Heritage Open Days

Event Description

Your once a year opportunity to discover Leicester's hidden heritage

The annual festival returns with Leicester's historic sites and buildings revealing their stories and offering behind-the-scenes tours. A chance to find out more about the city's hidden gems and its rich 2,000-year history, all for free!

As well as opening up buildings or parts of buildings not normally open to the public, there will be events on offer including guided tours, walks and open days. Booking is required for some activities, with others open for people to drop-in on the day.

View the brochure for full event details and how to book. Highlights include:

• An opportunity to tread the boards and go behind the scenes with a tour of Glenfield Railway Tunnel, which was the longest railway tunnel in the world when it opened in 1832


• Stoneygate Tram Depot will be opening its doors and offering visitors the chance to take a heritage road trip on a vintage bus


• Leicester's museums will be offering guided tours including the Magazine Gateway, the medieval Leicester Guildhall and Abbey Pumping Station tours of the Transport Shed's heritage vehicles and the majestic beam engines


• The At Risk War Memorial Project is highlighting more than 45 different war memorials, and partnering with the Sikh Museum Initiative with displays of itesm and memorabilia related to Sikhs in the World Wars


• The Y Theatre will be showcasing a Journey through History tour of the theatre's role during wartime and the eclectic events it hosted - including a royal opening from the now King Charles III with the theatre's panto cast!

More events not in the brochure:

• St Andrews Church https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/st-andrews-aylestone-explore-over-800-years-of-history


• Holy Apostles Church https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/100-years-of-holy-apostles-church


• Evington Village Walking Tour https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/evington-village-walking-tour

Printed copies of the Heritage Open Days Brochure will be available from the Visit Leicester Information Centre, at 4a St Martins, and at Leicester Museums.

Information about events taking place around the country as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival is available at www.heritageopendays.org.uk 

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