A Collaboration Post with VisitBradford

Heritage Open Days are back from 12–21 September, and this year’s theme— “Buildings, Bridges and Beehives”—celebrates the spaces we build and the stories they hold. Across Bradford and Calderdale, you can explore everything from poetic birthplaces to towering follies—for free. It’s a brilliant chance to discover the places you pass every day and the people who shaped them.

Calderdale: Towers, Chapels & Literary Landscapes

Calderdale’s HODs line-up offers a mix of grand views, spiritual spaces, and literary heritage:

• Wainhouse Tower – Climb Halifax’s iconic “Tower of Spite” for panoramic views and Victorian eccentricity.
• Hebden Bridge Picture House – Explore the 103-year-old cinema’s architecture and its role in community storytelling.
• Bethel Chapel, Shelf – Visit this charming chapel on Yorkshire Churches Day and learn about its role in local spiritual life.
• Ted Hughes’ Birthplace – Step into the modest home where the poet was born and reflect on how place shaped his powerful voice.

Other Calderdale highlights include Shibden Hall, Bankfield Museum, Halifax Playhouse, and Heptonstall’s historic village trail, each offering unique insights into how spaces evolve with time and purpose.

Bradford: Where History Meets Innovation

Bradford’s HODs programme showcases the city’s rich architectural and cultural heritage:

• Bradford Cathedral – Discover centuries of design, from mediaeval foundations to modern stained glass, with a spotlight on women artists and makers.
• Bradford Police Museum – Step into the Victorian courtroom and cells and learn about civic architecture and law enforcement.
• Dobson Locks Blacksmith’s Forge – Watch traditional craftsmanship in action at this 200-year-old forge on the canal banks of Apperley Bridge.
• Bolling Hall Museum – Celebrate 110 years of this historic house museum, with stories from mediaeval times to the Civil War.

Other Bradford highlights include Manningham Mills, Bradford Playhouse, and the 1in12 Club, each offering fresh perspectives on how buildings and bridges connect people, ideas, and histories.

Why not make a day of it and travel by train or bus? Many venues are just a short ride apart, and it’s a great way to explore sustainably. Plan your route with the West Yorkshire Journey Planner.