Heritage Open Days

12-21 September 2025

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together thousands of volunteers and organisations every September to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and histories brought to life. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

Theme for 2025: Architecture

Buildings, bridges and beehives! In 2025 we'll be exploring how we’ve designed and built the world around us.

From the ancient wonder of Stonehenge to the modern marvel of UEA’s Sainsbury Centre; grand follies to garden greenhouses and the wonders of nature’s builders - crafting nests and spiderwebs. We look forward to discovering more about the structures that surround us. There are so many stories to tell, celebrating the makers, the menders, the materials and more!

Last year there were over 5,350 events to explore from medieval mills to modern energy centres - what will you discover this time? 

To get involved visit heritageopendays.org.uk

Coordination

Partnership work is at the core of the programme's delivery allowing it to flourish as a unique joint-venture spanning the public, private and voluntary sectors. The festival is brought to you by the National Trust, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and delivered locally by a large range of organisations (including civic societies, heritage organisations and local councils, community champions and thousands of enthusiastic volunteers)