Horrible HistoriesR comes to Leeds Castle for Easter!

Rocket Licensing, the licensing agent in the UK and Eire for the wildly popular and award-winning children’s history brand Horrible Histories (published by Scholastic), has announced a new Horrible Histories experiential partnership with Leeds Castle in Kent.

Leeds Castle’s Official Horrible Histories Easter Escapades: The Knights’ Quest, takes place throughout the Easter holidays from 5-21 April and is inspired by the Knights of Leeds Castle and the bestselling Horrible Histories books by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown.

Families and children can take part in a mission as they dress up, learn knightly skills and enjoy a hilarious romp through history inspired by the unique Horrible Histories take on our strange, funny and gruesome past. Those who complete the quest with valour will be rewarded with a Leeds Castle gold coin and earn an official Leeds Castle knighthood!

But that’s not all! Plans are already advanced to continue the Horrible Histories missions into May half term holidays (27 May – 1 June), when visitors will have a chance to discover all about life in the measly Middle Ages.

Horrible Histories merchandise, souvenirs and, of course books, will be on sale at the Leeds Castle visitor shop throughout the April event.

With over 900 years of history as a dwelling for medieval and Tudor queens and the home of 1930s Anglo-American heiress Lady Baillie, who transformed Leeds Castle into one of the most desirable country houses of the 20th century, Leeds Castle was opened to the public in the 1970s. Today it is a popular visitor destination offering history and heritage, exhibitions, talks, wildlife, gardens, sculpture trails, games, adventures and more in 500 acres of stunning seasonal parkland.

The Leeds Castle event follows the ongoing success of the six-month Horrible Histories-inspired Gorgeous Georgians event at West London’s Osterley Park and House and the recently announced fifth year of the Terrible Thames boat trip: a history of the Thames with the nasty bits left in!

The success of the Horrible Histories brand in the family activity area also includes a Horrible Histories trail as part of the British Museum’s Legion exhibition in 2024, the popular Horrible Histories Maze at Warwick Castle, Horrible Histories – Pirates at The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool, and Horrible Histories Mystery Museum – Escape Live escape rooms in Liverpool and Coventry.

Horrible Histories is a phenomenon. Now entering its fourth decade of success, the world’s bestselling children’s history-book series, written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown, is celebrated for its ground-breaking funny and factual approach to history with unique appeal to kids (and big kids) and unflinching eye for all things horrible. Today, 31 years since the books first appeared, over 30 million copies are in print across 31 countries. Published by Scholastic, new books for 2025 include new Horrible Histories city guides for Bath and Glasgow.

The massive success of the books has in turn inspired long-running stage shows and tours, BAFTA- award-winning hit TV series, a star-studded feature film, numerous experiential partnerships and, of course, a licensing campaign.

Licensees include Tonie story characters based on Rotten Romans, Terrible Tudors and the all-new Vicious Vikings; board games and card games from University Games; Top Trumps and Monopoly games from Winning Moves; and even collectible coins from Group 288. More products are on the way this year including a new Monopoly game from Winning Moves.

There’s also been a hit spin-off book and TV brand called Horrible Science that has itself inspired two popular trails in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in the heart of Sussex.

Elizabeth Scoggins, Nonfiction, Brands and Licensing Publisher, Scholastic UK, says: “Horrible Histories is ideal for the stunning Leeds Castle whose grounds are a perfect venue for an event designed to entertain children of all ages with a combination of games, activities and historical information. We’re delighted to be partnering this beloved venue for a quest that will entertain would-be knights of all ages!”

Melissa Satterly, Brand Manager, Rocket Licensing, says: “With its combination of 900 years of heritage, beautiful parkland and fantastic attractions, Leeds Castle is a perfect venue for Horrible Histories fans to experience a bit of (safe) medieval sieging in glorious surroundings. This is a family event like no other which, I’m sure, will be a big holiday hit!”