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value="search" id="DCMSHeader1_btnSimpleSearch" class="submit"/></fieldset> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div class="printHeader"><h1>Department for Culture Media and Sport</h1></div>   <a id="top"></a> <span id="DCMSMainNavigation1_TopNavigation1"><ul id="mainNav"><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/">home</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_us/" accesskey="B">about us</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/" accesskey="D" class="selected">what we do</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/working_with_us/" accesskey="W">working with us</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/" accesskey="R">reference library</a></li><li class="last"><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Press_notices/">press</a></li></ul></span>  <div id="mainWrapper"> <div id="subNav">  <span 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heritage visits</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/heritage_open_days.htm" class="current">heritage open days</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/heritage_protection_review.htm">heritage protection review</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/national_heritage_memorial_fund.htm">national heritage memorial fund</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/stonehenge_world_heritage_site.htm">stonehenge world heritage site</a></li><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/world_heritage.htm">world heritage</a></li></ul></ul></span>  </div> <div id="contentWrapper">  <span id="DCMSBreadcrumbs1_BreadNavigation1"><ul id="breadCrumb"><li><a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/">home</a></li><li> > <a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/">what we do</a></li><li> > <a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/">historic environment</a></li><li> > <a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/">heritage</a></li><li> > <b>heritage open days</b></li></ul></span> <a id="body"></a>  <div id="main">  <h1>heritage open days</h1>   <p class="intro"></p>  <div id="pageMainText"><span id="IntroText"><b>Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.</b></span> <span id="BodyText"><p>Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture.</p> <p><br>Free of charge and literally on people's doorstep, Heritage Open Days is an event for everyone, whatever their background, age and ability. </p> <p><br>Co-ordinated by<a title="opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.civictrust.org.uk/" target="_blank"> the Civic Trust</a> ,and made possible by funding and support from <a href="/web/20070205104511/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Historic_environment/heritage/english_heritage.htm">English Heritage</a> the event thrives on the enthusiasm and expertise of local people. Thousands of volunteers from all walks of life share their knowledge and memories with some 800,000 visitors every year, making Heritage Open Days England's largest voluntary cultural event.</p> <p><br>Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England's contribution to <a title="opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.heritageopendays.org/ehd.shtml" target="_blank">European Heritage Days</a>, in which 48 countries now take part.</p> <p>The capital stages an independent event, <a title="opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.londonopenhouse.org/" target="_blank">London Open House</a>, which takes place on a different weekend in September. We take part by offering members of the public the chance to see the rooms in which our Ministers work - these contain works of art from the Government Art Collection and Craft Council.</p></span> </div>  </div> <div id="extras">  <h2 class="top">websites of interest</h2> <table class="imgListRight" id="webInterest" width="100%"> <tr id="WebsitesOfInterest1_trWebsites1" valign="top"> <td class="col1"> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites5"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="HOD - opens new browser window" src="/web/20070205104511im_/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0634C631-C18B-4251-A523-DC6BB40841CF/0/hod.jpg" border="0"></a></span> </td> <td> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites1"><p><a title="HOD - opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/" target="_blank">Heritage Open Days</a></p></span> </td> </tr> <tr id="WebsitesOfInterest1_trWebsites2" valign="top"> <td class="col1"> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites6"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.civictrust.org.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Civic Trust - opens new browser window" src="/web/20070205104511im_/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/A100D23C-D5E3-41EC-85C9-D07E4C295B62/0/CivicTrust43x43.jpg" border="0"></a></span> </td> <td> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites2"><p><u><font color="#0000ff"><a title="Civic Trust - opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.civictrust.org.uk/" target="_blank">Civic Trust</a></font></u></p></span> </td> </tr> <tr id="WebsitesOfInterest1_trWebsites3" valign="top"> <td class="col1"> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites7"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.heritageopendays.org/ehd.shtml" target="_blank"><img alt="European Heritage Open Days - opens new browser window" src="/web/20070205104511im_/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0634C631-C18B-4251-A523-DC6BB40841CF/0/hod.jpg" border="0"></a></span> </td> <td> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites3"><p><a title="European Heritage Open Days - opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.heritageopendays.org/ehd.shtml" target="_blank">European Heritage Days</a></p></span> </td> </tr> <tr id="WebsitesOfInterest1_trWebsites4" valign="top" class="last"> <td class="col1"> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites8"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.londonopenhouse.org/" target="_blank"><img alt="LOH - opens new browser window" src="/web/20070205104511im_/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F84BBEA6-085F-4A52-B620-E83F42F68B37/0/loh_logo.jpg" border="0"></a></span> </td> <td> <span id="WebsitesOfInterest1_HtmPlhWebsites4"><p><a title="LOH - opens new browser window" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104511/http://www.londonopenhouse.org/" target="_blank">London Open House</a></p></span> </td> </tr> </table>  </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div>  <div class="footerIcon"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td align="left" valign="bottom"> <p style="LEFT: 180px; 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