Heritage Open Days

Here’s a chance to gain FREE entry to thousands of historic settings including notable houses, renowned castles & celebrated gardens.  Running from 11-20 September 2026, Heritage Open Days offers you the chance to discover local & national gems within England. There are also similar programmes running in Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland & all offering free entry, (more details below).

With over 7,500 events running over 9 days, Heritage Open Days spans the public, private and voluntary sectors. Working alongside organisations such as National Trust & English Heritage, it can be a great way to secure free access to settings normally attracting entry fees. From castles to city halls, tunnels to tower tops, police cells to private homes, workshops to woodland walks, the variety of places and ways to discover them are endless.

St Mawes Castle

Heritage Open Days 2026

Running from 11-20 September 2026, Heritage Open Days offers you complementary entry to hundreds of settings, many of which would normally cost you money. Participating attractions include National Trust sites such as Little Moreton Hall, Basildon Park, Packwood House, Calke Abbey, Newark Park  & Trengwainton Garden. You can also access a range of English Heritage sites including Christchurch Castle, Okehampton Castle & St Mawes Castle.

You’ll find some attractions that are not normally open the public plus there’s a range of tours and special events across the programme.  Dates, opening times, events and booking details vary so worth checking out the full listing programme. Some settings limit access to 1 day/selected weekend whereas others are available throughout the scheme.

Heritage Open Days; How It Works

We suggest doing some research prior to your visit to see what’s available in your local area.  Look out for specific opening times/dates for your preferred setting as some are limited to selected dates/times and worth checking whether pre-booking is advised.

More information available at Heritage Open Days.

10 Downing Street

Open House Festival London

Open House Festival London runs from 12-20 September 2026 and offers you FREE entry to hundreds of historic houses, government buildings, museums & private homes in London. Many of these settings are not normally open to the public so this programme offers you a glimpse into their inner workings. Whilst the majority operate on a first-come-first-served basis, the more popular require booking in advance with a select few requiring a ticket ballot.

More information available at Open House Festival London. 

Open Days; Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

There are similar events planned for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland offering complementary entry to a range of historic settings.  Dates & booking details vary so best to check before your visit.  You can find more details available at;

Doors Open Days (Scotland); running 5-27 September 2026.

Open Doors  (Wales); running 1 – 30 September 2026.

European Heritage Open Days, (Northern Ireland); running 12 & 13 September 2026.