England’s largest festival of history and culture returns this month, as Heritage Open Days prepares to open up some of Manchester’s most famous landmarks to the public.
Volunteers and institutions around Greater Manchester are set to host an array of fascinating, free, one-off events, tours and workshops around the city’s most significant buildings and spaces.
From historic tours to Suffragette-inspired workshops, here are some of the best events you can book now for the 2025 edition of Heritage Open Days.
With a collection of over 80 vehicles, including buses, lorries, a fire engine and even a prototype Metrolink tram, the Museum of Transport offers an unmissable open day experience for enthusiasts and families alike. From tickets and uniforms to a vast array of memorabilia, the museum’s diverse collection brings the story of Manchester’s transport networks to life at every level of operation.
Visitors can ride vintage vehicles during the weekend and enjoy the on-site shop and tearoom. The museum is open 10am to 4.30pm across both weekends of the festival.
Go behind the scenes at the People’s History Museum, learning more about the world’s largest collection of trade union and political banners and how the museum’s specialist conservators care for the exhibits.
There’ll be chances to get up close to objects currently being conserved, with live demonstrations of the techniques being used.
On Sat 13 Sep, visitors will have three opportunities to take part in these free tours, with sessions running between 10.45am – 11.30pm, 12.45pm-1.30pm and again at 2.45pm – 3.30pm.
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger steam railway, Gare Du Nord Theatre and Avanti West Coast present a jovial 75-minute family-friendly show at Castlefield Viaduct. Blending music, comedy and storytelling, the performance revisits milestones and eccentricities of British railway history.
With original songs and appearances by historic figures, the show captures the highs and lows of two centuries of rail travel. Performances take place at 11am and 2pm, suitable for ages seven and up.
Manchester’s totemic Cross Street Chapel has stood at the centre of Manchester’s religious dissent since the 17th century, surviving riots, the Blitz and several rebuilds over 330 years. Its congregation included civic leaders, reformers and Elizabeth Gaskell’s husband, Reverend William Gaskell, who transformed the chapel into a hub of education and social action.
The current building, opened in 1998, sits within a modern office block and reflects its centuries of change and journey into modernity. Tours of the venue run from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, with displays of the chapel’s shifting architecture throughout its history.
Step inside the birthplace of the suffragette movement as the Pankhurst Museum welcomes hobbyist historians and visitors of all ages across both Sundays of the Heritage Open Days programme. Explore the parlour where the WSPU held its first meeting, enjoy hands-on activities, complete a variety of museum games and even dress up as a Suffragette in a day of illuminating entertainment from 11am to 4pm.
Following racist vandalism of the Withington mural in the wake of the 2021 EUROs final, the community responded with defiant messages of solidarity which were later archived by Manchester Libraries. This timely, triumphant collection highlights the power of collective action and empathy, with much of the installation formed by inspiring notes and drawings left by children.
Visitors are invited to read and reflect on the heartfelt messages and discover how the archive is now informing educational projects around resilience, community and anti-racism. The event runs from 1pm to 2pm.
This absorbing exhibition of pre-20th century and early 1900s children’s books chronicles the ways in which storytelling, rhyme and illustration shaped young minds and influenced narrative styles in each period. From moral fables to educational chapbooks, the collection traces the changes of childhood learning through a delightfully nostalgic assortment of treasures, including rare editions of Bunyan, Aesop and Victorian nursery rhymes, as well as nature guides and religious tracts.
This event is ideal for families and literature lovers alike, and is free to visit from 1.30pm to 3pm.
Returning with another unmissable programme of intriguing and inspirational fun for this year’s festival, the Science and Industry Museum hosts a long weekend of transport-themed crafts, interactive STEM activities and heritage tours to mark both Heritage Open Days and the 42nd birthday of the museum, as well as the five-year countdown to the bicentenary of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 2030.
Taking place daily throughout the weekend, behind-the-scenes tours will run at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. During the 30-minute sessions, visitors can join curators for a special look at the museum’s historic spaces that aren’t usually open to the public, including some that are temporarily closed while conservation and repair work is underway, such as the iconic 1830 Station and 1830 Warehouse.
Families can learn about the Liverpool and Manchester Railway through objects in the Revolution Manchester Gallery, while drop-in events from PlanIt architects and University of Manchester workshops highlight restoration and innovation through poetry and animation.
Alongside hands-on activities, visitors can explore how Mancunian engineers shaped global transport, from pistons and pedals to wings and wheels.
Entry is free from 10am to 5pm daily.
Check out the full programme HERE.
Back at the Pankhurst Museum, this insightful interactive open day uncovers the strong links between suffragette history and disability activism, from Rosa May Billinghurst to contemporary campaigners. Visitors can join family-friendly ‘craftivism’ activities, browse the museum and parlour, and try their hand at chalk graffiti in the Edwardian garden.
The drop-in session runs from 11.30am to 3.30pm, with workshops offering the chance to design protest placards and discover the stories behind slogans such as ‘Rights not Charity’ in a day dedicated to exploring the modern struggle for equality, access and inclusion.
Free tickets must be booked in advance.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Fri 5 Sep 2025
The Grade II listed White House, home to Nazarene Theological College, opens for a series of exclusive guided tours exploring its Art Deco design and historic links to William Melland and Philip Godlee. Since 1959 it has been home to the College, and visitors can trace the story of its transformation.
Tours will traverse the storied grounds and interiors, with insights into how the site evolved into an educational institution. Spaces are limited, so booking is essential for the 10.30am and 11.30am sessions.