Heritage Open Days are an annual celebration of England's architecture and culture that allows visitors free access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. It also includes tours, events and activities related to architecture and culture.
Heritage Open Days were established in 1994 as England's contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 49 countries now participate.
Organised by volunteers — usually property owners or managers — for local people, Heritage Open Days are one of England's biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event, attracting some 800,000 people every year. Until April 2009 the Civic Trust gave central co-ordination and a national voice to the event; it is now organised and co-ordinated by English Heritage.
The event is usually held on the second weekend of September. The dates for 2009 were 10–13 September.
London stages a separate event, Open House London, which usually takes place the following weekend, the third weekend of September.
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