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Take a dive into the history of sport and perhaps even have a go at some new activities. It’s set to be a bumper summer of international competition and you may think the games will all be over when autumn comes. But from a Crown Green Cup to ‘The Useless Bike’ there will be so much to explore, and play for, this September!

We all love a secret – something to uncover, discover, or solve. From exploring underground places to a sneak peek behind the scenes, it's hard to not relish discovering something new… and luckily, during Heritage Open Days, you can do just that! We’ve hand-picked some secret spaces, places and behind the scenes experiences you can enjoy this September, from cathedrals and crypts to rarely open places – what will you discover?

Where can you see beneath the soil, visit an Anglo-Saxon village, unveil hidden treasure, or explore a flying boat lifted from the water? Well, this summer, all these are on offer as part of the CBA’s Festival of Archaeology. One of their amazing team shares their story as they introduce us to this fantastic summer festival.

Trumpets sound and drums roll please! We are delighted to reveal your complete Anniversary Gallery.

Roll out the pink carpet and discover the sites you have seen on the big or little screen, in new ways. From discovering a relocated bridge from Harry Potter or running away with Alice through the looking glass - you could even say that Heritage Open Days has got The Full Monty!

Early festival highlights! It's never too early to start searching for your next doorstep discovery. Over 1,600 events are now live on the directory and 1,000s more will be added in the run up to our September festival. From historic graffiti and craft activities to a peek behind the scenes of a high street giant – here are some of the team's first favourites from the listings, but what would you pick?

Vote for your favourite stories to fill our Anniversary Gallery!

Ta Da! Your shiny new event directory is now LIVE! This is always a big moment, but particularly so this year as we are working from a brand new database and platform. Before you get searching though, take 5 with us and we’ll tell you what to look out for… and the other exciting things we’ve been up to behind the festival scenes!

Family. We can’t explore Routes-Networks-Connections without looking at this! One family history group that participate in our festival is particularly special – helping people overcome barriers to explore their links to Travelling people, whose stories can be hard to trace, but have contributed much to our histories. To celebrate Gypsy, Roma & Traveller History Month we invited them to share their work, and some stories with us - including talented craftspeople and the origins of Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach!

The country’s largest festival of history and culture returns with a packed programme of free events

Throughout history people have travelled the globe spreading ideas and sharing their talents. We’re celebrating their stories this year as part of our Routes-Networks-Connections theme. So of course we had to chat to the Migration Museum, whose touring exhibition has just won a coveted Museums+Heritage Show award. Here they share some of the extraordinary stories highlighted in that exhibition.

“We demand the Wayfarer’s Dole!” intriguing words that link us to our ancestors across the centuries. Discover their reward and the different meaning of old and new wayfaring in this beautiful blog from Dawn at the British Pilgrimage Trust. Our landscape may have changed, often dramatically, over time, but this just makes the survival of, and our continued journeys along, ancient paths all the more special.

What a whirlwind! It’s been a VERY busy winter, but all the hard work is starting to blossom as our festival cycle kicks into gear with the Spring. Having moved office and built a new database on top of usual festival business, we are now emerging from our backstage bubble so it’s time to share some stories! Grab a cuppa and take 5 with us for an update.

We need your help to create a special showcase celebrating three decades of local people sharing the diverse heritage that matters to them.

For over a century thousands of extraordinary women across the country have been meeting up and causing a stir. Not just stirring the ingredients for a cake to share with friends or sell on a stall, but stirring up conversations that lead to long term change. As they announce exciting plans for their AGM we invited the brilliant WI (Women's Institute) to tell us their story for Women's History Month.