Heritage Open Days 2025: How to get free entry to hundreds of UK tourist attractions in September

A series of heritage Open Days in England, Scotland and Wales means you can visit hundreds of historic buildings and take part in fun activities for free in September.

While not all attractions have yet been confirmed, the festival has already announced free entry to HMS Wellington on the Thames, Penrhyn Castle and Garden in Wales and entry to part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

There are thousands of events taking place all over the UK. From tours and talks at national monuments, stately homes and fascinating museums, to behind the scene looks at Air Ambulance bases, the English National Ballet school and more. 

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When are the free Heritage Open Days in the UK?

Dates of Open Days vary throughout September. See below for details on when you can gain free entry to tourist sites and historic attractions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The dates vary by nation, and even London has slightly different Open Day dates from the rest of England.

Plus, not every attraction permits free entry across all days of the festival, so you'll need to check, and, for some places, booking in advance (still free) is required.

A handful of attractions in London Open House Days required you to register in advance, as they conducted a ballot for tickets, though this has now ended.

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Which tourist attractions are free in England during Heritage Open Days festival?

Across England as a whole, the festival is called Heritage Open Days. It runs from 12-21 September and over a thousand buildings – many of them not usually open to the public – are expected to take part. There are also thousands of other visitor attractions, including talks, exhibitions, workshops and performances.

A selection of the sites confirmed so far include: 

• Aldborough Roman Town,  North Yorkshire
• Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
• Chester Castle, Cheshire
• Cliveden, Buckinghamshire
• Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
• Gunby Hall, Lincolnshire
• Lydford Castle and Saxon town, Devon
• Lydford Gorge, Devon
• Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
• St Botolph's Church and Priory, Colchester
• St Mary's Guildhall, Coventry
• Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire. 

Families can also get a behind the scenes look at East Anglian Air Ambulance's Base, Norfolk, attend a silent disco 'Rave in the Nave' at Newport Minster, Isle of Wight, learn about Anglo-Saxon life in Tyne and Wear, take part in arts and crafts and even abseil from England's oldest viaduct in Nottinghamshire.

Which tourist attractions are free in London?

In London, the festival is called London Open House and runs from 13-21 September. 

For many of the activities, such as going to watch the English National Ballet performers take their morning class (20 September), or taking a peek around HMS Wellington, you can just turn up on the day. Check the London Open House website for drop-in sessions that you don't need to book in advance.

There was a ballot running for guided tours around 10 Downing Street, the BT Tower and several other historic sites but this has now closed. 

Which tourist attractions are free in Scotland during Heritage Open Days festival?

The Doors Open Days festival runs throughout September across Scotland. Dates vary by city and by region.

The most famous attractions require booking in advance, but there are also some where you can just drop in. These includes free entry to the Abbey Strand buildings in Edinburgh, part of the Palace of Holyrood House, which dates back to the 14th century.

If you're not around for the festival, several of Scotland's best tourist attractions are free all year, including the National Museum of Scotland – rated one of the UK's best museums.

Which tourist attractions are free in Wales during Heritage Open Days festival?

The Open Days festival runs throughout September in Wales, and includes free entry to more than 200 attractions, historic sites and tours.

There's free entry (13 and 14 September) to the National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle which, alongside the surrounding Slate Landscape, is the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site. No need to book.

Missed the dates? St Fagan's open-air museum in Cardiff, 40 buildings from different historical periods, was rated the best museum in the UK. It's completely free. 

Free National Trust attractions

Many National Trust properties have announced they're taking part – including Cliveden House and Stowe Gardens (both in Buckinghamshire), Wallington Hall in Northumberland and Allan Bank in the Lake District.

Each September, the National Trust offers free tickets to many of its historic houses, castles and gardens. 

Which tourist attractions are free in Northern Ireland during European Heritage Open Days festival?

The European Heritage Open Days festival in Northern Ireland takes place on the weekend of 13-14 September.

Confirmed venues taking part include Ulster Hall in Belfast, the ruined Dunluce Castle in Portrush and Kinbane Castle in Ballycastle.

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