Back to homepage
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.
Blenheim Palace
Blueprints of Power shines a light on Sir John Vanbrugh’s brilliant mind, his rivalries and ambitions and take visitors on an immersive visual experience through his early life and theatrics as playwright all the way to his high-stakes partnership with Sarah Churchill, first Duchess of Marlborough.
Wider events
300 years after his death, a major new exhibition exploring one of the UK’s greatest architects - Sir John Vanbrugh (1664–1726) – will open in the spring at Sir John Soane's Museum.
Castle Howard
This new exhibition introduces visitors to Sir John Vanbrugh – architect, playwright, soldier, spy. Each participating venue explores Vanbrugh’s life and work, as well as his relationship with his patron and the buildings he created at that site.
Seaton Delaval Hall
This new exhibition introduces visitors to Sir John Vanbrugh – architect, playwright, soldier, spy. Each participating venue explores Vanbrugh’s life and work, as well as his relationship with his patron and the buildings he created at that site.
Wider events
Charles Saumarez Smith's lecture will focus on John Vanbrugh's landscape and garden buildings, particularly at Castle Howard, Claremont and Stowe, focusing on these buildings and Vanbrugh's approach to their design.
Wider events
John Vanburgh lived and worked in Greenwich. Charles Saumarez Smith will present a talk to members of the local Societies.
Wider events
Join us after dark for this Soane Late as we celebrate the drama of architecture in this unique Museum and the newly opened exhibition.
Blenheim Palace
Get ready for a weekend packed with creativity, imagination, and activities for all. Settle in for a lively storytelling performance, roll up your sleeves to make your own John Vanbrugh‑inspired wearable architecture, or explore the hidden stories in his buildings through movement and play in a fun, family‑friendly drama session.
Whether you come with family, friends, or a community group, there’s something for every curious mind. Dive into a day full of laughter, discovery, and hands‑on adventure.
Wider events
This panel talk will explore Vanbrugh’s original design of Blenheim Palace and on-site findings from the current £12m conservation project.
Grimsthorpe Castle
This new exhibition introduces visitors to Sir John Vanbrugh – architect, playwright, soldier, spy. Each participating venue explores Vanbrugh’s life and work, as well as his relationship with his patron and the buildings he created at that site.
Blenheim Palace
One of a series of free lectures funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund taking place at Blenheim Palace and presented by Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill with an expert panel to discuss the life and work of Sir John Vanbrugh.
Stowe House
Richard Wheeler explores Sir John Vanbrugh’s influence on the early development of Stowe’s landscape gardens.
Castle Howard
To celebrate the 300th anniversary of Castle Howard, visitors are invited to experience architecture through play with Playshapes; Castle Constructors, an interactive artwork inspired by the bold imagination of Sir John Vanbrugh.
Castle Howard
Get ready for a weekend packed with creativity, imagination, and activities for everyone. Settle in for a lively storytelling performance or build your own castle from our giant Vanbrugh-inspired play shapes.
Wider events
Jeremy Musson, author of The Country Houses of Sir John Vanbrugh: From the Archives of Country Life, 2008, explores the nature of Vanbrugh’s great houses, shares his memories of his visits for his 2008 book, and reflects on Vanbrugh’s continuing reputation, and his continuing admiration for the inventive and compelling language of Vanbrugh’s letters on architecture.
Stowe House
One of a series of free lectures funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with Ophelia Field and Rory Fraser exploring Vanbrugh’s lifelong ties to the Kit-Cat Club, revealing its influence on his career, politics and culture – and its lasting imprint on Stowe.
Grimsthorpe Castle
One of a series of free lectures funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund taking place at Grimsthorpe Castle with Dr Amy Boyington.
Castle Howard
A new installation in the Temple of the Four Winds by internationally-renowned artist, Es Devlin.
Castle Howard
One of a series of free lectures funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund taking place at Castle Howard with Nick Howard, Es Devlin and Francis Terry.
Grimsthorpe Castle
Grimsthorpe will be welcoming Sir Charles Saumarez Smith CBE and Jeremy Musson to Grimsthorpe this summer as part of VANBRUGH 300.
Grimsthorpe Castle
Get ready for a weekend packed with creativity, imagination, and activities for all. Settle in for a lively storytelling performance, roll up your sleeves to make your own John Vanbrugh‑inspired wearable architecture, or explore the hidden stories in his buildings through movement and play in a fun, family‑friendly drama session.
Grimsthorpe Castle
Grimsthorpe are delighted to welcome England’s oldest student theatre company, the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club, to celebrate the 300 year anniversary of playwright and architect Sir John Vanbrugh with a medley of his greatest scenes.
Stowe House
This new exhibition introduces visitors to Sir John Vanbrugh – architect, playwright, soldier, spy. Each participating venue explores Vanbrugh’s life and work, as well as his relationship with his patron and the buildings he created at that site.
Kimbolton Castle
One of a series of free lectures funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund taking place at Kimbolton Castle, as Simon Thurley discusses Sir John Vanbrugh
Kimbolton Castle
A curator‑led experience offering rare insight into one of Britain’s most imaginative architects, set within the historic interiors of Kimbolton Castle 7 - 9 July.
Kimbolton Castle
As part of the Huntingdonshire History Festival and linking into Vanbrugh300, Castle Curator Andrew Bamford explores Sir John Vanbrugh’s creative relationship with Charles Montagu, uncovering how their partnership shaped Kimbolton Castle in a fascinating talk.
Stowe House
Get ready for a weekend packed with creativity, imagination, and activities for all. Settle in for a lively storytelling performance or explore the hidden stories in his buildings through movement and play in a fun, family‑friendly drama session. Whether you come with family, friends, or a community group, there’s something for every curious mind. Dive into a day full of laughter, discovery, and hands‑on adventure.
Stowe House
Francis Terry re-examines Sir John Vanbrugh’s contribution to Stowe House through a new series of reconstruction drawings.
Seaton Delaval Hall
Introduced by Sandy Nairne, Vanbrugh scholar Sir Charles Saumarez Smith discusses Vanbrugh’s career and links to Seaton Delaval Hall. Archaeologist Mark Newman shares how investigations have provided insight into Vanbrugh’s involvement in the hall.
Kimbolton Castle
Visit Kimbolton Castle on one of only two open days each year. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the state rooms, including the Queen’s Room, where Katherine of Aragon died. Discover one of Sir John Vanbrugh’s lesser-known architectural gems, with a special exhibition exploring his connection to Charles Montagu, 4th Earl of Manchester.
Kimbolton Castle
This new exhibition introduces visitors to Sir John Vanbrugh – architect, playwright, soldier, spy. Each participating venue explores Vanbrugh’s life and work, as well as his relationship with his patron and the buildings he created at that site.
Seaton Delaval Hall
One of a series of free lectures funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund taking place at Seaton Delaval Hall, as Annette Rubery and Nick Helm explore John Vanbrugh and the Queen’s Theatre in the Haymarket.
Stowe House
Michael Bevington examines Sir John Vanbrugh’s work at Stowe and the landscape vision he helped to create.
Seaton Delaval Hall
As playwright, soldier, spy and adventurer, Vanbrugh is one of the most colourful architects in English history, yet relatively little is known about him. Here Rory Fraser gives a sense of the character that lay behind his legendary facades.