The first major commemorations of 2015 are for the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta (although January also saw the 750th anniversary of the first Parliament) – it was signed on 15 June 1215.

The flagship celebrations are at the British Library, with its Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy exhibition running from 13 March to 1 September 2015.

As the custodian of two original Magna Carta manuscripts, the library is drawing on its rich historical collections to bring to life a story that remains relevant today. Also on display are Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten text of the Declaration of Independence, an original copy of the US Bill of Rights, and other key documents and artefacts.

Near Runnymede where the charter was signed is Chertsey Museum, which also has an exhibition on the subject. Magna Carta: Freedom under Law runs all year until 31 December: with loan objects from the National Portrait Gallery, the British Library and the National Trust, together with video interviews with prominent experts, the exhibition explores the history behind some of our liberties and the myth of Magna Carta.

Palace Green Library in Durham has Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt running from 1 June to 31 August.

This takes the 1216 issue of the charter normally held at Durham Cathedral as a starting point for exploring the history of rebellion and revolt. Magna Carta will be displayed alongside objects from Durham University’s collections and loans from other regional and national collections.

Salisbury Cathedral has loaned its own copy of Magna Carta to the British Library, but also has its own programme of talks and concerts.

The Beaney Art Museum and Library in Canterbury has Canterbury in the Age of the Magna Carta from 6 June to 6 September. Canterbury played a significant part in the making of this historical document: the exhibition will focus on Canterbury residents’ stories and lives during the age of Magna Carta and will include the Canterbury Cathedral copy of an original Magna Carta transcribed into the Priory register.

Meanwhile Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery in Alnwick has Local Connections: 1715 – The Rising in the North and the Magna Carta from 19 May to 5 July – this combines marking the Magna Carta anniversary (a facsimile will be on display) with commemorating the 300th anniversary of the 1715 Jacobite rising when the ‘Old Pretender’ James Francis Edward Stuart sought to restore the House of Stuart to the English throne.

On that subject, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery has the most extensive and significant collection of Jacobite visual material in the world, and its ongoing exhibition, Imagining Power: The Visual Culture of the Jacobite Cause, runs until the end of the year: nationalgalleries.org .

Skip ahead two centuries, and 15 October 1415 saw the Battle of Agincourt, when Henry V’s longbow archers saw off the larger French army and consolidated English power in the country. Arundel Castle (www.arundelcastle.org) has Mustering for Agincourt on 20-21 June, where Raven Tor Living History Group will re-enact preparations for the battle. There are many talks and other events around Britain – see agincourt600.com .

Venues around Britain will also be commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon was finally defeated once and for all (see our ‘Voices from Waterloo’ feature on page 48 for some fascinating first-hand accounts).

English Heritage’s Waterloo 200 commemorations take place at various venues, including Walmer Castle, where the Duke of Wellington was Warden for many years; his London home, Apsley House; and the Wellington Arch in London.

The National Portrait Gallery has its first exhibition devoted to Wellington, Triumphs, Politics and Passions, from 12 March to 7 June. It will explore his later life, including serving twice as Prime Minister, as well as the battle.

The British Museum in London has ‘Bonaparte and the British – prints and propaganda in the age of Napoleon’ until 16 August, exploring the rise of political satire in that era.

In celebration of the allied victory, George IV created the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle, a grand space filled with portraits of those instrumental in the victory, among them the Duke of Wellington. The castle is commemorating the battle throughout the year.

Waterloo: Life & Times at the Fan Museum in Greenwich will feature fans and fan leaves designed to commemorate significant military campaigns, battles and victories associated with the period leading up to (and following) the Battle of Waterloo.

The National Army Museum has partnered with numerous venues around the country, including Somerset Military Museum, Victoria Gallery and Museum in Liverpool, the Firing Line Museum in Cardiff and many others. The Waterloo Lives events will explore how the battle was fought and won using the museums’ collections to tell the stories of the regiments, the soldiers, their families and the legacy they left behind.