Heritage Open Days 2026: Attractions Near Allison Homes
Every September, historic buildings, cultural landmarks and community spaces across England open their doors free of charge as part of Heritage Open Days, the country’s largest festival of history and culture.
Heritage Open Days 2026 takes place from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th September. The festival offers a unique opportunity to step inside places that aren’t always accessible to the public, uncover fascinating local stories and learn more about the communities we call home.
At Allison Homes, we know that choosing a new home is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about becoming part of a community with its own character, heritage and traditions.
From Bronze Age archaeology and Victorian architecture to historic cinemas, theatres and family-friendly exhibitions, we’ve rounded up some of the must-visit Heritage Open Days attractions close to our developments across England.
Lincolnshire
Fydell House
Approximately a 10-minute drive from Frampton Gate and 35 minutes from Chapel Gate.
Residents at Frampton Gate and Chapel Gate can uncover stories from Boston’s past at Fydell House, one of the town’s most distinctive historic buildings.
The Grade I listed Queen Anne property has been connected to the Fydell family and Boston’s history for generations. During Heritage Open Days, visitors can explore photographs, maps and archive material charting the house’s journey from past to present, alongside archaeological finds and images connected to the town’s former football ground.
The exhibition is taking place on selected dates throughout the festival, with pre-booking preferred. Fydell House and its gardens will also be free to explore.
Norfolk
For homeowners at Wootton Grange in South Wootton, two King’s Lynn attractions will be opening their doors on Sunday 13th September.
Majestic Cinema
Approximately a 10-minute drive from Wootton Grange.
Built in 1928, the Majestic Cinema is a remarkable surviving example of Art Deco design. Tours will take place every 20 minutes between 10am and 1pm, allowing visitors to appreciate its stained-glass windows, decorative plasterwork and original architectural details in a new light.
Lynn Museum
Approximately a 10-minute drive from Wootton Grange.
Nearby, Lynn Museum will offer free admission from 10am to 4pm. Visitors can step inside its Secrets from the Store exhibition to discover rarely seen objects from the museum’s collection, including artworks, vintage toys, fossils and fashion.
The museum is also home to Seahenge, the 4,000-year-old Bronze Age timber circle uncovered on the north Norfolk coast.
Neither attraction requires pre-booking, making it easy to enjoy both as part of a day exploring King’s Lynn.
Cambridgeshire
Flag Fen Archaeology Park
Approximately a 15-minute drive from Violet Meadows in Whittlesey.
Close to Violet Meadows in Whittlesey, Flag Fen Archaeology Park is offering free admission on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September, from 10am to 4pm.
Families can step back thousands of years as they explore reconstructed roundhouses, see part of a Bronze Age causeway and visit the Must Farm boat exhibition.
There will also be pond dipping, fossil digging, activity trails and opportunities for children to become archaeologists in the Big Dig Tent. Heritage craft and jewellery-making demonstrations will help bring the site’s ancient history to life, while visitors can meet the volunteers who care for and share its stories.
Pre-booking is not required.
Leicestershire
Residents at our Leicestershire developments can immerse themselves in Leicester’s creative and cultural heritage through two special events.
The Y Theatre
Approximately a 20-minute drive from Gynsill Grange and within around 30 minutes of St Mary’s Chase, Auster Meadows and Finney Meadows.
The Y Theatre is celebrating its 125th anniversary with an interactive exploration of its rich musical history. From the Penny Concerts of the early 1900s to decades of opera, musicals, rock, pop, folk and metal, the event will tell the theatre’s story through music, poetry and storytelling.
Performances are taking place from Monday 14th to Wednesday 16th September. Pre-booking is preferred, although spaces may also be available on the day.
Leicester Photographic Archive Pop Up Exhibition
Approximately a 20-minute drive from Gynsill Grange and within around 30 minutes of St Mary’s Chase, Auster Meadows and Finney Meadows.
Meanwhile, the Leicester Photographic Archive Pop Up Exhibition at The Guildhall will offer a fascinating glimpse into how the city has changed.
Visitors can explore photographs marking the Guildhall’s centenary as a museum, alongside an exhibition examining the City Challenge project that reshaped parts of Leicester during the 1990s. Volunteers will also invite visitors to help identify mystery images and share their own memories of the city.
The free exhibition is open from 11am to 4pm on Thursday 17th and Saturday 19th September, with no booking required.
Nottinghamshire
For those living at Hayes View in Cotgrave and Kings Meadow in Newark, Nottingham offers a mix of science, history and family fun.
Green’s Windmill and Science Centre
Approximately a 20-minute drive from Hayes View and 35 minutes from Kings Meadow.
At Green’s Windmill and Science Centre, visitors can learn more about the restored 19th-century tower mill and the remarkable work of mathematical physicist George Green.
A special exhibition will use photographs, press cuttings and other archive material to explore the windmill’s history, while hands-on experiments in the science centre will introduce visitors to light, electricity and magnetism. The award-winning community garden will also be open to explore.
The event runs from Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th September, from 10am to 4pm, with no pre-booking required. The windmill building itself is currently closed for repair work, but the exhibition, science centre and garden remain open.
Family Day at Bromley House Library
Approximately a 25-minute drive from Hayes View and 35 minutes from Kings Meadow.
Families can also discover one of Nottingham’s most intriguing historic spaces through Family Day at Bromley House Library.
Designed for children aged four to 12 and their grown-ups, activities include getting hands-on at a book conservation station, travelling through the wardrobe into Narnia and creating a Victorian-style portrait in the library’s photographic studio.
The event takes place on Sunday 13th September and is currently fully booked, but its event page can be checked for returned places or updates.
Devon
Fursdon House, Garden and Tearoom
Approximately a 30-minute drive from Weavers Place and 40 minutes from High Moor View.
Residents at High Moor View and Weavers Place can spend an afternoon surrounded by history and countryside at Fursdon House, Garden and Tearoom, near Exeter.
One of Devon’s oldest family homes, Fursdon has been home to the same family for more than 765 years. Its gardens combine traditional and contemporary planting, with roses, herbs, wildflowers, trees and winding pathways leading into a terraced and cob-walled garden.
The gardens and tearoom will be open from 2pm to 5pm on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th September. Although the guided house tours are now fully booked, visitors can still explore the gardens without booking and enjoy a Devon cream tea or home-baked treat, with charges applying for refreshments.
Somerset
For those in Somerset, near our upcoming Hartwell Chase development, Heritage Open Days offers the chance to explore two remarkable historic properties.
Woodspring Priory by the Sea
Approximately a 25-minute drive from Hartwell Chase.
Woodspring Priory by the Sea, near Weston-super-Mare, opens to the public just once a year.
Founded around 1210, the atmospheric priory was once home to an order of Augustinian Canons and now sits in a peaceful setting surrounded by farmland and overlooking the sea.
Visitors can explore the property from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September, with information about its history available throughout the site. Admission is free and pre-booking is preferred.
Tyntesfield
Approximately a 15-minute drive from Hartwell Chase.
Tyntesfield in Wraxall is offering free entry to its spectacular Victorian Gothic Revival house, gardens and parkland throughout the festival.
Originally a smaller Georgian property, Tyntesfield was transformed into an ornate family home by the Gibbs family. Its distinctive architecture, historic interiors, flower-filled terraces, extensive woodland and productive kitchen garden provide plenty to explore.
Free entry is available from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th September, with no pre-booking required.
Make the most of Heritage Open Days
Whether you’re uncovering archaeological treasures, exploring historic houses or discovering the stories behind familiar landmarks, Heritage Open Days is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the places around you.
At Allison Homes, we’re proud to create homes in locations rich with character, history and culture. Events like these help bring those stories to life and offer residents a new way to discover the communities on their doorstep.
Before travelling, remember to check the individual event pages for the latest availability, booking information and access details.
Ready to uncover the stories waiting on your doorstep? Explore the full programme on the Heritage Open Days website and discover our developments across England.
Information and availability correct as of 11th September 2026. Approximate journey times are provided as a guide and may vary depending on traffic and the chosen route.
Allison Homes Web Article: 16th September 2026
