Every September venues across the country open their doors for a special chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences for Heritage Open Days - all for free!
From 8-17 September, many venues across Liverpool City Region will be taking part offering you the chance to go behind-the-scenes in some exciting places you may never have visited before.
We’ve rounded up a selection to explore but you can find out all about the 149 events taking place across the region on the Heritage Open Days website here.
Please note that events take place on select days and pre-booking may be required due to limited spaces.
Bluecoat Unwrapped
8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 September - Various times.
Discover the Bluecoat Arts Centre as a working place for artists as well as its rich heritage as the UK’s first arts centre. In 1967 Yoko Ono visited the building for a performance where she asked the audience to wrap her in bandages. In 2008 she returned and asked the audience to unwrap her. Both of these events will be discussed in a talk at Bluecoat as part of Heritage Open Days.
There will also be guided tours of the building, open studios to see artists at work and demonstrations of the printmaking studios. You can see their full programme of events here.
Booking Details: Tours bookable from 8 September. Max 15 people per tour. Tours last 1 hour.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels
9, 10, 16, 17 September - Tours: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00
Deep below the streets of Liverpool are the historic subterranean tunnels and chambers built by Georgian philanthropist Joseph Williamson. Take a guided tour of the tunnels and find out about their unique history. Descend beneath the streets to see the dramatic Banqueting Hall and Wine Bins, quarried out of the local sandstone in the early 1800s.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required. Call 07906 935 769 or email visits@williamsontunnels.com to book your slot. Max 10 people per tour. Tours last 1 hour.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Mersey Tunnel Tours
9 -10 September - Tours from 10:15 - 15:15
George’s Dock Building will open its doors for the weekend to let visitors see behind its Art Deco exterior with tours of the building available on a first come first served basis. George’s Dock Building is one of six ventilation stations for the Queensway Tunnel. There will be artifacts on display as well as free mini tours to the Control Room and the Fan Chamber.
Booking details: Book on the day. Tours are 30 minutes long and limited to 24 per tour on a first come first served basis. Children must be 10 and over.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Speke Hall, Gardens and Estate
14 September - 10:30 - 17:00
Visit Speke Hall, Gardens and Estate to explore the green oasis on the edge of Liverpool with a rare Tudor House at its heart this Heritage Open Days. Explore the Tudor Manor, the ranges of gardens, restaurant Tea room and play area.
Booking Details: No booking required
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
St George’s Hall
8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 September - 13:00 - SOLD OUT
Take a visit to St George’s Hall this Heritage Open Days for a wonderful opportunity to explore the Grade I listed building. Go on a tour of one of the greatest examples of neo-classical architecture in Europe and be amazed by The Great Hall with its famous Organ and learn all about the history of the building.
Booking details: Pre booking required. Max 40 people per tour. Tour takes 45 minutes.
To book contact the Events Team - events.stgeorgeshall@liverpool.gov.uk
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
The Old Dock Tour
11 & 14 September - 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1:30pm, 2pm
As part of Heritage Open Days, Liverpool ONE and National Museums Liverpool have teamed up to offer free Old Dock Tours which reside beneath Liverpool ONE. The Old Dock is the world’s first commercial enclosed wet dock and was revealed in 2001 during excavations to create the popular shopping district.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required. Max 25 people per tour. Tours last 30 minutes.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Tour of the Municipal Hotel
15 September - 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm
Originally built in the 1860s, The Municipal Building has been transformed into a beautiful hotel. Head over for Heritage Open Day to see the changes, learn about the history of the building and see several of the original features that were retained.
This exclusive tour takes you around the luxurious 5* star hotel that soars proudly into the skies of Liverpool.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required. Max 15 people per tour. Tours last 40 minutes. Please email Gemma Gage gemma.gage@accor.com with your preferred time slot.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Wonderful Waterhouse Tours
9, 14, 15, 16 September - Various times. - SOLD OUT
Discover more about Alfred Waterhouse, the 19th Century architect who designed the Victoria Building, which now houses the Victoria Gallery and Museum on the University of Liverpool campus.
Learn about Waterhouse’s distinctive style as guides take you around his creations with routes not usually open to the public.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required. Tickets must be booked through Eventbrite as spaces are limited. Tours last approximately 90 minutes.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Birkenhead Park Heritage Walks
9, 10, 16, 17 September - 14:00 - 15:30
Birkenhead Park is the oldest publicly funded municipal park in the world and currently sits as a tentative site for World Heritage status. Join the ranger team for a walk around and see the historic sites of the Grade I listed park.
Booking Details. Booking is required. Email birkenheadpark@wirral.gov.uk. Max 20 people per tour. Tour lasts 90 minutes.
Find out more about visiting for Heritage Open Days here.
Heritage Open Day Garden Party
17 September - 10:30 - 18:00
Join The Reader Organisation at Calderstones Park for a day of live music, swing dancing, literature and crafts as well as the launch of their new park map and Garden Theatre exhibition.
Booking Details: No booking required.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
Williamson Art Gallery and Museum
9 & 16 September - 12pm & 14:00
Join Curator Niall Hodson for an introduction to the Williamson’s fascinating collections of Della Robbia Pottery. See the works up close and find out about the creative designers and decorators behind them.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required. Email arts@williamsonartgallery.org to book. Max 25 people per tour. Tours last 30 minutes.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
Classic Architecture Tour with Molly Osbourne
15 September - 11:00
Join Molly Osborne as she uses her knowledge of Classical architecture and culture to point out its legacy in the buildings of Southport built by the Victorians.
Booking Details: Pre-booking required. Email caroline.charnock@sefton.gov.uk to book a place. Max 15 people per tour. Tour lasts 1 hour.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
Southport’s Victorian ‘Visiters’ Walk
13 September - 14:00
Take a stroll in the footsteps of Victorian and Edwardian celebrity ‘visters’ to Southport. Visit places they did and discover what they were doing in Southport.
Booking details: Pre-booking is required via Eventbrite. Max 16 people per tour. Tour lasts 90 minutes.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
“Get Back” To the Fab 4 Southport Walking Tour
9 September 10:00
Between March 1961 and October 1963, The Beatles performed about 30 times in Southport over 9 different venues. Each venue tells a story and you can hear all about them on this Southport walking tour.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required via Eventbrite. Max 12 people per tour. Tour lasts 90 minutes.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
The World of Glass
9 September 10:00 - 16:00
Visit The World of Glass for free this Heritage Open Day to see the museum galleries and glass blowing demonstrations. From the origins of glass through to the best contemporary glass, wander through the Grade II listed tank house and tunnels to see the ancient art of glass blowing.
Booking Details: No booking required.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club House
11 September - 9:30 - 11:30 & 11:30 - 16:30
Take a tour of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club House following its hosting of the 151st Open in July 2023.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is required. Email bookings@royal-liverpool-golf.com to book a space. Tours last approximately two hours.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
Port Sunlight Village Trust - Port Sunlight Experience
9 September - 10:00 - 17:00
For one day only you can visit the Port Sunlight Experience for free and discover the history of Port Sunlight. Step back in time into the worker’s cottage and explore the science of soap at the Soapworks museum.
Booking Details: No booking required.
Find out more about attending for Heritage Open Day here.
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum
16-17 September - 10:00 - 17:00
Visit a chemical industry archive with a twist! Discover their quest to find Portraits of an Industry, view rarely seen poetry, stories, art, drama and listen to music from their archives.
Booking Details: Pre-booking is preferred via their website here.