Heritage Open Days
Our Wonderful Heritage
In the United Kingdom as a whole, we are very fortunate to have access to an amazing array of landscapes, places and buildings, each having their own interesting tale to tell. This could be somewhere iconic, like Stonehenge, or the sublime coastline of the north-east. What better way to explore such places than during Heritage Open Days – which this year takes place from the 6th-15th of September.
Heritage Open Days take place in England each September. It is defined as the largest community-led festival of arts and culture, largely organised and run by volunteers. Getting involved is a wonderful way of learning about places you might not have ever thought about before – and perhaps visiting buildings that are rarely open to the public. This year, it is the 30th anniversary of such events. It is not just all about England, either! Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also involved, as are many other European countries, ranging from Albania to Denmark to Switzerland.
It is often fun to see what is available in your local area. In Bradford-on-Avon, a small market town in Wiltshire, you can explore the old lock-ups on the town bridge – it doesn’t take much imagination to realise how unpleasant it would have been to be trapped in a cold stone room hanging over the River Avon! In London, you could hop aboard the Golden Hinde – the first English ship to travel around the globe, belonging to Sir Francis Drake. In England’s north-east, you could explore railway stations and travel on old trains. In fact, there is something for everyone – everywhere!
To give Heritage Open Days more credit, each year there is a specific theme. In 2023, it was Creativity Unwrapped; in 2021, Edible England; and, in 2020, when we were in the first year of the Covid pandemic, it was Hidden Nature. Who knows what it will be this year, in 2024, when Heritage Open Days will be celebrating its 30th anniversary?
So, in early September, if you are looking for something to keep you entertained, check out what Heritage Open Days there are in your area. You will, no doubt, be pleasantly surprised.
If you are interested in studying History, Oxford Home Schooling offer the chance to do so at a number of levels, listed below. You can also Contact Us here.
