Heritage Open Days, the country’s largest festival of history and culture returns this September with thousands of free events and experiences, including many in Warrington.
All of the below event are FREE to attend, but some require prebooking.
Big Battlefield Walks Weekends – Battle of Winwick 1648
Golborne Road, Winwick, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 8LF
Join the Battlefields Trust for a guided walk across the historic English Civil War battlefield at Winwick. Discover the dramatic events of August 1648 with expert commentary, and explore the surrounding heritage at St Oswald’s Church, including reenactments, period weaponry, and a display of battlefield finds.
The walk covers unpaved ground and lasts approximately two hours. Limited to 40 participants.
Sunday 14 September: 13:30–15:30
Prebooking required
Cairo Street Chapel
4 Cairo Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1ED
Discover over 300 years of history at Cairo Street Chapel, the earliest dissenting chapel in Warrington. Explore its peaceful gardens, rich Unitarian heritage, and connections to notable figures such as Joseph Priestley, Anna Letitia Barbauld, and the Gaskell family. Discover stories of social reform, anti-slavery activism, and industrial innovation.
Highlights include the Remembrance Garden, historic burial grounds, and displays on the Warrington Academy. Booklets and headstone records are available, and refreshments are provided.
Saturday 13 Sunday 14 September: 10:00–16:00
Prebooking not required
Discover the Hidden Transporter Bridge
47 Old Liverpool Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1AF
Join the Friends of Warrington Transporter Bridge for a fascinating guided walk exploring the world’s only rail transporter bridge. Learn about its unique engineering, industrial past, and potential future. The route includes railway lines, signal boxes, a chemical works, and the River Mersey, offering a rare glimpse into this Grade II* listed monument.
Expect rough ground near the bridge; suitable footwear is advised. Dogs welcome on leads.
Max 12 people per tour.
Sunday 14 Saturday 20 September: Tours at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 & 16:00
Prebooking required
St John The Evangelist Church
Old Chester Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6TQ
Visitors can explore this beautifully preserved Victorian church, consecrated in 1885 during a snowstorm and funded by Sir Gilbert Greenall of Walton Hall. Discover exquisite Gothic architecture by Paley and Austin, including a Devonshire marble font, intricately carved oak reredos and lectern, and a wagon-shaped roof adorned with ecclesiastical symbols.
Highlights include original stained glass windows, a rare Art Deco lighting scheme, and a high-quality Hills & Sons organ. Learn about the Daresbury family’s legacy and enjoy the warm glow of amber glass in the tower fanlight.
Saturday 13 September: 10:00–16:00
Prebooking not required
St Oswald’s Church
Golborne Road, Winwick, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 8LF
Step into the heart of English Civil War history at St Oswald’s Church, located on the site of the pivotal Battle of Winwick (Red Bank) in 1648. Explore the church’s role as a refuge and prison for Scottish troops, and witness a living history event with re-enactors from the Battle of Winwick Society. Expect muskets, uniforms, and battlefield talks throughout the weekend.
Beyond the war, discover the church’s rich medieval heritage and its connection to Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic, who married here in 1887.
Saturday 13 September: 10:00–16:00
Sunday 14 September: 12:00–15:00
Prebooking not required
Tunnel 250 – Celebrating Preston Brook Canal Tunnel’s 250th Anniversary
Heatherfield, The Wharf, Preston Brook, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 4BA
Join Heatherfield Heritage for a lively celebration marking 250 years of the Preston Brook canal tunnel—an engineering marvel of the Industrial Revolution. Enjoy a day of games, stalls, heritage displays, and live demonstrations at the historic wharf. Discover the story of the tunnel and its role in transforming transport and trade.
Limited parking available on site; additional parking in the village. Family-friendly and free to attend.
Sunday 21 September: 10:00–16:00
Prebooking not required
St. Matthew’s Church Stretton Open Day with tower tours
Stretton Road, Stretton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 4NT
Explore the heritage of St. Matthew’s Church in Stretton with a special open day featuring local history displays and guided visits to the bell tower. Climb 41 steps up the spiral staircase to the ringing chamber and learn about the art of bell ringing. Refreshments available throughout the day.
Ramp access to the church; tower access via stairs only. Max 8 people per tour, lasting approx. 30 minutes.
Saturday 20 September: 10:00–16:00
Prebooking not required
The Anglo-Saxon Story: Uncovering the Legends, Norman Rule, and Legacy of St Elphin’s
St Elphin’s Church, 129 Church Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2TL
Uncover over 1,000 years of history at one of Warrington’s oldest landmarks. This immersive event explores the Anglo-Saxon and Norman legacy of St Elphin’s Church through storytelling, archaeology, and architecture. Discover how stone and structure reveal tales of spiritual and political power, from Saxon traditions to Victorian revival. Highlights include, mini Talks on Saxon and Norman design, 3D visualisations of a lost motte-and-bailey castle, a fact vs folklore trail through the church’s features and interactive displays and creative interpretation.
Saturday 13 September: 10:00–14:00
Prebooking required
Walton Hall Open Day
Walton Hall Gardens, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6SN
Step inside Walton Hall, a grand Victorian country house built by Edward Greenall in the 1830s and later expanded by his son Gilbert Greenall, a brewer, MP, and Baronet. Explore the Hall at your own pace or join a guided tour led by volunteers. Discover the history of the Greenall family, the estate’s connection to the Bridgewater Canal, and its transformation into a public park in 1945.
Highlights include historical displays, activity packs, and volunteer-led tours (max 10 people, approx. 30 minutes). Lift access available to upper floors.
Sunday 21 September: 11:00–15:00
Prebooking not required
Warrington Masonic Hall
15 Winmarleigh Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1NB
One of England’s few Arts Council Accredited Masonic museums. A chance to uncover the fascinating story of the Liverpool Masonic Rebellion of 1826. Explore artefacts from the rebel Lodge of Sincerity, on loan from the National Museum in London, and see a Lodge room recreated as it was in the early 20th century.
Guided tours reveal the truth behind Freemasonry, its charitable work, and its enduring legacy. Speak with Freemasons, view rare items like a Masonic apron (c.1800), and discover the link between the Warrington Dispensary and Freemasonry.
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September: 10:00–16:00
Prebooking not required
For more information and to prebook your place, visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
