The annual Heritage Open Days event is a chance to go behind-the-scenes at some of the Cotswolds’ most interesting historic buildings. This celebration of local heritage lets you explore some venues which aren’t normally open to the public and saves you money with free entry to others.
This year’s Heritage Open Days takes place between 6 and 15 September 2024, with over 5000 events running across the country. A range of churches, priories, country houses, schools, factories, mills and gardens are taking part. There’s a mix of guided tours, walks, talks, workshops and special events – as well as free entry to several National Trust and English Heritage sites.
The event celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and is still going strong – 2024’s theme is ‘Routes, Networks, Connections’, looking at how people and ideas have moved around.
So if you are planning on visiting Heritage Open Days in the Cotswolds this year, here’s our pick of 18 of the best events taking place – you can find the full list on the Heritage Open Days website. Many you can just turn up to, but some of the tours do need to be booked in advance.
Heritage Open Days in the Cotswolds 2024
Cheltenham Ladies’ College
Cheltenham Ladies’ College is one of the UK’s most prestigious girls’ schools, founded in 1853 and run by suffragist educator Dorothea Beale for over 50 years. Its main buildings are located on the site of the original Cheltenham Spa, and were influenced by Arts and Crafts design.
Open for tours on Saturday 7 September 1pm–4pm (pre-booking required) | Find out more
Cheltenham Walks
The Cheltenham Civic Society and local history groups around the town are holding a series of free walks for Heritage Open Days. Some are based around different areas like Naunton Park or Prestbury, and others have themes like women sculptors, public art or Regency Cheltenham.
Various dates and times | Find out more
SULA Lightship
Climb on board an original light ship – a floating lighthouse – in Gloucester Docks. The SULA Lightship was launched in 1959 and protected mariners on the Humber Estuary for the next 26 years. Since being decommissioned, she’s been turned into a luxurious floating self-catering apartment sleeping four. Small group tours for up for eight people let you look inside.
Open for tours on Friday 13–Sunday 15 September (pre-booking required) | Find out more
Hidcote Manor Garden
The Arts and Crafts style gardens at Hidcote near Chipping Campden were created by horticulturalist Major Lawrence Johnston in the 1910s and are now run by the National Trust. They use plants collected on his travels around the world, organised into outdoor rooms with different themes. Heritage Open Days tours give visitors an insight into how the garden developed.
Free entry on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 September 10am–5pm (normally £17) | Find out more
Westonbirt House Gardens
Take a tour of the Victorian gardens at Westonbirt House, which were created from 1830–1885 by Robert Holford (who also founded Westonbirt Arboretum). The gardens were inspired by William Gilpin’s ‘picturesque’ movement and laid out with formal terraces, lawns, lakes and a rockery.
Open for a tour on Wednesday 11 September at 11.30am (pre-booking required) | Find out more
Tetbury Market House
Heritage Open Days is a chance to see inside Tetbury’s Market House, which was built by the Tetbury Feoffees in 1655 – a group of local residents who took over running the town – and was used to sell wool and yarn, before later being used as a lock up and to store the town’s fire engine. As part of the event you can visit the Feoffee meeting room, which isn’t normally open to the public.
Open Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September 10am–4pm | Find out more
Royal Agricultural University
Cirencester’s Royal Agricultural University was founded in 1845, and many of the original buildings are still in use, including the Bathurst Wing, University Chapel and Tithe Barn (which is now the student bar). You can taken a look around its historic buildings, quads and grounds, as well as joining special guided tours and talks. Refreshments are also available in the café.
Open Sunday 15 September 1pm–4pm | Find out more
Newark Park
Originally built as a Tudor hunting lodge, National Trust site Newark Park was rescued and restored by a Texan architect in the 1970s and 80s after falling into disrepair. It’s built on the edge of the Cotswold Escarpment near Wotton-under-Edge, with lovely views from the gardens, which are set over three levels. And inside there’s a collection of period furniture and modern art.
Free entry on Saturday 14 September 10am–5pm (normally £13) | Find out more
Kelmscott Manor
Kelmscott Manor was once the country retreat of William Morris, who described it as ‘heaven on Earth’. Inside the 17th-century manor house you can see furniture, tapestries, artworks and ceramics collected by Morris and his family. There are also beautiful gardens to explore, and special creative demonstrations taking place for Heritage Open Days, including lace and rag rug making.
Free entry on Saturday 14 September 10.30am–5pm (normally £15) | Find out more
Woodchester Mansion
Woodchester Mansion near Stroud was built in Gothic Revival style in the 1860s, surrounded by parkland. But although it looks finished from the outside, it’s only a shell inside after being abandoned partway through construction, with builders downing tools and leaving it unfinished in 1870. You can look around the spooky ruins – and watch out for the resident horseshoe bats.
Free entry on Friday 6 September 11am–5pm (normally £11), with guided tours at 11.45am and 2.30pm | Find out more
Upton House and Gardens
The National Trust’s Upton House near Banbury houses an impressive collection of paintings and porcelain, and is surrounded by gardens which were created by Kitty Lloyd Jones – one of the first female garden designers – in the 1930s. As part of Heritage Open Days you can attend a free short talk to learn about the house and gardens, which take place every 45 minutes.
Free entry on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September 11am–3pm (normally £15) | Find out more
North Leigh Roman Villa
North Leigh Roman Villa in the Evenlode Valley near Witney was once one of the country’s largest Roman villas. It had three bath suites, 11 rooms with underfloor heating and 16 mosaics, and you can see an impressive example of a mosaic from the early 4th century on display.
Open Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September 11am–5pm | Find out more
St Andrew’s Church, Castle Combe
St Andrew’s Church in Castle Combe was built in the 13th century and has a medieval faceless clock that’s thought to be one of the oldest in the country. This year’s event includes an exhibition on St Aldhelm’s Way, which passes through the village. This pilgrimage route took monks from Doulting near Glastonbury where St Aldheim died in 709 AD to Malmesbury where he was buried.
Open Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September 11am–4pm | Find out more
Roman Baths Local History Store
Discover Bath & North East Somerset Council’s collection of local history objects in this storeroom, which isn’t normally open to the public. It houses everything from quirky Victorian spa equipment to Georgian and Victorian furniture from the Pump Rooms, Guildhall and Assembly Rooms.
Open Wednesday 11 September 10am–3pm, with guided tours at 10am, 12pm and 2pm (pre-booking required) | Find out more
Bath American Museum
Set just outside the centre of Bath with views across the Cotswolds, you can visit the Bath American Museum’s 125 acres of Grade-II listed landscaped gardens for free as part of Heritage Open Days. There’s also an arboretum, children’s garden and deli. Or for an extra fee you can add on a visit to the museum itself, with recreated rooms from different periods of American history.
Free entry to the gardens on Sunday 15 September 10am–5pm | Find out more
Dyrham Park
Grand National Trust site Dyrham Park near Bath was built for diplomat William Blathwayt in the 17th century. Inside are his collections of art and Dutch Delftware, and the lavish interiors which have made it a popular film location. There are also formal gardens, orchards and terraces, as well as 270 acres of ancient parkland with self-guided walking routes and views as far as Wales.
Free entry on Saturday 7 September 10am–4pm (normally £19) | Find out more
Saltford Brass Mill
Saltford is a Grade II-listed brass mill in the Avon Valley west of Bath which is a remnant of the 18th- and 19th-century brass industry. You can find out how the mill worked, see the furnace and 18-foot cast iron water wheel, and hear stories about the people who worked there.
Open Saturday 7 and Saturday 14 September 10am–4pm, and Sunday 8 and Sunday 15 September 1pm–4pm | Find out more
Prior Park Landscape Garden
The hillside National Trust gardens at Prior Park give great views over the Bath skyline. They were created in the 18th century and are best known for their picturesque Palladian Bridge, which is one of only four of its kind in the world. Stroll around the lake to the cascade and summerhouse, and learn about the dam restoration project. There’s also a tea shed for refreshments.
Free entry on Saturday 7 and 14 September 10am–4pm (normally £10) | Find out more
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