Heritage Open Days 2026

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture — a ten-day period in September when thousands of historic buildings, sites, and events across the country open for free. Churches, country houses, factories, mills, private gardens, archaeological sites, and buildings not normally open to the public all participate. The beauty of Heritage Open Days is the sheer variety and local nature of the events — every town and village seems to have something opening or running a special tour. Some highlights are nationally significant (cathedrals, stately homes), but the most rewarding discoveries are often the local ones — a Victorian waterworks, a medieval undercroft beneath a shop, a private garden, a guided walk revealing the hidden history of a familiar street. All events are free, though some require pre-booking. The website lets you search by location and theme. It's coordinated by the National Trust in partnership with local organisations. The equivalent of Open House London but across the whole of England — if you've ever walked past a building and wondered what's inside, this is your chance.