How to get free entry to hundreds of England’s top attractions this month

15 Sep 2026 • 6:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

How to get free entry to hundreds of England’s top attractions this month

Free admission to hundreds of the England’s top tourist attractions is now available throughout September.

From 11 to 20 September, more than 6,000 events are taking place as part of Heritage Open Days – England’s largest festival of history and culture.

Heritage Open Days was founded in 1994 to make historical sites more accessible to visitors.

In 2025, more than 2,500 organisers and 44,200 volunteers ran 5,879 events across the country.

This year, events will embrace the theme “Everyday Histories” with flagship events at Norwich Cathedral, Manchester’s People’s History Museum, Newcastle’s Grainger Market, the National Trust’s Killerton in Devon and the Guards Museum in London .

Other events include the British Library’s robotic retrieval cranes in action in Leeds, becoming a Bletchley Park recruit during their interactive family day, enjoying free tickets to a Wigan Athletic match or sharing a traditional langar lunch at the Sikh Museum Northampton and SGSS Gurdwara.

Hundreds of National Trust properties will also be opening up their doors for free on certain days, including Cliveden House, Beningbrough Hall and Lindisfarne Castle.

The National Trust originally created Heritage Open Days, although the sites taking part in the scheme are not necessarily a part of the National Trust.

Annie Reilly, the National Trust's audience and engagement director, said: “England's largest festival of history and culture is back. Heritage Open Days opens the door to thousands of extraordinary stories, places and experiences on your doorstep.

“With more than 6,200 free events across the country, millions can discover the places around them in new and often surprising ways. By inspiring curiosity today, the festival helps build a stronger sense of connection, care and action for the future.”

A record intake of young people have signed up to the National Trust over the past 12 months, with more than 50,000 aged 18 to 25 joining the charity.

Read more: National Trust sees record surge in new young members

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