Heritage Open Days is back from the 12th - 21st September and promises to be bigger and better than ever! What to expect Heritage Open Days is a fantastic opportunity to explore some of Northamptonshire’s unique historic buildings and sites. Many of these sites are usually restricted access or charge for entry – but for the event they will be open and free of charge, allowing you to find out about the area’s vibrant culture and heritage like never before! Heritage Buses Northampton’s beloved heritage double-decker buses are back, running from George Row on 20th and 21st September - a perfect way to explore the town in vintage style. Keep an eye on this page for route and timetable updates, and look out for printed schedules at Northampton Museum and library soon. The classic buses will also be returning to Daventry on 13th September, after being such a crowd-pleaser last year. Don’t miss your chance to hop on and enjoy the ride! Why not make a day of it in Wellingborough on 13th and 14th September? Catch a ride on the vintage buses on your way to the Celebrate Wellingborough festivities! Click here to view Saturday's timetable for Northampton. Click here to view Sunday's timetable for Northampton.

Visit the Central Library in Abington Street or the Museum & Art Gallery in Guildhall Road to collect a Northampton architectural heritage trail map of the Market Square and take a self-guided walk around the heart of the town, taking in some of Northampton’s important heritage buildings.

Architecture students from Northampton College have been reimagining Northampton, taking an existing heritage asset and suggesting how it could be transformed with heart and, of course, imagination! The students’ work will be on display in the café at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery for the duration of the festival, linking to exhibitions featuring the county town elsewhere in the museum. Friday 12th Sept – Sat 20th Sept: 10am-5pm. Sunday 21st Sept: 12pm-5pm.

The Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 destroyed much of the town centre – a walking trail will take participants around the centre of the town to see some of the affected buildings and how the town was rebuilt, while learning more about this year’s 350th anniversary commemoration. Trail leaflets will be available from Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, Northampton Central Library, and the Discover Northamptonshire Tourism Hub at Rushden Lakes.

Explore the deep hidden history of the building. Step back in time to hear the story and discover how heritage helped to create Northampton’s beautiful Culture Quarter through public exhibitions and immersive multimedia utilising VR technology. The Performing Room have worked on a multimedia heritage project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to uncover and share the hidden history of the historical building, first built as Franklin’s Hotel and Restaurant in 1872 by John Campbell Franklin to capitalise on railway passengers traveling to the new St John’s Street Railway Station from the new rail route built between Bedford and Northampton. For decades, it served as the meeting point for merchants, traders and other travellers coming to Northampton. An impressive list of artefacts dating back to when the building was first built characterises the relationship between Franklin’s hotel and the people who used to work there and visit it. A quick tour of the picture galleries, display stands, glass cabinets and slideshows include authentic old newspapers, vintage bottles, champagne corks, war memorabilia, decorative ceramic floor tiles, an original train ticket used to transport people to St John’s and more. Other projects consist of a documentary, cartoon animations, children board games,...