Milton Keynes is throwing open its doors with more events than ever before for this year’s Heritage Open Days. Taking place over ten days from Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd September, there is something for everyone as the city celebrates its fascinating and exciting heritage with 150 workshops, craft events, open days, exhibitions, performances and film screenings – all completely free to attend.

Key attractions opening their doors for free include Milton Keynes Museum, Stadium MK, Great Linford Manor Park, Bletchley Park (limited tickets, booking essential), MK Arts Centre, Milton Keynes Theatre, Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney and in the wider area Stowe Gardens, Claydon House, and The Old Gaol in Buckingham.

Also open for this year’s programme will be a wide range of historic sites, community buildings and spaces, hosting activities and craft days, dance and family fun days, tours, film screenings, exhibitions, guided walks and much more.

Free events for Heritage Open Days this year include:

Not normally open to the public: Tour MK Magistrates’ Court with working magistrates; peer inside the intriguing world of the Freemasons at Freemason’s Lodge in Wolverton; find out more about how black sack waste is sustainably dealt with at the new Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park and take a backstage tour of The Stables Theatre in Wavendon.

Get crafty! MK Arts Centre is hosting a day of craft workshops in their studios and art room; you can get a Georgian makeover at MK Central Library and have fun making your own fan and mask; make your own space-themed creation at Festive Road in Kiln Farm, where amazing things are created with scrap metal.

Get out and about: take a walking tour of Wolverton’s magical Secret Garden; discover the flora and fauna of Shenley Wood and its connection to the beautiful ancient Westbury Arts Centre; explore the Gyosei and ROCLA art trails; tour some of the Heritage Open Day sites on a guided family bike ride.

Councillor Marklew, Cabinet Member for Culture enthused:  “MK Heritage Open Days is a fantastic annual event that the whole borough looks forward to each year and with a record number of FREE events and activities, 60 more than last year, there will be something for everyone, from our major MK Futures 2050 Exhibition in the Central Library Events Space, to the fantastic local open events for our village historic and archaeological societies.”

Mel Jeavons, Living Archive MK, said: “2019 is a big year for Heritage Open Days in Milton Keynes. We started with just 15 free events in 2006, and have grown to 150 this year over ten days. 2019 promises to be one of the best years yet for bringing heritage to life in Milton Keynes. There really is something for everyone to enjoy. Our thanks go to all the staff and volunteers of the all the organisations taking part.”

For full details of the many activities and events happening in and around Milton Keynes between Friday 13th and Sunday 22nd September, go to: www.mkheritageopendays.com

You can also follow Milton Keynes Heritage Open Days on Twitter using #MKHODs, and share your own pictures.

About Heritage Open Days?
Heritage Open Days is the largest festival of culture and history in the UK. As part of the national event across the country, MK Heritage Open Days is organised by Living Archive MK with support from Milton Keynes Council, MK Heritage Association and other partners, and is an annual celebration of the city’s heritage, art and culture.