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Venues across the Wirral will open their doors for free next month as the area celebrates England's largest festival of history and culture.
As reported by Birkenhead News, Heritage Open Days returns from 11 to 20 September 2026 with an expanded programme featuring 86 different venues. It is the biggest yet for the local festival, which is now in its 32nd year.
Historic churches, museums, and buildings will invite visitors in. The programme also includes archive film screenings, history talks, guided walks and activities for all ages.
Every venue and event will be free during the ten-day festival, giving residents a unique opportunity to visit places usually closed to the public or which usually charge an admission fee.
Paul Smith, chair of Wirral History & Heritage Association, which organises the local programme, said in a statement: "The Wirral has a very rich heritage with many wonderful buildings and historic landscapes, all on our doorstep. Many residents have never seen inside those buildings or explored the landscapes."
He called the festival an opportunity to explore figures in the past "who helped to make their mark on the Wirral and the wider world".
Smith thanked the site owners and hundreds of volunteers who support the association. "None of this would be possible without the generosity of the site owners, or the hundreds of volunteers who support the Wirral History & Heritage Association, who deserve a huge thank you for the knowledge, enthusiasm and time they give to the Festival," he said.
Heritage Open Days nationally are presented by The National Trust with support from players of the People's Postcode Lottery. The local programme is supported by Wirral Borough Council.
Full details and updates are available at www.wirralhistoryandheritage.org.uk. Free printed programmes can be collected from libraries and community buildings across Wirral. For information about Heritage Open Days across the country, visit heritageopendays.org.uk.
