Heritage Open Days 2025

About

12 - 21st September | 2025
Various venues in Nottinghamshire
Free Entry

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

• Wollaton Walled Garden Project

Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th | 11am - 3:30pm | No pre booking required 

During this years Heritage Open Days festival, The Wollaton Walled Garden Project aims to conserve the garden’s heritage, offer a place for historic and traditional horticulture, and provide opportunities for learning and education. Volunteers will be working in the garden during the open days and visitors will be able to take self-guided tours, aided by numerous information points.

• National Justice Musuem - Historical Trail Reenactment 

Sunday 21st | 10:30am, 11:30am, 2pm, 3pm | Pre booking preferred

For Heritage Open Day, The National Justice Musuem are delighted to open one of the rarely seen spaces to the public – our beautiful Civil Courtroom – for a family-friendly mock trial.

• St Mary's Church

Saturday 13th | 10am - 4:30pm | No pre booking required

During the Open heritage Open Days, St Mary's Church is offering Tower tours, brass rubbing, children's activities, guided tours of church and churchyard and refreshments on Saturday 13th September 

• National Justice Musuem - Architecture Tour

Sunday 14th | 10:30am, 12pm, 2pm | Pre booking preferred

Join one of the expert interpreters for a 45-minute tour of the National Justice Museum and its unique architectural features. Discover the history of our building, the quirks no one notices, and the spaces in the museum most visitors don't get to see

• Greens Mill Science Centre

17th - 21st | 10am - 4pm | No pre booking required 

Join Greens Mill Science Centre for a special exhibition to celebrate Heritage Open Days. Learn more about famous mathematician George Green, view photos of the mill's restoration and read the many press cuttings.

• Curator Tour of the exhibition "Country Lives: Exploring the English Countryside from 1800"​​​​​​

18th September | 11am - 12pm | Pre booking Preferred 

Items from Manuscripts and Special Collections at Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham, are brought together for the first time to show how writers, artists, tourists, rural communities and workers depicted the countryside and what it meant to different people.

• Nottinghamshire Archives - Archives Escape 

Saturday 13th | 10am ,11am, 1:30pm| Pre booking preferred 

A unique opportunity to explore the heritage of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire by solving puzzles and gathering clues around Nottinghamshire Archives.

• Inspire Nottinghamshire Archives - Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Thursday 18th | 10:30am | Pre booking preferred 

An introduction to the Archives with a tour of the search room and storage areas. A chance to view some unique and incredible highlights from the collections, including architectural plans and building records

• Newstead Abbey

13th September | 11am - 4pm (Last Entry: 3pm) | No Pre booking required

Discover the ancestral home of the poet, Lord Byron, with free entry into the house. Originally, built as an Augustinian Priory in the 12th century, becoming the Byron country seat in 1540. Lots to see and do for families.