Every year on four days in September, the bunting is unfurled and buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors. It is a once-a-year chance to discover the often hidden or forgotten gems on our doorsteps and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities that bring local history and culture to life.
There are many events on Merseyside of course. Some events will already be fully booked, many do not require booking.
We’ve listed just a few below and here are the links to the pages for the 6 Liverpool City Region boroughs. Check the full details on the main website for dates/times and booking details.
Liverpool
Wirral
Sefton
Halton
Knowsley
St Helens
Liverpool:
Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3BX
Discover the history of Liverpool’s oldest city centre building through tours, talks, family activities and an archive display. Responding to Anne Harild’s courtyard installation, this year has an architectural focus, including a talk on how artists have engaged with the building’s history and fabric. For full programme and to book tours, visit our website.
Bluecoat is Liverpool’s centre for the contemporary arts, situated in the heart of the city in Liverpool’s oldest building, dating from 1717. A year-round programme of exhibitions, arts events and workshops and our delightful cafe, bistro and garden make us the perfect escape from the busy Liverpool ONE and Church Street shopping areas.
Pre-booking: Preferred
Bridewell Studios, Prescot Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 8UL
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a historic building which retains many original features from the time when it was a police and fire station. Now the home of 34 artists and crafts people there will also be an opportunity to see their workspaces and to talk to some of the practitioners.
Refreshments provided.
Pre-booking: Required
Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 8EW
Guided tours of Liverpool Central Library. Liverpool Central Library has been fully redeveloped after comprehensive construction work. Tours will include the magnificent listed buildings dating from the later 19th century onwards, such as the Picton Reading Room, Picton Hall, the Hornby Library and the Oak Room. Winner of the RIBA North West Region Conservation Scheme of the Year for 2014.
Pre-booking: Required
16 Cook Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 9RF
16 Cook Street is Grade II* listed and one of only two surviving buildings designed by Peter Ellis in 1866, two years after Oriel Chambers in Water Street. Built of cast iron and stone clad with a glazed cantilevered spiral staircase built into courtyard at rear. This building Inspired early skyscrapers and architects including John Root, who designed The Rookery in Chicago. Event not suitable for children under the age of 7.
Saturday: Tours 1100, 1300 & 1500. No booking required
Visit The Calderstones
Older than Stonehenge, older than the Pyramids… Closed to the public since the 1980s this is a rare chance to see the Calderstones up close and personal.
5000 Years Ago the first settled humans chose the area of south Liverpool as a special landscape.
They built a huge prehistoric burial monument of stone and earth, on it they carved mysterious spirals and circles and in it they buried their dead.
No booking required
Williamson Tunnels, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 3ED
Take a free 45 minute tour through part of the incredible underground labyrinth of sandstone tunnels created beneath the Edge Hill area of Liverpool by 19th century philanthropist and eccentric, Joseph Williamson and learn more about what lay behind his mysterious burrowing.
Pre-booking: Required
Croxteth Hall & Country Park, Croxteth Park, Liverpool, Merseyside, L12 0HB
Visit the historic home of the Earl’s of Sefton, a grand mansion house in a picturesque country estate. Croxteth Hall dates from Tudor times but is displayed as an Edwardian country house, with the ‘Downton Abbey’ lifestyle on show. From the kitchens and wine cellar to the smoking room and billiard room all the life of the aristocratic household is displayed.
No booking required
Wirral:
Walk around the Williamson 9th and 11th of September 2pm
A look at the building, history and collections of the Williamson with Colin Simpson, Wirral’s Principal Museums Officer, including how and why collections are formed and a glimpse behind the scenes at the work of an active museum. Tour lasts approximately one and half hours.
Pre-booking required. Disabled access. Contact: Gallery Reception 0151 652 4177