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EventHeritage Open Days (Heritage Open Days Ltd)

Heritage Open Days 2027 (England): free access to hidden places

England's largest festival of history and culture, organised by volunteers every September. It returns on 10 to 19 September 2027, and events are free to explore. Search the programme once published for engineering and industrial heritage sites near you.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
Heritage Open Days (Heritage Open Days Ltd)[1]
Who it’s for
Anyone; the page states no age limits.
Entry
Students apply themselves
Worth
Free access to hidden places and new experiences, which can include engineering and industrial heritage sites.
Cost
Free to explore[2]
Where
England (England (events across the country))
Format
In person
Dates
to

Sources

3 sources

  1. Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days

    Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture! Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  2. Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days

    all of which are FREE to explore

    Checked 24 October 2026

  3. Heritage Open Days

    Heritage Open Days

    Save the dates - the festival returns 10-19 September 2027

    Checked 24 October 2026

Details checked by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.

Not open yet

10 to 19 September 2027[3]

Visit heritageopendays.org.uk (opens in a new tab)

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Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution (Discovery Museum, Newcastle)

Open now

EventDiscovery Museum (North East Museums)

A free exhibition and event programme at Discovery Museum in Newcastle exploring the story of energy in the North East, from the industrial revolution to green technologies today. It has hands-on displays on wind and solar power, historical science and engineering objects, and a cutaway electric NISSAN Leaf car. A family event programme runs alongside it.

Worth
See hands-on displays on wind and solar power and engineering objects, and learn how the North East is leading the way in green energy.
Who
Families and visitors of all ages; a parent or carer can bring children. The page does not give an age range, and notes that it features both family and adult events.
Entry
Students or a school can enter
When
Until 5 September 2027

Visit northeastmuseums.org.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution (Discovery Museum, Newcastle)

W5 LIFE Saturday Sessions (Belfast): robotics, coding and engineering challenges

Open now

EventW5 Belfast

Family drop-in STEM sessions every Saturday at W5 LIFE inside The O2 Belfast, including robot coding, a wind-powered car engineering challenge and an egg drop challenge. Most sessions are free drop-in with children supervised by an adult.

Worth
Hands-on engineering and coding activities, such as building and racing a wind-powered car and designing a device to protect a dropped egg.
Who
Families with children of all ages (all children must be accompanied by an adult). Individual sessions state their own ages, for example 6+ for Code With Colours and 8+ for the paid Christmas Build Off.
Entry
Students apply themselves
When
Saturdays from 24 October to 28 November 2026 (engineering sessions 21 and 28 November); paid Minecraft sessions 12 and 19 December 2026

Visit w5online.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: W5 LIFE Saturday Sessions (Belfast): robotics, coding and engineering challenges