Free Heritage Open Days unlock hidden West Northants sites

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-27 12:31 3 min read

Vintage green car driving at Sywell Aerodrome during a UK heritage event.

Historic brewery rooms, a former county council building and a 16th-century folly are among the places joining Heritage Open Days 2026 in West Northamptonshire. The free festival runs from 11 to 20 September at more than 60 attractions and organisations across the area, with residents and visitors of all ages invited to attend.

There is no single festival venue. Activities will take place at various locations across West Northamptonshire, including Delapré Abbey, Lamport Hall, Sulgrave Manor, 78 Derngate, Weedon Depot, Towcester Museum, the Guildhall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Organised nationally by the National Trust, the festival will focus this year on the everyday lives of working people. Its programme brings that theme into walks, talks, exhibitions, open days and guided tours rather than concentrating solely on grand houses and prominent historical figures.

Shoemaking and industry take centre stage

Northamptonshire’s footwear story forms a substantial part of the programme. Shoe heritage bus tours have received £4,500 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through West Northamptonshire Council, while Auda Tours will provide free audio tours of Northampton’s historic boot and shoe quarter. Additional shoe heritage walking tours are also planned.

Industrial history continues in Duston with an exhibition about British Timken and the working lives connected to the company. Towcester Library will explore the story of Ashby Cars, while an open day at the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation in Towcester will examine the engineer’s legacy.

Free Heritage Open Days unlock hidden West Northants sites

Phipps Brewery in Northampton will take visitors behind the scenes of its historic premises. The NN Arts Collective will also provide access to its home in the former county council building on Guildhall Road.

Town walks, historic houses and unusual buildings

A new Amazing Northampton Walk will let participants explore the town centre using the technology associated with the Amazing Northampton Run. In Brackley, the heritage programme includes several activities and a guided 1760 pub crawl examining the town’s historic hostelries.

Middleton Cheney will host an event looking at Anglo-German relations through local history. Visitors can also discover Rushton Triangular Lodge, the distinctive 16th-century folly built by Sir Thomas Tresham.

Other participating locations range from the Old Black Lion and Towcester Museum to Lamport Hall and Sulgrave Manor. Together, the registered events cover religious buildings, country houses, industrial sites, cultural spaces and community-led local history.

Free buses and individual event details

Free heritage bus services will operate from Northampton and Daventry during the festival, helping visitors reach attractions across the area. The council’s announcement does not provide a single timetable or route covering those services.

There is also no overall start time, single venue address or festival-wide booking rule, and accessibility arrangements are not listed in the announcement. Individual activities may have their own practical requirements, so visitors should consult the relevant listing before setting out.

West Northamptonshire Council says every registered event is listed on the Heritage Open Days and Discover Northamptonshire websites, where visitors can find the available details for their chosen walk, tour, exhibition or open day.

Source: West Northamptonshire Council

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Source check How this preview was checked

The dates, cost, participating locations and programme highlights were checked against West Northamptonshire Council’s event announcement.

Checks

Confirmed that the festival runs from 11 to 20 September 2026.
Confirmed that more than 60 attractions and organisations have registered events.
Confirmed that admission to the advertised festival activities is free.
Separated confirmed transport information from timetables and accessibility details not su...

West Northamptonshire Council Check wider coverage