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.

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.

Step inside one of Northampton’s most historic buildings with a guided tour by one of the knowledgeable volunteers. Discover the stories of the Holy Sepulchre, built in 1100 AD, and explore its role in local and national history. Learn about its architecture, famous visitors, and how faith has shaped the building over the centuries. Booking is essential as spaces are limited.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

Experience the church in a whole new light, candlelight and torchlight to be exact. Join The Holy Sepulchre Church after dark for a special evening tour by torchlight. Bring your own torch and step into the shadows as they explore the church’s hidden corners and hidden gems. Discover the church as it is rarely seen, see details you might miss in daylight, and encounter the sacred space in a more intimate, atmospheric way. This event is free but pre-booking is essential.  Add to calendar

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,...

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,...

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.

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.