This year, Thanet’s Heritage Open Days offers almost 30 venues and activities to enjoy free of charge, across Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and the villages.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture and a chance to discover hidden places and try out new experiences, free of charge. The festival will run from Friday 12 to Sunday 21 September and includes venues that are not normally open to the public.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Architecture – from buildings and bridges to beehives, exploring how we’ve designed and built the world around us.’ In Thanet, the festival includes:
- A guided tour of the Grade II Listed Adult Education Centre building in Margate: Built in 1931 in an austere Art Deco style and opened as Thanet School of Art. The building retains many original features including wooden panelling, Art Deco radiators and an open string Imperial staircase with iron balusters.
- Isle of Thanet: Architecture Through the Decades: A small photography exhibition at Droit House, Margate featuring a series of archive photographs from the Sunbeam Collection. Sunbeam was the main commercial photographic company operating on the Isle of Thanet coast between 1919 and 1976. The exhibition will include images of some of the Isle’s most iconic architecture, including some buildings that are no longer standing.
- Pierremont Hall, Broadstairs: The Chamber Hall and Music Room will be open to visitors. The Hall was designed by Samuel Pepys Cockerell and built in 1785 as a private residence for Thomas Forsyth. The Duchess of Kent and a young Princess Victoria holidayed at Pierremont Hall between 1826 and 1836. A leaflet on the history of the Grade II Listed hall will be available.
- 154 High Street, Ramsgate: An important Georgian townhouse with an Edwardian extension and large gardens. Visitors can explore the restored main house with a beautiful staircase, panelling and recently uncovered fireplaces. A secret staircase, hidden behind a wardrobe, has traces of Regency wallpaper dating from the 1820s. The huge basement contains evidence of reinforcement, as it was used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War.
- Historic Trail of Properties, Station Road, Birchington: To celebrate the 130th anniversary of Station Road being formally recognised as a named highway, there will be a trail of historic properties, taking in Station Road, Station Approach and The Square. QR codes will link to information on each property’s history and architecturally significant features.
Also on offer:
- Historical talk and tour of the Walpole Bay Hotel Museum and Napery in Margate
- Dickens guided walk around Broadstairs
- Sonic Trail: Acoustic Architecture, and the opportunity to view properties that were once home to retired sea captains in the 18th century at Paradise, Ramsgate.
- Free entry into local favourites including Drapers Windmill, Dickens House Museum, Pugin’s The Grange and The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens.
Thanet’s Heritage Open Days has been coordinated in partnership with the Margate Civic Society, Broadstairs and St. Peter’s Town Council and The Ramsgate Society, with support from Thanet District Council.
Councillor Kristian Bright, Cabinet Member for Parking, Tourism and Culture, said: “There are approximately 2,500 listed buildings in Thanet, the largest concentration of listed structures in the south east of England, so this year’s theme of architecture provides a great opportunity to showcase some of these.
“Heritage Open Days relies on the support of the participating venues and their staff, many of whom are volunteers. I would like to thank them, and the local organisations who have helped to coordinate Thanet’s Heritage Open Days this year, for creating so many opportunities for local people and visitors to enjoy.”
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing & Projects Manager, said, “Thanet’s programme for Heritage Open Days 2025 is a brilliant showcase of the area’s rich architectural heritage – from Art Deco details and hidden staircases to iconic seaside structures. It’s inspiring to see so many local organisations and volunteers come together to open doors to the past and invite everyone to explore the stories behind these remarkable places.”
Further information on Thanet’s venues and activities for Heritage Open Days can be found on www.visitthanet.co.uk/heritageopendays. Please note that prebooking is required for some venues and activities.
Details on England’s Heritage Open Days and venues and activities across the country can be found on www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Photo credits: Tourism@Thanet District Council where not otherwise described
