England’s largest festival of heritage and culture returns to Guildford with a host of free activities, tours, exhibitions, and experiences for residents and visitors to explore.

The exciting programme of Heritage Open Days activities will run from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 September, with plenty of ways for visitors of all ages to connect with the borough’s heritage, from object handling and vintage bus rides, to live jazz performances and historic site open days.

This year’s diverse programme includes:

• guided tour of Guildford House Gallery’s ‘People Watching’ exhibition by artist Rebecca Holton
• Guildford Voices: Guildford Stories, a community project collecting memories and histories from local people
• tours of Guildford Cathedral and historic churches across the borough
• open days at the Guildhall, Wanborough Great Barn, Royal Grammar School, Abbot’s Hospital, Guildford Castle, and more
• mystery object handling and identification at Guildford Museum
• pre-war Dennis vehicles and heritage fire engines in the High Street
• tours of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
• Guildford Jazz playing live at Abbot’s Hospital
• guided walks and talks at the Sime Gallery
• The Little People children’s trail of events around the town – collect the guide from the Tourist Information Centre
• vintage bus rides

Heritage Open Days brings together local organisations and volunteers to showcase the historic beauty of our borough. This year’s theme, Everyday Histories, encourages people to explore the stories behind everyday life, recognising the experiences and contributions of local people. The theme is reflected in events across the programme, including opportunities to discover the inspiration behind contemporary artwork and to share personal stories that can help preserve Guildford’s social history.

Cllr Vanessa King, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Economy and Place, says: “Heritage Open Days gives residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity to discover Guildford’s heritage from fresh perspectives. Whether you’re exploring a historic building, learning from an award-winning artist, or sharing your own memories of life in Guildford, there are free activities for people of all ages to enjoy.

This year’s programme not only celebrates our historic places but also the stories, creativity, and experiences that make Guildford such a vibrant community.”

One of the highlights of this year’s programme is a special opportunity to meet artist Rebecca Holton at Guildford House Gallery on Friday 18 September. Rebecca will lead two tours of her solo exhibition ‘People Watching’, offering visitors a unique insight into the inspiration and creative process behind her paintings.

The exhibition is particularly fitting for this year’s Everyday Histories theme, as Rebecca’s work captures the often-overlooked moments and experiences that make up everyday life. Through her paintings, she encourages viewers to pause and reflect on the familiar scenes and quiet details that help shape our personal and collective memories.

Guildford Voices: Guildford Stories on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September at Guildford House, invites residents to help preserve the borough’s social history by sharing their memories and experiences.

This project aims to capture the everyday histories of Guildford people through personal stories, photographs, letters, objects, and other historical material. Participants are encouraged to share stories about themselves, family members, friends or colleagues, helping to build a richer understanding of the communities and events that have shaped the borough.

The sessions may help identify stories and objects that could contribute to future displays, exhibitions or even become part of the Museum’s collection, ensuring that Guildford’s social history is preserved for future generations.

To find out more about the events in Guildford, visit the Heritage Open Days website.