Heritage Open Days

Family Friendly
Lectures & Tours
Seasonal
06 - 16 September 2024

Free Event

Event Description

Free festival celebrating Leicester's hidden heritage

Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days
Friday 6th - Sunday 16th September


Heritage Open Days offer a once-a-year chance to discover Leicester's hidden heritage and architectural treasures with a wide range of free tours, events and activities.

You can find all the information you need in the 2024 Heritage Open Days Brochure.


Leicester Museums & Galleries have an exciting programme for this year's festival with the following events:


Magazine Gateway Free Guided Tours
Explore this 15th century building, originally the gateway to the former Newarke religious precinct.

Stepping back in time ...1709
A bespoke guided tour of Belgrave Hall focusing on key dates 1709 and 1847, and the families that lived there.

Leicester Photographic Archive Pop Up Exhibition
8th & 9th Sep at Leicester Guildhall
Come and explore highlights of the Council’s Photographic Archive focusing on themes of work life and leisure.

Abbey Pumping Station is offering two different tours: discover the range of heritage vehicles housed in the Transport Shed or take a tour of the Beam Engine House to learn about the magnificent Victorian beam engines up close.

Book a Special Guided Tour of Leicester Guildhall focusing on Shakespeare's connection to Leicester's iconic medieval building (10th Sep only).


There are lots of events that are new for this year, too:



  • Uncover a brand new piece of Leicester folklore at the Central library, in Bishop Street, on Saturday 14 September when Pedestrian, a local arts organisation, will launch their Tell Tall Tales graphic novella. Meet the writers and illustrators responsible for the exciting retelling of local folklore stories, as well as the researchers of this new piece of Leicester heritage. Young people in Leicester will tell the tales of Black Annis and The Nine O’Clock Horses, as well as some freshly unearthed folklore surprises.

  • Hansom Hall - designed by Leicestershire architect Joseph Hansom ­- is one of Leicester’s hidden heritage gems, and on Saturday 7 September, talking tours will give visitors the chance to view the balcony of this unique building, which is not normally open to the public.

  • On Sunday 8, Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 September, there will be a rare opportunity to visit the Phoenix art centre’s projection room and see how the magic of cinema is made possible. Meet one of the projectionists, learn how films are chosen and screened at Phoenix, and see 35mm footage alongside the latest digital projection.

  • And a group walk on Saturday 14 September, starting at Town Hall Square, will introduce participants to some of Leicester’s fascinating clocks. A History of Time in Leicester will include historical information about a variety of city centre clocks and the buildings in which they are housed.


Extra events not featured in the brochure:



Everything is free to attend, and although booking is required for some activities, others are open for people to drop into on the day.

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