Heritage Open Days 2025: Free Events Across Greater Manchester

By Visit Manchester on Sep. 02, 2025

16 min read

From 12–21 September, the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester come alive with free events celebrating history, culture, and architecture. Discover hidden gems, iconic landmarks, and vibrant community spaces. Here’s a detailed borough-by-borough guide to this year’s festival:

Manchester

Pankhurst Museum Free Open Days

60-62 Nelson Street, Manchester, M13 9WP
Multiple dates – Explore the birthplace of the suffragette movement with free family-friendly activities. Pre-booking preferred.

RAILWAY 200: A Comical, Educational and Entertaining Look Back at Our Railways

Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester, M3 4LG
13 Sept – Brand new theatrical show retelling the 200-year history of railways, featuring famous people and milestones. Pre-booking required.

'Rights not Charity' - Disability Activism and the Suffragette Movement

60-62 Nelson Street, Manchester, M13 9WP
20 Sept – Museum activities, craftivism, and information on disability activism and social movements. Pre-booking preferred.

Tour of the Mechanics Institute, Birthplace of the TUC

103 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD
21 Sept – Explore this Grade II* listed building, birthplace of the TUC and roots of local universities. Pre-booking required.

Holy Name Church Guided Visit

339 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PG
Multiple dates – Guided tours on history, architecture, and worship life with some BSL sessions. No booking required.

Behind the Scenes of The Conservation Studio

People's History Museum, Left Bank, Manchester, M3 3ER
13 Sept – Discover how trade union banners are conserved in this behind-the-scenes tour. Pre-booking required.

Science and Industry Museum: Rare Archive Access

Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP
19–21 Sept – Explore unique books and materials tracing railway history. Booking available on day.

Science and Industry Museum: Special Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP
Multiple dates – Curators lead tours revealing the museum’s historical architecture. Booking on day.

Children’s Voices and Archives for Community Action: Marcus Rashford Mural Collection

Manchester Central Library, St. Peters Square, Manchester, M2 5PD
15 Sept – Explore archives showcasing the Marcus Rashford mural collection. No booking required.

Explore Cross Street Chapel Manchester: from 1694 to Today

Cross Street Chapel, 29 Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL
14 Sept – Discover Manchester’s second oldest place of worship with over 300 years of history. No booking required.

Science and Industry Museum: Get Hands-on with Manchester’s History

Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP
Multiple dates – Participate in interactive crafts celebrating Manchester’s industrial and architectural heritage. No booking required.

Reading, Rhyming, Remembering: Children's Education From The Past

Library, St. Peters Square, Manchester, M2 5PD
18 Sept – Explore children’s learning through storybooks and rhymes from the early 20th century. No booking required.

Salford


Image credit: Mmcdade

Salford in 50 Pictures: A Local History Talk by Chris Carson at Eccles Library

Eccles Library, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0TU
12 Sept – Historian Chris Carson guides you through a pictorial history of Salford’s former local authorities. Booking required.

Agecroft Cemetery Tour

Agecroft Cemetery, Langley Road, Salford, M27 8SS
21 Sept – Join Friends of Salford Cemeteries for a guided tour focusing on history, architecture, and notable burials. Booking preferred.

Ancestry and Family History Taster Session

Eccles Library, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0TU
16 Sept – Learn tips for researching your family history using Ancestry Library Edition. Booking required.

Church of Saint Peter, Swinton

Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester, M27 0WA
12 Sept – Historic church open with exhibitions of vestments and plate. Refreshments and toilets available. No booking needed.

Saint Augustine’s Church, Pendlebury

Bolton Road, Pendlebury, Manchester, M27 8UX
Multiple dates – Grade I church by Bodley, rarely open to public; open during festival. No booking required.

Monton Unitarian Church 150th Anniversary

Monton Green, Eccles, Manchester, M30 9NX
20 Sept – Celebrate the church’s 150 year history including its radical heritage. No booking needed.

Long Street Methodist Church

97 Long Street, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6UN
Multiple dates – Arts and Crafts inspired church and former school by Edgar Wood. No booking required.

Eccles Library: Know Your Heritage

Eccles Library, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0TU
Multiple dates – Explore the Andrew Carnegie-funded library’s rich local heritage. Facilities accessible; booking not required.

Trafford

Visit Our Renew Hub

Nash Road, Trafford Park, Stretford, Trafford, Greater Manchester, M17 1SX
16 Sept – Discover where donated items are sorted, repaired, and upcycled for reuse. Tours include the Renew Hub workspace, allocation process, and insights into circular economy efforts. Age 11+, steel toe boots required. Not wheelchair accessible. Pre-booking required.

St Martin's - The Parish of Ashton-upon-Mersey

Church Lane, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Sale, Greater Manchester, M33 5QQ
Multiple dates – Explore this Grade II listed church dating from 1714, featuring a hammer beam roof and an 1887 tower commemorating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. No booking needed.

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey, Woodhouse Lane, Manchester, WA14 WSJ
Multiple dates – Visit the historic house and gardens set in 300 acres of deer park. Free entry to the mansion, garden, and woodland. No booking needed.

Stretford Public Hall

Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, Stretford, Trafford, M32 0LG
13 Sept – Tour the beautifully preserved neo-gothic hall, built in 1879. Learn about its history and community use. No booking required.

Christ Church, Timperley

Thorley Lane, Altrincham, Trafford, WA15 7AN
14 Sept – Visit this Norman-style church built from local sandstone, with 175 years of heritage. Discover quarry history and building maintenance. No booking needed.

Saint Joseph's Church 140th Anniversary

Hope Road, Manchester, M33 3BF
20 Sept – Celebrate the 140th anniversary of this church, built in 1885, with special events. No booking required.

St Michael's Parish Church, Flixton

348 Church Road, Manchester, M41 6HR
13 Sept – Explore the church’s history with WWI & WWII memorials, ringing demonstrations, archives, and seasonal refreshments. No booking needed.

Dunham Lawn Tennis Club

Smithy Lane, Altrincham, Trafford, WA14 4SB
Multiple dates – Celebrate 105 years at the club with tours, tennis sessions, exhibitions, and refreshments. No booking required.

Sale Town Hall

1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
20 Sept – Experience tours, talks, and children’s activities celebrating Sale’s heritage. No booking needed.

Stockport

Richard Roberts Archive: Architecture and Advertising through the Ages

Unit 14, Adswood Industrial Estate, Stockport, SK3 8LF
13 Sept – Explore print advertising from architects, builders, and material suppliers with talks and guided archive tours. Pop-up café and sale of duplicate pieces. No pre-booking needed.

Stockport Christadelphian Meeting Room

Dodge Hill, Tiviot Dale, Stockport, SK4 1RD
13 Sept – Discover the history of this landmark building, featuring a display marking 150 years since the first Christadelphian meeting. No booking required.

St Peter's Parish Church, Stockport

St. Peters Square, Stockport, SK1 1NZ
13 Sept – Visit this historic church for history displays, candle lighting, and refreshments. No pre-booking needed.

Bramhall Parish Church Heritage Open Festival

St. Michaels Avenue, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 2PG
Multiple dates – Explore this early 20th-century Grade II listed church with its distinctive 1970s tower. No booking required.

Changing Tracks: An Exhibition on the History of Poynton's Stations

Civic Hall, Park Lane, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 1RB
Multiple dates – Learn about the history of Poynton’s three railway stations, two now lost, during the 200th anniversary of the British Railway. No booking required.

Higher Poynton Pop-Up Platform

Lyme Road, Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 1TH
13 Sept – Experience a recreated Higher Poynton station with exhibition, miniature engine, live Stationmaster actor, and crafts. No pre-booking required.

Scarecrow Weddings

St Albans Church, Offerton Lane, Stockport, SK2 5AG
13 Sept – See the quirky tradition of scarecrows getting married in church. No booking required.

Stockport Garrick Theatre

Exchange Street, Stockport, SK3 0EJ
13 Sept – Backstage guided tours, history presentations, and photo opportunities. No booking required.

Stockport Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre

The Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport, SK1 1SP
21 Sept – Full day of free events celebrating this iconic 1932 cinema. No pre-booking needed.

Brushes and Bold Letters: Signwriting talk with Andy Russell

Civic Hall, Park Lane, Stockport, SK12 1RB
20 Sept – Traditional signwriting demonstration with opportunity for participants to try it. Pre-booking required.

St George's Church, Stockport

Buxton Road, Stockport, SK2 6NU
13 Sept – Explore this Grade I neo-gothic church with school site in Davenport conservation area. Book on day.

Stockport Town Hall Tours

Town Hall, Stockport, SK1 3XE
Multiple dates – Tour iconic features like the Devil’s Head and Wedding Cake, plus TV filming locations. Pre-booking required.

Avro Heritage Museum

Woodford Aerodrome, Chester Road, Stockport, SK7 1AG
14 Sept – Explore exhibits on the legacy of A V Roe aircraft manufacturing. No pre-booking required.

St John's is 175 Years Old

St John the Baptist Church, St John's Road, Stockport, SK4 3BR
Multiple dates – Celebrate 175 years of St John the Baptist Church with special events. No booking required.

Our Lady and the Apostles RC Church

39 Shaw Heath, Stockport, SK3 8BQ
14 Sept – Visit this Grade II listed church known for its granite pillars, Arts and Crafts fretwork, and Margaret Rope window. No booking required.

Tameside

Tameside Local Studies and Archives

Cotton Street East, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, OL6 7BY
17 Sept – Join a talk by Voices of Kosovo in Manchester (VOKIM) sharing stories of Kosovo refugees and the archive project. Tea, coffee, and biscuits provided. Booking preferred.

A Display of Local Architecture

Portland Basin Museum, Portland Place, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, OL7 0QA
12 Sept – Explore museum collections showcasing local buildings, landmarks, and the Co-operative Movement. No booking required.

Hyde United History Walk

Ewen Fields Stadium, Walker Lane, Hyde, Greater Manchester, SK14 5PL
14 Sept – Walk exploring Hyde United FC origins and local development. No booking required.

Ashton Old Baths Historical Tour

Stamford Street West, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, OL6 7FW
Multiple dates – Guided tour of the historic bathhouse interior, artefacts, and architecture. Booking required.

Hyde War Memorial Trust Open Weekend

Werneth Low Country Park, Lower Higham Visitor Centre, Gee Cross, Greater Manchester, SK14 5LR
Multiple dates – Family-friendly walk to the Cenotaph, model building, and local history. No booking required.

Oldham

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Oldham Open Morning

Copster Hill Road, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL8 1QB
20 Sept – Step inside the magnificent new Hindu temple on Copster Hill Road, featuring a grand prayer hall and tranquil garden. The modern temple replaced the 1977 original. No booking required.

Heights Chapel Delph Open Weekend

Heights Lane, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL3 5TU
Multiple dates – Chapel open with displays 13:30–16:30 both days. A short Evensong at 16:00 on Sunday. Graveyard tours subject to weather. No booking required.

St James with St Ambrose

Barry Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 3NG
Multiple dates – Visit this beautiful church, explore the building and archives of weddings and baptisms. Visitors warmly welcomed. No booking required.

Rochdale

Rochdale Old Fire Station

Fireground, Old Fire Station, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN
20 Sept – Explore the historic fire station, once the most advanced in the country, now home to the Fireground museum of firefighting. Free entry, guided tours, and cafeteria on site. No booking required.

Bamford Chapel and Norden URC

Norden Road, Rochdale, OL11 5PQ
Multiple dates – Tour this historic non-conformist chapel, established in 1801, with illustrated talks on social history. No booking required.

Milnrow Parish Church (St James the Apostle)

St. James Street, Milnrow, OL16 3JT
Multiple dates – Visit this Grade II listed church with over 155 years of history. No booking needed.

Middleton Heritage Green Trail Launch

Moonraker Sculpture, Middleton Gardens, Rochdale, M24 6DU
20 Sept – Join guided walks celebrating local heritage trails. No booking required.

Tour of Touchstones

Touchstones, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 5Q
19 Sept – Explore the Grade II listed museum and arts centre with architects’ tours during redevelopment. Booking recommended.

Stone and Story: The Heritage of Rooley Moor

Catley Lane Head, Rochdale, OL12 6BN
Multiple dates – Discover the history and landscapes of Rooley Moor including local architecture and open moor views. No booking required.

St John’s Church

Dowling Street, Rochdale, OL16 1EX
Multiple dates – View one of the largest artworks in Northwest England inside the church. No booking needed.

Stone and Story: Top of Leach Rendezvous

Catley Lane Head, OL12 6BN
21 Sept – Join the final festival gathering in this outdoor heritage event. No booking required.

Middleton Heritage Red and Blue Trail

Car Park by St Leonard’s Church, Middleton, M24 6DF
21 Sept – Enjoy guided walks along historical trails with community experts. No booking needed.

Rochdale Parish Church of St Chad

Sparrow Hill, Rochdale, OL16 1QT
Multiple dates – Visit a church with over a millennium of history and detailed archives. Illustrated booklets available. No booking required.

Middleton Heritage Red Trail Launch

Car Park by St Leonard’s Church, Middleton, M24 6DJ
20 Sept – Join guided heritage walks exploring the area’s rich stories. No booking needed.

St Andrew’s CE Church, Dearnley Open Weekend

Arm Road, Dearnley, Rochdale, OL15 8JE
13 Sept – Visit this welcoming Anglican church with historical insight. No booking required.

Stories of the Gank – Rochdale Town Hall

Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, OL16 1AZ
Multiple dates – Exhibition spotlighting the working-class history and housing conditions in the “Gank” area. No booking needed.

Historic Court Room Tours

Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, OL16 1AZ
Multiple dates – Exclusive tours and talks regarding Rochdale’s judicial history. Booking required.

Rochdale Town Square History Tour

Flying Horse Hotel, 37 Packer Street, Rochdale, OL16 1NJ
20 Sept – Guided historical tour from medieval times to today. No booking needed.

Rochdale Heritage Trail

Rochdale Train Station, Station Road, OL11 1DR
Multiple dates – Guided tours showcasing the town’s heritage and culture. No booking required.

St Mary in the Baum Church

4-6 St Marys Gate, OL16 1DZ
Multiple dates – Visit this early 20th-century church featuring notable architectural elements and stained glass. No booking needed.

Explore the Architectural Heritage of NW Rochdale

St Paul’s Church, Edenfield Road, OL12 7SL
Multiple dates – Walks through local woodland and heritage sites with music and events. No booking needed.

Bury

CWGC and Fusilier Museum Tour

Moss Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, BL9 0DF
19 Sept – Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a walking tour of Bury town centre War Memorials and the Fusilier Museum. Explore the role of the Lancashire Fusiliers and see historical displays. Booking required.

St Pauls Church, Ramsbottom - Heritage Open Weekend

2 Church Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9BW
Multiple dates – Celebrate the 175th anniversary of this Grade II listed church with tours and live music. Booking on the day.

East Lancashire Railway

Bolton Street Station, Bury, BL9 0EY
Multiple dates – Explore behind-the-scenes at the railway, including maintenance facilities and volunteer activities. Booking required.

The Met Celebrates 50 Years

Derby Hall, Market Street, Bury, BL9 0BW
13 Sept – A cultural programme marking 50 years of the Met, featuring a variety of heritage-inspired events. Booking preferred.

The Pattern of Streets – Rochdale Railway Station

Ramsbottom Railway Station, Railway Street, Bury, BL9 0AL
21 Sept – Explore the design and history behind urban street layouts and buildings. Booking required.

The Pattern of Streets – Bury Art & Sculpture Centre

Art Gallery, Moss Street, Bury, BL9 0DF
Multiple dates – Discover the heritage of Bury through exhibits focused on urban design and community history. Booking required.

Bolton

Salford Road Solar Farm

Salford Road Solar Farm, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL5 1
15 Sept – Visit the largest public sector-owned solar farm in the North West. Learn how sunlight is converted to electricity and its link to local waste disposal. Outdoor visit; sensible footwear required. Pre-booking required.

Smithills Hall Tour

Smithills Hall, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 7
Multiple dates – Free guided tours, including the historic George Marsh interrogation room. No pre-booking needed.

Holy Trinity Church, Horwich

Holy Trinity Parish Church, Church Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL6 6
13 Sept – Visit this warm, friendly church with heritage displays by local groups. No pre-booking needed.

Archives Tour

Central Library, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 1
16 Sept – Guided tour of the Archives room showcasing historical documents. Pre-booking required.

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