Lonesome EJ, I have taken part in a few battles on original sites, I usually try to talk to members of the public that come to these events and explain what life would be like at the time. As for play acting in this country the various groups on the whole are very serious in what they do and have been instrumental in setting up monuments on various sites.
I think the most atmospheric site I have been to must be Roundway Down near Devizes where the Parlimentary Cavalry on being driven of the feild of battle jumped a hedge to find a 100 to 200 foot drop on the other side, a contempory account stated that the locals could here the cries and moans coming from the mound of dead and dieing men and horses for many days and that they would not go near for years as it was haunted.