National Lottery Open Week: 7 - 15 March 2026
We’re taking part in National Lottery Open Week again in 2026 to say a huge thank you to National Lottery players everywhere for your support.
You can enjoy free entry to selected sites on selected days, which have all benefitted from generous support from the National Lottery.
Plus, get closer to the sites you love with free guided tours.
Find out how to redeem the offer and view the full terms and conditions.
Sites offering free entry
Dates vary from site to site.
-
Audley End House and Gardens
Enjoy a day out exploring the spacious grounds and estate of one of England’s grandest mansions.
-
BELSAY HALL, CASTLE AND GARDENS
With a unique Greek Revival mansion, a medieval castle and 30 acres of fabulous gardens to explore, Belsay offers a grand day out for visitors of all ages.
-
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
The creation of a horse-mad Cavalier playboy, Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire is something special.
-
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
Victorian country house frozen in time and award-winning gardens
-
Carlisle Castle
Standing proud in the city it's dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle remained a working fortress until well within living memory.
-
DOVER CASTLE
From the mighty medieval keep to the labyrinth of secret wartime tunnels below, a family day out at Dover towers above all others.
-
Eltham Palace and Gardens
In 1936, eccentric millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld decided to build their magnificentart deco mansion right next to the medieval Great Hall of Eltham Palace - creating a masterpiece of modern interiors.
-
Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall
Housesteads is Britain's most complete Roman fort, standing on the dramatic Whin Sill escarpment, flanked by stretches of Hadrian's Wall.
-
Osborne
Take a glimpse into the private life of the Victorian royal family at Osborne House and enjoy the vast estate and gardens.
-
Pendennis Castle
Travel back to Tudor Cornwall, discover wartime tales and enjoy acres of green space at this historic gem.
-
Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre
Richborough Roman Fort witnessed the very beginning, the heyday and the end of Roman rule in Britain. An array of fresh features helps you explore and understand this wonderful site. (Free entry on 12 March only)
-
Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
Known as the grandparent of skyscrapers, the Main Mill opened in 1797 as a purpose-built flax mill. It was the first multifloored iron-framed building in the world.
-
WALMER CASTLE & GARDENS
Perched on the picturesque Kent coastline, Walmer Castle is one of the most fascinating visitor attractions in the South East.
-
Witley Court and Gardens
Discover the secrets and stories of a lost world at this magnificent country house.
-
Wrest Park
Ninety acres of spectacular historic gardens
Guided Tours
Our guided tours must be pre-booked. Tickets will be released in early February.
-
Adam Room tour at Audley End House
Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 March at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm
Explore three extravagant entertaining rooms designed by Robert Adam.
-
Butler's Pantry Tour at Audley End House
Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March at 12.30pm and 2pm
Explore a part of the house not usually open to the public and learn the personal and professional secrets of William Lincoln, Butler to the 5th Lord Braybrooke in the late 1800s.
-
Garden History Tour at Audley End House
Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 March at 11.30am. Thursday 12 March at 11.30am and 3pm.
Learn how even supposedly natural features of the site, such as the River Cam and Ring Hill, have been adapted to meet the aesthetic demands of the 1760s and how many layers of history lie hidden under the ground.
-
Audley's Secret War Tour at Audley End House
Tuesday 10 March at 11am and 1.30pm
Discover the history of Audley End during the Second World War when it was "special training school 43" used by the Polish Army.
-
Service Wing Tour at Audley End House
Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March at 11.30am and 1.30pm
Get an insight into how the service wing functions evolved over the centuries, and hear interesting facts about the jobs available and the people who worked here.
-
Tomkins Tour at Audley End House
Wednesday 11 March at 11.30am and 1pm
Go behind the scenes and see paintings depicting Audley House in its landscape in the late 18th century which are not usually on display to the public.
-
Behind the Closed Door Tour at Belsay Hall
Saturday 7 and Sunday 15 March at 11am and 1.30pm
Visit areas of Belsay Hall normally off limits to the public, hear about some of the works which took place during the Belsay Awakes project and get an up-close look at some of the objects in our collections.
-
Castle Tour at Belsay Hall
Friday 13 March at 11am
In this entertaining romp through 800 years of history, find out what make Belsay’s castle so special and see how things have changed over the centuries.
-
Garden Tours at Belsay Hall
Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March at 11am and 1.30pm
Enjoy a walk through the formal gardens at Belsay Hall, which were restored as part of the Belsay Awakes project. Learn about the plants that grow there from a member of the gardens team.
-
The Second World War Tour at Belsay Hall
Saturday 7 and Sunday 15 March at 11am and 1.30pm
Discover the history of Belsay during the Second World War. See some of the items found during the Belsay Awakes project, and see how they help to build a picture of the soldiers who lived here during this time.
-
Storehouse Tour at Berwick Barracks
Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March at 12 – 1pm
An introduction to the Storehouse project and the conservation work being undertaken. Hear about the collections being treated in the temporary conservation studio and their care plan for the future.
-
Guided Tour at Bolsover Castle
Wednesday 11 March at 10.30am
Uncover the fascinating story of the trailblazing 17th century natural philosopher and writer, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. Hear how she was inspired by Bolsover Castle - one of her homes - and how she helped run the Cavendish estates. -
Guided Tour at Dover Castle
Thursday 12 March at 11am and 1pm
Join a guided tour of the Spur area at Dover Castle and hear updates on the Reaching Greater Heights project. Explore the chalk grassland that is currently being restored, and enjoy views of the Western Heights.
-
Guided Tour at Eltham Palace
Monday 9 March at 11.30am
Take a tour around Eltham Palace and hear more about the building of the house, the role of architects Seely and Paget and the various subcontractors and craftsmen who worked on the project 90 years ago.
-
Seely and Paget Twentieth-century Architecture Tour at Eltham Palace
Wednesday 11 March at 12 noon
Marking 100 years since Seely and Paget began, Carlos Finlay looks at their architectural legacy and highlights other projects they worked on, from their restoration of Mottistone Manor on the Isle of Wight, to the reconstruction of damaged churches in London following the Second World War.
-
Architects Seely and Paget Tour at Eltham Palace
Thursday 12 March at 11.30am
Learn about the building of the house, the role of architects Seely and Paget and the craftsmen who worked on the project. 2026 marks 100 years since Seely and Paget began, and 90 years since the completion of the house at Eltham Palace.
-
A Walk in the Park: Tracking the Stories of Gardens and People Over Time’ at Eltham Palace
Friday 13 March at 12 noon
Proffessor Karen Jones from the University of Kent will talk through her research on the use and enjoyment of parks and gardens over the past two centuries, and her exciting new project at Eltham, looking at links between the garden and the local community in the past, present and future.
-
Guided Tour at Gainsborough Old Hall
Saturday 7 and 14 March at 11am and 1pm
Discover the rich history of Gainsborough Old Hall from its medieval beginnings to its final occupant in the 1960s. Explore the medieval kitchens and take in the Great Hall where Henry VIII, Catherine Howard and Richard III were entertained.
-
Guided Tour at Grimes Graves
Thursday 12 March at 10.30am and 1.30pm
Experience the secrets of Grimes Graves. Walk through this intriguing landscape and descend 9m to visit the ancient flint mine, dating back over 4,000 years ago! A multi-sensory projection will immerse you in the lives of those who lived and worked there.
-
Guided Tour at J W Evans Silver Factory
Friday 6 and 20 March at 11am and 1.30pm
Join a guided tour of J W Evans Silver Factory and enjoy stepping into a treasure trove of industry, frozen in time.
-
Garden Tours at Kenilworth Castle
Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March, 11am and 2pm
Explore the Elizabethan Gardens, learning why the garden looks the way it does and why it was made, as well as English Heritage’s role in recreating the gardens and how this was done using historical knowledge.
-
Fortress to Palace Tour at Kenilworth Castle
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March at 11am and 2pm
Explore the castle ruins and see the history and development of the castle from a medieval fortress to a Tudor palace, starting at the 12th century Norman Keep and finishing with the story of the slighting of the castle in 1650.
-
Children's History Detective Tours at Kenilworth Castle
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March at 11am and 2pm
In this interactive tour aimed at children, learn how to read old buildings in order to give us clues about what they tell us about the history and function of the buildings.
-
Garden Tours at Marble Hill
Saturday 7 March, 1pm, Wednesday 11 March, 11am, and Saturday 14 March, 1pm
Explore the restored gardens at Marble Hill, including meadow areas and wildlife habitats, flower and Grotto gardens and over 300 newly planted trees. Learn how the gardens are managed in the face of climate change and other modern day challenges.
-
Guided tour at Pendennis Castle
Saturday 7, Sunday 8, and Wednesday 11 – Sunday 15 March at 11am
Join our expert volunteers on a tour of Pendennis Castle. They'll discuss the early history of the castle and why it is here. Visitors will also learn how it was used in the Tudor period and during the English civil Wars, and the castle under siege.
-
Guided Tour at Richborough Roman Fort
Thursday 12 March at 11.30am
Go behind the scenes of the site transformation in 2024. Climb the wooden gateway and tower just as the Roman army would have done, and get an in depth look at a variety of Roman artefacts, including statues to their gods.
-
Queen Mother’s Garden Talk at Walmer Castle
Wednesday 11 March at 11am
Join Gardener Matt to hear about the restoration of the Queen Mother’s Garden. Designed for the Queen Mother’s 95th birthday in 1997, it has seen many changes since. Learn how the gardeners have restored the design over the past four years.
-
Wildlife tour at Walmer Castle
Saturday 14 March at 12.30pm
Join wildlife volunteers in the education centre to hear about the wildlife that have made Walmer Castle home.