Kent

Properties and events in Kent

Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries for last-minute changes.

Print selected events below

13th century Chanter's Chapel ruins, Three Kings Yard.

The Chanters House, 11 Strand Street, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9DX
In person
Pre-booking not required

The ruins of a small medieval building situated behind 'Chanters House', probably built as a Merchant's house around 1280, with existing features including doorways, windows, fireplaces and wall niches. Walls include Kent flintwork & Caen limestone.

154 High Street Ramsgate

154 High Street, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9TT
In person
Pre-booking not required

Substantial Georgian Sea Captain’s house open for the first time. Including: 14 brick dog kennels built by Plunketts the vets The secret staircase - uncovered in 2024 behind a cupboard! WW11 reinforcements to the basement as an air-raid shelter

Adisham, Holy Innocents' Church

Pond Hill, Adisham, Kent CT3 3LH, Adisham, Kent, CT3 3LH
In person
Pre-booking not required

Welcome to Holy Innocents' Church, Adisham; one of the earliest recorded churches founded c.624. Holy Innocents' Church is dedicated to child martyrs, the male children killed by King Herod after the flight into Egypt of the Holy Family.

After Dunkirk Ramsgate Town Trail

Custom House, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 8LP
In person
Pre-booking not required

Explore Ramsgate's role in the early years of the Second World War with a this gentle walk in and round the Royal Harbour and town centre.

All Saints Church, Wouldham, Kent - its history and architecture

High Street, Wouldham, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3TD
In person
Pre-booking not required

A 50-minute illustrated talk on the history and architecture of this almost 1,000 year old church.

An overview of finds from Doctor's Meadow Southborough

Southbrough Common, Southborough, Kent, TN4 0RU
In person
Pre-booking not required

Discover a collection of recent finds from Doctor’s Meadow, located in Southborough between Southborough Common and Camp Field, which has clearly enjoyed a long history based on artefacts located on the site.

Aphra Behn Display

Canterbury Cathedral Archives, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2EH
In person
Pre-booking required

Aphra Behn (1640-1689), professional playwright, poet, novelist and translator, was born in Canterbury. Here is a rare opportunity to see extraordinary documents and printed materials related to her life and work.

Architecture Past & Present

Marden Library, High Street, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 9DP
In person
Pre-booking preferred

A special exhibition on local architecture, including archived information.

Archive Access Days

Visitor Centre, Sandwich Road, Sholden, Deal, Kent, CT14 0BF
In person
Pre-booking not required

The Kent Mining Museum will not only be open every day of the Heritage Open Days week, but visitors will be able to get a closer look at some special items from the archives, such as the original Betteshanger Kent NUM banner!

ARRIVALS: Stories of belonging in Medway

Chatham Library, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TX
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Free creative workshop for all ages to explore the diverse cultural histories of Medway.

Barcelona Air-Raid Shelters: From The Spanish Civil War To The Blitz

Marina Esplanade, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 8FH
In person
Pre-booking not required

A testimony of civilian resistance, silenced during Franco’s dictatorship, the network of underground air-raid shelters still lives under the streets of Barcelona. Explore this exhibition at Ramsgate Tunnels.

Behind the Scenes at the Leas Lift

Leas Lift, Lower Sandgate Rd, Folkestone, Kent, CT201PR
In person
Pre-booking required

In celebration of Heritage Open Days 2025, we’re offering a unique opportunity to step inside the Leas Lift lower station restoration site. This special two-hour behind-the-scenes experience includes two detailed presentations and a hard hat tour.

Birchington Heritage Trust Museum

Birchington Heritage Trust Museum, Birchington Library, Alpha Road, Birchington-On-Sea, Kent, CT7 9EG
In person
Pre-booking not required

Local history museum open for HODs

Birchington Station Road Trail

Station Road, Birchington-On-Sea, Kent, CT7 9RA
In person
Pre-booking not required

Trail to celebrate 130 years of Birchington's iconic Station Road.

Blessed Mary of Walmer

Blessed Mary of Walmer, Church Street, Walmer, Kent, CT14 7RX
In person
Pre-booking not required

Dating back to the 12th century, this delightful church contains six funerary hatchments, including that of The Duke of Wellington who worshipped there.

Boundary House Gallery and Boardroom

Boundary House, 375 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DA
In person
Pre-booking not required

Boundary House at 375 Rochester High Street is the former home of Featherstones Department Store. Before Featherstones, the site was an Elizabethan Manor built by Sir John Hawkins. The foyer gallery will be open as will the painted (1720s) boardroom.

Broad Oak Chapel

Chapel Lane, Broad Oak, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 OQH
In person
Pre-booking not required

Quaint Victorian chapel in a rural setting, built in 1867 as a "mission station" by the Congregational church in Canterbury. Part of the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion, one of very few in Kent. Also used as a military hospital during World War One.

Brook Theatre Restoration Project

Brook Theatre, The Brook, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4SE
Online event
Pre-booking not required

Find out about the ambitious restoration of the Brook Theatre formerly Chatham Town Hall built in 1899. Daily posts will share the buildings history and architectural highlights and the explore the challenges of this multi-million pound project.

Building Chartwell: An Architectural Outside Tour

Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS
In person
Pre-booking required

Explore Chartwell's 700 year history in an outdoor tour; from William-at-Well in the 14th Century to Chartwell's most famous resident, Sir Winston Churchill.

Canterbury Cathedral Hidden Chapels Tour

Canterbury Cathedral, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2EH
In person
Pre-booking required

Discover some of Canterbury Cathedral's smaller places of worship, not usually open to the public, on this fascinating guided tour.