Loads of the UK’s best culture and heritage sites will be open to visit for FREE this autumn
The UK’s largest festival of history and culture has returned, and there’s thousands of free events on the lineup.
Always proving to be a smash-hit success, both here in Greater Manchester and nationwide, over the last 30 years, the National Trust‘s Heritage Open Days are back by popular demand for the next couple of weeks.
This means loads of the UK’s top attractions will be open to visit for free from this autumn.
Heritage Open Days are run by thousands of local organisations and volunteers, and they’re all about bringing people together to celebrate their culture, community, and history.
From historic houses, factories, and museums, to music halls, formal gardens, and graveyards, countless of places and spaces across the country will be open to the public again this month, all without having to spend a penny.
This year sees the biggest programme yet in the festival’s 31-year history, with more than 5,800 events – including some at a wide range of places that usually charge entry fees, and access to many locations that aren’t usually open to the public.
You can expect workshops, talks, hidden spaces, walks, family-friendly activities, and so much more, so no matter whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time visitor, there’s something for everyone.
This year’s theme is architecture, and that means there’s plenty of chances to nosy around beautiful buildings and places not usually open to the public.
Visitors can explore the hidden chapels of Canterbury Cathedral, climb the striking Tower of Spite in Halifax, get lost in the hard-to-reach spaces of Forester Hall with a VR headset in Liskeard, or even step inside the grand Banqueting House at Gibside.
Up here in Greater Manchester, whether it be the glamour of the Stockport Plaza Super Cinema, or the serene surroundings of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Oldham, the festival offers a rare opportunity to uncover the stories behind England’s most fascinating spaces.
“2025 is set to offer the most ambitious and wide-reaching Heritage Open Days programme yet, and it’s brimming with great things to do,” said Liam Montgomery, HODs Marketing & Projects Manager.
“Whether it’s well-known landmarks and hidden architectural gems or community-led talks and immersive experiences, the sheer diversity of places and stories on offer is extraordinary.”
Read more:
- 10 of the best autumn walks in Greater Manchester
- Hardcastle Crags – the prettiest local autumn walk with a great restaurant at the end
- The breathtaking Peak District walk that looks like something from Lord of the Rings
Heritage Open Days will be running from 12-21 September this year, and you can find out more about this brilliant UK-wide event here.
Featured Image – Paul Harris (via HODs)