28/08/2026
Great news that the Harwich Society will again be taking part in the Heritage Open Days. Harwich is full of amazing historical sites - get the dates in your diary to visit.
📣 PRESS RELEASE: Historic Harwich is the place to be for Heritage Open Days 💜
Historic Harwich is a fascinating place to visit at any time of the year but, as the Harwich Society, the Electric Palace Cinema Harwich Trust and Harwich Town Council all support the Heritage Open Days initiative, there is no better time than during this event when all of their visitor attractions are open free of charge.
Exploring the narrow streets and lanes of this historic old seaport is always fascinating but during Heritage Open Days there is a new place to visit almost around every corner and with local volunteers bringing the history and heritage to life, there really is no better place to visit during the weekend of Saturday 12th September and Sunday 13th September.
Mayor of Harwich, Cllr. Sean Fay, says, “With free access to one of the oldest purpose built cinemas in the world, Harwich’s Guildhall which is a Grade I listed building containing a wealth of history, and all of the Harwich Society’s visitor attractions from the Napoleonic Redoubt Fort with spectacular views over Harwich Harbour through to the High Lighthouse with fascinating views over the old town itself, there is so much to explore and enjoy in such a small area. Heritage Open Days really are a great time to visit Historic Harwich.”
The Harwich Society, the Electric Palace Cinema Trust and Harwich Town Council will all have volunteers on hand to show visitors around and walking from one attraction to the next will be a short journey through history. Edward I held a parliament in Harwich in 1397, Harwich was the first landfall for any of Drake’s ships following the defeat of the Spanish Armada and Christopher Jones, the master of the Mayflower, was a Harwich man who served on Harwich’s council in the early 17th century.
“A stroll around Harwich really is a walk through history,” continued Cllr. Fay. “The Harwich Society, the Electric Palace Cinema Trust and Harwich Town Council are all staunch supporters of Heritage Open Days and we will bring all of Harwich’s history and heritage to life during this very special weekend.”
Attractions open free of charge to visitors subject to volunteer availability are:
Bobbit's Hole nature reserve open Sunday 13th Sep from 10am – 12 noon.
Foresters (the 15th century HQ of the Harwich Society) open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep from 11am – 3pm.
High Lighthouse open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep from 11am – 3pm.
Lifeboat museum open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep from 11am – 3pm.
Maritime museum open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep from 11am – 4pm.
Radar Tower open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep 11am – 3pm.
Redoubt open Saturday 12 and Sunday 13th Sep from 10am -4pm. Sunday will include World War II Home Guard re-enactments.
The Treadwheel Crane open Saturday 12th Sep from 11am – 3pm and Sunday 13th Sep from 9.30am – 4pm.
Visitor Information Centre open Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep from 10am – 4pm.
A guided walk of Historic Harwich conducted by Harwich Society tour guides will leave the Visitor Information Centre at Ha’penny Pier on Saturday 12th Sep at 2pm lasting approximately one hour.
Harwich’s Historic Guildhall will be open on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Sep from 2pm – 4pm where there will be an exhibition about how coastal erosion has changed Harwich Harbour since Tudor times.
Harwich’s Electric Palace Cinema, possibly the oldest purpose built cinema in the world, will be open on Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th, Tuesday 15th, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th Sep from 10am – 12 noon. Pre booking is preferred for any organised group tour. Please book via Hayley Forrest email [email protected] telephone 07516 956215.
For further information please contact:
Maria Fowler (Harwich Society) on 07761 343771
Hayley Forrest (Electric Palace Cinema Trust) on 07516 956215
Lucy Ballard (Harwich Town Council) on 01255 507211
