Royal Tunbridge Wells will welcome a ten-day festival of free heritage events this September as the annual Heritage Open Days return from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 September. The Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society coordinates the local programme, unlocking historic buildings, guided walks, tours and talks that are otherwise closed or charge entry fees.
Already confirmed for 2026 are visits to Woodbury Park Cemetery, the Old Closed Churchyard in Paddock Wood, St Thomas à Becket Church in Capel, Salomons Museum and St Barnabas CEP School. Volunteers are still finalising the full schedule, which traditionally includes art, craft and music displays alongside demonstrations of traditional skills.
Last year’s programme drew crowds to more than a dozen sites, among them the Grade II listed Pound restored by the Civic Society, Trinity Theatre exhibitions and the Decimus Burton estate. The national festival, run annually since the 1990s, celebrates architecture and culture by granting free access to places that are normally closed or charge for entry.
Further details and the complete event list will appear on the Civic Society’s website as organisers lock in final properties. Residents can also check the national Heritage Open Days area listing for Tunbridge Wells, where all confirmed openings will be posted.
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