Heritage Open Days in North Norfolk 2025

Norfolk Heritage Open Days, England’s largest free festival of culture and heritage, returns 12 September to 21 September 2025, with ten days of unmissable FREE drop in and bookable events celebrating the area’s history.

With over 200 free events taking place, Norfolk Heritage Open Days is a rare chance to explore the county, discovering more about England’s history, learning the stories behind some of our most loved buildings and organisations, and discovering the untold tales and unsung heroes of the country. The free events registered take place across the county, with lots of new exclusive activities, tours, and talks, as well as returning favourites.

This year’s Heritage Open Days theme is ‘Routes – Networks – Connections’, giving us the opportunity to celebrate how people and ideas have moved and come together throughout history: from the impact of railways to the Norfolk waterways and our own Norwich Strangers. And 2024 brings Heritage Open Days’ 30th anniversary: marking three decades of honouring the ordinary and extraordinary.

The online event directory is now live, with thousands of events waiting to be discovered and hundreds of those in Norfolk.. Events range from “open doors” at Oxburgh Hall (where venues waive their entry fee or open places not usually open to the public) to tours of secret trails, poetry performances, illustrated talks, exclusive exhibitions and family-friendly activities – creating a perfect and interesting for a day out for all the family.

Booking is now open for the majority of Norfolk events. As all HODs events are free, these are in high demand and book up quickly. Luckily, there are many brilliant events that do not require any booking at all, with visitors dropping by to enjoy them.

The sought after Norfolk HODs listings brochure is now available, packed full with the Norfolk events – a mixture of drop-in and prebook events. Over 200 events are in the brochure, and 25,000 printed copies are making their way across Norfolk to local libraries and selected venues. You can also pick your copy up from The Forum in Norwich, or view it online here.

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
 

Cromer Pier and Pavilion Theatre
The Pier, Cromer, NR27 9HB. 14 September 2025: 10am-3pm

Cromer Pier will offer exclusive backstage tours of the Pavilion Theatre (booking required). Guided by staff, small groups can explore refurbished dressing rooms and discover the theatre’s rich history, with a rare behind-the-scenes look at The Cromer Pier Show 2025.

Also, Celebrate Cromer Pier’s heritage with live music from the Cromer & Sheringham Brass Band (1–3pm) and a special short documentary in the Pavilion Theatre (10am–3pm), created for Heritage Open Days and narrated by Norfolk’s own Olly Day.

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Fakenham Gasworks Museum

Hempton Road, Fakenham, NR21 7LA. Multiple dates, pre-booking not required.

One of the last intact gas works left in the world, see how 'Town Gas' was made with displays of some of the gas appliances sold to make life easier in the home. For Heritage Open Days, displays of local history, the work of local artists and more.

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Felbrigg Hall and Gardens
16 September 2025. Booking required. Join the knowledgeable tour guide as she walks you around the gardens at Felbrigg Hall.

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Cromer Museum, Tucker Street

There will be open doors on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September (no booking required). Set inside a converted row of original fishermen’s cottages, the Museum offers a fascinating insight into the area’s rich maritime heritage and geological history. Discover Cromer’s history as a Victorian seaside resort and the scandal of its mixed bathing.

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The Museum of the Broads, Stalham

On Sunday 14 September, there are open doors to the museum where you can discover the people, landscape and wildlife of the broads, and take part in craft activities, traditional games, a self-guided tour and a museum trail for children.

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St Benet’s Abbey, St Benet’s Road, Off Hall Common Road, Ludham

Reconstruct the Ruins on Sunday 21 September 2025. Drop in to visit Norfolk’s Icon of the Broads, hear the stories behind the ruins and enjoy some family friendly crafts and trails.

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Walsingham Methodist Chapel, High Street

On Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September (10am to 4pm) and Sunday 14 September (1pm to 4pm) there are open doors at Walshingham Methodist Chapel. Drop in to see this 18th century chapel, with displays and artefacts highlighting Methodists in Norfolk over the years.