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A chance to visit and explore the delights of this little known 'secret' walled garden. A family friendly event with craft activities for children and musical entertainment for all. Refreshments available.

200 years ago a series of intriguing 'machines' were invented to make portrait silhouettes. Come along and learn about the history and use of these devices.

Join us for a guided tour of Gardner Street and neighbouring Orange Row (all that remains of the once infamous Pimlico district of Brighton)

Clifton Hill and Montpelier. A walk with Dr Geoffrey Mead.

Discover the history and architecture of Brunswick Town in Brighton, East Sussex, perhaps the finest early 19th C 'New Town' in England!

Join us for the screening of early to mid-20th century short films about the city (then two separate towns), inc. a 1956 work by Brightonian John King.

Join local historian Dr Geoffrey Mead for a 90-minute stroll around the West Hill area of Brighton looking at its history and buildings.

Join local historian Dr Geoffrey Mead for a 90-minute stroll through the streets of the North Laine conservation area looking at aspects of historical and contemporary interest.

Join local historian Dr Geoffrey Mead for a 90-minute stroll around the main retail area looking at buildings and history.

Paint analysis can provide us with both an understanding of the colour history in a building and its overall structural development.

Discover one of Brighton & Hove's finest 1820s terraced town houses.

Alexandra Park Greenhouse is a 1934 Richardson's teak and cast iron 36m building which has been completely restored with community funding and volunteer support.

Open for tours where you can climb to the top, view the extensive milling museum and partake of refreshments in the barn. Including a look at the past residents of the village of West Blatchington and the Millers. Plus a selection of sales tables

Visitors will have he opportunity to view the following in the estate archive at Eridge Park: Collection of John Robinson papers (1770 - 1782), The Abergavenny Family Plate (17th Century), 16th Century illuminated Psalter & a longcase clock (1705).

A tour of this magnificent Grade 1 listed parish church, built in the late 19th century in a Gothic revival style. The building was designed by the great Victorian architect John Loughborough Pearson, who was also the architect of Truro Cathedral.

Enjoy an insight into Tudor and Elizabethan life at Anne of Cleves House in Lewes. This stunning timber-framed medieval house dates back to the 15th century.

Visit Lewes Castle, a Norman Castle built after the Battle of Hastings by supporters of William the Conqueror. Climb the steps to reach The Keep for stunning panoramic views across Sussex and explore the Museum of Sussex Archaeology.

The RNLI Shop and Visitor Centre gives free entry. For the duration of the Hastings Heritage Open Days Festival visit to learn more about the Lifeboats and work of Hastings Lifeboat Station. Get up close to our Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboat!

Open Day at the Historic John Wesley's Chapel, Winchelsea on Saturday 12th September 2026 from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free all day with tea and coffee available.

We are the Hastings Fishermen's Museum full to the brim with objects for you to explore ...and an original fishing boat to board!

New for 2026 - The Easy Walking Route avoiding the more challenging steps and hills of the standard Route still taking in Hastings Old Town, with its wealth of medieval, Tudor and later historic buildings, twittens and cat-creeps.

Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of Hastings Cemetery, led by one of our experienced volunteer tour guides.

This unique museum is a tall, old wooden building standing on a tiny piece of Hastings beach. Talk to the owner and come inside (if you fit!).

Join us for a special Heritage Open Day as we throw open our doors for one of the last times before embarking on our exciting £4.5 million National Lottery Heritage restoration project!

Hastings Old Town, the premier ancient Cinque Port has a wealth of historic buildings, twittens and cat-creeps. Visited by many notable historic and artistic people and a wonderful area to explore.

St Leonards-on-Sea Congregational Church is a striking Grade II listed Victorian Gothic building dating from 1864. Built during the town’s rapid expansion, it served the local community for nearly 140 years before being carefully restored & reopened.

Celebrating our 130 year anniversary since the National Trust bought Alfriston Clergy House - the first property bought by the then newly formed National Trust - a fascinating exhibition looking at the life of our most illustrious tenant.

Learn more about the history of the Eastbourne Latter-day Saint Chapel and its history as a school. Have a tour of the building, and then you can visit a FamilySearch station to get help researching your family history.

Step back in time with a fascinating Walk & Talk Tour exploring the exterior of Pelham Arcade, Pelham Crescent and St Mary in the Castle. Part of the Hastings Heritage Forum programme of events for Heritage Open Days 2026.

Kevin Gordon, local historian, will give a guided walk of the cemetery.

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is a wonderful 12th century building in the heart of Eastbourne's Old Town. The attached Old Parsonage dates from the Tudor Period. Both buildings will be open to the public.

Britain's 1st Norman castle of 1066. Home to 8,000 years of settlements, this ancient monument site now houses a picturesque ruin that is surrounded by panoramic sea views and a wild variety of plants and animals.

Join our knowledgeable guides for a potted history of the Stade (Anglo Saxon for Landing Place) area of the Hastings Old Town Fishing Quarter. Follow the trail from the 9th century to present day fishing.

Come and have a look inside one of the most famous cottages in England, meet a descendant of the last Coastguard, and see artwork inspired by this very special place.

200 years of local portrait silhouette heritage.

Rye Castle museum is housed within Ypres Tower, a thirteenth century defensive tower constructed as part of the towns defences. It contains items relating to the maritime history of Rye, defence, smuggling and the prison.

Our museum has recently been refurbished - come and see new displays showcasing Newhaven's maritime, industrial, war-time and social histories and explore our wonderful photographic archive.

An unusual late 16th century timber framed building with a crown-post roof, extensively rebuilt in 1990 and most recently used as a harpsichord and clavichord-making workshop.

A display and talk about Regency Remedies

Come along and spend 60 minutes talking local silhouette history with Professor Annebella Pollen.

Brighton & Hove maintain the UK's National Elm Collection, come and learn about exciting work being done in the Royal Pavilion and Garden.

An opportunity to take a look at the history, architecture and notable residents of the Kemp Town Estate since 1826.

A chance to look at the work of the Costume Team at The Regency Town House.

This Heritage Open Day, discover the lavish world of Henry North Holroyd, 3rd Earl of Sheffield, whose passion for grandeur and generosity transformed Sheffield Park into a spectacular stage of Victorian leisure and entertainment.

Come along and spend 60 minutes discovering the 'Profiles of the Past' initiative, providing a website about British portrait silhouette history.

Learn about the early life of artist Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898).

Visit Britain's longest surviving cinema, the Duke of York's, for a tour of this iconic landmark. The Duke of York's opened its doors on 22 September 1910.

Join The Usherette as she leads you through the town, evoking the Golden Age of the Silver Screen.

Pop in to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery to make your own saxon shoe from felt!

Explore the fascinating rituals and customs of death and mourning in Georgian and Victorian times with this illustrated talk by Sarah Tobias.