Our Highlights for Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days returns with a programme of events, tours, exhibitions and workshops embracing this year’s theme of architecture. This celebration of culture, history and heritage opens the doors to some of the city’s hidden treasures, beautiful buildings and all brought by amazing knowledgeable and passionate people. 

Here are some of our highlights for 2025’s festival running from 12th to 21st of September.  

The Leeds Library is the UK’s oldest subscription library (being in its current spot since 1808) and still holds it’s vintage charm with wooden bookshelves, old typewriters, spiral staircases and a staggering collection of books that date as far back as 1483. Have a guided tour, or enjoy one of their public openings to wander around yourself.

Middleton Railway is the world’s oldest continuously-operating railway. Explore the history of the first steam railways including a piece of track from 1812, and stick around to have a ride on one of the locomotives. Find out more here.

Want to know more about Leeds’ railway history? Then don’t miss local historian Clifford Stead’s tour starting from the wagon lifting hoist mini museum at Wellington Place – one of the last remaining parts of the original Leeds Central Station.

Hyde Park Picture House is believed to be the world’s last gaslit cinema, screening a mix of new releases and classics. Check out the guided tour to learn about it’s 111 year old history and its recent restoration. Book on for Jane Ellis’ talk on all the past picture-houses and cinemas in Leeds too.

The Leeds Central Library is like walking back in time and they will be hosting tours of the building, a local history open day, and a tile design workshop, inspired by the decorative tiling across the library. 

Take a guided tour through the University of Leeds libraries in all their splendour. View the classical dome and marble columns over the Brotherton Library, the Brutalist Edward Boyle Library and the modern Laidlaw Library, all whilst learning about their history. 

Kirkgate Market is one of the largest covered markets in Europe and full of history! Learn more about the development of this grand building with a display of original architectural drawings. An extra special double-bill tour will take you from Leeds Kirkgate Market to neighbouring town Halifax in Calderdale where the Borough Market influenced the design of Kirkgate.  

Enjoy a tour of the grand Leeds Minster, learn about it’s development from the previous Medieval church to the current 184 year old building. A rare surviving painted table-tombs dating from the reign of Elizabeth I and a 10th century cross as well as mosaics and stained-glass windows adorn this amazing church. 

Take a tour with local guide Rachel Unsworth and Rebecca Catterall, ceramic entrepreneur at Sunken Studios, to admire and consider the creativity and manufacture involved in architectural ceramics in the ‘terracotta revival’ (1880s – 1920s) buildings in Leeds. 

Join the team at the M&S Archives to get closer to the collection, go shopping in the Penny Bazaar, try on fashions of the past in the Design Studio, take a seat and enjoy the film collection in the cinema area. Tours of the Strong Room, not usually open to the public, will be running specially for Heritage Open Days. 

Leeds Cathedral is a Grade II* Listed Building completed in 1904 and designed in the Arts & Crafts style. It is one of 22 Catholic Cathedrals in England & Wales and widely recognised as an outstanding example of early 20th century church architecture. Take this rare opportunity to visit the bell tower too before being shown around by a knowledgeable guide. 

A self-guided art trail map showcasing local art and crafter’s work in shop venues within the architecturally rich and diverse heritage arcades and shopping malls of Leeds City Centre. Start by picking up your map at The Sculpture Gallery in the Corn Exchange. 

Join heritage pub enthusiast Jim Brettell for a guided walk round some of the city centre’s most popular examples, including the Adelphi and Whitelocks and will conclude at the Templar with an opportunity to buy a drink and discuss the tour. 

Join this photography walk to explore some of the many photographic opportunities in an area of Leeds where there have recently been huge changes, but where heritage sits side by side with modern development. This walk is led by Leeds Civic Trust photography group volunteers, who have worked on exhibition ‘Making Things Happen: Leeds Development Corporation 1988-1995’. During this walk, volunteers will share what they have learned about the area and capturing their own photography from this exclusive photography collection. 

Making Things Happen: Leeds Development Corporation 1988-1995. A Photography Exhibition features ‘now and then’ comparisons of Leeds today and Leeds 30 years ago when the modern era of architecture started.

At the Leeds office of the West Yorkshire Archive Service they’ll be offering behind-the-scenes tours and a pop-up exhibition exploring the hidden stories behind some of the city’s most striking buildings. Through historic plans and photographs you’ll see how Leeds has grown and changed over the years.
Enjoy a rare opportunity to step inside the archive stores and see original records that reveal the details of iconic sites – from the grand Victorian Arcades and Town Hall to the rooftops of the city’s distinctive back-to-back terraces.  

The newest blue plaque in Leeds is awarded to Gipton’s Old Fire Station. Commissioned in 1937, it operated as a working fire station until 2015. In that time, it was one of the busiest fire stations as well as a training centre with firefighters living in the houses that surround the fire station. In 2017, the building reopened as a community hub. The Blue Plaque unveiling will be followed by the premiere of Trailblazing: Women have always been firefighters.  

Explore the city’s most innovative and beautiful buildings, and help honour six decades of design by voting for your favourite addition to the Leeds skyline from the past 60 years. To mark the occasion of the Leeds Civic Trust’s 60th anniversary, a special People’s Choice Award is being introduced as part of the of the Leeds Architecture Awards. The exhibition will be hosted at the historic Leeds Corn Exchange to help you decide. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply passionate about Leeds, don’t miss the exhibition an opportunity to celebrate the buildings that define our skyline! 

*images Visit Leeds & Leeds City Council