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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.
Welcome to a year-long celebration of Sir John Vanbrugh, England’s finest Baroque architect and dramatist.
Sometimes referred to as ‘The Rockstar of the English Baroque’, Vanbrugh's architectural work was as bold and daring as his early political activism and risqué plays.
This year-long festival will explore how he became the most prominent architect of his time, through events and activities at six of his major country houses and further afield.
“Stair[ing] him in the face. And knock[ing] him down at Once”(from a letter of 15 September 1720) that describes the effect of the Great Hall at Claremont House on the viewer.
The Learning Hub is your go-to place to explore how schools, families, and community groups can take part in Vanbrugh 300. Whether you’re a parent looking for fun ways to get involved, a community leader planning local activities, or a teacher searching for inspiring classroom ideas, the Learning Hub has everything you need.
Over 100 classes from state primary schools (KS1 and KS2) across the UK will be invited to participate in a full package of FREE learning activities as part of Vanbrugh 300.
All resources will be available for any school to download and use via the Learning Hub on this site from January 2026.
Between March and August 2026, a special Vanbrugh weekend will be held at each of the six heritage sites. There will be FREE performances and creative workshops for families scheduled across these weekends so watch this space for dates and details and come and join the fun!
