Festival spotlights

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?

Has an event ever caught your eye, only to discover that it’s taking place on the other side of the country? Luckily we have a huge range of online events for you to browse at your leisure! Whether you’re a sweet-toothed Geordie who can’t get to London’s Chocolate Museum, or a Brummie with a love of marginalia but no time to visit Devon’s historical book exhibition, we’ve got you covered.

Don't Fret - it's not over yet! Heritage Open Days is officially in full swing, with thousands of events taking place all across the country! Not had a chance to get out there yet? No stress, there’s still loads of incredible opportunities to get involved - online and in person. From castles and gardens to lifeboat stations and limeworks, have a look at some of our top events that are still to come.

What gives England’s heritage the X-factor?! From monastic architecture to modern street art; morris dancing to Regency balls; a house of fashion to the theatrical stage, and so – much – more! This year we’re unwrapping the colourful history of creativity but with so much to explore, where to start? Let’s break it down with a highlight list from a-z!

Ever torn a page as you turned it? Dented a doorframe when you moved furniture? Seen your favourite comfy armchair become somewhat threadbare? Yes, as the years (decades, centuries!) pass, our precious places and possessions do take some knocks - so how do we protect them? Ponder no further, all will be revealed in these special events where you can meet the experts with the answers.

Whether you want to step out on a dance floor, try your hand at ancient skills, or just explore fascinating historic sites and stories, this September you are spoilt for choice! Yes, European Heritage Days are back. We’ve been highlighting all the free joyful events here in England but there's even more to explore beyond our borders - here’s a taste of what’s happening elsewhere in the UK… and beyond!

Do you know your optometrists from your oenologists? How about your conservators from your curators? Meet the faces behind the titles and try your hand at some specialist techniques, including classic car renovation and jewellery making! Here are some of our favourite expert-led events for this year.

Now in its third year, the New Wave programme returns and is jam-packed with exciting, innovative events – from sea shanties and Georgian games to mysteries and mocktail making! Get ready for some fabulous, fresh, unique events developed by local organisers in collaboration with young people.

Finding events that the whole family can enjoy can be tricky, but never fear, a free festival is nearly here! From medieval combat to meet the animals, plus games, crafts and trails galore there's something for everyone over Heritage Open Days. Here are some of our top picks that are sure to be a hit for young and old alike.

Want to see the world? Less keen on the transport and visa planning? England is full of diverse cultures, so join us on a (virtual) world tour as we travel across continents to see the variety of cultural heritage on offer over Heritage Open Days. Spanning the globe from Japan to Poland and many other places in between - passports not required!

Hungry for lush, colourful gardens with a twist? Look no further than these sustainable kitchen gardens filled with fruits, vegetables and herbs to see how food in the garden extends much further than the beloved British barbecue. Championing sustainability, innovation and creativity, there's something here to suit every appetite.

The opportunity to go behind the scenes of hundreds of sites, accessing buildings and objects that are usually locked away is one of the annual highlights of Heritage Open Days. Take advantage of this unique celebration to explore what goes on out of sight, and the crucial work undertaken by staff and volunteers that preserves our heritage for years to come.

Whether you’re a medieval monk or a Yorkshire punk, music has the power to bring people together. June 21st marks World Music Day, a global celebration of the joy of listening to, creating and performing music. Starting over 40 years ago as a French initiative, it has now spread to 120 countries, and there is certainly plenty of amazing musical heritage to be found on our doorstep. Get into the groove this September with events like these!

Early festival highlights! It's never too early to start searching for your next doorstep discovery. Over 1,000 events are now live on the directory and 1,000s more will be added in the run up to our September festival. From the history of ice cream to the sound and scratchings of the past via the inner workings of a jukebox - here are some of the team's first favourites from the listings, but what would you pick?

From cutting edge innovations to little known and yes, occasionally quite weird and wonderful creations – the story of inventors and their inventions is a fascinating one. Delve deep into the world of discoveries with these events celebrating our Astounding Inventions theme.

Ever wondered how to keep a clock ticking over centuries of time? What actually IS a book-worm? Or just generally what goes on behind the scenes in a conservator’s studio? Ponder no further… all will be revealed in these special events where you can meet the experts with the answers.

Get ready for some serious fun as New Wave rolls in for its second year! From sports and stargazing to spooky detective trails and interactive art these innovative Heritage Open Days have been developed by local organisers in collaboration with young people. See the past with new eyes as you join them for an extra dose of joy this September.

Bunting and beacons will be lighting up the country this week for Jubilee celebrations - including thousands organised by local volunteers. They are the bright shining key to Heritage Open Days, from pouring cups of tea and putting up posters to planning entire programmes of events every September. So, to celebrate Volunteers' Week I am handing over the blog to some of our long-standing volunteers for a taster of their extraordinary festival hubs…

This year's Edible England theme really seems to have caught everyone’s imagination! From picnics to tasting tours, hundreds of delicious events have been planned. Sadly, it is impossible to visit them all, so without further ado, here are a few events to give you a taste of what’s on the Heritage Open Days plate.