Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Running for ten days every September, the festival offers free access to heritage events and activities across England.
Between the 9th and 18th of September places across the country including select National Trusts sites near you throw open their doors and give people the chance to see hidden places and try new experiences for free.
Heritage Open Days / Chris Lacey
Here are some of the National Trust Heritage Open Days events happening in and around Lincolnshire.
Belton House
Enjoy free entry to Belton House and discover a grand family estate packed full of treasures and busting with history, promising exploration, fun, and relaxation for the whole family.
Generations of the Brownlow family made their mark on Belton, commissioning the finest designers and craftsmen of their age to shape the estate we see today. Explore the house and gardens that showcase cutting edge design and innovation, picnic in the expansive pleasure grounds, or burn off energy in the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playground.
As well as throwing the doors open, passionate guides will be running a programme of pop-up talks throughout the day to help everyone get to know the best of Belton, from its surviving Carolean architecture to the creative women that populated the estate. Visit the website to find out more.
Woolsthorpe Manor, nr Grantham - Archaeological Test Pits
National Trust Images/Mike Selby
Come and see real archaeological test pits at Woolsthorpe Manor, the home of Sir Isaac Newton, to investigate the tantalising results discovered through a geophysical survey undertaken during the Festival of Archaeology earlier this year.
The survey identified what appears to be the remains of a 17th century building close to Newton's manor. Witness National Trust volunteers, in-house archaeologists and local archaeology group investigating some of the anomalies, and seize the opportunity to ask questions. Is it a house? How old is it and who lived there? This event will be held especially for Heritage Open Days and is free to visit.
Tattershall Castle
National Trust Images/Paul Harris
Tattershall Castle is one of the earliest & finest brick-built castles in England. Built by Ralph Cromwell in 1434, restored from ruin in 1914 by Lord Curzon, & left to the National Trust in 1925, explore our basements to battlements today!
Rising proudly from the flat Lincolnshire fens, Tattershall Castle, with its huge Gothic fireplaces and church-like windows, was designed to impress. Built by Lord Ralph Cromwell, Treasurer of England, it was designed to show off his wealth, position and power.
The Great Tower is one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of English medieval brickwork and was saved from exportation to America by Lord Curzon of Kedleston in 1911. Take the winding staircase, wander through vast echoing chambers and walk out onto the battlements revealing the beauty of the Lincolnshire countryside.
Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens
National Trust Images/Rupert Truman
A homely country house dated 1700 set in Victorian walled gardens at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The stunning gardens and grounds are open, along with Gunby’s second-hand bookshop. The house (ground floor and partial first floor only) is open from 11am to 2pm. Timed tickets for the house can be obtained from the stable on a 'first come, first served' basis from 11am to 1.50pm on the day of your visit. The last admission to the house is 1.50pm
To secure your parking space and admission to the gardens, please pre-book via the Gunby website. Gunby's Heritage Open Days are on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September and on these days there will be no admissions charge.
Do you have a favourite National Trust place to visit?
We used to go to Tattershall Castle all the time when I was a child. I remember going on horse riding there which was a bit random.
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