The National Trust has announced that four of its properties in Gloucestershire will offer free entry on specific dates this September as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival celebrating history and culture, taking place over a 10-day period each September. The event provides an opportunity to access historic sites and hidden gems across the country, often free of charge, inviting a wider audience to experience England’s rich heritage.
Within Gloucestershire, four National Trust estates will open without the usual admission fees on designated days, allowing visitors to save between £9 and £20 per adult compared to standard non-member prices.
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The details are as follows:
Hidcote Manor Garden
- Date: 13 September, 10am to 4pm
- Location: Cotswolds, near the Warwickshire border, approximately 10 minutes from Chipping Campden
- Usual Entry Price: £20
- What to Expect: Visitors can enjoy the celebrated 20th-century Arts and Crafts garden created by renowned horticulturist and plant collector Major Lawrence Johnston. A café is available on-site, offering indoors and outdoor seating with drinks, cakes, and light lunches.
Chedworth Roman Villa
- Dates: 12 and 13 September, 10am to 4pm
- Location: The Cotswolds, roughly 20 minutes from both Cheltenham and Cirencester
- Usual Entry Price: £15
- What to Expect: Explore one of Britain’s most remarkable Roman sites and meet reenactors portraying Roman characters. Throughout the day, villa residents will demonstrate aspects of life from nearly 2,000 years ago.
Cherington Park
- Date: 12 September, 10am to 5pm
- Location: Ozleworth, near Wotton-under-Edge
- Usual Entry Price: £15
- What to Expect: This 16th-century hunting lodge, set within an extensive estate, is home to resident peacocks that roam freely. Visitors can enjoy the grounds and the unique atmosphere without charge on this day.
Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate
- Date: 20 September, 11am to 4pm
- Location: Cotswolds, situated between Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury
- Usual Entry Price: £9
- What to Expect: Discover England’s only surviving 17th-century grandstand, restored in 1998. The site offers insights into the social life, entertainment, and notable figures that have shaped Lodge Park over the centuries.
These free entry days provide a valuable opportunity for those unfamiliar with these historic sites to experience Gloucestershire’s heritage through the National Trust’s care, without the usual admission cost.