Events

Sudbury's Heritage Open Days 2025

2025 theme: Architecture

Events in Sudbury happening during the National festival on the weekend of

20 & 21 September.

Heritage Open Days is England's largest community led festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations.

Every year in September it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and histories brought to life. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

In Sudbury we coordinate a host of free open house events, guided tours, talks, and hands-on creative workshops all to showcase Sudbury's fascinating heritage spanning many centuries...

Download Programme

Timetable of Events

Book on free guided tours below...

Heritage Open Days -

Free Sudbury Guided Tours

Saturday 20 September

All tours will begin at the Heritage Open Days pop up by The Gainsborough Statue on Market Hill, CO10 2EA.

Tours are free but spaces are limited so please book in advance via the links below.

Tours last between 1hr - 1hr 30mins and are led by an expert Blue Badge Guide. Please get in touch if you have any questions!

Weaving the Streets of Sudbury: Wool to Silk

Saturday 20 September

10.30am

Join our expert Blue Badge Guide, Claire Partner, as we weave our way around Sudbury's historic streets that are steeped in silk and wool weaving heritage.

BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS

Talbot_Boudica_Photo%20Bill%20Hiskett%203_edited.jpg

Townscape of The Talbot Trail

Saturday 20 September

11.30am

This tour explores the stories behind the facades along Sudbury’s unique Talbot Trail with characters from Sudbury's past breathing life into Sudbury's architecture.

BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS

Sudbury: How Industry Shaped our Town

Saturday 20 September

12.30pm

Join Claire Partner as we explore Sudbury's diverse townscape that has been shaped by various local industries from cloth weaving, brick-making, agriculture and more...

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Victorian Sudbury

Saturday 20 September

1.30pm

Join our Blue Badge Guide, Stephen Moody, as we explore Sudbury's Victorian townscape. Sudbury underwent seismic change during the 19th Century which had an enduring impact of our town.

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Sudbury: The Stories behind the facades

Saturday 20 September

2.30pm

Join John Davies as we explore Sudbury's diverse townscape, the stories behind the facades and the architecural curios and monuments that all have tales to tell...

BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS

Weaving the Streets of Sudbury: Wool to Silk

Saturday 20 September

3.30pm

Join us as we weave our way around Sudbury’s cloth heritage. Timber framed buildings, weavers cottages, medieval churches still stand proud today, the architectural legacy of these trades.

BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS

Free to Explore in Sudbury this Heritage Open Days...

As well as all these fantastic events, there is plenty to that is FREE TO EXPLORE in Sudbury during Heritage Open Days - From Sudbury's outstanding green spaces, ancient water meadows and characterful architecture, to unique cultural spaces...

The Quay Theatre

Free 'Behind the Scenes' tours - Sunday 21 September

The Quay is giving visitors an opportunity to explore their 1791 built, Grade II Listed building and to enjoy a 'behind the scenes' tour of the whole theatre, including backstage and other places not usually available to the public.

Sudbury Arts Centre

Free tours Saturday 20 September 11:00, 12;15, 13:30

Sudbury Arts Centre (at St. Peter's) re-opened in November 2023 following their transformational Heritage Lottery funded regeneration. Get involved with insightful guided tours on Saturday.

Gainsborough's House

Free to Explore weekend

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 Sept

Gainsborough’s House combines the childhood home of Thomas Gainsborough – a Grade I-listed eighteenth-century Merchant house and its historic garden – with impressive new exhibition galleries and visitor facilities.

Mill Tye Gallery

Eleanor Mills Exhibition & Art Trail

Nestled in a beautiful spot near the River Stour visit the former Cornard Mill building, once a medieval water mill, now a vibrant Arts Centre. Explore their two new exhibitions and shop packed with affordable art and design..

Sudbury Market

Market Hill & Old Market Place

Don't forget to visit Sudbury's lively traditional outdoor market in the heart of Sudbury on Market Hill every Thursday and Saturday.

On Sunday 15th September we will also be hosting our Green Sundays Eco Market with plenty of crafty activties for all!

Sudbury Library

Free crafty actvities

Housed within Sudbury's exquisite former Corn Exchange, Sudbury Library has become a hard fought architectural icon of Sudbury's townscape. The building represents the birth of The Sudbury Society and is now home to a range of events.