Free tours, historic buildings and shoe heritage as Northampton celebrates Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days will run from September 11 to 20, giving residents and visitors the chance to explore historic buildings, attractions and hidden gems across the area.

Northampton will be at the heart of the programme, with events taking place at venues including Delapré Abbey, 78 Derngate, the Guildhall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Phipps Brewery.

This year’s festival will also celebrate Northamptonshire’s world-famous shoe heritage, with heritage bus tours supported by £4,500 from West Northamptonshire Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Free audio tours of Northampton’s historic boot and shoe quarter will be available, alongside additional shoe heritage walking tours.

A new Amazing Northampton Walk will allow people to explore the town centre using the technology behind the Amazing Northampton Run, while an exhibition will delve into the history of British Timken in Duston.

Visitors will also be able to go behind the scenes at Phipps Brewery, while the NN Arts Collective will open its doors at its new home in the former county council building in Guildhall Road.

Free heritage bus services will operate from Northampton and Daventry during the festival, helping visitors reach attractions elsewhere in West Northamptonshire.

Other events include activities at Lamport Hall, Sulgrave Manor, Weedon Depot and Towcester Museum, as well as a guided 1760 pub crawl in Brackley and an open day at the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation in Towcester.

Councillor Kamala Guliyeva, West Northamptonshire Council cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said the festival was a “wonderful opportunity” to discover the area’s history.

She added: “Whether you're revisiting familiar landmarks or discovering somewhere new, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”