About Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days 2012 will run from 6-9 September.
Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Heritage Open Days also includes tours, events and activities that focus on local architecture and culture.
Organised by volunteers - usually property owners or managers - for local people, Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event. Last year the event attracted around 1 million visitors. English Heritage gives central co-ordination and a national voice to the event.
Heritage Open Days provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy these sometimes hidden, often curious and always interesting places in English cities, towns and villages - and completely free of charge.
Civic society members, property owners, estate managers, visitors, conservation officers, company directors, parishioners, tourism managers, education officers - people from all walks of life who care about and take pride in the environment they live in make Heritage Open Days happen. We would like to bring people and places together, encourage you and thousands of others to explore the buildings on your doorstep and to become an active member of the community.
Follies, contemporary buildings, churches, factories, tunnels, temples, offices, private homes, industrial sites, castles, windmills, town halls - guided walks, concerts, re-enactment, trails, role-plays, children’s activities - the variety of places and ways to discover them are endless.
Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England’s contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 49 countries now participate. In the UK, four other schemes open up places in September: Open House London, Doors Open Days in Scotland, Open Doors Days in Wales and European Heritage Days in Northern Ireland.
Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE, Director General, National Trust, says: "Heritage Open Days brings the country's hidden heritage gems to life. This wonderful annual festival helps reconnect people with their local places, as well as providing fun days out for all - and for free!"
Crispin Truman, Trustee, The Heritage Alliance, says: "Heritage Open Days is one of the best ways for people to enjoy and understand their local heritage, free of charge. Not only is it a great opportunity to explore the huge amount of history that is on their doorstep, but also to take an active interest in the work that is going on to safeguard their heritage in the future."
Tony Burton, Director, Civic Voice, says: "Heritage Open Days is a fabulous way for local communities to tap into people's innate pride in their neighbourhood and build support to care for its future."
Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage, says: “Heritage Open Days is about people and places; it celebrates community and reflects the importance of the built environment in our lives and to our quality of life. It is organised by local people who dedicate their spare time to opening properties and staging activities, and it is their knowledge and enthusiasm that makes Heritage Open Days happen.”
