Exploring the barriers and solutions to making heritage truly accessible.
Every year, England’s historic treasures throw open their doors to participate in Heritage Open Days. From 12–21 September 2025, thousands of people will enjoy free entry to churches, castles, gardens, and historic sites as part of this year’s festival theme: Architecture: Buildings, Bridges and Beehives. In Lincolnshire alone, dozens of events will showcase the county’s rich and varied history.
For some sites, Heritage Open Days are the only time all year when visitors can step across the threshold – offering a brief chance to peek behind closed doors, hear stories usually left untold, and experience spaces that would otherwise remain hidden from public view.
And that’s a problem: once the bunting comes down and the doors close again, access to many heritage sites disappears for another year. It isn’t due to unwillingness – it’s the reality of fragile buildings, tight budgets, and overstretched resources. Some lack the basic facilities visitors require, like step-free access or accessible toilets. Others depend on a handful of volunteers, already giving more time than they can spare. And often the costs of opening simply don’t stack up: heating, staffing, and insurance can outweigh the small trickle of donations and other income. These pressures mean doors stay shut for most of the year, even though communities are eager to come inside.
The joy of access and the challenge of permanence
Heritage Open Days prove what’s possible. They offer physical access – letting people explore buildings, collections and heritage spaces they may never normally see. They also offer intellectual access (though talks, tours, and interpretation) that explain not just what a place is, but why it matters.
But these experiences are fleeting. What if communities, visitors, and families could enjoy the same sense of welcome all year round? What if accessibility, in every sense, was a permanent feature, not a temporary highlight?
Finding lasting solutions to access in heritage
This is where the challenge lies. Unlike a modern or unlisted building, a medieval church or Georgian townhouse cannot simply be reconfigured to meet today’s access standards. Step-free entrances, accessible toilets, clear signage, and inclusive interpretation all require careful thought in historic contexts so as not to damage the significance of the building.
And it’s not just the physical structure that can pose a challenge. Organisational capacity is often the hidden barrier. Opening the doors more regularly often requires:
- Audience development work to understand who might visit and why.
- Activity and business planning to ensure events are viable and the venue is sustainable.
- Volunteer recruitment and training to welcome visitors.
- Skills audits to identify where training and support is needed.
Without investment in people and planning, even the most accessible ramp or exhibition will remain underused.
Arguing for change, protecting what matters
IPC works with organisations to address the challenge of access, supporting them to consult with users, develop physical interventions that respect heritage, and build the skills, capacity and resource needed to keep the doors open. Crucially, we are experienced at securing the grant funding needed for this kind of investment.
Take the next step with IPC
Heritage Open Days remind us of the power of access. IPC helps organisations develop the evidence, make the case, and secure the resources that turn once-a-year opportunities into the everyday. We are proud to be supporting a wide range of projects on this journey, including:
- Sir Joseph Banks Centre, Horncastle – undertaking Audience Development, including consultation with existing and new audiences, to shape the centre’s future offer.
- The Old Rectory, Loughborough – working with the Borough Council and Loughborough Archaeology and History Society to redevelop the museum’s exhibition and visitor offer.
- Crooked Spire, Chesterfield – delivering a 5 Case Business Plan and an Interpretation Strategy focused on inclusive and accessible engagement.
- Christchurch Priory, Dorset – writing bids to support major access improvements in the nave, alongside Audience Development and Collections Assessments.
- St John the Baptist, High Toynton – supporting the PCC to create a new exhibition with interpretation panels and a digital tour featuring oral histories.
These are just some of the ways IPC is helping heritage places to become open, accessible and welcoming spaces.
👉 Contact us today to explore how we can support your project.
