Founded in 1994, Heritage Open Days has captured imaginations for almost 30 years. Last year more than 45,000 organisers and volunteers ran nearly 5,000 events across the country, attracting one million visits. Around one-third of visitors had not visited a heritage site/event in the past year while 80% of festival-goers said their visit made them more proud of their local area.
To see the full list of events and to pre-book when required, visit heritageopendays.org.uk
RAF COLTISHALL HERITAGE CENTRE
Building 40, Main Guardroom, Scottow Enterprise Park, Badersfield, NR10 5FB
Take part in a unique guided convoy tour of the site in your own car and see many features not normally available to the public. From Spitfires and Hurricanes to Lightnings and Jaguars, the rich 66-year history of the station will unfold and come to life during your visit.
Saturday September 9 : 10am-12pm, 12-2pm and 2-4pm
Thursday September 14: 10am-12pm, 12-2pm and 2-4pm
Sunday September 17: 10am-12pm, 12-2pm and 2-4pm
Pre-booking required
CROMER MUSEUM
East Cottages, Tucker Street, Cromer, NR27 9HB
Find out why Cromer is renowned as a geological area of international importance on a visit to the town’s museum. Find out about the famous West Runton mammoth, marvel at a cast of the skull of a Mosasaur and step inside a cosy Victorian fisherman's cottage.
Saturday September 9: 12-4pm
Sunday September 10: 12-4pm
No booking required
DEREHAM'S FIERY DRAGON - AND OTHER RAILWAY RELICS
The Railway Station, Station Road, Dereham, NR19 1DF
Watch the 'fiery dragon' as it arrives/departs and get a close look at the loco from the station platform. Listen as a retired railwayman reminisces about life on the tracks and keep an eye out for the fireman replenishing the train’s tank from the water crane.
Saturday September 16: Open 9.30am-4pm (tours and talks schedule to be announced)
No booking required
GREAT YARMOUTH MINSTER BELL TOWER
Church Plain, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1NE
A rare opportunity to view a display of ecclesiastical silverware not normally seen by the public and to take a look inside the bell tower. The set of 12 bells in the minster is considered to be one of the finest in East Anglia. All of the items on display are of historic interest and have a local connection, having been rescued from several churches in the areas.
Friday September 15: 10am-2pm
Saturday September 16: 10am-2pm
Sunday September 17: 12pm-2pm
No booking required
ST BENET'S ABBEY - FISH AND CHIPPINGS
St Benet's Road, Ludham, NR29 5NU
Join a tour to discover the hidden secrets of St Benet's Abbey and its iconic windmill. Guides will focus on the creative architecture and flint work used to make the impressive gateway as well as unwrapping the importance of the fishponds seen at medieval monasteries. The site is home to some of the finest preserved ponds in the UK.
Saturday September 9: 2pm
Wednesday September 13: 2pm
Saturday September 16: 2pm
No booking required
ATTICS AND CELLARS TOURS - FELBRIGG HALL
National Trust, Felbrigg, Norwich, NR11 8PR
Follow your guide as they take you down to the Tudor cellar and up to the Jacobean and Restoration Period Attics – areas not normally open to the public. Go behind the scenes and get a sneak peek at some of the collections in storage.
Thursday September 14: 10am, 12pm, 2pm
Friday September 15: 10am, 12pm, 2pm
Pre-booking required
MUSEUM OF THE BROADS
Poors Staithe, The Staithe, Stalham, Norwich, NR12 9DA
Discover how people have lived and worked in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. The stories cover Roman times, peat diggers, marsh workers and early tourists, to the holiday makers, sailors and environmentalists of today. The former trading wherry, Maud, will be open to view. A wind power exhibition looks at the impact of sails on the development of the Broads, plus there’s a special exhibition focusing on the life and work of artist, Philippa Miller.
Sunday September 17: 10am-4pm
Pre-booking preferred
SHERINGHAM PARK – TUMULI WALK
National Trust, Wood Farm, Lodge Hill, Upper Sheringham, NR26 8TL
Join assistant ranger Rupert on a walk through the estate to Howe’s Hill Tumuli. This rare and complex feature comprises a Neolithic oval barrow with a Bronze Age round barrow constructed on top of it. Likely to have been visually important in their ancient landscape contexts, today the structures are surrounded by established woodland.
Monday September 11: 10am
Tuesday September 12: 10am
Pre-booking required
