The thrill of getting a peek inside locked, hidden and secret buildings is just human nature. That’s why every year for one week in September hundreds of buildings across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales are opened up for prying eyes to get a look behind the curtain. And it’s all free.
The Heritage Open Days festival is back this September, taking place across the UK from September 12 to 21. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘architecture’, and it will allow nosy neighbours a look inside historical castles, universities, stately homes, music halls, churches, museums and much more.
‘For many, architecture is about more than just buildings; it’s really all about people, and the ways we interact with the world around us,’ said Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days marketing and projects manager. ‘This year’s festival is a great opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of local stories across England. It’s an open invitation to explore, learn, and be inspired by people and place.’
The volume of buildings opening their doors is truly overwhelming, as is the multitude of different programmes and dates divided by region – each location has its own name for the festival, so it can be a bit confusing: it’s Open Days for Wales, Doors Open Days for Scotland, Heritage Open Days for England and European Heritage Days for Ireland. For London, the series of events is called Open House. You can read all about that here.
Some of the highlights in this year’s programme includes exclusive tours of 10 Downing Street, the extremely old Saxon-built Chester Castle in Cheshire, and the elegant National Trust property Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire.
Dates vary for different locations, so it’s worth checking the individual websites for England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland for all the details. While all the visits are free, some require tickets to be booked in advance.
10 of the best buildings that will be open to the public for Heritage Open Days Festival this month
- St Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry
- Gunby Hall, Lincolnshire
- Chester Castle, Cheshire
- English National Ballet, London
- 10 Downing Street, London
- Ulster Hall, Belfast
- Dunluce Castle, Portrush
- Penrhyn Castle, Bangor
- Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
- Abbey Strand, Edinburgh
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