Heritage open days

Ahead of Heritage Open Days 2025 (12 to 21 September), specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical is encouraging residents to take the opportunity to discover the hidden historical gems in their local area.

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations.

Every year, it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community, and history – offering the public a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences. This year, the theme is architecture, with the event celebrating everything from Stonehenge to the UEA’s Sainsbury Centre.

Now into its 31st year, this year’s event sees more than 5,800 free events taking place at a wide range of much-loved venues and heritage sites across the UK – as well as hidden gems that are usually closed to the public.

With over 135 years of experience in providing cover to heritage properties, Ecclesiastical is the UK’s leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings, and the specialist insurer is encouraging residents to take the opportunity to visit their local heritage sites and discover the rich history in their communities.

Liam Montgomery, said in a press release announcing the events:

As they prepare to open their doors to the community, Ecclesiastical is recommending heritage property owners take practical steps to protect themselves and visitors.

The specialist insurer’s risk management experts have guidance for heritage properties, including health and safety measures and crime prevention:

• Before welcoming guests to your property, it's important that heritage properties carefully plan for the event to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. In some instances, a formal risk assessment and formal event plans will be carried out.
• One of the most common causes of injury in heritage properties is slips and trips. With more visitors to the site, review pedestrian and other traffic routes to ensure they are safe to use – segregating vehicle routes where appropriate. Consider the introduction of additional lighting, safety barriers, and signage if necessary.
• Where valuables are out on display to members of the public, house them in security-designed, attack-resistant display cabinets. Laminated/security glazing should be used, and cabinet frames, locks, and hinges should be designed to resist physical attacks.
• Where artefacts are being displayed as part of open days, review your existing security arrangements. Where items of historic importance or high value are exhibited, use security cabinets where possible.
• Other measures could include restricting access to items using physical barriers and introducing room stewarding.
• Watch out for visitors acting suspiciously. Behaviour such as walking speedily through some rooms but lingering in front of particular exhibits; studying nearby windows and doors; looking for electronic security measures such as closed-circuit television and intruder alarm detectors may be indicative of attack planning. Where any suspicious activity is identified, it should be quickly reported.

For more information on Heritage Open Days taking place in your area, visit heritageopendays.org.uk.