Tavistock Heritage Open Days,
12th - 21th September 2025

Welcome to Tavistock’s celebration of England’s largest free festival of history and culture!

This year, Heritage Open Days returns with the national theme: “Architecture - Buildings, Bridges and Beehives” — and Tavistock Heritage Trust and the heritage organisations across the town are exploring the stories behind the structures that shaped our town.

From the soaring arches of our medieval abbey to the hidden history behind a humble garden wall, Tavistock is bursting with architectural treasures. Over ten days, we’re opening doors, revealing secrets, and shining a spotlight on the makers, the menders, and the materials that built our community.

 

This year’s highlights include:

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• New guided walks celebrating Tavistock’s architectural evolution from abbey to guildhall

• Rare views of historic buildings and sites normally closed to the public including Hurdwick Quarry, Tavistock’s 6th Century Celtic Stones and the Old Mortuary in Plymouth Road Cemetery

• Hands-on workshops and family activities —including the ‘Lives of the monks’ in Tavistock’s Abbey, from medieval calligraphy to heritage beekeeping

• A new exhibition of Tavistock’s topographical art, revealing how the town was drawn, imagined and sometimes embellished

• Talks, performances, pop-up tours, and plenty of surprises…

 

Everything is completely free, but booking is required for some events — and places fill quickly!

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Ticketed Events are as follows:

​Join Dr Geri Parlby, Chair of the Tavistock Heritage Trust and the Mayor of Tavistock in opening the Heritage Open Days events for 2025 with a talk on

"Ruins & Romance: How Artists Reimagined Tavistock's Lost Abbey"

​​Friday 12th September, doors open at 6:00pm, start time 6:30pm in the Courtroom of the Tavistock Guildhall
Please scan the QR codes to book your FREE tickets 

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