Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!

Every September some 40,000 volunteers across England organise 5,000 events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It's your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

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BLOG: Guest Posts

Collections by Candlelight – the awesome archives of the Royal Society

Science, candles and dance in an archive? – Sounds like an interesting, and potentially explosive combination!…

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HODs news

HODs Headlines 2018

In 2018, for the first time ever, Heritage Open Days was across two weekends, and over 3 million visitors enjoyed…

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HODs news

PEOPLE POWER: Then, Now, Always

What does ‘People Power’ mean to you? Perhaps it’s the recent marches that have taken place…

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HODs news

Research opportunity - From Engagement to Empowerment: The Future of England’s Heritage Open Days

An exciting opportunity to work with HODs and the University of Leeds on a collaborative PhD researching…

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HODs Newsletter

All the latest news about HODs and beyond

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Event directory

Find events near you

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Festival spotlights

Highlighting the people and places that participate

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