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 Warwickshire...

Astley Castle
Astley Castle, 1 Church Lane, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 7QN

The ancient moated site of Astley Castle boasts award-winning modern accommodation within the shell of a medieval castle. This is a rare chance to see inside The Landmark Trust's conversion, normally let for short holiday breaks.

Weekend visitors can also enjoy a new documentary film about Astley Castle, produced by Salford University media department. Author Sarah Jane Downing will be holding a free talk, The Architecture Of Dress, on the Saturday.

Friday 12 - Sunday 14 September | 10am - 4pm, pre-booking preferred

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Baddesley Clinton  
Rising Lane, Warwickshire, B93 0DQ

Discover a secluded, intimate estate set in the heart of the Forest of Arden with 500 years of fascinating and unexpected stories. Take a stroll around the gardens, from the walled garden to the vegetable patch and beyond; the gardens at Baddesley look beautiful whatever the season. Celebrate history, explore the gardens and discover the stories in the house, all for free!

Sunday 14 September | 9am - 5pm, No pre-booking required

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Charlecote Park  
Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, CV35 9ER

Explore Charlecote Park, a Victorian home set in a deer park near Stratford-upon-Avon. Legend has it that a young Shakespeare was caught poaching in the park before running away to London, where he gained fame for his plays. National Trust volunteers will be on hand to share Charlecote’s history and anecdotes with visitors, games and activities will be available for young visitors.

Friday 12 & Saturday 13 September | 9am – 5pm, No pre-booking required

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Coventry Cathedral
Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5AB

For this year’s Heritage Open Days event, Coventry Cathedral will be opening Wyley Chapel to the public.

The Chapel is the place where, in 1940, Provost Dick Howard conducted a Christmas Day service which was broadcast live around the world, just weeks after Coventry Cathedral had been bombed by the Germans.

There will also be a short talk and audio-visual presentation on the history of the Chapel, presented by local historians Adam Neale and Adam Wood.

Monday 15 - Friday 19 September | 11am - 3pm, no pre-booking required

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Coventry Charterhouse
Charterhouse Drive, Coventry, CV1 2JR

Discover one of Coventry’s most historic buildings, a Grade I listed Carthusian monastery founded in 1385. Step inside the atmospheric house, wander the peaceful walled gardens and explore the surrounding grounds, rich in wildlife and history, at this unique city treasure.

Friday 12 September & Saturday 13 September | 10am - 4pm, no pre-booking required

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Coughton Court
Coughton Court, Coughton, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5JA

Coughton Court has been home to the Throckmorton family for more than 600 years. You can discover their story on your visit, and find out about the family’s intriguing link to the infamous Gunpowder Plot. The Throckmortons still live at the venue and have created and managed the gardens, highlights of which include a bog garden and a beautiful display of roses in the walled garden.

Reopened this year, the Tower Roof provides visitors with impressive views over the estate.

Saturday 20 September | 10am-5pm, no pre-booking required

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The Fusilier Museum
Pageant House, 2, Jury Street, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 4EW

For this year’s Heritage Open Days event, the Fusilier Museum is providing free access to a temporary exhibition entitled Home & Away.

Featuring original trophies and a collection of paraphernalia and photographs, the display explores the impact of football on the lives of soldiers.

The exhibition also spotlights the teams that were created by the female workforce of the ammunition factories, and explores the role the sport played in terms of rehabilitating injured soldiers.

Related and family-focused activities will take place during the week, including a competition to win prizes.

Friday 12 - Saturday 13, Tuesday 16 - Saturday 20 September | 10am-5pm, no pre-booking required

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Kenilworth Abbey Museum and Heritage Centre
Abbey Fields, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1BP

Kenilworth Abbey Museum & Heritage Centre is housed in a 14th-century red sandstone building which was once part of the medieval Abbey. The ground-floor exhibition tells the story of the Abbey and its buildings.

On Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 September only, members of the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society will be leading a guided walk of the Abbey ruins, bringing to life the people who lived and worked there, and explaining why so little is left of the once-magnificent Augustinian Abbey.

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 September | 2.30pm-4.30pm, tour 3pm, book on the day

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Lunt Roman Fort Tours
Coventry Road, Baginton, Coventry, CV8 3AJ

Join Roman soldiers as they lead groups on a two-hour tour around this historic site, which dates back to 60AD. Take in the sites of Baginton, and further afield, as you climb up the newly renovated ramparts. Experience the world-famous Gyrus, where it’s believed Ancient Roman soldiers trained their cavalry. Explore the reconstructed granary and learn about the Roman legions, their armour, and the other items on display from Culture Coventry's collections.

Saturday 20 September | 10am - 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 3.30pm, pre-booking required

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Modern Records Centre
Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL

The archivist-led talk will guide attendees through the university’s early years, highlighting key moments in its establishment and growth. A new addition for 2025 is Finding Family in the Archives, a practical session led by genealogist Paul Wilkins. This workshop will introduce participants to the MRC’s vast holdings, and demonstrate how these resources can be used to uncover personal and family stories.

Friday 12 September | 1pm - 3.30pm & Wednesday 17 September | 10.30am - 1pm,  pre-booking required

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Packwood House
Packwood Lane, Lapworth, Warwickshire, B94 6AT

Step into the much-loved Tudor manor house and explore its atmospheric interiors, rich collections and famous Yew Garden. Wander through colourful borders, stroll around the wider estate, and enjoy the mix of history, art and nature that makes Packwood such a special place.

Saturday 13 September | 9am - 5pm, No pre-booking required

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Roman Alcester Museum
Globe House, Priory Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5DZ

Roman Alcester Museum displays Roman artefacts that have been found within the town from over 100 archaeological excavations, spanning the last 100-plus years and including a mortarium thought to be nearly 2,000 years old.

Visitors can find out what life was like in Roman times - from the 1st to 4th centuries AD - and take advantage of the opportunity to handle genuine Roman pottery and other artefacts. A Roman history expert will give a guided tour of the museum on both days.

Saturday 13 | 10am-4pm & Sunday 14 September | 10am-4pm, no pre-booking required

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University of Warwick Maths Houses
Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

Visit the Grade II listed Maths Houses at University of Warwick! Designed by Bill Howell for visiting mathematicians, the Maths Houses were awarded the RIBA Architecture Award for their innovative design and contribution to the university’s architectural landscape.

As a special event to mark the University of Warwick’s 60th Anniversary, these fabulous buildings being opened for Heritage Open Days for the first time. Come along and check out the Maths Houses’ ‘wiggly walls’ lined with a chalk board for the mathematicians to use during their stay!

Sunday 21 September | 12pm - 4pm, drop in, no booking required

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Upton House and Gardens
near Banbury, Warwickshire, OX15 6HT

Discover the world-class art collection at Upton House and Gardens for free this weekend as part of Heritage Open Day 2025. Explore the house and collection, learn from friendly volunteers giving short talks, and stroll through the gardens bursting with colour, especially the National Collection of Asters, which reach their peak bloom in September.

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 September | 9am - 5pm, No pre-booking required

 

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

Check out other regions -

BIRMINGHAM

WOLVERHAMPTON AND BLACK COUNTRY

STAFFORDSHIRE

SHROPSHIRE

WORCESTERSHIRE