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This stunning holiday home in Dorset tends to be booked up all year. To ensure the house and its story connects with as many people as possible though, the team saves space in the calendar for rare, but very special (and popular!) open days.

Over 10 years this local society has been developing a fantastic, creative hub of festival events. Their History Rock Snake really captured people's attention locally this year, while online they have 'visitors' as far afield as Australia with their series of films, which can showcase places and stories inaccessible any other way.

This national support network has been working with us since 2019. Drawing on our festival theme and amazing organiser network, each year they develop and deliver a series of talks, both in person and online, to help promote the history and potential of women in engineering.

From Roman soldiers to a Regency era ferryman, the rich history of African people in our country is a long one. A project in the North East has been researching these stories, sharing them through a range of resources and events – including a taster walk over our festival. As we couldn’t attend the walk we asked them to share a few stories here, highlighting the wonderful work they do and resource they are creating.

From a dazzling cloak to the portrait of a Curling Captain there is more to our sporting heritage than you might think. Sport is a huge part of our culture, but its place in our heritage has sometimes been overlooked. Earlier this year though we came across a brilliant network working to change that. As they lead us in celebrating National Sporting Heritage Day, their Founding Director is here to introduce their work and some amazing sporting heritage collections you can visit.

Over the festival, alongside managing the media channels and taking turns with 'helpdesk duty' it's really important for the team to see events in action. It helps us to support organisers locally and reconnect with the festival experience as visitors, to see where we might do more to help in future. From the pinkest event to pen nibs hidden in doors, here's a quick taste of where we went and what we discovered this year.

The good, the bad... and the bunting! Our amazing festival is over for another year, but we couldn't visit all the thousands of events, so we need you to tell us - how did it go?

Several days down, but there is still more to come! Time's ticking by fast as we move into the second half of the 2024 Heritage Open Days festival. Here's a sneak preview of some amazing events we think you shouldn't miss in the final days.

Can’t travel to that great event? Fancy catching something quick whilst waiting at a bus stop? Try one of these great online options – from ancient farms to modern airports via social media posts to live webinars, there are so many ways to explore our heritage this week!

Buckle up - we couldn't have a theme of Routes-Networks-Connections and not give you a whole spotlight full of cars, buses, boats and trains now could we?! Here are just some of the hundreds upon hundreds of fab free events offering you the chance to see, step aboard, maybe even take a ride in, or on, a huge variety of vehicles. What are you waiting for, the festival has begun - all aboard the Heritage Open Days Express!

What brings us together? Are you a traveller or a host? At the heart of our festival theme this year is people - so here are 12 great events exploring the routes we've taken and connections made throughout history.

From undersea fibre-optic cables to lacework coffeepots and 'Aylesburys' around the world - our festival community have pulled out all the stops for this year's theme. For our anniversary we're celebrating how people and ideas have moved around and come together throughout history. The transport routes, communication networks, trade unions and social clubs. The travellers who have spread ideas and the hosts who welcome them. There are so many links on our doorsteps just waiting to connect us, near and far. What will you discover?

The country’s largest festival of history and culture showcases a packed programme of free events

Whether you want to spend an evening discussing Viking treasure, take a walk with a textile artist or just explore fascinating historic sites and stories, this September you are spoilt for choice! Yes, European Heritage Days are back. We’ve been highlighting all the free joyful events here in England but there's even more to explore beyond our borders - here’s a taste of what’s happening elsewhere in the UK… and beyond!

Get ready for more fun and fascinating events - from silent discos to scavenger hunts, and mini festivals to board game nights. New Wave returns for a fourth year, and this time we have a bigger cohort than ever before collaborating with young people to produce unique, innovative events.

From the glamour of the theatre to details of how to put people to sleep – VocalEyes have chosen an interesting mix of event highlights! We look forward to working more with this great team going forwards to encourage accessible, sensory events for all. Here are 7 of their favourites from this year.

What do beetles and trees sound like? Where have they come from? What swims in your local stream or scurries through the long grass? Ever fancied a go at scything that grass? So many questions! Prepare for a sensory adventure as you head outside to find answers this September.

Heritage Open Days is the perfect time to have a family day out – from trails and games to crafts and connecting with nature, there’s something for all the family to enjoy this September – and best of all it’s all FREE!