20 free days out in Kent as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days event

If the summer holidays have wiped your bank balance, you’ll be pleased to hear that thousands of free days out are landing across the country this month.

Heritage Open Days, a 10-day scheme that aims to celebrate the UK’s lesser-known attractions with free entry and special events, returns from Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 21. Here’s just some of the Kent locations where you can bag a bargain…

BELL HOTEL, Sandwich

The Leave to Land exhibition is all about the Kitchener Camp, where almost 4,000 men came in 1939 as refugees from Nazi Germany. The camp was run by two Jewish brothers, one of whom stayed for a week in the Bell Hotel before moving to a hut in the camp.

Details: Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14. No need to book.

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

Take a guided tour of the grounds of this historic cathedral, which include the ruins of the Benedictine monastery, the reimagined monks’ herb garden, and the Memorial Garden that is used as a space for remembrance and reflection.

Details: Monday, September 15; Wednesday, September 17; and Sunday, September 21. Book online here.

CENTRE FOR EXPERIMENTAL MILITARY ARCHAEOLOGY, Detling

Experience life in the trenches at the CEMA in Detling, near Maidstone. Military historian and TV personality Andrew Robertshaw has created a replica First World War trench with dugouts, machine gun positions and a first aid post where you can meet the soldiers.

Details: Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14; and Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. No need to book.

CHARTWELL, Westerham

Follow your tour guide around the grounds of Chartwell and learn about 700 years of archaeological history. You’ll find out how the estate’s former residents, including Winston Churchill, influenced the design of this unique country home and its gardens.

Details: Monday, September 15. Book online here.

CHITTY’S MILL, Deal

The remains of Chitty’s Mill, an old wind-powered mill, are in a private garden that will briefly open to the public. The original mill, which became a steam mill in the 19th century, was built next door to the current property and the miller’s house is now a Grade II-listed building.

Details: Saturday, September 20. No need to book.

COBHAM WOOD, Shorne

The restored 18th-century mausoleum nestled within Cobham Wood, near Gravesend, is open just for Heritage Open Days. It was designed by neo-Gothic architect James Wyatt and was featured on BBC Two’s Restoration in 2003.

Details: Sunday, September 21. No need to book.

DEAL CASTLE

Take a guided walk from the Captain’s Garden at Deal Castle along the Marina and discover the Royal Marines’ long history with the area. Their base, from 1665 to 1996, spanned many buildings in the seaside town, some of which are not usually open to the public.

Details: Sunday, September 21. No need to book.

DICKENS HOUSE MUSEUM, Broadstairs

This small museum, housed inside the inspiration for Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, is open free of charge. Visitors can see a collection of personal items and letters, illustrations, Victorian costumes and Dickensian memorabilia.

Details: Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13; and Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20. No need to book.

DOVER CEMETERIES

Most people visit Dover to stroll atop the White Cliffs, but this walk around Copt Hill will take visitors on a very different path. The tour stops off at four different cemeteries and pays tribute to the hundreds of military personnel and civilians who were laid to rest during the wars.

Details: Sunday, September 14. No need to book.

LEAS LIFT, Folkestone

See behind the scenes of the restoration project taking place at this Victorian landmark. You’ll get a tour of the site, learn about the history of the lift and how it’s being reimagined for future use, and join a Q&A session with the project team.

Details: Saturday, September 20. Book online here.

THE LOST VILLAGE OF DODE, Luddesdown

This circular walk retraces the steps of William, priest of Dode, between Dode Church and St Benedict’s Church, where you can admire Norman architecture and ancient woodland. The entire village, near Gravesend, was wiped out in the 14th century due to the Black Death.

Details: Sunday, September 14. Book online here.

OWLETTS, Cobham

This impressive 17th-century manor house, influenced by the work of former resident and architect Sir Herbert Baker, is open for this one-off event. The gardens will be available to view, including the grass tennis courts, a wishing tree and a large swing.

Details: Sunday, September 21. No need to book.

THE PANTILES, Tunbridge Wells

This shopping strip is also where the chance discovery of a medicinal spring in 1606 helped put Tunbridge Wells on the map. The historical tour will take visitors back to that time and guide them through the town’s formation and the area’s rise in popularity.

Details: Wednesday, September 17 and Friday, September 19. Book online here.

PARADISE, Ramsgate

Three houses on an old street where retired sea captains lived in the 18th century are letting the public inside for sea shanties and a pint of real ale. It’s a chance to see the Dutch gabled rows and sea captains’ mansions, as well as a small exhibition.

Details: Saturday, September 13. No need to book.

RAMSGATE TUNNELS

An exhibition about the Catalan shelters, a network of 1,300 underground air-raid shelters beneath the streets of Barcelona, will be on display at the Ramsgate Tunnels. Discover first-person testimonies, photographs and the link between the Kent and Spanish shelters.

Details: Friday, September 12 and Sunday, September 21. No need to book.

ST MARY’S ABBEY, West Malling

This self-guided tour will take you around the abbey, which was founded in 1090 and is now home to a community of Anglican nuns. You can see medieval buildings, the Grade II-listed Abbey Church, the nuns’ Chapter House and the 13th-century cloister.

Details: Sunday, September 14. Book online here.

ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS' CHURCH, Maidstone

While this building, founded in the Victorian era, has undergone some changes over the years, you can still admire its beautiful Angel Windows and original features. There will also be tea, cake, children’s activities, and organ music.

Details: Saturday, September 13. No need to book.

STELLING MINNIS WINDMILL

The two-year refurbishment of this Grade I-listed building, between Canterbury and Hythe, is being unveiled to the public, with free tours of the smock mill and engine room. You can also visit the museum, where you’ll find original photographs dating back to the 1800s.

Details: Sunday, September 21. No need to book.

WALPOLE BAY HOTEL, Cliftonville

Enjoy a fascinating talk about this hotel, just outside of Margate, from the current owner. It dates back to 1914 and features original marble steps, a 1920s Otis lift and a new exhibition which spans all five floors. You can follow the talk with a self-guided tour.

Details: Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 21. Book online here.

WHITSTABLE MUSEUM

Invicta, the original locomotive that travelled along the first regular steam-drawn passenger railway between Canterbury and Whitstable, is currently on display. Visitors can also pay a visit to the ongoing restoration of the 1829 winding engine to see how it’s coming along.

Details: Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14; and Thursday, September 18 to Sunday, September 21. No need to book.