Heritage Open Days celebrates Englands architecture and culture by allowing free access to interesting properties that are not normally open to the public, or would charge an entrance fee.

Heritage Open Days also include tours, events, lectures and activities that focus on architecture and culture. This year Heritage Open Days will run from 8th - 11th September.

Below is the list of place and events taking part in this years event. For the majority there is no need to pre book and, unless otherwise indicated, they are all FREE!

Abbey Gateway

St Albans School, Abbey Gateway, St Albans
Tel: 01582 760446

Conducted tours by St Albans School pupils of the 14th century Abbey Gateway, one of the few intact medieval gateways in England and the only remaining building of the original Abbey of St Albans. Built in 1365, it has served as a Gaol until 1868, and is now part of St Albans School.

Disability Access: 1000 - 1600
Directions: Opposite the West front of St Albans Abbey
Other notes: Half hourly tours beginning at 1000. Each tour limited to 20 visitors. Parking at St Albans School. Some very steep steps.
Disability Access: Disabled parking provided.

Abbey Theatre

Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans
Tel: 01727 847472

Web: www.abbeytheatre.org.uk A unique opportunity to see films made during 1966/7 of the building of the Abbey Theatre and the subsequent visit by HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Sunday: 1200 -1500
Directions: Down Holywell Hill from the city centre, A5183. Turn right at the bottom of the hill into Westminster Lodge.
Other notes: Films shown on the hour from 1200, 1300, 1400 & 1500. Bar Open. Tea and coffee available.
Disability Access: Full

Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban

Sumpter Yard, St Albans
Tel: 01727 860780

This imposing Norman Abbey Church has been a site of Christian worship for 1700 years since the burial of Alban, the first British martyr. If you have children, take part in one of our Family Trails: borrow a bag of artefacts and visual aids or pick up a Treasure Trail to help you learn more about history of the Cathedral and Abbey Church. Café and shop also available.

Thursday: 0800 - 1745
Friday: 0800 - 1745
Saturday: 0830 - 1745
Sunday: 0800 - 1745
Directions: Centre of St Albans
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No
Other notes: Some tours by ticket only. First come, first served, available on the day.
Disability Access: Disabled parking provided

Clock Tower

Market Place, St Albans

Built between 1403 and 1412, the Clock Tower is the only medieval town belfry in England with its original bell. The tower is 19.6 metres high and has 94 steps to the top via a narrow spiralled staircase giving fine views of the Cathedral, Roman Verulamium and the City. The Tower and its fine bell have survived over 600 years of use.

Saturday: 1000 - 1700
Sunday: 1000 - 1700
Directions: On the corner of High Street, French Row and Market Place.
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No
Disability Access: None

Dalton House

Catherine Street, St Albans
Tel: 01727 814170
Web: www.oliverburnsinteriors.com

Dalton House is a Georgian residence that was built circa 1719 for Francis Dalton, a county magistrate. The house has been called Dalton House, Folly House, The Daltons, Daltons Folly, and most recently Bleak House as it is believed to be the house that provided Dickens with the inspiration for his famous novel. Dalton House has a rich and varied history and during the Second World War was used as a hostel by the Women's Land Association.

Friday: 1000 - 1800
Directions: On the corner of Catherine Street and Normandy Road
Other notes: The house today is the home of Oliver Burns, Interior Designers
Disability Access: None

High Street Methodist Church

20 Bowers Way, Harpenden
Tel: 01582 713056
Web: www.highstreetmethodist.org.uk

This traditional style Gothic Methodist Church was opened in 1930. The attractive Weldon quarry stone is complemented by Luton facing bricks. The choir stalls, communion rail, pulpit and reading desk are oak, and the pews are chestnut.

Thursday: 1000 - 1200
Friday: 1000 - 1630
Saturday: 1000 - 1200
Directions: In the centre of Harpenden on the High Street next to W.H.Smiths and Argos.
Other notes: No parking available. Use public car parks.
Disability Access: Full

Roman Mosaic & Hypocaust Building

Verulamium Park, St Albans
Tel: 01727 751810
Web: www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

The hypocaust and covering mosaic floor were uncovered during excavations in the 1930's, and formed part of the bath suite of a large town house. The preserved room was a tepidarium or warm room, which was heated by a hypocaust (under-floor heating) with a small central space supported by four pillars and radiating diagonal channels. The hypocaust is 1,800 years old.

Thursday: 1000 - 1630
Friday: 1000 - 1630
Saturday: 1000 - 1630
Sunday: 1400 - 1630
Directions: In the centre of Verulamium Park, just up from the children's playground
Disability Access: Full

Kingsbury Watermill Museum

St. Michael's Street, St Albans
Tel: 01727 853502

Seventeenth-century working watermill museum with displays of old machinery and tools. Adjoining café/restaurant.

Thursday: 1100 - 1700
Friday: 1100 - 1700
Saturday: 1100 - 1700
Sunday: 1100 - 1700
Directions: Follow signs for Roman Verulamium Museum. Situated 200 yards away.
Do I need to Pre - Book?: Parties of 6 or more by appointment only.
Other notes: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Disability Access: Very limited disabled access

Museum of St Albans

Hatfield Road, St Albans
Tel: 01727 819340
Web: www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

The story of historic St Albans from the Romans to the present day is told through lively displays using the museum's collections. The museum has a wildlife garden and a special exhibition on St Albans in the 1950's.

Thursday: 1000 - 1700
Friday: 1000 - 1700
Saturday: 1000 - 1700
Sunday: 1400 - 1700
Directions: A1057(Hatfield Road) between the Margaret Harvey Gallery and the Peacock Pub. Limited parking available
Other notes:
Disability Access: Limited disabled access, ground floor only.

Redbourn Village Museum

Silk Mill House, The Common, Redbourn
Tel: 01582 793397

A fascinating look at the Life and Times of a Hertfordshire Village.

Saturday: 1400 - 1700
Sunday: 1200 - 1700
Directions: Next to The Cricketers Pub on the south side of Redbourn common
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No - just come and enjoy the Museum in the company of Matt the Monk!
Other notes: Telephone for details of special exhibitions taking place during Heritage Open Days.
Parking: Car parking space available FREE but limited.
Disability Access: Limited to Ground Floor. Telephone ahead to make your visit as comfortable as possible.

Redbournbury Watermill

Redbourn Road, St Albans
Tel: 01582 279874

Eighteenth-century restored working mill producing organic stoneground flour. Milling demonstrations, local walks and refreshments available.

Saturday: 1030 - 1700
Sunday: 1030 - 1730
Directions: 2 miles North of St Albans, off the A5183.
Other notes: Cream teas all day. Shop selling organic flour.
Disability Access: Partial, disabled parking provided.

Rothamsted Manor

Rothamsted, Harpenden
Tel: 01582 763133
Web: www.rothamsted.ac.uk

Rothamsted's Manor dates from the 13th century. Its present appearance dates from the 17th century. Regular guides tours will show visitors around the Manor gardens and around the ground floor of the Manor.

Saturday: 1000 - 1600
Directions: Take B487 from Harpenden and turn into private road which is the second road on the right after the White Horse pub. Continue down avenue and park between trees.
Other notes: Families welcome, no dogs allowed, please park between the trees.
Disability Access: Partial

Ryder Building

Holywell Hill, St Albans
Tel: 01727 848849

Now housing the Comfort Hotel, this was originally built as the headquarter offices of the Ryder Seed Company. Samuel Ryder is now best known for starting the Ryder Cup golf match, now played between America and Europe.

Thursday: 1000 - 2200
Friday: 1000 - 2200
Saturday: 1000 - 2200
Sunday: 1000 - 2200
Directions: Next to Café Rouge on Holywell Hill

Shaw's Corner

Ayot St Lawrence, Nr Welwyn Tel: 01438 820307

Come to George Bernard Shaw's home in the Hertfordshire Countryside, and enjoy special talks from staff and volunteers, on what makes the property and its links to the author so unique, and make the experience of a visit to our literary home, more vivid. The talks will be given at 1300, 1415 and 1530 on both Friday and Saturday, and last for approx. 25 to 30 minutes.

Friday: Garden 1200 - 1630 House 1300 - 1630
Saturday: Garden 1200 - 1630 House 1300 - 1630
Directions: 2 miles North of Wheathampstead. Signposted from Wheathampstead roundabout.
Other notes: Limited parking
Disability Access: Partial
Normal admission charges apply. (£4 - Adults, £2 - Children, £10 - Family Ticket, Free for National Trust members)

Sopwell Nunnery

Off Cottonmill Lane, St Albans
Web: www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Visit the ruins of Sir Richard Lee's Tudor country house, built c1555 on the site of a 12th Century nunnery bought from Henry VIII.

Thursday: All day
Friday: All day
Saturday: All day
Sunday: All day
Directions: Just south of the River Ver off Cottonmill Lane
Disability Access: Uneven ground, difficult for disabled visitors

St Albans Market & Farmers Market

St Peter's Street, St Albans

Saturday: The Famous St Albans market, the largest street market in the South East (excluding London). Sunday: As always on the 2nd Sunday in the month it's the St Albans Farmers Market Saturday: 0900 - 1630 Sunday: 0900 - 1400 Directions: St Peters Street

St Mary's Church

Kinsbourne Green, Harpenden
Tel: 01582 767146

Charming village church, built 1869 as combined church and school. Designated 'Chapel of Ease'. School use ceased in 1955.

Saturday: 1000 - 1700
Directions: North Harpenden on A108, just before Fox pub.
Other notes: Fete in the afternoon. Refreshments available.
Disability Access: Full

The 1831 Courtroom in the Old Town Hall

Town Hall, St Peter's Street, St Albans
Tel: 01727 864511
Web: www.stalbans.gov.uk

This is a rare example of a perfectly preserved early nineteenth-centry courtroom. Its original furnishings include a prisoner's dock, witness stand and magistrates bench.

Saturday: 1000 - 1600
Sunday: 1000 - 1600
Directions: St Peter's Street
Disability Access: Partial

The Independent Chapel

Spicer Street, St Albans
Tel: 01727 868522
Web: www.spicerstreet.org.uk

Although built in 1811, the chapel owes much to the eighteenth century in its style. The nonconformist, grade II listed chapel retains many of the original features. An exhibition tracing history back to 1650 tells why the building has survived. It is also famously associated with the poet Copwer and Samuel Ryder, of Ryder Cup fame.

Saturday: 1100 - 1700
Sunday: 1400 - 1700

Lecture at the Independent Chapel:

Independency in St Albans. A brief history of Independents, also known as Congregationalists, from the seventeenth century to the present day.

Saturday: 1600
Sunday: 1600
Directions: 200 metres from city centre off George Street.
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No
Other notes: Nearest car parks: Christopher Place (Sat only), Russell Avenue and Gombards (Sat and Sun). Tea/Coffee available.
Disability Access: Partial

The Parish Church of St Michael

St Michael's Street, St Albans
Tel: 01727 866082
Web: www.stmichaels-parishchurch.org.uk

Founded 948- A splendid example of a late Saxon Church. Contains the monument of the 17th century statesman, scientist and philosphor, Sir Francis Bacon. Also contails the remains of medieval painting of the 'Last Judgement'.

Friday: 1400 - 1700
Saturday: 1030 - 1330 and 1500 - 1700
Sunday: 1400 - 1700
Directions: Church is adjacent to the Verulamium museum.
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No
Other notes: Verulamium Car park
Disability Access: Full

The Roman Theatre of Verulamium

Bluehouse Hill, St Albans
Tel: 01727 853035

Built in c.40AD, the Roman theatre is a theatre with a stage, rather than an amphitheatre. The main ruins were unearthed in 1847 and subsequent excavations have revealed shop foundations, a Roman villa and a secret shrine.

Saturday: 1000 - 1700
Sunday: 1000 - 1700
Directions: Located just off Bluehouse Hill, a road on the edge of St Albans connecting the A4147 with the A5183.
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No
Other notes: No parking available.
Disability Access: Partial

The White Hart

25 Holywell Hill, St Albans
Tel: 01727 853624

The White Hart is an imposing black and white Tudor building probably built as a guest house in the middle ages. Hogarths famous portrait of Lord Lovat was painted at the inn and large scale paintings were discovered in the last century. Today, the inn contains the original staircase and beams, and has an oak-panelled restaurant.

Thursday: 1100 - 2300
Friday: 1100 - 2300
Saturday: 1100 - 2300
Sunday: 1100 - 2300
Directions: 2 miles from junction 21A on the M25, in central St Albans.
Do I need to Pre - Book?: No
Other notes: Parking available if using the pub and restaurant
Disability Access: Partial

Verulamium Museum & Legion XIIII

St. Michael's, St Albans
Tel: 01727 751810
Web: www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Meet the Roman Soldiers of Legion XIIII at the Verulamium museum over the Heritage Open Days weekend as they describe tactics and equipment of the Roman army. The museum also features magnificent mosaics and recreated rooms and visitors have the opportunity to discover the life and times of a major Roman city with touch screen databases, hands on discovery areas and hundreds of remarkable objects.

Thursday: 1000 - 1730
Friday: 1000 - 1730
Saturday: 1000 - 1730 (Legion XIIII - 1430 & 1530)
Sunday: 1400 - 1730 (Legion XIIII - 1500)
Directions: Next to St Michael's Church in St Michaels Village. (Follow Brown Signs)
Other notes: Toilet facilities
Disability Access: Full
Normal admission charges apply. Free for residents of St Albans City and District.

Victorian St Albans

Tourist Information Centre, Market Place, St Albans
Tel: 01727 850277

A walk that takes us back to the age of steam, the railway, factories, and even the pioneering days of cinema. This was the age of massive expansion for the town including a new prison, whose front entrance will be recognisable to all fans of 'Porridge'.

Sunday: 1100 (1hr)
Directions: Start from the Tourist Information Centre.
Disability Access: Partial

Fishpool Street

Tourist Information Centre, Market Place, St Albans
Tel: 01727 850277

A one thousand year old route that follows George Street, Romeland and Fishpool Street to picturesque St. Michael's Village, with its elegant houses, Saxon Church and the superb Verulamium Roman Museum. It is quite a challenge to guess the ages of the houses in fascinating Fishpool Street - join the guide and see for yourselves!

Sunday: 1500 (1hr)
Directions: Start from the Tourist Information Centre.
Disability Access: Partial

St Albans: City Sorrows, City Joys

Town Hall, St Peter's Street, St Albans
Tel: 01727 834113

Take an hours circular stroll with city watchdogs - and hear us bark! Deplore cock-eyed decisions and design stitch-ups, but also find pleasure in unexpected places.

Friday: 1430 (1hr)
Sunday: 1200 (1hr)
Directions: Meet at St Albans Town Hall
Other notes: Another provocative urban walk with the St Albans Civic Society.
Disability Access: Full