Hillingdon Council will welcome the public to its most distinctive heritage venues during the Open House Festival 2026, a free annual event running from Saturday 12th September to Sunday 20th September.
The festival gives visitors an exclusive chance to explore normally restricted sites, attend guided tours, take part in workshops and discover the borough’s rich architectural and wartime history.
The programme kicks off on 12th September with a behind‑the‑scenes guided tour of the Civic Centre at Hillingdon Museum and Archives Service, Uxbridge, running from 11am to midday. Attendees will admire the building’s striking architecture and its art collection.
Manor Farm in Ruislip opens its Tudor Manor House and medieval Great Barn from 12th to 13th September, 10 am‑4 pm, with the Great Barn available for a special viewing between 1 pm and 4 pm on 13th September.
Eastcote House Gardens invites visitors on 13th September, 10 am‑4 pm, to enter the usually off‑limits 18th‑century, Grade II‑listed dovecote set amid tranquil gardens.
Cranford Park offers access to its restored stables, a Secret Garden and historic cellars on 13th September, 11 am‑3 pm.
Southlands Arts Centre in West Drayton hosts open days, workshops and guided tours on 12th ‑13th September and again from 18th ‑ 20th September, 10 am‑4 pm, showcasing the Queen‑Anne‑era house.
The Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge will welcome the public on 12th ‑ 13th September and 19‑20 September, 10 am‑4 pm, allowing exploration of the Second World War Generator House and a surviving pillbox.
Throughout the nine‑day festival, families, history enthusiasts and local residents are encouraged to discover Hillingdon’s hidden treasures, supporting community engagement with the borough’s cultural heritage.
Cllr Wayne Bridges, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: “Hillingdon is home to a range of remarkable buildings. Some have impressive architecture, others have intriguing histories linked to the Second World War, with all providing an eye-opening glimpse of life in the borough in days gone by.
“For this year’s Open House Festival, residents will have a fantastic opportunity to explore some of our most distinctive heritage sites, including those areas that are rarely open to the public. It’s a chance to discover more about the borough’s rich history and see some of these fascinating buildings from a different perspective.
“For fans of municipal architecture, we’ve even included a tour of our very own Civic Centre, a striking Grade II listed building of British ‘neo-vernacular’ design.”
