England’s biggest festival of heritage and culture returns to Sheffield this September, offering unique insight into the eclectic history of the city and the surrounding region. With over a hundred free events across ten days, visitors are given an exclusive opportunity to uncover untold stories from hidden gems and historic sites across every corner of Sheffield.
Each year, Heritage Open Days attracts thousands of visitors from Sheffield and beyond to discover the region’s rich past. This year’s theme, ‘Routes – Networks – Connections,’ explores the movement of ideas and people throughout history, how they have come together, and how they continue to sculpt Sheffield’s cultural landscape.
Coordinator of Heritage Open Days in Sheffield, Janet Ridler, said: “Sheffield is very proud of its heritage in all its forms, from historic buildings and structures to our green spaces, our street art, and the people who have helped shape Sheffield across the centuries.”
The festival hopes to connect locals and visitors to the ground beneath their feet through walking tours, creative activities and other hands-on experiences. For 2024, HODs has added a number of new events to its programme, including an exploration of Sheffield’s Showroom Cinema featuring a free screening of a local heritage film. The Alfred Denny Museum, National Videogames Museum, Ecclesall Woods, the Wave building and Beehive Works have all been added to this year’s listings.
Supported by Sheffield Civic Trust and a team of dedicated volunteers, independent history enthusiasts from across the city are given the chance to facilitate a diverse range of events and share their fascination with the city’s past.
“Each event is autonomous and run by local people who have a passion for their own corner of Sheffield’s heritage. People are always excited to discover new places and experiences that provide understanding of our city and its history and traditions,” Janet added.
One area inviting visitors to discover its heritage is Kelham Island, known for being one of Sheffield’s oldest industrial sites and housing Europe’s largest working steam engine. Founder of Kelham Island Walking Tours Anders Hanson, who has been running the event for five years, aims to share Kelham’s lesser-known history with visitors.
“Although it is home to the city’s industrial museum, there is only a limited amount of information about the area itself. There are so many interesting buildings, and the more I looked into it, the more fascinating stories I found that I enjoyed sharing with others,” Anders explained. “I hope people will come away from the walk having discovered things about Kelham Island they didn’t know before.”
“There is always something new to learn! Because we have such a full programme of events, we know that Heritage Open Days brings heritage tourists to the city from across the country and beyond, and so we are delighted that we provide a chance for Sheffield to proudly showcase its unique heritage and culture to all our visitors,” said Janet.
Sheffield Heritage Open Days takes place from 6th-15th September, with the full list of events published here. Festival updates are available on the Sheffield HODs website.
Words: Ruby Deakin
Top image: Joe Horner