Heritage Opens Days 2024
2024 marks the 30th year of Heritage Open Days. The national festival, with a theme this year of ‘Routes, Networks & Connections’, takes place between 6-15 September.
All events are free but booking may be required for those with limited spaces.
Events are listed below. Please note, not all events are listed on the Heritage Open Days website event directory.
Information is updated regularly and subject to change.
Please check with individual venues/groups that events are going ahead.
Events in Buxton are co-ordinated by Vision Buxton kindly supported by a grant from Tarmac Tunstead.
A festival leaflet isavailable from the Buxton Visitor Centre in The Pump Room.
Find out more about the festival and see a daily listing here.
Last updated 15.08.2024
Open Days
St. John the Baptist Church
St John’s Church opens its doors once again during the festival, exploring connections with the Dukes of Devonshire and local music. Organ recitals take place most days at 1pm. Hosted by Buxton Anglican Parish Team.
Friday 6 to Saturday 14 September 2024 
11am-3pm
St John’s Road, SK17 6XN
No booking required.
More information on the HOD website here.
Trinity Church
See inside the church building and discover something of its history.
Saturdays 7 & 14 September 2024
9.30am-3pm
Hardwick Mount, SK17 6PR
No booking required.
Christ Church Burbage
The church is open to visitors with historical documents and photos on display. There will be guided tours of the churchyard and local area with reference to notable local people buried here and their Burbage connection. Hosted by Buxton Anglican Parish Team.
Saturday 7 September 2024
10.30am-4pm, 30m tours throughout the day, last tour at 3pm
St John’s Road, SK17 9AD
No booking required.
More information on the HOD website here.
Crescent Assembly Rooms
Take a look inside the wonderful Assembly Rooms in the recently-restored Buxton Crescent. The ballroom will host an art exhibition featuring More Care Design Collective’s plaster panels which represent historical animal figures and Ruby Moon’s community textile projects, The Big Quilt of Water and The Big Quilt Change, reflecting societal hopes and water’s importance. Hosted by Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust.
Saturday 7 to Tuesday 10 September 2024
10am-4pm
The Crescent, SK17 6BQ
No booking required.
More information on the HOD website here.
Buxton Opera House
Buxton Opera House opens its doors to celebrate the heritage, community and history of this iconic venue, one of the country’s finest examples of a Frank Matcham theatre. You are free to wander but guided tours are available throughout the day. You can also contribute to an archive project by sharing stories and memories of visiting the theatre. Hosted by High Peak Theatre Trust.
Friday 13 September 2024
10am-4pm
Water Street, SK17 6XN
Guided tours can be booked via the Box Office online here.
More information on the HOD website here.
Talks
Connecting the Devonshire Dome to the Future
A talk on the need for a town approach to consider the future of the Devonshire Dome by John Phillips of Buxton Town Team. Hosted by Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust.
Friday 6 September 2024
6.30pm-8pm
The Pump Room, SK17 6BQ
No need to book
Turnpike Roads Around Buxton
A talk by Dr Alan Roberts of Buxton Local History Society. Hosted by Trinity Church.
Saturday 7 September 2024
1pm-2pm
Trinity Church Lower Hall, SK17 6PR
No need to book.
Dunkirk – The Prequel
The fascinating story behind the Dunkirk Miracle that led to a lasting friendship between Buxton and the French village of Oignies. A talk by the Friends of Oignies Association hosted by Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust.
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September 2024
6pm-7pm
The Pump Room, SK17 6BQ
No need to book.
More information on the HOD website here.
Building Partnerships to Improve Sustainable Networks and Connections
A talk on the development of a light railway link from Buxton to the Monsal Trail and Buxton to Dowlow by Andy Parker of the Buxton Town Team. Hosted by Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust.
Monday 9 September 2024
6.30pm-8pm
The Pump Room, SK17 6BQ
No need to book
A Touch of the Orient in Buxton and its Legacy
A talk on the history, network and connections of Orient Lodge by Simon Fussell of the Buxton Town Team. Hosted by Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust.
Tuesday 10 September 2024
6.30pm-8pm
The Pump Room, SK17 6BQ
No need to book
60 Years of Progress: 1790 to 1850
A talk telling the story of the transition from canals to railways, with particular reference to the Buxton area, by Trevor Gilman of Buxton Local History Society. Hosted by Trinity Church.
Saturday 14 September 2024
1pm-2pm
Trinity Church Lower Hall, SK17 6PR
No need to book
Exhibitions
Did You Know?
As Buxton Museum & Art Gallery is temporarily closed to the public, they bring the museum collection to you with this pop-up exhibition in the Octagon! Focussing on people who have travelled through or settled in Buxton and Derbyshire, prepare to bamboozled with little known facts. The display will include a unique film about the history of Pavilion Gardens and an opportunity for you to have your say on what a future museum could look like. With Buxton Museum & Art Gallery hosted by the Pavilion Gardens.
Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 September 2024
10am-4pm
Octagon Lounge, Pavilion Gardens
No need to book.
More information on the HOD website here.
Guided Walks
Guided Walk & Talk of Lightwood
Join Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Nestlé Waters for a guided walk and talk at Lightwood to discover more about the reserve, how they are regenerating the land for the benefit of nature and wildlife and Nestlé’s Water Stewardship commitments and actions. Wear sturdy footwear, dress for the weather and bring a drink and a snack as needed.
Friday 6 September 2024
3pm-5pm
Lightwood Reservoir, Lightwood Road, SK17 6RN
Meet at the old shed. W3W: positive.crossing.remission
Book a place via Eventbrite here.
The Historic Routes of Buxton
A walk with Trevor Gilman from Spring Gardens up to Fairfield Common and back along the line of Buxton’s earliest roads, from a prehistoric track, Roman road, packhorse road, to turnpikes and the modern trunk road. In the event of poor weather, the walk will be given as a talk inside the Miltons Tap. With Buxton Local History Society.
Sundays 8 & 15 September 2024
11am-12.30pm
Meet under the Spring Gardens viaduct, near Stanways. W3W: ecologist.geese.translate
Booking essential. Call Trevor on 07773 381824, leaving a message with your name and contact number.
Activities
Business Networking Morning
A great opportunity to connect with business-owners, organisation representatives and professionals from across the region. Hosted by Vision Buxton and Business Peak District.
Thursday 12 September 2024
8am-10am
The Palace Hotel
Booking not required.
More information on the Vision Buxton website here.
Buxton’s Heritage Wheels
Crafting Connections and Celebrating History. Experience Buxton as the central hub of a wheel, connected to surrounding areas through historical rail-tracks, bus routes, and scenic cycle trails. Meet Samuel Turner, a pivotal figure in Buxton’s railway history, brought to life by a costumed actor. Delve into his story and contribute to the event with your own historical creations. With Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust and Friends of Buxton Station.
Sunday 15 September 2024
10am-4pm
Crescent Assembly Rooms
No booking required.
More information on the HOD website here.
Open as Usual
Cavendish Arcade
The town’s oldest shopping centre within the historic hot baths, built in 1852/3 by Henry Currey.
Terrace Road, SK17 6BQ
Open daily, times vary.
Clowes Chemist
Browse this historic chemist, established in 1875.
4 Cavendish Circus, SK17 6AX
Open daily, times vary
Buxton Calling
Discover Buxton‘s podcast focusing on particular aspects of Buxton’s history. Listen for free via the Discover Buxton website here or on Soundcloud here.
Old Haunts
An interactive audio tour of Spring Gardens launched as part of the town’s High Street Heritage Action Zone project. Download it from oldhaunts.uk. Starts at The Pump Room Find out more here.
The Pump Room
Pop into the Buxton Visitor Centre, browse the gift shop and see the old serving well.
The Crescent, SK17 6BQ
Open daily, times vary
Pavilion Gardens Conservatory
Wander through the Winter Gardens within the stunning Victorian architecture of the Pavilion Gardens complex.
St John’s Road, SK17 6BE
Open daily, 9.30am-4.30pm
Devonshire Dome
Take a look under this magnificent Dome! The largest of its kind in Europe. Access to reception area and Dome floor only.
Devonshire Road, SK17 6RY
Open Sunday 8 & Saturday 14 September 2024
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Buxton Civic Association celebrates the natural and human heritage of Buxton including its outstanding buildings and wildlife. We conserve and enhance this heritage and advocate its importance in making Buxton a special place to live or to visit.
