Check out the full list of offers for Heritage Open Days this September https://shorturl.at/RUuRq
Heritage Open Days 2026 – Dover
11–20 September 2026 • 36 events and places to explore
13 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Dover Masonic Hall, 140 Snargate Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 9DA
Freemasonry has been part of Dover’s story since the 18th century. This open day offers a chance to look inside the Masonic Hall, tour the lodge room, learn about more about freemasonry and its through displays and the opportunity to speak to Masons
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Wanstone Battery, Reach Road, Dover, Kent, CT15 6HY
Wanstone Battery is a time capsule from the darkest days of the Second World War. Now the subject of an exciting community archaeological project funded by the National Lottery and the National Trust, visit an area not usually open to the public.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Fort Burgoyne, Fort Burgoyne Road, Dover, Kent, CT15 5FN
A rare opportunity to explore Fort Burgoyne and discover more about the site’s history and it’s diverse range of wildlife. Parade ground, stables, and terreplein will be available to explore. Tours of restricted access areas bookable on the day
12 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Cannon Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1BY
St Mary’s is Dover’s civic church. It is a Saxon/Norman foundation largely rebuilt in 1843 with original arches and columns reinstated.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: North Military Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9DZ
Dover’s Western Heights fortifications date from the Napoleonic Wars and from the 1860s. This is an opportunity to tour the rarely seen road tunnel and defensive gun rooms of the North Entrance with a guide and experience this unique site.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Drop Redoubt, Drop Redoubt Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9DZ
Join Andy Rayner, from the Western Heights Preservation Society, on a walking tour around two of the 19th Century gun batteries, built on the Heights
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PH
A wander through a unique historic town, with local Greeters sharing the stories of the many, many events and people that left legacies never to be forgotten.
16 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking preferred
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In person
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Pre-booking preferred
Location: Dover Priory Railway Station, Priory Station Approach, Dover, Kent, CT17 9SB
Discover old building stones and wild plants as we walk through Dover; ascend steps to the top of the White Cliffs where we will look at the herbs and wildlife of chalk grassland. Stunning views to sea and hear about the aspiring UNESCO Cross-channel
18 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PH
The story of Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: High Street, St. Margarets-at-Cliffe, Dover, Kent, CT15 6AU
St Margaret’s Church is the largest and best preserved Norman church in Canterbury Diocese. This unusual example of an aisled early Norman church has fine arches, exquisite carvings and plentiful examples of medieval graffiti.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Dover Town Council, Maison Dieu House, Biggin Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DW
Built in 1665, Maison Dieu House began as the home and office of the Agent Victualler, who was in charge of the Dover Victualling Yard
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: New Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 9AJ
The Roman Painted House was discovered in 1970 and then excavated by local archaeologists during the following decade. Built in around 200 AD it formed part of the Roman military site in Dover
14 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PH
Dover’s Forgotten Cavalry 1863-1914 by Andy Rayner
12 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: St Alphege Road, Charlton, Dover, Kent, CT16 2PU
Experience this impressive listed building and its remarkable acoustic. Hear fine recordings of choral, organ & instrumental music, and the church’s Bevington organ. Explore with a walkaround guide, and enjoy coffee / tea and home-made cakes.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Priory Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9RG
Visitors may enter the chapel of St Edmund, and see the interior of this small but unique 800 year old building. They will be met by a guide.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: St. Johns Commandery Chapel, Swingfield, Dover, Kent, CT15 7HG
Discover a 13th-century chapel and hall of a ‘Commandery’ of Knights Hospitallers. Discover the building’s rich history, from its monastic origins to later use as a farmhouse.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Buckland Bridge, Dover, Kent, CT17 0SU
A walk along the Rover Dour exploring some of the industries, both on or close by The River Dour, that, once, helped make Dover prosper.
16 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PH
A virtual pub crawl up the London Road with photographs past and present
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Crabble Meadows off London Road, Buckland, Dover, Kent, CT17 0TF
St Andrew’s church is a much loved ancient parish church situated in a beautiful spot nestled behind the Buckland Mill Village site
18 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Kent County Council, Dover Discovery Centre, Market Square, Dover, Kent, CT16 1PH
A short talk on the second Century Roman Ruins that can be found within Dover Library and their relation the in the wider context of Romano Dubris (Dover)
12 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: The Bursary, Effingham Crescent, Dover, Kent, CT17 9RH
Ancient Priory of St Martin, was founded in 1130, with building works completing in 1140. Surviving buildings- only Norman refectory in the world still used for its original purpose.
17 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Maison Dieu, High Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL
Enjoy a fascinating and richly illustrated talk on Queen Elizabeth I’s Progress through East Kent in the summer of 1573, which included a stay in Dover and a birthday banquet in Canterbury on her 40th birthday.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Maison Dieu, High Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL
Discover the recently restored Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall) and over 800 years of stories -from medieval pilgrims to Dover Town Hall. Find out about the architecture and design of this incredible building.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking preferred
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In person
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Pre-booking preferred
Location: Maison Dieu, High Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL
Explore the latest Landmark Trust property, in Dover’s historic Maison Dieu
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Emmaus Dover Ltd, Archcliffe Fort, Archcliffe Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9EL
Explore the new history trail being launched at Archcliffe Fort, home of the Emmaus Charity – located here since 1996 the fort has it’s origins back to Henry VIII in 1539 with modifications through to the Second World War.
12 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: St Martin’s Church, Church Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9LW
St Martin’s Church was built in 1901, then known as the tin church because it had a corrugated iron roof. It continues as the parish church for Elms Vale and Maxton. Now modern and inclusive with a bright interior and a community garden.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Samphire Hoe, Samphire Rd, Dover, Kent, CT17 9FL
Join a guided walk at Samphire Hoe to discover the fascinating history of the area – Shakespeare Cliff a People’s History.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: 103 Maison Dieu Road, Dover, Kent, CT16 1RU
Tour of the historic church, first built in 1868, and rebuilt in 1987 after a fire
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Grand Shaft, Snargate Street, Dover, Kent, CT17 9BZ
The Grand Shaft staircase will be open Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September 2026 for self-guided walks up and down the unique and fascinating triple helix staircase hidden inside Dover’s white Cliffs.
19 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Port Zone, Willingdon Road, Dover, Kent, CT16 2JX
A fun day for families. Come and explore the history of Dover businesses and vehicles through a museum quiz and treasure hunt aimed at all ages – for the very young, mums and dads and grandparents.
13 Sep 2026
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Dover (St James’s) Cemetery, Old Charlton Road, Dover, Kent, CT16 2QQ
Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of Dover (St James’s) Cemetery, led by on of our experienced volunteer tour guides.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Swingfield, Dover, Kent, CT15 7HG
Step inside this rare 13th-century chapel and hall, once home to the Knights Hospitallers, and discover its remarkable medieval features. Only open during Heritage Open Days.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
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In person
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Pre-booking not required
Location: Drop Redoubt Rd, Dover, Kent, CT17 9DZ
Explore Dover’s Western Heights! Discover fascinating fortifications, enjoy spectacular views and get involved with the Conservation In Action van as we reveal more about our Reaching Greater Heights Project.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Port Reception, Passenger Terminal, Dover, Kent, CT16 1JA
Explore the old Admiralty Generating Station on this guided tour in Dover Eastern Dock.
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Cruise Terminal Entrance, Lord Warden Square, Dover, Kent, CT17 9EQ
Come and discover the Dover Marina Station at Dover’s Western Docks
Multiple dates available
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In person
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Pre-booking required
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In person
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Pre-booking required
Location: Duke of Yorks Royal Military School, Guston, Dover, Kent, CT15 5EQ
The tour will visit the School Museum and Chapel and other sites on the campus which illustrate the history of this unique English boarding school.
Event information sourced from Heritage Open Days. Please check the individual event page before travelling, particularly where advance booking is required.