East Lancashire is set to showcase its fascinating past this September as part of Heritage Open Days 2025, with a packed programme of free events, exhibitions, and guided walks.
From the town’s architectural gems to hidden histories and family-friendly activities, residents and visitors alike can discover more about East Lancashire.
Accrington
17 September: Behind-the-scenes tour exploring the club’s history. Pre-booking required.
Multiple dates available: Guided tour of the Grade II listed house and gardens, once home to suffrage pioneer Lydia Ernstine Becker. Pre-booking required.
20 September: Exhibition and tours of one of the UK’s largest mosques.
21 September: Explore the church (dating to 1546) and its architectural beauty.
15 September: Tour with the Mayor of Hyndburn, including the Mayor’s Parlour, ballroom, bust of Sir Robert Peel, and council chambers.
Multiple dates available: Explore the Grade II listed Carnegie library, a town landmark since 1908.
Local history displays in the library meeting room. (Lift currently unavailable, contact the library for accessibility).
15 September * 11:30am, 1pm, 2pm: A film show by Burnley Film Makers, featuring films from the 1940s-1980s plus a new production by local schools with Blaze Arts.
Find out more here.
14 September from 11am-4pm: Classic and retro cars and motorbikes on display along St James’s Street to Curzon Street. Special appearances by Optimus and Bumblebee at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm.
14 September from 12pm-4pm: The last steam-powered weaving shed in the world. Textile demonstrations, authentic displays, and behind-the-scenes access.
Find out more here.
September 10 * 2pm-4pm: Explore the Grade II listed landmark, recently restored.
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Darwen
Multiple dates – no booking required: Step inside Darwen Heritage Centre to explore the town’s architectural story. With a photo contest, educational walks, children’s activities, and creative colouring sessions, this family-friendly event celebrates the craft and heritage of stone masonry in Darwen.
Sunday 21 September – no booking required: Learn the story of Rev Henry Townsend, who arrived in 1793 as Minister of a breakaway group from Lower Chapel. Discover why the split occurred, and what followed, with a service featuring music, history, and costume.
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Multiple dates – no booking required: Uncover the history of Hoddlesden and its surrounding areas while enjoying a traditional cream tea.
Guided tours from architectural specialists, heritage-themed activities, and the unveiling of artefacts from the church’s collection all feature in this deep dive into the story of St James, Darwen’s oldest church.
Blackburn Central Library, Town Hall Street, BB2 1AG
Multiple dates – no booking required
A small display celebrates author Dorothy Whipple’s Blackburn connections. The showcase also promotes Dorothy Whipple: Beyond The Pages, a new film commissioned by the library with support from Arts Council England, to appear on Cotton Town this summer.
Saturday 20 September – no booking required
Step inside the school’s original 1930s building to explore archives and photographs, alongside the popular Museum of Memory. A Macmillan Coffee Morning will also be hosted on-site.
Enjoy a guided walk through Sunnyhurst Woods and Tockholes Plantation, finishing at Jubilee Tower. Along the way, learn about the local environment and landscape from Ribble Rivers Trust.
With everything from children’s crafts to historic displays and guided countryside walks, Darwen’s Heritage Open Days offer something for all ages and interests.
Celebrate fifty years of ownership and the ongoing restoration of this 18th-century listed building.
Multiple dates – no booking required
Step inside this early 18th-century Grade II* listed Meeting House, set in a walled peace garden and burial ground near the historic Limey Water packhorse bridge. Learn about its origins and role as a schoolhouse.
A special exhibition will showcase photographs, pamphlets, and scrapbooks telling the story of Haslingden through the decades.
Join a guided walking tour of the Museum on the Move project, exploring the town’s history through the stories of local businesses.
Wednesday 17 September – no booking required: Test your knowledge at a British-history themed coffee morning.
These events are part of the National Heritage Open Days festival, the largest celebration of history and culture in England.
Full event listings and booking details can be found at: Heritage Open Days.
Read more on Lancashire Telegraph
