolsover Castle — yes, there were lances, yes, there was jousting, and no, it was not exactly historically accurate. But it was a riot of laughter, cheering, and silliness in the shadow of a real castle!
Next up is the Magical Beasts Adventure at Belsay. If you know the atmospheric ruined castle and quarry gardens at Belsay then just wait until you add will ‘o wisps, boggarts, and a spot of monster-taming. We can’t wait to see families turning those winding pat!!hs into their own adventure. And then, of course, Halloween and Christmas are on the horizon — a haunted forest here, a twinkle of Father Christmas magic there.
None of this would be possible without the brilliant English Heritage teams, who have welcomed us so warmly and helped us find our feet in these extraordinary places. It’s been monsters, magic, and make-believe… and we’re only just getting started
