Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Archives for Heritage

Archives for Heritage

Bolney Apple Howling 2017 - Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men

Go Apple Howling in Sussex

Young and old will gather in Sussex this weekend, to make a hullabaloo as a special traditional ceremony, known as Apple Howling, takes place…

Mr Brunel poses with Victorian reenactors at the ss Great Britain during their Victorian Christmas weekend, 8 December 2018.

A taste of Christmas past with Dickens, knights and street urchins

Take a trip to Christmas past, in a more pleasant way than Scrooge did, by visiting one of the many Dickens, Victorian and medieval themed events taking place this winter…

Being Human festival - I am human badge - credit - Being Human festival

Discoveries and secrets at this year’s Being Human festival

From trawling for treasures in archives to discovering secret lives and overlooked histories, the annual Being Human festival is back this month…

Two German officer prisoners playing chess ©W.W.Winters Ltd

Hidden histories on display in Derby

A unique collection of previously unseen photographs, revealing what life was like for WWI prisoners in an East Midlands camp, has gone on show in Derby…

Light Up Lancaster 2017

Planets, shuttles and astronauts Light Up Lancaster

This year’s Light Up Lancaster will see two nights of illumination, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission…

Hop Tu Naa - Isle of Man

It’s turnip carving time at Hop Tu Naa celebrations

Forget pumpkin carving for Halloween, on the Isle of Man they do things a little differently, and turnips are the main ingredient!

Dancers of Damelahamid - photo credit Chris Randle

Storytelling festival is beyond words

This month, join in with a celebration of our shared heritage, human connections and place in the world, through storytelling, music and dance…

Bloomsbury Festival 2019

Take a giant leap to this year’s Bloomsbury Festival

Visitors can join a night-time street party, a 1969 tea dance, and a moon walk as central London’s annual festival of arts, culture and science takes place…

British National Ploughing Championships 2019

Vintage ploughing at British National Championships

This weekend, the 69th British National Ploughing Championships will take place in Lincolnshire, with more than 250 top ploughmen and women expected to compete…

London Sheep Drive 2016

Watch a flock of sheep cross London Bridge

What links Michael Portillo, a flock of sheep and one of London’s obscure traditions? Head to London Bridge this weekend to find out!

London Pearly Kings and Queens Society - Adrian Scarbrough Photography

A unique celebration of harvest-time in London

Every year, London’s famous Pearly Kings and Queens attend a Harvest Festival in Guildhall Yard, London…

Wigtown Book Festival

Book town hosts monster slayers, suppers and tours

Scotland’s National Book Town is gearing up for a friendly invasion of book lovers when the annual Wigtown Book Festival gets underway this week…

Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival

Fine fromage and delicious dairy in the Dales

This month, the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival returns for a week of themed events, including a cheesy run, wine and cheese tasting, cheese making courses, and a Truckle Trail…

Saltaire Festival 2017 - Rainbow Morris

Lifesize puppets and pop up events at Saltaire Festival

Expect quirky street theatre, wonky games, eclectic displays and hidden heroes in Yorkshire this month at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire…

By Villafanuk - Lichfield City Arms

Watch the Sheriff carry out a traditional custom in Lichfield

Every year, an old boundary marking custom is carried out in Lichfield, Staffordshire, with the ceremonial Sheriff and a party of riders from the local area…

  • ⬅ Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 53
  • Next ➡

Curiosity of the Week

Normanton Church, a waterside wonder
Normanton Church by Karen Cann

Welcome to a new year, and a new Curiosity of the Week! Our first curiosity of 2021 is a sunken church. It’s also one of the UK’s finest hidden gem tourist attractions…

Top Story

Drama from a toilet cubicle
Overflow, Bush Theatre steaming show

This month, UK audiences can enjoy a streamed performance of Overflow, a heart-wrenching show played out in a club toilet…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 · Contrary Life