Heritage Open Days returns from 11–20 September 2026, opening up historic buildings, hidden spaces and unusual places across England — often completely free.
For Clarissa’s Corner, I’ve picked out some of the strongest options across Greenwich, Bexley, Bromley, Lewisham, South East London and nearby Kent, with a few wider London finds worth travelling for too.
This guide will keep the focus on useful reader information: dates, booking, accessibility where confirmed, and links to our existing local guides where we already have more detailed coverage.
Heritage Open Days 2026: At a Glance
- Festival dates: 11–20 September 2026
- Cost: Events are free, although some require advance booking
- Best for: Hidden history, historic buildings, family days out, local heritage, architecture and unusual access
- Booking: Some events are drop-in while others have limited timed places, so always check the official listing before travelling
Greenwich
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre — Kidbrooke
Where: Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Kidbrooke, Royal Greenwich
When: 12–18 September 2026, with free tours on selected dates and times
Cost: Free
Booking: Advance booking is required for the free tours and the clay workshop.
This is one of the strongest local additions to Heritage Open Days this year. Royal Museums Greenwich is opening up its collection stores and conservation spaces for a series of behind-the-scenes tours focused on everyday objects with extraordinary stories.
Tour sessions currently listed are 12 September at 1.30pm and 3.30pm; 15, 16 and 18 September at 11am; and 17 September at 6.15pm. Tours last around 45 minutes.
There is also a free Holding Histories – A Clay Vessel Workshop on Saturday 12 September from 10.30am–12.30pm, inspired by a vessel in the museum collection.
Getting there: The centre is at Nelson Mandela Road, Kidbrooke, SE3 9QS. Kidbrooke station is around a 5-minute walk away, with direct rail routes from Cannon Street, London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria. Buses 178, B16, 286 and 132 stop nearby. Parking is limited; spaces are prioritised for disabled visitors and should be pre-booked if needed.
See the official Royal Museums Greenwich Heritage Open Days page and book.
This is also included in our Greenwich Days Out, Events & Local Guide for readers planning a wider local day out.
Eltham Palace Open Day
Where: Eltham Palace, Eltham, London
When: 14 September, 10am–5pm; 19 September, 10am–2pm
Booking: No advance booking required
Eltham Palace is one of the strongest local options this year, with free entry to the house and gardens on selected Heritage Open Days dates. Normally a paid attraction, it combines medieval royal history with striking 1930s Art Deco interiors.
Accessibility: Step-free access is limited and the first floor is not step-free. Check the official access information before visiting.
This also links naturally with our wider Greenwich Days Out, Events & Local Guide.
St Alfege Church Hidden Spaces Tour
Where: St Alfege Church, Greenwich
When: 12, 15, 17 and 20 September
Booking: Advance booking required; places are limited
This is one of the most unusual Greenwich options, taking visitors into parts of the church that are not normally accessible, including the crypt vaults and galleries.
Accessibility: The ground floor is accessible, but the hidden spaces involve steep stairs and are not accessible to everyone.
Ranger’s House
Where: Ranger’s House, Greenwich Park
When: Selected dates during Heritage Open Days, including 11 and 17 September
Booking: Required for the special tours
Special Heritage Open Days activities at Ranger’s House include Running Ranger’s House, exploring the lives of the people who worked behind the scenes in the historic house, alongside opportunities to discover normally unseen nooks and spaces.
A separate Behind the Treasures event on 17 September focuses on conservation and how the collection is cared for. Booking for this event closes on 9 September.
Bromley & Chislehurst
Scadbury Moated Manor Open Weekend
Where: Scadbury Park Nature Reserve, Chislehurst
When: 12–13 September, 2pm–5pm
Booking: No booking required
Scadbury Moated Manor is one of those local places that feels particularly special because the archaeological site is not normally open to the public in this way. Visitors can see the remains of the moated manor, Tudor archaeology and traces of later history including Second World War defences.
We already have a full Scadbury Moated Manor Open Weekend 2026 guide with practical information, so head there for the detailed visitor guide rather than repeating everything here.
You can also explore more ideas in our Bromley Days Out, Events & Local Guide.
Bexley
Erith Made & Heritage Open Days
When: 12 September 2026
Erith Made returns during the Heritage Open Days period, bringing local history, creativity and community activity together across Erith. We already include this within our Bexley Days Out, Events & Local Guide, so this guide will link into that existing coverage rather than create duplicate information.
Lewisham
1,100 Years of Lewisham History Behind One Door — St Mary the Virgin
Where: St Mary the Virgin, 346 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6LE
When: Wednesday 16 September, 12pm–4pm; Thursday 17 September, 10am–4pm; Friday 18 September, 12pm–4pm; Saturday 19 September, 10am–4pm; Sunday 20 September, 12pm–4pm
Cost: Free
Booking: Drop in — no ticket or advance booking required
There has been a church on this site for around 1,100 years, but the 2026 Heritage Open Days story is not only about the building. St Mary’s is bringing the ordinary lives and work of Lewisham people into focus, giving you a free chance to explore one of the borough’s oldest historic sites at your own pace.
One remarkable local story dates from 2 February 1901, the day Queen Victoria was buried. Eight Lewisham bellringers rang 5,040 changes continuously for three hours and 25 minutes with the bells muffled; their names are still recorded on a board in the ringing chamber.
Accessibility: The church confirms step-free access, an accessible WC and a hearing loop. Ladywell is the nearest station, around 350 metres or a five-minute walk away, and several buses stop on Lewisham High Street. Visitors with a specific access question can contact the parish office before travelling.
Step inside 1,100 years of Lewisham history →
Planning more nearby? Browse our Lewisham Days Out, Events & Local Guide.
South East London
British Vintage Wireless & Television Museum
Where: West Dulwich
When: 12 and 20 September
Booking: Advance booking required; tour numbers are very limited
This is a brilliant quirky heritage pick for anyone interested in media, television and broadcasting history. Heritage Open Days tours include rare historic equipment, with some items being shown publicly for the first time.
Everyday Bankside: A Hidden Histories Trail
Where: Bankside, Southwark
When: 11–20 September
This free self-guided trail explores Bankside’s layered history, including theatres, markets, shipyards and the area’s more colourful past. It is a particularly nice crossover for theatre, education and darker London history.
Kent Heritage Open Days Worth the Trip
Chartwell — Westerham
When: Monday 14 September 2026, 10am–5pm
Cost: Free Heritage Open Day
Chartwell is opening for free for Heritage Open Days, including the house and gardens. House entry uses timed tickets and availability is limited, so arrive early and follow the National Trust’s current instructions for house admission on the day.
There is also a free Working for the Churchills talk at 11am–11.45am with Nonie Chapman, who worked with the Churchill family for five decades. This talk must be booked separately and spaces are limited.
Accessibility: The main garden has hard paths but includes steep inclines. Accessible toilets are available near the Visitor Centre and Garden Cottage toilets. The National Trust advises asking on arrival whether the mobility minibus is operating; a drive-and-drop to the house may also be arranged. The talk venue has lift access and an accessible toilet.
See the official Chartwell Heritage Open Day details.
Knole — Sevenoaks
When: Tuesday 15 September 2026, 10am–5pm
Cost: Free, including the showrooms, Gatehouse Tower and car park
Knole’s Heritage Open Day includes free admission to the showrooms and Gatehouse Tower. Pre-booking free admission is recommended to guarantee entry.
The free Changing Faces of Knole: An Archaeology Walk runs from 11.30am–12.15pm. It includes a look at the historic icehouse from a viewing platform, but there are only 12 spaces, allocated first come, first served on the day. Visitors need to collect a tour lanyard from the Visitor Centre by 11.20am.
Accessibility: The Great Hall is accessible to wheelchair users, but the rest of the showrooms require stairs. The Gatehouse Tower is reached by 77 steep spiral steps. The Orangery, gift shop, Brewhouse Café and Royal Oak Conservation Studio have wheelchair access.
Knole is also hosting The Gruffalo Art Adventure 2026, so this is a particularly useful date for families already considering the estate.
See the official Knole Heritage Open Day details.
Smallhythe Place — Tenterden
When: Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September 2026, 11am–5pm
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required
Smallhythe Place is a particularly strong Clarissa’s Corner crossover because it was the home of celebrated Victorian actress Ellen Terry. This is heritage with a proper theatre-history connection rather than simply another historic house.
The current Styling Smallhythe: From the Functional to the Unconventional display is also running during the Heritage Open Days period, exploring women’s fashion from the late 1800s into the 1900s through the collection.
Accessibility: There is step-free access to the ground floor of the house and barn. The National Trust also notes a portable ramp for the museum, toilets and tea-room; the ground floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, while upper-floor access is restricted.
See the official Smallhythe Place Heritage Open Days details.
Emmetts Garden — Sevenoaks
When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, 10am–5pm
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required
Emmetts Garden has free entry across the Heritage Open Days weekend. The National Trust recommends arriving by 4pm to leave enough time to explore.
Accessibility note: Emmetts also has a British Sign Language interpreted garden-history tour in September, but that tour is on 11 September, not during the free 19–20 September weekend. It is still a useful access-focused option to know about when planning a September visit.
See the official Emmetts Garden Heritage Open Days details.
Florence Nightingale Museum
The Florence Nightingale Museum is taking part in Heritage Open Days with free heritage activity including talks and walking opportunities. Check the official programme for the exact session you want to attend.
University of Greenwich Medway Campus
Where: Chatham, Kent
When: 16 September, 5.30pm–7.30pm
Booking: Required
The Medway Campus is opening normally restricted parts of its historic site for an evening of tours, displays and local history, including the Drill Hall Library.
Board a Historic Kent Lightship for Free — LV21, Chatham
Where: LV21, Anchor Wharf, Historic Dockyard Chatham, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TZ
When: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, 12pm–2pm
Cost: Free
FREE — BUT YOU MAY NEED TO BOOK
If you do not hold a Historic Dockyard Chatham annual ticket, advance booking is essential because entry is through restricted security gates. Booking closes at 6pm on Friday 18 September 2026. Annual ticket holders do not need to book and can visit LV21 free during the vessel’s wider 11am–4pm opening hours on 19–20 September.
This is a rare chance to step aboard a former working lightship without paying admission for the experience. The 40-metre steel-hulled vessel served off the Kent coast before becoming a floating cultural venue on the River Medway. You can explore its decks and maritime collection, see the Fusionists’ Experiment 2 exhibition and join a collaborative drop-in art activity with materials supplied; the activity is suitable for all ages.
Accessibility warning: LV21 confirms that there is no wheelchair access onto the ship. Boarding uses a narrow, steep gangway and steps. Crew may assist with entry and exit where appropriate, and flat, non-slip shoes are advised. Toilets are ashore beside the vessel. This warning refers specifically to boarding LV21; check the Historic Dockyard’s own access information separately for the wider site.
Book your free visit before Friday →
Check the official Heritage Open Days listing.
Which Heritage Open Day Should You Choose?
If you want a big historic house and gardens experience, Eltham Palace or Chartwell are strong options. For behind-the-scenes local Greenwich history, the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is a standout. Knole is particularly useful for families already considering the Gruffalo Art Adventure, while Smallhythe Place is the pick for theatre-history lovers thanks to its Ellen Terry connection.
Keep the Heritage Thread Going into Autumn
The free Heritage Open Days dates are only one part of the story at some of these Kent properties. If you are planning a return visit later in autumn, a few current events connect naturally with the heritage coverage without turning this page into a second Halloween guide.
Emmetts Garden — Autumn Festival
After its Heritage Open Days weekend, Emmetts Garden continues into autumn with a festival running from 9 October–1 November 2026. The programme includes a family trail, makers, music, talks, workshops and Halloween activities. This is a separate, normally ticketed/admission-based programme rather than part of Heritage Open Days. See the current Emmetts Garden Autumn Festival details.
Chartwell — Conservation in Action + Family Ghost Hunt Trail
Conservation in Action runs at Chartwell on 5–7 October 2026, 11am–2.30pm. The conservation team will be carrying out live preventive-conservation work and answering questions about how Churchill’s collections are cared for. The activity is included with normal admission or National Trust membership and does not require separate booking, although house entry uses timed tickets.
This is a useful reminder that heritage is not only about visiting old buildings: it is also about the specialist work used to preserve collections, interiors and objects for the future.
Chartwell — Family Ghost Hunt Trail
Chartwell’s We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt runs from 3 October–1 November 2026 and is included with normal admission. The outdoor route has eight activity stops and is particularly aimed at younger children. The official access information warns of slopes, steps, uneven terrain, possible pushchair difficulties and mud in wet weather. Check the Chartwell trail details.
Scotney Castle — Historic Parkland Walk
For an evergreen heritage day rather than a seasonal event, Scotney Castle has an official historic parkland trail of around 2 miles / 3.2km, taking roughly one hour. I’ve also added it to our trails coverage as a heritage walk rather than an art trail. Open the official Scotney parkland route or browse our outdoor trails hub.
Accessibility
Accessibility varies significantly between Heritage Open Days venues, particularly where tours involve historic staircases, crypts, archaeological sites or normally closed areas. Where confirmed, I’ve noted key limitations above, but always check the individual venue’s official access information before travelling.
I’ll continue to add confirmed accessibility and SEN-friendly information where it is available rather than guessing.
Practical Information
Heritage Open Days events are free, but free does not always mean you can simply turn up. Some of the most interesting tours have very small capacities and require advance booking.
Check the official Heritage Open Days listing for your chosen event immediately before travelling in case timings, booking arrangements or access information change.
More Days Out on Clarissa’s Corner
Explore our local guides for more things to do across Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley, alongside our growing collection of unusual London and Kent days out.
FAQ
When is Heritage Open Days 2026?
Heritage Open Days 2026 runs from 11–20 September.
Are Heritage Open Days free?
Yes. Heritage Open Days events are free to attend, although some require advance booking because places are limited.
Do I need to book?
It depends on the event. Some venues have drop-in entry while behind-the-scenes tours and special talks can have very limited capacity. Check the individual listing before travelling.
Are Heritage Open Days suitable for families?
Many are, but the experience varies by venue. Some hidden-space tours include steep stairs or confined historic areas, so check age guidance, accessibility and practical information before booking.
