-Portland-Works-(top-right)-Harmony-Works-(bottom-left)-Old-Head-Post-Of.png?trim=37,0,37,0&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
Sheffield Heritage Open Days is back for 2026, the festival that brings communities together to celebrate heritage and history.
Part of the national Heritage Open Days festival, it runs from 11 to 20 September, and gives members of the public chance to enjoy free access to experiences and events across England.
This years theme is ‘Everyday Histories’, aimed for people to explore stories of the daily working lives of our ancestors.
Sheffield will be hosting over a hundred free events, making the city one of the largest Heritage Open Days centres in the country.
The festival is presented by National Trust, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and run by thousands of local organisations and volunteers.
We have compiled a list of nine historic sites for you and your family to visit throughout the month.
5. Take a guided tour of the previous headquarters for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company, where it remained offices until 1972. There will be a chance to learn about its role in the second world war and its reincarnation as an 80s nightclub and all-you-can-eat buffet. Multiple dates throughout September are available to book through Harmony Works website.
Harmony Works at Canada House | Google maps
6. Are you passionate about cinema? You can take a free behind-the-scenes look of the projection booths that have screened thousands of independent films from around the world. On 12 September, tours are available throughout the day. Make sure to book ahead by contacting the Showroom box office.
Showroom Cinema | Google maps
7. On 12 September, visit the city's Edwardian Post Office, now home to Sheffield Hallam University as the Sheffield Creative Industries Institute. The tour will take visitors to see where mail and parcels were originally sorted, the telephone exchange and the main post office counter. Prebooking is required through Eventbrite.
Old Head Post Office, Fitzalan Square | Google maps
8. If you're a fan of music, a tour of one of the UK's top live recording venues is a great opportunity to get behind-the-scenes access. On 13 September, Yellow Arch Studios will open its doors to tell its history from the 1870s as Clarence Works, to its current role in the music industry. Remember to pre book your space via Eventbrite.
Yellow Arch Studios, Burton Road | Google maps