Heritage Open Days - September 2025
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- Heritage
- GetInvolved
This coming September will be very exciting for heritage lovers in Nottinghamshire with the return of Heritage Open Days’ annual community festival!
The festival, which has been running for over 25 years in the UK, provides individuals with the chance to get involved in heritage through exclusive local events. This festival contributes to the European Heritage Days in which 50 signatory states celebrate diversity, culture, and heritage every September.
Heritage Open Days aims to celebrate heritage and community by organising talks, workshops, and tours of historical sites. All the events in this festival are free. This includes rare visits to selected sites that normally ask for an entry fee. Sites included in this festival are Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Newstead Abbey, the Adams Building, and the Workhouse and Infirmary. Visit the Heritage Open Days website for the full list.
Running from Friday 12th until Sunday 21th September, there are over 80 exciting events happening in the Nottinghamshire area.
Above: St Mary Magdalene, Newark
Some of our wonderful heritage team will be hosting events; our Senior Practitioner of Historic Buildings, Jason, will be hosting a talk in Newark about the timber-framed buildings of Nottinghamshire on 17th September (book here). Our Historic Environment Officer, Janine, will also be hosting a talk, celebrating the pre-eminence of the horse on Nottinghamshire’s country estates at Worksop Library on 12th September (book here).
Other events across the county include:
- 13th September: Guided tour of the old section of Mansfield Cemetery. 'A Guided tour around the old section of Mansfield Cemetery. Notable monuments will be pointed out and discussed, together with the history of the cemetery and its buildings. A leaflet guide to the Cemetery will be provided'. Booking is not required. Click here for more information.
- 13th September & 20th September: George Martyn's Barn. In Keyworth, visit the 17th century threshing barn which has opened for the Heritage Open Days festival for the past six years. 'This year CAAG is exploring the theme of 'Architecture' with an exhibition in the 374 year old Barn. Visitors can step inside and appreciate the original features and the skills and materials used in producing such a structure all those years ago. Also, learn about the Parish Church (grade 1 listed) and the historic buildings in the village centre related to farming and framework knitting. View works by local artists on the 'Architecture' theme'.
- 14th September: Walk with an Expert: Blue Plaques – Chilwell + Beyond. 'A guided walk around some of [Chilwell's] old and new blue plaques - led by local experts Dr Peter Robinson, and Alan Dance'. Booking is not required. Click here for more information.
- 18th September: Inspire Nottinghamshire Archives - Behind-the-Scenes Tours. 'Come and see behind the scenes and discover the hidden world of archives! 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. You will be able to interact in new ways with our collections via your own tablet or smartphone device. View pop-up versions of archival documents, explore 360 degree images of historic streets and listen to audio descriptions of the archives. Enjoy a display and tour of the conservation studio as an introduction to what conservation is, and learn the different types of materials treated, and the techniques used'. Pre-booking is preferred. Book your place here.
- 19th September: The Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene: A Sustainable Regeneration Project. 'Find out more about the major conservation project at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church in Newark. St Mary Magdalene in Newark is a Grade I listed church with a rich history dating back to the 12th century. The church is currently on the Heritage at Risk Register, and 'The Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene' is a project which aims to make vital repairs to the church to secure its future, while also opening up the building to the community for a variety of events and activities'. Booking is required. Book your place here.
- 20th September: The Original Bramley Apple Tree. In Southwell, 'Nottingham Trent University are offering visitors an opportunity to view the original Bramley apple tree and to learn about the history of the Bramley apple and why the tree is so special'. Pre-booking is not required. Click here for more information.
- 21st September: Echoes of the Erewash Canal - Sandiacre Lock Cottages. Head down 'for a free, family-friendly day of fun, stories, and discovery along the Erewash Canal! Explore hands-on activities, canal heritage, and beautiful waterside spaces. There’s something for all ages'. Pre-booking is not required. Click here for more information.
To find out about all the events being offered in Nottinghamshire, including dates and booking information, please visit the Heritage Open Days website.
Please be aware that free entry to some heritage sites is only on specific set days and some events may require booking.