Why do I have a passion for historical England? A very easy question to answer when you think of all the drama, intrigue, courage and passion, all of the heroes and villains, Kings, Queens, rebels, artists, highwaymen, bishops and scientists. that have been a part in the shaping of England’s rich historical past,

Little wonder that Hollywood has celebrated many a box office hit with films based on tales from historical England! Just think of Brave Heart, Elizabeth, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and more recently The Other Boleyn Girl, just a handful off the top of my head. That is without even mentioning all of the wonderful BBC television costume dramas. All of the evidence you need is right there for you to see how exciting and fun history can be.

I remember back in my school days, historical themselves now, I had a love for history but wanted to live it, experience it, fill my senses with it, not sit in a stuffy classroom reading boring text books and learning dates and timelines parrot fashion. So secretly (don’t tell anyone will you) I used to skip school and go on my own adventures around historical England.

There were so many wonderful places nearby that I could visit, castles, cathedrals, stately homes and museums where I could touch and feel the past and picture myself back in times of old. Rochester in Kent was on my doorstep and there I could saunter down the same high street that Charles Dickens walked down, roam around the Norman castle and marvel at one of the oldest cathedrals in the country.

That’s what I call learning about history.

Just take a look around you own neighbourhood, I bet you will be surprised at the wealth of history on your own doorstep. Next time you are out take a look up at some of the buildings around you, often the lower parts of them have been renovated into shops or offices but the higher up you look you will be amazed at what you will see. The oldest parts are normally still intact showing the architecture of the time of building and more often than not there will be a date embossed giving you the precise age.

Go on, try it. I guarantee you will discover historical England for yourself and of course you will meet lots of new friends as you bump into them whilst walking and gazing upwards, I know I do.

Today historical England is so much more accessible with so many wonderful heritage sites, living museums and theme parks. Especially during the summer months when the country is littered with festivals, pageants, shows and displays. All so much better than that classroom I was made to endure, or so they thought!

If you have a hidden passion for history, let it out and enjoy it, learn from it, have fun with it and pass it on to your friends and family, and why not enjoy history even more by subscribing to the BBC History Magazine - it would make a great present!