Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history & culture, taking place every September and involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Stories are told, traditions explored and histories brought to life. The festival provides members of the general public with the chance to see usually hidden places and try out brand-new experiences. And what’s more, it’s all absolutely FREE...

The event returns this year from Friday 12 to Sunday 21 September - and here are just some of the venues you can explore around Birmingham...

Acocks Green Heritage Trail
Warwick Road, Acocks Green, B27 6RH

Take a walk around and find out all about Acocks Green, its religious history, street scene, buildings, transport changes, and the creation of The Green in the 1930s.

The walk follows boards one to five of the eight boards that make up the Acocks Green Heritage Trail. At the end of the walk, participants can visit boards six and seven on foot, while board eight at Fox Hollies is best visited by car afterwards.

Thursday 18 September | 10.30am-12pm, pre-booking required

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Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TB

Uncover the history of this famous old theatre by attending the Hippodrome’s Heritage Morning event.

Significant items from the venue’s archive will be on display, including the silk programme from its opening night in 1899. Heritage volunteers will be on hand to help you to discover the stories behind the on-show memorabilia.

To coincide with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s performances of their critically acclaimed Black Sabbath ballet on the theatre’s main stage, the Heritage Open Days event will also include a talk about the history of music staged at the Hippodrome. An additional talk, detailing the theatre’s vast history, also features, as do two behind-the-scenes tours. However, due to limited spaces on the tours, you will need to be at the theatre early to reserve your space.

Saturday 20 September | 9.30am-12.30pm, no pre-booking required

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Birmingham Honey Show
Winterbourne House & Garden | 58 Edgbaston Park Road, B15 2RT

Although Winterbourne has seven acres of stunning botanical garden for you to explore, this particular event is all about its ‘buzzing’ residents: the honey bees. The Honey Show includes a chance to see the bees in glass observation hives, attend live bee demonstrations (weather permitting) and meet local beekeepers. Stalls for all the family, activities and plant sales also feature.

Sat 13 & Sun 14 Sept | 10.30am-5pm, no pre-booking required

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Bournville Model Boat Club
Valley Parkway, Bournville Lane, Bournville, B30 1QS

Bournville Model Yachting Club was founded in 1923 at Rowheath Park. By 1926, George Cadbury had commissioned an area of marshland to be reclaimed, and the Valley Pool officially opened in 1933. The sailing of yachts and power boats has taken place there ever since. Heritage Open Days visitors will have the opportunity to see the boathouse, check out an artefact & photographic display, and get up close to the model boats in action.

Saturday 13 September | 10am-4pm, no pre-booking required

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Cadbury Archives
Mondelez International, Bournville Lane, Bournville, B30 2HP

The Cadbury Archives serve as a treasure trove of historical artefacts, documents and memorabilia, showcasing the evolution of the Cadbury business and brand from its very beginnings through to the present day. Featuring nearly 50,000 Cadbury items, including ones dating as far back as 1842, the archives are home to some of the rarest Cadbury documents and artefacts in the world.

Saturday 13 September | 10am-4pm, pre-booking required

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The Coffin Works
The Coffin Works, 13 - 15 Fleet Street, Birmingham, B3 1JP

Step into the sounds and stories of the Stamp Room with a free taster tour at The Coffin Works.

These bite-sized tours are the perfect introduction to the Coffin Works, exploring the Courtyard and Stamp Room of the original Victorian manufactory, where you’ll get a glimpse into the factory’s early years - complete with live demonstrations of the working Victorian machinery.

Tours run every 30 minutes, from 11am to 3pm, and last around half an hour. Spaces are limited and must be pre-booked.

Sunday 14 Septurday | 11am-3pm, pre-booking required

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West Midlands Police Museum
Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6BJ

The West Midlands Police Museum now lives in the old Victorian Lock Up on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham city centre.

In the atmospheric setting of a building that was opened in 1891, the museum houses a wide range of items and tells the fascinating story of policing in the West Midlands, going right back to its founding in the 1830s.

The museum manager will take visitors on special behind-the-scenes tours into the archives, where many of the oldest and most precious items are kept. These include some of the very earliest mugshots taken in the UK, criminal records going back over 150 years, and a number of more-delicate items too fragile to be on display.

Thursday 18 & Saturday 20 September | Tours run at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, pre-booking required

For further information about Heritage Open Days across the region, visit the website at heritageopendays.org.uk

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 Check out other regions -

WOLVERHAMPTON AND BLACK COUNTRY

STAFFORDSHIRE

SHROPSHIRE

WARWICKSHIRE

WORCESTERSHIRE