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How to get free entry to hundreds of UK tourist attractions in September
A series of heritage open days in England, Scotland and Wales means you can visit hundreds of historic buildings for free in September.
While not all attractions have been confirmed yet, the festival has already announced free guided tours of parts of Westminster Abbey, free entry to HMS Wellington on the Thames, Penrhyn Castle and Garden in Wales and entry to part of the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh.
There is also a public ballot for the chance to visit the most popular sites such as 10 Downing Street, BBC Broadcasting House and BT Tower.
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When are free open days in the UK?
Dates vary across September. See below for details on when you can gain free entry to tourist sites and historic attractions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as it varies by nation. Even London has slightly different dates from the rest of England.
Plus, not every attraction permits free entry across all days of the festival, so you'll need to check, and for some, booking in advance (still free) is required.
A handful of the most popular attractions in the London Open House Days require you to register in advance, as they conduct a ballot for tickets.
Which tourist attractions are free in London?
In London, the festival's called London Open House and it runs from 13-21 September.
You'll need to move fast to get tickets for the most popular attractions. A ballot is running for guided tours to 10 Downing Street, the BT Tower, and several other historic sites. Register for a free account and then apply for a ticket before 18 August.
For some historic sites, such as the East End chapel of Westminster Abbey, you'll need to register.
For others you can just drop in on the day.
Which tourist attractions are free in England?
In the rest of England, the festival is called Heritage Open Days. It runs from 12 - 21 September and over 5,000 historic buildings - many of them not usually open to the public - are expected to take part. Many offer guided tours or talks.
Sites confirmed so far include: Carlisle Castle in Cumbria, St Mary's Guildhall in Coventry, Quarry Bank Mill Cheshire, Winchester Cathedral and Totnes Castle in Devon.
Which tourist attractions are free in Scotland?
The Doors Open Days Festival runs throughout September across Scotland. Dates vary by city and by region.
The most famous attractions require booking in advance, but there are also some where you can just drop in. This includes free entry to the Abbey Strand buildings in Edinburgh, part of the Palace of Holyrood House, which dates back to the 14th century.
If you're not around for the festival, several of Scotland's best tourist attractions are free all year, including the National Museum of Scotland – rated one of the UK's best museums.
Which tourist attractions are free in Wales?
The Open Days 2025 Festival runs throughout September in Wales, and includes free entry to more than 200 attractions, historic sights and tours.
There's free entry to the National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle, which, alongside the surrounding Slate Landscape, is the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Missed the dates? St Fagan's open-air museum in Cardiff, 40 buildings from different historical periods, was rated the best museum in the UK. It's completely free.
Free National Trust attractions
Many National Trust properties have announced they're taking part - including Cliveden House, Stowe Gardens (both Buckinghamshire), Wallington Hall in Northumberland and Allan Bank in the Lake District.
Each September, the National Trust offers free tickets to many of its historic houses, castles and gardens.
Which tourist attractions are free in Northern Ireland?
The European Heritage Open Days festival in Northern Ireland takes place on the weekend of 13 - 14 September.
Confirmed venues taking part include Ulster Hall in Belfast, the ruined Donluce Castle in Portrush and Kinbane Castle in Ballycastle.
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