Where will you visit next?
Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.
Heritage Open Days
This year's Heritage Open Days have now finished. Please check back next year for details about Heritage Open Days 2025.
Heritage Open Days 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 volunteers.
We’ve helped to manage this festival since 2011, and it's an important part of how we highlight the history, heritage and culture of not just the places we care for, but of places and communities across the country.
You can find more details about Heritage Open Days on the festival's website.
2024 marked the 30th anniversary of Heritage Open Days, thanks to over a decade of support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and the help of more than 33,000 volunteers. It's England’s contribution to European Heritage Days, taking place across 50 countries. Other events in the UK are Open Doors Days in Wales, European Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland and Doors Open Days in Scotland.
Heritage Open Days 2024
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Running for 10 days every September, it offers free access to heritage events and activities across England. There are thousands of free in-person events running across the country with a wealth of hidden places and stories. This year's events took place between 6 and 15 September 2024.
The theme for Heritage Open Days 2024 was Routes – Networks – Connections, celebrating how people and ideas have moved around and come together throughout history. Visitors were able to discover transport routes, communication networks, trade unions, social clubs, the travellers who have spread ideas and the hosts who have welcomed them.
There was plenty to explore with free entry, including collections of art and objects, historic gardens and walks through wild landscapes. Please check back next year for details about Heritage Open Days 2025.
Our partners
Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.
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