Heritage Open Days returns this September, giving people the chance to explore historic buildings, hidden spaces and fascinating locations across the Liverpool City Region for free.
Taking place from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 September 2026, England’s largest festival of history and culture will see thousands of free events and experiences held across the country, including a packed programme here in the Liverpool City Region.
From historic houses and rarely-seen buildings to guided walks, exhibitions and behind-the-scenes tours, there are plenty of opportunities to discover more about the places and people that have shaped the region.
This year’s Heritage Open Days theme is Everyday Histories, shining a light on working lives, traditions, routines and the stories of ordinary people through the generations.
Free places to visit in Liverpool
Among the Liverpool highlights is Speke Hall, where visitors can enjoy free entry to the National Trust Tudor manor house on Wednesday 16 September.
The grounds will be open from 10am, with the house opening from 12.30pm. Visitors will be able to explore the gardens and woodland before stepping inside Speke Hall, where storytellers will bring its history to life. Tudor and Victorian tours may also be available on the day, with no advance booking required.
Strawberry Field is also taking part in Heritage Open Days, giving visitors the chance to discover more about the site’s history and its famous connection with John Lennon.
A limited number of free tickets were made available for the Strawberry Field exhibition and garden tour, exploring the intertwined stories of the original Salvation Army children’s home and Lennon’s early years and inspiration. These free tickets have now sold out.
However, visitors who missed out can still receive 25% off admission to the Strawberry Field exhibition when booking a visit between 11 and 20 September. The discount can be claimed using the code HOD25 when booking.
Croxteth Hall is also opening its doors for free on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. Visitors can explore the Hall’s state rooms and discover more about the Molyneux family, alongside historic photographs, documents and artefacts telling the stories of those who lived and worked on the estate.
In Liverpool city centre, free guided tours of the Liverpool ONE Heritage Trail will take place on several dates throughout the festival. The one-hour walks explore more than 300 years of history, including Liverpool’s maritime past and the development of the world’s first commercial wet dock. Places must be booked in advance.
Visitors will also have a rare opportunity to step inside The Athenaeum on Church Alley. Tours on Saturday 19 September will explore the historic institution, including its Reading Room, Dining Room and famous elliptical staircase, as well as giving visitors a look at rare works from its library collection. Advance booking is essential.
Elsewhere, The Municipal Hotel & Spa Liverpool will be offering a small number of guided heritage tours on Monday 14 September, while the National Oceanography Centre is opening its Tide & Time exhibition, which is not currently open for regular visits, home to pioneering analogue tide-predicting machines once used to calculate tide tables for ports around the world. Both experiences require advance booking.
Events across the wider Liverpool City Region
The programme extends well beyond Liverpool city centre.
Over on the Wirral, guided walks around Hamilton Square will explore its collection of Grade I listed buildings, Birkenhead Town Hall, war memorials and Hamilton Square station, with several dates available throughout Heritage Open Days.
In Sefton, visitors can join a family-friendly tour of King’s Gardens in Southport on Sunday 13 September, discovering the Victorian and Edwardian history of the seafront gardens. There is also a special heritage walk in Ainsdale exploring the intriguing story of a planned 1908 seaside house and bungalow exhibition.
Knowsley events include a heritage trail from the Grade II listed St Bartholomew’s Church in Roby, taking visitors through the history of the church and nearby Roby railway station.
St Helens will celebrate local history with a range of events, including a special event at Lucem House Community Cinema exploring the life of George Groves, the St Helens-born sound pioneer who went on to become Head of Sound at Warner Bros in Hollywood, alongside the history of cinemas in St Helens.
And in Halton, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes will offer free admission on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, with a special focus on local industry and the stories of people who worked for companies including ICI and Brunner Mond.
Heritage Open Days 2026
Heritage Open Days is a nationwide celebration supported by thousands of organisations and volunteers, opening up historic sites and creating special experiences that are free for the public to enjoy.
Some Liverpool City Region events are drop-in, while others have limited capacities and require tickets to be booked in advance. Several popular tours are already attracting bookings, so anyone planning to take part is advised to check individual listings before travelling.
The full Heritage Open Days 2026 programme runs from 11–20 September, with events searchable by location through the official Heritage Open Days website.
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