Free Hillingdon Open House unlocks rarely seen sites
Hillingdon’s Open House Festival 2026 will offer free access to historic buildings and normally restricted spaces from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 September. Events will take place at six locations across Hillingdon, London, with the first scheduled openings starting at 10am.
The programme is open to the general public and ranges from drop-in visits to guided tours and workshops. Some activities may require advance booking, so visitors should confirm the entry arrangements for their chosen venue before travelling.
The dates and opening times by venue
| Venue | Opening details |
|---|---|
| Civic Centre guided tour, Uxbridge | Saturday 12 September, 11am to midday |
| Manor Farm, Ruislip | Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, 10am to 4pm; Great Barn from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday |
| Eastcote House Gardens, Eastcote | Sunday 13 September, 10am to 4pm |
| Cranford Park | Sunday 13 September, 11am to 3pm |
| Southlands Arts Centre, West Drayton | 12, 13 and 18–20 September, 10am to 4pm |
| Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge | 12, 13, 19 and 20 September, 10am to 4pm |
Architecture, gardens and wartime history
The Hillingdon Museum and Archives Service programme begins with a rare guided tour of the Civic Centre. Visitors can examine the Grade II listed building’s British neo-vernacular design, striking architecture and art collection away from its everyday civic function.
At Manor Farm in Ruislip, the focus moves further back in time. The site includes a Tudor Manor House and the medieval Great Barn, which has its own shorter opening period on 13 September.
Eastcote House Gardens will open its normally out-of-bounds Dovecote. The Grade II listed structure dates from the 18th century and stands within the surrounding gardens.
Cranford Park offers a different view of local conservation. Visitors can enter its restored stables, walk through the Secret Garden and learn about ongoing work involving the historic cellars.
Southlands Arts Centre will hold open days, workshops and guided tours inside its Queen Anne-era house in West Drayton. Its six scheduled dates make it one of the programme’s most frequently available locations.
The Battle of Britain Bunker site in Uxbridge brings the programme into the Second World War. Its Open House dates include access to the Generator House associated with the formerly top-secret underground bunker, as well as the Pillbox.
Free entry, with booking checks advised
Open House Festival is a London-wide celebration of the capital’s built environment, organised by the charity Open City. The 2026 edition is its 35th year and includes buildings, heritage sites, workplaces and private homes that are not normally accessible to the public.
Hillingdon Council and Open City are presenting the local programme. Entry is free, but arrangements differ: some sessions are drop-in, while tours or workshops may require booking. The council’s Discover Hillingdon history-events listing carries the complete programme and the current entry instructions for each activity.
Source: Hillingdon Council
Context & actions About this article
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The event dates, opening times, locations and entry guidance were checked against Hillingdon Council’s programme announcement.
- Matched the festival period to 12–20 September 2026.
- Checked each listed venue and its published opening times.
- Retained the council’s distinction between drop-in activities and events that may require...
- Confirmed that admission is described as free.
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- Hillingdon Council
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- Hillingdon, London
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 12:52
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