Looking for free things to do in September?

Heritage Open Days in North East Lincolnshire are running from Friday 6 September through to Sunday 15 September so it’s a great time to get your boots on and head out to explore our area.

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers.

Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

 In 2024 we are celebrating how people and ideas have moved around and come together throughout history. The transport routes, communication networks, the travellers who have spread ideas and the people who welcomed them. There are so many stories on our doorsteps just waiting to be uncovered.

To kickstart this, on Friday, 6 September, there’s three “Watkin Walks” around Cleethorpes, where you can find out about the fascinating life and work of Edward Watkin, and his influence on transforming the small fishing village into the seaside resort we know and love - booking is essential for this one – book by emailing htladmin@heritagelincolnshire.org.

Over the course of the fortnight, you can go see Tin Town in Immingham, and see how the workers who built the biggest dock in the country lived in 1906, or visit the Port of Grimsby, to see how the work to the buildings that has been happening over the last few years has changed the dock area.

Humber Hovercraft is an event being held by Our Big Picture in Grimsby on 14 September, which will explore the “forgotten” link between North East Lincolnshire and the city of Hull. Could this be our future too?

Buildings, like Grimsby Minster, St Nicholas’ Church, and Weelsby Hall will also be opening their doors to the public, whilst Cleethorpes Town Hall and Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre will be hosting exhibitions and events for you to explore our past.

Cllr Hayden Dawkins, Cabinet member for culture and heritage, said, “Our heritage is extremely important to our people – we have a fantastic and varied history in our towns, something we should be massively proud of and take the time to get to know more!”

If you want to find out more about any of the activities, or pick up new walking, cycling or heritage trails, you can drop in to Freshney Place (next to M&S inside) in Grimsby on Friday 6 September, between 10am and 4pm and pick up your free leaflets about things to do and places to see. 

Keep an eye out on social media and on the DiscoverNorthEastLincolnshire website for updates over the fortnight too!