Heritage
Heritage Open Days in the Cotswolds
Every September, for ten days, buildings across England open free for Heritage Open Days, and in the Cotswolds that means private houses, chapels, museums and town halls from Cirencester to Witney. Next 10 to 19 September 2027.
Heritage Open Days is a national festival of history and culture, held over ten days every September, when places that are usually closed or charge for entry open for free. The next festival runs from 10 to 19 September 2027; the 2026 festival ran from 11 to 20 September. Each place sets its own days within the ten, and the programme for each district is published on the festival's website before the festival.
What opens in the Cotswolds
Every event is free, run by volunteers, and different every year. In 2026 Cirencester alone had about 20, many of them over the first weekend: the Roman amphitheatre, the lock-up, the Baptist church, the council chamber, tours of Bingham House and of Cirencester Park, a town walk with the civic society, the open-air swimming pool and curator tours at the Corinium Museum. Around Stroud, Woodchester Mansion, the Quaker meeting house at Nailsworth and the abbey gatehouse at Kingswood opened. In West Oxfordshire, Chastleton House, Kelmscott Manor, the Tolsey Museum in Burford, North Leigh Roman villa and the Witney & District Museum took part.
Some events are open to drop in; others, such as tours of private houses, must be booked in advance and fill quickly. The festival's listings say which is which. It suits anyone curious about the buildings they usually walk past, and it is one of the cheapest ways to see the region's history: everything is free.
How to plan your visit
Search the festival's website by place or district (Cotswold, Stroud and West Oxfordshire cover most of the region) once the programme is out. Book the tours you want as soon as they open. Many events fall on the weekends, so pick a town and do several on foot: Cirencester and Witney each had a cluster in 2026. Bring a bag for leaflets and good shoes for town walks.
About the festival
Heritage Open Days is run with thousands of volunteers who open places across England. Each year has a national theme; in 2026 it was everyday histories, the working lives and daily life of ordinary people. Our pages on Cotswold houses and castles and free things to do in the Cotswolds cover the places that open all year.
Offers from businesses near this event
Offers are published by the businesses themselves, which pay to be listed here. We have not checked them, and you deal with the business directly.