Heritage Open Days are returning to Preston, with even more venues opening their doors in 2019.

This year there are 36 different buildings available to explore between Friday 13 September and Sunday 22 September as part of the national Heritage Open Days initiative.

Here we list what’s on offer in Preston by date – note some venues are open on more than one date so appear more than once in the list. All of the venues and tours are free, but be sure to check if booking is required.

Friday 13 September

Garstang
Meet at the Visit Garstang Centre for a five-mile walk that will explore 500 years of Garstang’s history through its buildings.

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory
Discover the 1927 Moor Park observatory, which houses a historic telescope, plus displays of meteorites and astronomical history.

Saturday 14 September

Broughton in Amounderness Heritage Centre and Church Cottage Museum
Explore Church Cottage, which dates back to 1590 and was restored as a museum in 1995 as part of Broughton Heritage Centre.

Church of St Michael and All Angels
Visit this Ashton church for a self-guided tour of the interior and a wander around the grounds, plus catch piano recitals throughout the day.

Dob Croft
Family activities include making bird feeders, learning about the great crested newt, listening to talks on local history, and touring the nature reserve.

Read more: Help the hedgehogs as part of this £50,000 Ingol volunteering project

Fishwick Bottoms
Join this two to three hour guided walk to discover the landscape and heritage of Fishwick Local Nature Reserve.

Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library
Usually only open for special tours, this is a rare chance to visit the Egyptian Balcony, right at the top of the Grade 1 listed Harris.

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory
Discover the 1927 Moor Park observatory, which houses a historic telescope, plus displays of meteorites and astronomical history.

Kennington Primary ‘Bubble’ classroom
See the first fully structural plastic building in Britain that – thanks to the oil crisis in 1973 – remains a one-off, and is now Grade 2 listed.

Read more: Heritage Open Days return to Preston with gin bar and primary school classroom to explore

Lancashire Archives
Commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo massacre by viewing archive collections including the personal papers of key figures.

Lancashire County Museum Service Conservation Studios
Go behind the scenes of the conservation studios where sculptures, paintings, archaeology and more are cleaned and restored.

Lancashire Infantry Museum
See the usually inaccessible Fulwood Barracks where the Great War Society and 47th Regiment of Foot Reenactment Society will be in attendance.

Moor Park
Join a walk to explore the ongoing restoration works and rich history of this park, one of the first municipal parks which was laid out in the 1830s.

Pilling St. John the Baptist Old Church
Look round this Georgian church, which dates from the early 18th century and has remained largely unaltered since then.

Preston Bus Station
Join a tour to visit areas that aren’t generally open to the public during this, Preston Bus Station’s 50th year.

Preston Markets
Join a walk to find out about the history of Preston’s markets including the Grade 2 listed canopies, and receive a free drinks voucher and free gift.

Preston Masonic Hall
Discover the history and role of masons in Preston by visiting the lodge rooms and museum, where you can see an exhibition of Masonic regalia.

Preston Railway Station
Learn about the history of the station, including how the large central platform was larger than any of the major London terminals at the time.

Preston Town Hall
Visit the Council Chamber and discover how local decisions are made there, plus meet the Mayor in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Read more: Update on former Preston Market Hall car park demolition

St Peter’s Church – UCLan Arts Centre
See features of the interior of this Commissioners’ ‘Waterloo’ church, which is not normally open to the public, including fine ironwork decoration.

St Walburge’s Church
Discover Preston’s Grade I listed church and climb the highest parish church spire in the UK for panoramic views over Preston.

St Wilfrid’s Church
Learn about Father ‘Daddy’ Dunn, the man who made Preston the first gas-lit town outside London, and the driving force behind the church’s construction.

Winckley Square
Join a guided walk to hear about the famous and infamous former residents of Preston’s only Georgian Square, and view the exhibitions.

Sunday 15 September

St George’s Church
Visit the oldest surviving church in Preston, which was built in 1725-26 as a chapel of ease to St John’s Church – now Preston Minster.

Avenham and Miller Parks
Explore these fine examples of Victorian urban parks, and find out how they were created in this 90 minute walk.

Broughton
This walk will tell how the people of Broughton and the place itself has played a role down the centuries in wartime.

Broughton in Amounderness Heritage Centre and Church Cottage Museum open days
Explore Church Cottage, which dates back to 1590 and was restored as a museum in 1995 is part of Broughton Heritage Centre.

Pilling St. John the Baptist Old Church
Look round this Georgian church, which dates from the early 18th century and has remained largely unaltered since then.

Bleasdale
Walk in the footsteps of those who lived and worked in Bleasdale, and take in the exhibition of the community’s history.

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory
Discover the 1927 Moor Park observatory, which houses a historic telescope, plus displays of meteorites and astronomical history.

Plau Gin and Beer House
Discover the old Plough Inn, complete with Medieval well, Dram Shop and remains of an 18th century distillery in its vaulted cellar.

Preston Cemetery
Join a one-hour tour and visit the newly-listed Grade 2 Abstinence Memorial and graves of influential temperance campaigners, among others.

Preston Cleansing Department
Discover the history of dealing with Preston rubbish via the Victorian brick buildings and old tipping area, plus learn how rubbish is processed today.

Preston Masonic Hall
Discover the history and role of masons in Preston by visiting the lodge rooms and museum, where you can see an exhibition of Masonic regalia.

Preston Playhouse
Go backstage to see a stage set under construction, plus learn about the history of the building, formerly a Friends’ Meeting House.

Preston Railway Station
Learn about the history of the station, including how the large central platform was larger than any of the major London terminals at the time.

Read more: Watch as The Flying Scotsman powers out of Preston Station

St George’s Church
Visit the oldest surviving church in Preston, which was built in 1725-26 as a chapel of ease to St John’s Church – now Preston Minster.

St Walburge’s Church
Discover Preston’s Grade I listed church and climb the highest parish church spire in the UK for panoramic views over Preston.

St Wilfrid’s Church
Learn about Father ‘Daddy’ Dunn, the man who made Preston the first gas-lit town outside London, and the driving force behind the church’s construction.

UCLan Special Collections
See some of UCLan’s collections of rare printed books, and important archival materials, plus archives covering almost 200 years of the institution.

Winckley Square
Join a guided walk to hear about the famous and infamous former residents of Preston’s only Georgian Square, and view the exhibitions.

Monday 16 September

Plau Gin and Beer House
Discover the old Plough Inn, complete with Medieval well, Dram Shop and remains of an 18th century distillery in its vaulted cellar.

Tuesday 17 September

Plau Gin and Beer House
Discover the old Plough Inn, complete with Medieval well, Dram Shop and remains of an 18th century distillery in its vaulted cellar.

Wednesday 18 September

Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library
Usually only open for special tours, this is a rare chance to visit the Egyptian Balcony, right at the top of the Grade 1 listed Harris.

Read more: Man shows Preston pride with tattoo of Harris Museum

Lancashire County Museum Service Conservation Studios
Go behind the scenes of the conservation studios where sculptures, paintings, archaeology, and more are cleaned and restored.

Plau Gin and Beer House
Discover the old Plough Inn, complete with Medieval well, Dram Shop and remains of an 18th century distillery in its vaulted cellar.

Saturday 21 September

Church of St Michael and All Angels
Visit this Ashton church for a self-guided tour of the interior and a wander around the grounds, plus catch piano recitals throughout the day.

Garstang Quaker Meeting House
Over tea and cake, find out about the history of the Quakers in the area and the Meeting House, plus there’s an optional guided walk.

Hoghton Tower
Hear about the recent archaeological dig at Hoghton Tower, or take in tasters of the Historic Graffiti tour and the Dolls House Collection.

Preston Bus Station
Go visit the exhibition at the Harris during this, Preston Bus Station’s 50th year.

Read more: How your photos of Preston Bus Station could be displayed at the Harris

St Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs Church
Look around this Gothic-style church including its high altar and sanctuary, side altars and stained glass, and visit the War Memorial Chapel.

St Walburge’s Church
Discover Preston’s Grade I listed church and climb the highest parish church spire in the UK for panoramic views over Preston.

Sunday 22 September

Haslam Park
Join one walk to explore the 200-year history of the Lancaster Canal towpath, and another to hear about the history of Haslam Park.

Preston Bus Station
visit the exhibition at the Harris during this, Preston Bus Station’s 50th year.

The Coach House on Hurst Grange Park
See all that remains of a once extensive complex of buildings from the early 19th century and learn more about the wildlife from RSPB experts.

Where will you be visiting in Preston for the Heritage Open Days? Let us know in the comments below.