Valentine's Day Ideas
Fall in love with history with your Valentine's date by your side. Spend a day exploring leafy woodlands, enchanting ruins and iconic castles and see where some of history's most interesting characters have lived and loved before.
We've also pulled together some of the most romantic backdrops to set the mood so you can enjoy Valentine's Day in a beautiful historical setting.
Valentine's Day Ideas
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Our five most romantic places
Nothing says 'I love you' like a date at one of England's most romantic sites. Romance, intrigue and scandal are at the heart of these properties - who can resist a good love story?
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Say it with something special
Show someone you're thinking of them with a gift from our online shop. From soaps and jewellery, to homewares and wine, there's something to celebrate every relationship.
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Top Tips for Writing a Valentine's Love Letter
Don't worry if you've never written a love letter before, we've taken tips from Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin and Elizabeth I to help you write the perfect note to your sweetheart.
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Valentine's Day at Our Holiday Cottages
Why not organise a surprise weekend getaway at one of our holiday cottages? From gatehouse towers to beachside retreats, a holiday with us is an unforgettable experience.
Romantic Days Out
Step into history with your loved ones this Valentine's Day. Explore spectacular sites like Stonehenge, Tintagel Castle, Eltham Palace and Hadrian's Wall or venture through some of the most impressive historic gardens in the country. Get out of your home, town or city and spend some quality time in the places where history happened.
Please check our property opening times before you visit.
Places to Propose
The history of Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day is one of the few saints’ days that the average person could identify with any confidence, and for many it's the most romantic day in the calendar. But who was Saint Valentine and why is his feast day on 14 February associated with love and romance?
Find out moreOur Guide to the Language of Flowers
Explore the meaning of flowers and discover what your Valentine's Day bouquet might reveal about your relationship. We teamed up with our gardening team to present our guide to the historic language of flowers.
Find out morePodcast: Passion, politics and polite society
From the tumutolous relationship between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley to the deep affection Queen Victoria had for her husband, Albert, discover history on the go with the English Heritage podcast.
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Ranger's House: Bridgerton's Location for Love
Ranger's House has found new fame as the family home of the Bridgertons, Netflix's hit period drama. Uncover more of the history of this home and the people that lived there.
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Kenilworth: ELIZABETH I AND ROBERT DUDLEY at Kenilworth
Join head properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee as he explores their supposed romance and Dudley’s now legendary attempt to woo England’s ‘Virgin Queen’ over 19 days in 1575 at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire.
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Osborne: Victoria and Albert’s birthdays
Presenter Charles Rowe interviews art curator Michael Hunter at Osborne, the royal couple’s beloved former holiday home on the Isle of Wight, to find out how they celebrated their birthdays here, the gifts they gave to each other
Recipes for history lovers
They say the way to somebody's heart is through their stomach! Impress your loved ones with a home-made sweet treat based on a real Victorian recipe from the cookbook of Mrs Crocombe, head cook at Audley End House and Gardens in the 1880s.
SEVEN ROMANTIC OBJECTS AT ENGLISH HERITAGE SITES
From Roman rings to elaborate paintings and sculptures, take a look at these romantic historical objects from around our sites to see how love has inspired people throughout history.
Find out moreMore to Explore
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Weddings
From 16th century castles to royal retreats, our historical sites can offer that unique setting for the wedding ceremony of your dreams.
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The English Heritage Podcast
Join presenter Charles Rowe as we bring the history of our sites to life with news, views and expert interviews across over 100 episodes.
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Days Out with Dogs
There are plenty of dog-friendly sites across the whole of England for you to enjoy alongside your furry friends.
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Become a Member
Start a year of adventure. An English Heritage membership offers an unlimited annual pass to over 400 historic sites across the country.