Heritage Open Days in Reading

1st August 2024

6-15 September 2024

Many of Reading’s historic buildings will be opening their doors as part of the largest free heritage festival in the country. Heritage Open Days 2024 in Reading will see over 40 buildings in Reading and the surrounding area open for a series of special events, many of which celebrate the connections that have shaped our history and populations over time.

Heritage Open Days is a national celebration of history with free events all over the country. In Reading, the programme will include guided walks, talks, open days, arts and craft activities, music and even dressing up across the 10 days of the festival.  

Discover how people from around the world came to work at BBC Monitoring in Caversham Park over 75 years; get a better understanding of what it means to have to leave your country through an exhibition of embroidery shaped by the experiences of being a refugee; circumnavigate the globe learning about the origins of some of the fine collections of plants and trees at Caversham Court Gardens or find out about the century-long connections in Katesgrove or who used to live in your house at the Centre for Heritage & Family History.

All events during Heritage Open Days are free, so if you haven’t visited the nearby National Trust Basildon Park 18^th century house and estate, seen inside Reading Abbey Gateway or had the chance to go into the University of Reading Great Hall, this is the perfect time to explore.

Alex Brannen, Reading co-ordinator for Heritage Open Days, said: “Heritage Open Days allows us free access to Reading’s heritage and reminds us what a rich history we share here. Why not find out more about where you live by joining a free walk, guided tour, talk or exhibition or just pop into a building that you maybe pass every day to see what lies behind the front door.”  

All Heritage Open Days events are free. REDA, Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency, has produced a printed programme of the events taking place in and around Reading, which will be available from libraries, Reading Town Hall, the visitor information booth at Reading Station and a number of other venues throughout Reading.

All the events are listed on whatsonreading.com. 

A number of the events have limited capacity so must be booked in advance.

Download the Reading programme for Heritage Open Days

Check heritageopendays.org for full accessibility information.