Heritage Open Days 2025

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.

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.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Register of Historic Battlefields in England the Battlefields Trust and its partner organisations are arranging a series of battlefield walks in September 2025 to coincide with Heritage Open Days. Join the Nothamptonshire Battlefields Society for a walk across the field of this important Wars of the Roses battle, which saw the Lancastrians defeated and King Henry VI captured by the Yorkists. The walk is limited to 30 people and booking is essential. Book your place here: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/big-battlefield-walks-weekends-battle-of-northampton-1460.html

The Deco Theatre, Northampton’s hidden gem, is host to a wide variety of shows, the Christmas pantomime, and many training events. Over recent years the theatre has thoroughly re-established itself and continues to grow from strength to strength. The Building first opened on Saturday 2 May 1936 in a blaze of publicity as “the Savoy”, described as “Northampton’s only super Cinema” and reported to be “the last word in comfort”. It was part of the ABC group, designed by their prolific house architect WR Glen and built in under nine months on the site of the original Technical College. It was constructed in the International Modernistic style and is arguably the best remaining example of Glen’s work, with all the main features still in place and sympathetically renovated. The Savoy was very popular and originally held almost 2000 people in the 696 seat circle and 1200 seat stalls. It was designed both as a cinema and theatre complete with an orchestra pit. It hosted shows and concerts as well as films. In the 1950s it was renamed the ‘ABC’ in line with the group’s national branding policy and was the local venue of choice for the touring bands of the...

For one day, the Magistrates Courts will be open to the public with interesting tours of the courts and cells, and interesting talks and mock trials. It’s the first time this has been possible since 2019. On the day there will be tours of both the cells and the courts, the opportunity to take part in mock trials, and the opportunity to meet and hear talks by different parties that are involved with the courts including the Crime Prosecution Service, Defence Solicitors, Probation Services, Youth Detention and Magistrates themselves. You can also find out how to become a Magistrate. This is the only day in the year the courts be open to the general public and the first time since 2019. Tours will be happening throughout the day from 10am-4pm. No booking required.

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.

Commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton with storyboards, actors and a virtual reality app plus walking tour. Also learn about civic history with the mayor in the heart of the civic building- The Guildhall. The ‘History of the Great Fire’ event will take place at the Guildhall on Saturday, 13th September between 11am – 3pm, as part of West Northamptonshire Council’s Heritage Open Days. This year marks the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton, so the event is set to have a fire-theme, with actors from the ‘Mystery Tours’ bringing moments from the fire to life, staged in different rooms within the grand Victorian building, including the Great Hall and the original Court Room. Visitors can view a special exhibition about the Great Fire and learn more about the fateful day that resulted in 750 of the town’s 800 buildings being burnt to the ground, along with visiting the Mayor’s Parlour to learn about the town’s civic history. The Great Fire of Northampton virtual trail is also available to experience by downloading the Explore Northampton App. allowing users to step back in time to 1675 and experience the dramatic story of the Great...

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,...

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.

Come celebrate the patronal festival, Holy Cross Day, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Discover how the unique medieval round church was inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Learn why it was built this way and uncover some of the fascinating stories etched into its walls. Enjoy refreshments, explore the church at your leisure, and take part in activities for all ages. The Holy Sepulchre has been welcoming visitors since 1100 AD. It’s one of only four medieval round churches left in the UK, a rare treasure with a rich history. From royal visits and historic battles to stained glass windows and the peaceful Soldier’s Chapel, there’s so much to see and celebrate.

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.

For Heritage Open Days, Delapré Abbey will be open for free entry on Sunday 14th, Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th and Sunday 21st September, from 11am, last entries at 3pm. The house closes at 4pm. Learn about how the house started as a nunnery and later became home to two families with interesting stories. This event is free but pre-booking is advised.

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,...