England’s largest celebration of history and culture returns this autumn with the Heritage Open Days.

Hundreds of historical venues and cultural hotspots up and down the country will be open to visitors for free on select dates this month - including 163 right here in Kent.

We’ve picked a handful of buildings taking part in the county’s open days that are usually closed to the public, giving you the opportunity to discover a slice of Kent’s rich heritage that you might not get to see again.

To find the full list of participating venues, click here.

Behind the Scenes at Kent Archives, Maidstone

This month, take a behind-the-scenes look at one of the County Town’s fascinating attractions. Inside the Kent History and Library Centre lies the Kent Archives, which will be open for bespoke tours where visitors can discover hidden spaces and gain insight into the work of the archives team. You can explore the Archives Workroom, Conservation Studio, Camera Room and hear expert commentary on the HODs Inventors exhibition, focusing on innovative Kent inventors of the past.

When: Saturday, September 10 at 10am and 2pm. You must pre-book your tour by calling 03000 420673 or via email at archives@kent.gov.uk.

Captain's Garden at Deal Castle

While you can visit Deal Castle all year round, work on restoring these beautiful private gardens has only recently begun. Originally created in around 1733 as an ornamental kitchen garden for Admiral John Norris, the Captain of Deal Castle at the time, the space has since been used as wartime allotments and a market garden. However, since the 1980s the garden has been neglected and allowed to overgrow. Today, the grounds are slowly being brought back to life by members of Deal Hop Farm, who will be on hand alongside English Heritage volunteers to explain their work and the history of the site.

When: Sunday, September 18 from 10am to 2pm. No booking required.

Cliftonville Cultural Space (the shul), Margate

Opening for the first time since 2017, this future community hub is allowing visitors to see the early stages of its exciting restoration. The former Margate synagogue, which was built in 1929, is being turned into a multi-arts space after being deconsecrated in 2017. For the past five years its doors have been firmly closed, but it has remained a much-loved example of the area’s cultural heritage. The historic building is now being transformed into a space for the whole community to enjoy, and Heritage Open Day visitors can take a tour to see architectural plans for its development in the coming months and years.

When: Saturday, 10 and Sunday, 11 September and Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 September from 11am to 4pm. No booking required.

Hoppers, Tonbridge

Despite being almost destroyed by extensive flooding in February 2020, this historic building has been given a new lease of life and is ready to welcome visitors back through its doors. Since a major refurbishment to repair the damage inflicted by the floods, incredible features such as grade fireplaces, traditional oak beams and original pub cladding have been uncovered and are now on display for all to see. This self-catering accommodation has a rich hop-picking heritage and once offered refuge to sick workers as a Hoppers’ Hospital. During the open days, you can find out more about the building’s uses over the years with tours, pictures and historic records.

When: Friday, September 16 from 6pm to 8pm; Saturday, September 17 from 10am to 4pm; and Sunday, September 18 from 11am to 2pm. No booking required.

Nash Mausoleum in Farningham, Sevenoaks

Part of St Peter and St Paul's Church, a Grade I listed building which has stood in the village of Farningham for nearly 800 years, this unusual mausoleum is something to behold. The dome is surmounted by a four-legged obelisk and topped with a carved flower, and is suspected to have been built by an inexperienced architect in the 1700s due to the inconsistency in its style and aesthetic. The exterior of the building was restored in 1988 and, both inside and out, it maintains many fascinating inscriptions dating back hundreds of years.

When: Sunday, September 18 from 2pm to 4pm. No booking required.

Sheerness Dockyard Church Restoration, Sheerness

Tour this magnificent Georgian building and find out how the iconic Sheppey landmark is being transformed for a new generation. The Grade II listed church, which was built in 1829, has been damaged by fires in 1881 and 2001, but remains a striking example of Palladian architecture and design with some original features such as the cast-iron columns. However, the impressive new restoration is set to turn this former church into a business start-up centre for young entrepreneurs, cafe and a display of the Great Dockyard Model, and visitors can take a first look at the changes being made ahead of the official opening date later this year.

When: Saturday, September 17 from 10.30am to 3pm. No booking required.

The Twitch Inn, West Malling

It’s only open for three days, but there’s plenty to pack in at the Twitch Inn this September. The former home to the RAF West Malling Officers’ mess gave refuge and respite during WWII, and will be showcasing its wartime history with a collection of rare RAF memorabilia. There will also be a new exhibition about the Town Malling Football Club, which had the support of local fans from 1885 to 2017, and cartoons by David Langdon, as well as displays on the Malling Asylum, Motherwell and other nearby points of interest.

When: Sunday, September 11, Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 from 12pm to 4pm. No booking required.

351 High Street (Chatham House), Rochester

Born from JT Featherstone’s innovative idea to create a departmental high street in Medway in 1904, Chatham House was once the go-to homeware and furniture part of town. Originally built in 1740 as a mansion for Isaac Wildash, Rochester MP James Hulkes eventually took over the house and its attached working brewery which produced Lion beers. The brewing eventually ended in 1912, which is when JT Featherstone saw his opportunity to turn it into a shop. Trading didn’t stop here until 1983 and, since then, the building has fallen into disarray. It has recently been restored but visitors can still learn all about its intriguing and diverse history during the open day.

When: Saturday, 10 and Sunday, 11 September and Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 September from 10am to 4pm. No booking required.