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Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Vanbrugh 300 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to develop a nationwide project that aims to broaden the awareness of Vanbrugh through special displays, free education programmes and lectures, throughout his tercentenary year in 2026.
What is Vanbrugh300?
Sometimes referred to as ‘The Rockstar of the English Baroque’, Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) was also one of the great Restoration dramatists. His architectural work was as bold and daring as his early political activism and risqué plays. Among many other achievements – including as a herald and political activist – Vanbrugh is celebrated for his capacity to exploit the emotional impact of architecture, making exciting and dramatic use of light and shadow and recessions and projections.
VANBRUGH300 celebrates the life and legacy of Vanbrugh in 2026, his tercentenary year, across six of his great houses: Castle Howard, Blenheim Palace, Seaton Delaval Hall, Grimsthorpe Castle, Kimbolton Castle and Stowe House.
The festival is presented by The Georgian Group - the conservation organisation founded in 1937 to protect and promote Georgian heritage - and has been made possible thanks to the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund following a six-figure grant, with additional support from the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art.
The Programme Includes...
At the heart of the programme is Vanbrugh: Rockstar of the English Baroque, a major exhibition introducing visitors to the extraordinary life of Sir John Vanbrugh - architect, playwright, soldier and spy. Presented across each partner house, the exhibition is uniquely tailored to its setting, exploring Vanbrugh’s relationship with the site, its patron, and the building itself.
Visitors are taken on a journey through Vanbrugh’s remarkable life - from his early travels, including time spent in India and imprisonment in France as a hostage linked to espionage, to his career as a bold and controversial dramatist and theatre-builder in London. His connections through the influential Kit-Cat Club led to many of his most significant architectural commissions, including Castle Howard, Blenheim Palace, Seaton Delaval Hall and Stowe.
Each venue presents its own distinctive interpretation of the exhibition, brought to life through newly commissioned photography, original architectural plans, and historic paintings and portraits.
Plus, at Castle Howard, Staging the Baroque, curated by Roz Barr, explores Vanbrugh’s visionary use of scale, shadow and light, and the creative partnership between Vanbrugh and his patron, Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle. And at Blenheim Palace, Blueprints of Power offers an immersive exploration of Vanbrugh’s ambition, rivalries and creative vision, tracing his journey from playwright to architect and his complex collaboration with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.
Education is central to the Vanbrugh300 programme, opening up architecture, creativity and history to young people across the UK. More than 2,000 primary school pupils are taking part in free visits to historic houses, engaging directly with Vanbrugh’s work in inspiring real-world settings.
The schools programme offers rich, curriculum-linked experiences for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. Through guided tours and hands-on workshops, children explore how buildings are designed, how architecture tells stories, and how imagination shapes the built environment. Activities encourage observation, creativity and critical thinking - from sketching architectural features to developing their own Baroque-inspired designs.
To ensure wider access, a comprehensive suite of free digital resources is also available on the Vanbrugh300 website. These include lesson plans, presentations and adaptable classroom activities, enabling schools everywhere to take part. Whether in the classroom or on-site, the programme fosters curiosity, confidence and a deeper understanding of Britain’s architectural heritage.
Throughout the year, each heritage site hosts a dedicated Vanbrugh300 Weekend, bringing the programme to life for families and communities. These vibrant events feature fast-paced, interactive storytelling performances by Storyjam’s Alys Torrance and Lucy Lill, alongside creative workshops and hands-on activities.
Visitors can take part in imaginative experiences such as Hat’s Off to Vanbrugh, designing their own Baroque-inspired architectural headwear, or Big, Bold and Baroque, an energetic exploration of Vanbrugh’s life and buildings through movement, play and creativity. Designed to be inclusive and engaging, these weekends invite audiences of all ages to experience heritage in new and playful ways.
A nationwide series of free lectures brings together leading voices to explore the many facets of Vanbrugh’s life and legacy. Covering themes from politics and theatre to architecture and design, the programme reflects the breadth of his influence.
Delivered in a variety of formats - including in-conversation events, panel discussions and traditional talks - the lectures are open to all and designed to be accessible and engaging. Speakers include Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, Es Devlin, Dr Simon Thurley and others, offering fresh perspectives on Vanbrugh’s enduring impact.
The Vanbrugh300 leaflet is designed to give you a clear and engaging overview of the programme as a whole. It brings together all the key elements of Vanbrugh300 in one place, including details of the exhibitions, free lectures series, and the dates of the specially curated Vanbrugh300 weekends. Whether you are planning your visit or simply want to explore what’s on offer, the leaflet provides a helpful starting point.
As well as outlining the events, the leaflet also introduces the wider aims of Vanbrugh300, offering more context about the project and what it seeks to celebrate. If you would like to share Vanbrugh300 with others - friends, colleagues, or anyone who may be interested - you can easily download and print the leaflet using the button below.
These core elements of the programme have been made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Alongside this, partner houses, the The Georgian Group, and organisations such as the Sir John Soane’s Museum have contributed to the wider celebration, delivering their own events and activities as part of the Vanbrugh300 festival throughout the year.
