Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,500 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers. 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.

This year, for the first time in its 24-year history, Heritage Open Days – England’s largest festival of culture and history – will take place over two consecutive weekends in September.  This year, in recognition of the centenary of the Universal Suffrage Act, there will be hundreds of events taking place on the theme of ‘Extraordinary Women’ – focusing on both well-known and less celebrated women.

Patron of Heritage Open Days, Loyd Grossman, said: ‘Every year, Heritage Open Days becomes a more diverse and fascinating festival. It’s wonderful that, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we are able to continue the Unsung Stories project, which actively sources and shares stories of individuals and events that conventional histories may have overlooked.  And, of course, we continue to celebrate all aspects of local heritage, with thousands of other walks, talks, openings and events – all of them free!’

From climbing church towers not normally open to the public, taking part in special guided walks, discovering a Grade I Listed medieval long house on Dartmoor or taking a behind the scenes peek at the multi-million pound restoration project at Castle Drogo, there’s a huge choice of fascinating places to visit within a short drive of Okehampton.

For full information about the festival including venues and opening times, visit the Heritage Open Days website at www.heritageopendays.org.uk