Heritage Open Days return to Luton from Saturday 8 to Sunday 17 September, offering a free programme of walks, talks and exhibitions that celebrate the town’s rich history.
Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, everyone can explore Luton’s often untold stories without spending a penny.
From exhibitions to walking tours, parks, pubs and history, there’s something in the programme for almost every interest. Whether you love art or just seeing familiar streets in a new light, the festival gives you a fresh way to connect with the town.
What Heritage Open Days are about
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Each September, thousands of volunteers and organisations open up historic buildings and stage free tours, exhibitions and creative events. The aim is to celebrate heritage, share under-told stories and give the public access to places and experiences normally hidden or charged for.
Your weekend itinerary
Here’s our tips of how to see the best of it over one weekend:
Saturday 13 September – a deep dive into history
- 09:30–11:00 – Secrets of High Town Side Streets
Guided walk through North, Reginald and Frederick Streets to uncover overlooked architecture. - 11:00–12:00 – Discovering St Mary’s Church
Explore the medieval landmark on Church Street. - 12:30–15:30 – Climb the Tower at St Mary’s
Enjoy sweeping views across Luton. - Drop in any time 10:00–16:00 at the Hat District for Hidden in Plain Sight, a photography exhibition of unnoticed architectural details, and Stories Inscribed, where artist Abu Yahya creates large-scale live calligraphy.
Sunday 14 September – memories and parkland
- 12:00–15:00 – Memories of Vauxhall’s factory floor
Wardown House, Museum and Gallery hosts an exhibition on more than a century of Luton’s automotive heritage. - Follow with a relaxed stroll through Wardown Park’s lakeside paths.
More if you can linger
- Mon 15 Sept 10:30–11:30 – Wardown Park guided heritage walk
- Mon 15 Sept 19:30–21:00 – The Heritage Legacy of David Ainsbury at Bushmead Community Hub
- Tue 16 Sept 19:30–21:00 – The Painters Arms and Edwardian Class Consciousness
- Wed 17 Sept 18:00–19:30 – The controversial and energetic vicar of St Mary’s
- Wed 17 Sept 18:30–20:00 – Look to the Rooftops creative writing workshop at Hat Works
Why it matters
Heritage Open Days shine a light on hidden architecture and forgotten narratives, inviting communities to celebrate local identity. In a diverse town like Luton, these stories — from migration and industry to faith and the arts — offer a chance to reclaim and share the past.
Plan your visit
All events are free but some guided walks and talks may require booking. Links for further details are listed below.
Full list of Heritage Open Days events in Luton
| Date & time | Title | Venue | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 11 Sept, 10:00-16:00 | Stories Inscribed: Live calligraphy in the Hat District by Abu Yahya | Hat Factory Arts Centre | Local artist Abu Yahya will be making large-scale calligraphy works live in the Hat District. Expect public display creation and maybe watching the process. Find out more |
| Fri 12 Sept, 10:00-16:00 | Hidden in Plain Sight – Photography Exhibition and Community Open Call for Heritage Open Days 2025 | Hat District, Bute Street | A photography exhibition focused on architectural details in Luton that often go unnoticed: things like tiled doorsteps, carved plaques, decorative brickwork, fading signs and similar heritage features. Find out more |
| Sat 13 Sept, 09:30-11:00 | Guided Walk: Secrets of High Town Side Streets | Starting at Luton Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1 North Street | A walking tour (90 minutes) exploring side streets in High Town: North, Reginald, Frederick Streets, and Clarendon Road. Heritage features of streetscape and architecture. Find out more |
| Sat 13 Sept, 11:00-12:00 | Discovering St Mary’s Church, Luton | St Mary’s Church, Church Street | A tour inside St Mary’s, likely focusing on its history, architecture and role in Luton. Find out more |
| Sat 13 Sept, 12:30-15:30 | Climb the tower at St Mary’s Luton | St Mary’s Church, Church Street | Opportunity to climb the tower of St Mary’s for views over Luton; also gives perspective on church architecture. |
| Sun 14 Sept, 12:00-15:00 | Memories of Vauxhall’s factory floor | Wardown House, Museum and Gallery, Old Bedford Road | Explore Luton’s Vauxhall factory history (120 years in town) via exhibition or talks. Find out more |
| Mon 15 Sept, 10:30-11:30 | Wardown Park guided heritage walk | Wardown Park, New Bedford Road | Walk through Wardown Park; will highlight forgotten features, Victorian and Edwardian elements, including the suspension bridge and the old mansion house (now museum). Find out more |
| Mon 15 Sept, 19:30-21:00 | The Heritage Legacy of David Ainsbury | Bushmead Community Hub, Hancock Drive | Talk/celebration of David Ainsbury’s work: he wrote the “Yesteryear” column in the Luton News and contributed via his WW1 blog. Find out more |
| Tue 16 Sept, 19:30-21:00 | The Painters Arms and Edwardian Class Consciousness | The Painter’s Arms, 79 High Town Road | A talk focusing on how the layout of this pub (saloon, jug and public bars) reflects social divisions of Edwardian society. Find out more |
| Wed 17 Sept, 18:00-19:30 | The controversial and energetic vicar of St Mary’s Luton | St Mary’s Church, Church Street | Exploration of Rev James O’Neill, vicar from 1862-95: his energetic work, visible legacies around the church, and controversies during his tenure. Find out more |
| Wed 17 Sept, 18:30-20:00 | Look to the Rooftops – A creative writing workshop by Marra Theatre | Hat Works, 47 Guildford Street | Workshop exploring Luton’s hidden history via creative writing; likely participants will be prompted by local heritage, architecture, possibly views or stories. Find out more |
| Sat 20 Sept, 10:00-17:00 | Materials Market | Hat Factory Arts Centre | A market where sustainably made materials (for millinery or design) are sold/browsed. Although this is outside the main Heritage Open Days dates, included under Heritage category. Find out more |
Please note: Some events are fully booked and those ones are not listed above.
