Heritage Open Days 2025: Free Entry to 5,800+ Historic Sites Across England (September 11th -21st)
- The Penny Pincher Team
- Sep 6
- 5 min read
Heritage Open Days 2025: How You Can Get Free Entry To Over 5,000+ Historic Sites Across the UK this September.
What Are Heritage Open Days?
Heritage Open Days (HODs) returns for its 32nd year from September 11th-21st, 2025, offering completely free access to over 5,800 historic sites across England. It's very similar to the free National Trust pass offers that pop up every 3 months or so, and allow you to visit National Trust properties and others for free!
This annual heritage festival provides visitors with unique opportunities to explore castles, museums, historic houses, and hidden gems that are normally closed to the public or charge admission fees.
Key Facts About Heritage Open Days 2025
Dates: September 11-21, 2025
Events: Over 5,800 free activities and site visits
Location: Throughout England
Cost: Completely FREE admission to all events (saving £10-£25+ per venue)
Theme: Routes – Networks – Connections
Booking: Some venues require advance booking, others accept walk-ins
31 Years of Heritage Success
Since its inception, Heritage Open Days has achieved remarkable growth:
Started with just 700 events in year one
Now features over 5,800 events annually
Attracted over 39 million visits across 31 years
Welcomes over 1 million visitors each September
The festival's impact extends beyond tourism, with 80% of participants reporting increased pride in their local area and one-third of visitors being first-time heritage site explorers.
2025 Theme: Routes – Networks – Connections
This year's theme celebrates the historic pathways, transport networks, and social connections that have shaped England's heritage. But Heritage Open Days 2025 is fundamentally about having a great day out! Whether you're exploring architecture, stepping into immersive experiences, or enjoying family-friendly activities.
From dressing up as a Royal Guard at The Guards Museum in London to joining Coventry's colourful Godiva procession, there's fun at every turn.
Those seeking immersive experiences can step into history with trial reenactments, rave in a church nave on the Isle of Wight, or find harmony through shared vibration at Corfe Castle's arts festival.
For a more tranquil pace, visitors can connect with nature by picking seasonal fruit in Wirral or wandering through the walled gardens of Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk.
The architecture focus offers rare chances to explore beautiful buildings normally closed to the public, from Canterbury Cathedral's hidden chapels to Halifax's striking Tower of Spite.
Top FREE Heritage Sites to Visit in 2025
Interactive & Immersive Experiences (Usually £10-£25)
Guards Museum, London: Dress up as a Royal Guard near Buckingham Palace - Booking preferred
National Justice Museum: Step into history with trial reenactments - Check booking requirements
HMS Alliance, Gosport: Board a real submarine and explore maritime history
Corfe Castle Arts Festival: Find harmony in shared vibration experiences - No booking required
National Trust Properties (Usually £15-£25)
Chartwell House, Kent: Winston Churchill's family home (1922-1965) - Booking required on the day
Felbrigg Hall Walled Garden, Norfolk: Wander through landscaped gardens with octagonal dovecote from 1750s - No booking required
Gibside Banqueting House: Step inside this grand architectural gem - Check booking requirements
Portland House, Dorset: 1930s art deco villa with Hollywood glamour - No booking required
Unique Architecture & Hidden Spaces (Usually £8-£20)
Canterbury Cathedral: Explore hidden chapels not usually open to public
Tower of Spite, Halifax: Climb this striking architectural landmark
Forester Hall, Liskeard: Get lost in hard-to-reach spaces with VR headset experience
Stockport Plaza Super Cinema: Experience the glamour of this architectural gem
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Oldham: Discover the serene beauty of this sacred space
Fun Family Activities (Usually £10-£20)
Coventry Godiva Procession: Join the colourful historical parade
Isle of Wight Church Rave: Dance in a church nave for a unique experience
Apple Picking in Wirral: Connect with nature picking apples, pears and plums
East Anglia Transport Museum, Suffolk: Vintage tram and trolleybus rides - No booking required
Industrial & Transport Heritage (Usually £8-£19)
The Brickworks Museum, Hampshire: Victorian brick-making craftsmanship
Sound Leisure, West Yorkshire: Behind-the-scenes jukebox manufacturing
Tyne Tunnels: Exclusive tours of iconic engineering marvels
BFI National Film & Television Archive, Hertfordshire: Rare glimpse into film preservation
How to Book Your FREE Heritage Visit
Booking Requirements Vary by Venue:
No booking required: Over 3,600 events accept walk-ins
Advance booking required: Popular sites like National Trust properties and famous attractions
Booking preferred: Some specialised tours and interactive experiences
On-the-day booking: Certain venues allow same-day registration
Planning Your FREE Day Out:
Check the official website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Book popular venues early: Sites like Churchill's Chartwell often fill up quickly
Plan multiple visits: Many venues are clustered in the same areas
Check opening times: Most run 10 am - 4 pm, but times vary
Bring essentials: Some outdoor sites recommend wellies and torches
What to Expect
Free admission to normally paid attractions
Expert-led tours and talks
Interactive workshops and demonstrations
Family-friendly activities
Access to usually restricted areas
Who Organises Heritage Open Days?
The National Trust coordinates Heritage Open Days with support from players of the People's Postcode Lottery.
However, the festival's success depends on thousands of local organisations and volunteers who open their doors and share their knowledge with visitors.
Local Impact
According to Terry Rhodes, Chair of Gosport Heritage Open Days: "Gosport is proud to have been a pioneer of this heritage festival, and 31 years on we still provide a really popular and varied program for Heritage Open Days in our small town with a big history."
Heritage Open Days Across the UK
England's Heritage Open Days is part of a larger UK-wide celebration:
Scotland: Doors Open Days (www.doorsopendays.org.uk)
Wales: Open Doors Days (www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/opendoors)
Northern Ireland: European Heritage Open Days (www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/european-heritage-open-days)
This coordinated effort contributes to European Heritage Days, which are celebrated annually across 50 countries.
Why Heritage Open Days Matter
Community Benefits
Connects people with local history and culture
Provides free access to heritage sites for all income levels
Supports local tourism and businesses
Preserves and promotes historic buildings and sites
Creates opportunities for intergenerational learning
Visitor Testimonials
"Such passionate individuals who were generous enough to share their knowledge. Forever grateful for their time and effort. It allowed me to connect with sections of the society that I do not normally interact with within the specific context." - Heritage Open Days visitor
Organiser Perspective
"I feel that Heritage Open Days is really important, both to provide access to less visited/usually closed places and also to bring about more of a diverse audience than usual, opening up places for people who may usually avoid heritage attractions." - HODs organizer
Book Your Free Heritage Experience
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing & Projects Manager, emphasises: "The scale and diversity of Heritage Open Days is just incredible, every year thousands of passionate people help visitors to make doorstep discoveries and connect with history and heritage in every part of England.
This year, though, it will be extra special as we celebrate over three decades' worth of stories and all the brilliant people and places that have made it and continue to make it all possible!"
Getting Started
Ready to explore England's heritage for free? Visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk to:
Browse the full program of events
Register for your chosen activities
Plan your heritage adventure
Find events near you
Remember, every single Heritage Open Days event is completely free, including access to sites that usually charge admission. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to discover England's rich heritage right on your doorstep from September 11-21, 2025.
Heritage Open Days 2025 is brought to you by the National Trust with support from players of the People's Postcode Lottery. Join over a million visitors in celebrating England's amazing heritage this September.
