Get set for a colourful spectacle of boats gathering in Cheshire this Easter, marking the official start of the boating season…
Archives for Heritage
Ten quirky Easter events
Looking for some inspiration on how to spend your long Easter weekend? Contrary Life has compiled a round-up of the quirkiest Easter events taking place this year…
Rough justice and costumed banquets at Hawick Reivers Festival
Step back in time to the wild borderlands as Hawick Reivers Festival brings 16th century music, drama and games to the town…
A building shaped like a cash register in Manchester
Our latest Curiosity of the Week is an unusually-shaped art deco building in Stretford, Manchester…
Orkney’s Italian Chapel
For our latest Curiosity of the Week we are heading over to Orkney to discover a rather unusual piece of history…an Italian Chapel made from Nissen huts and a shipwreck!
Best beard competitions, spectacular battles and forgotten stories of Viking women
JORVIK Viking Festival will feature forgotten stories of Viking women, a battle spectacular, a Viking encampment, Strongest Viking and Best Beard competitions, mead tasting, a Viking banquet and Poo Day…
A la Ronde in Devon
Our latest Curiosity of the Week is an unusually shaped building in Devon. A la Ronde is a quirky 18th century, 16 sided house, with a fascinating interior…
Clowns gather in London for a special service
A unique annual Clowns’ Church Service, also known as the Grimaldi Service, will be held this weekend in London, with hundreds of clowns gathering from around the world…
The King’s Army is on the march in London
This Sunday, a parade and march will be taking place in Central London to commemorate the execution of Charles I of England…
A bloody battle in a historic town
For more than 40 years, the faithful troops of The Sealed Knot have gathered in the historic town of Nantwich, Cheshire, to re-enact the bloody battle…
Bedale Medicinal Leech House
Our latest Curiosity of the Week is an unusual little building that looks like a castellated folly from the outside, but was actually built to store leeches…
A unique 700 year old tradition in Lincolnshire
The Haxey Hood Game is a unique 700 year old tradition, played on the 12th day of Christmas in Lincolnshire with a ‘Fool’ and ‘Boggans’…
A unique and lively Twelfth Night celebration in London
On Sunday 6th January, the Bankside area of London will come alive with singing, dancing, plays and storytelling for a unique Twelfth Night celebration…
Chester’s fantastical Winter Watch Parade
Join a host of characters including the Lord of Misrule, devils, dragons, Romans, a group of giant skeletons and the Skeleton Emperor in Chester as the Winter Watch Parade takes place…
An historic printing press tour near Fleet Street
This week, take a behind the scenes tour of the St Bride Foundation printing workshop, historic rooms, and famous library…